Edmans, AlexGoldstein, ItayJiang, Wei2023-05-222023-05-222012-01-012016-06-15https://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/34383Using mutual fund redemptions as an instrument for price changes, we identify a strong effect of market prices on takeover activity (the “trigger effect”). An interquartile decrease in valuation leads to a seven percentage point increase in acquisition likelihood, relative to a 6% unconditional takeover probability. Instrumentation addresses the fact that prices are endogenous and increase in anticipation of a takeover (the “anticipation effect”). Our results overturn prior literature that finds a weak relation between prices and takeovers without instrumentation. These findings imply that financial markets have real effects: They impose discipline on managers by triggering takeover threats.This is the peer reviewed version of the following article, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.2012.01738.x. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.FinanceFinance and Financial ManagementArticle