CASE STUDY
Water Island Capital
Challenge
Water Island Capital already had decades of experience in the event-driven space, with an AUM of about $2 billion, but they were new to ETFs and wanted to make a splash with their new merger and acquisition (M&A)-focused ETF, ARB, which utilizes a merger arbitrage strategy. Further complicating the fund rollout, ARB was launching in the midst of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in an uncertain economic environment.
Solution
Arro took a close look at WIC’s existing funds and messaging, then tailored the messaging and value propositions for an ETF-centric audience. We created a new messaging plan, ETF fund website for ARB, and put together a press release and media outreach plan for launch day.
Results
ARB’s launch was widely covered by marquis financial news publications, including Fund Intelligence and Pensions and Investments, as well as several ETF trade publications, including ETF Trends, ETFdb, and ETF Express. John Orrico, the firm’s Founder and CIO, appeared on Bloomberg TV on launch day and was able to tout the company’s expertise in merger arbitrage as well as communicate the fund’s key value propositions. As of 1/25/23, ARB has gathered $97.7 million in AUM.
