WBI Merging Several ETFs

In an unusual move for the ETF space—but a common one for mutual funds—WBI is merging four of its ETFs into four of its other ETFs on or around Oct. 24. The change seems to be designed to turn the acquiring funds—which are all large cap ETFs—into total market ETFs, as the four funds that are being merged into them are all mid- and small-cap focused.

The affected funds are as follows:

• The WBI BullBear Rising Income 1000 ETF (WBIE) will acquire the WBI BullBear Rising Income 2000 ETF (WBIA) and be renamed the WBI BullBear Rising Income 3000 ETF.
• The WBI BullBear Value 1000 ETF (WBIF) will acquire the WBI BullBear Value 2000 ETF (WBIB) and be renamed the WBI BullBear Value 3000 ETF.
• The WBI BullBear Yield 1000 ETF (WBIG) will acquire the WBI BullBear Yield 2000 ETF (WBIC) and be renamed the WBI BullBear Yield 3000 ETF.
• The WBI BullBear Quality 1000 ETF (WBIL) will acquire the WBI BullBear Quality 2000 ETF (WBID) and be renamed the WBI BullBear Quality 3000 ETF.

The four funds to be acquired are among the smallest in the WBI family of ETFs, while the acquiring funds are among the largest. All of the affected ETFs are actively managed.

Changes like this are not entirely unprecedented. In 2015, the $15.5 billion Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP)—back when it was still a Guggenheim fund—absorbed the much smaller Guggenheim Russell 1000 Equal Weight ETF (EWRI). And the First Trust FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Markets Real Estate Index Fund (FFR) is expected to acquire the First Trust Heitman Global Prime Real Estate ETF (PRME) later this year.

Contact Heather Bell at [email protected]