A term used in connection with a corporate change in control (e.g. a merger or acquisition). A double trigger is a stock plan provision requiring two events, rather than just one, to occur before the vesting of an employee's stock grant can accelerate after a change in control. The first trigger is the change in control. The second trigger is some type of termination, which can be an involuntary termination without cause or a "good reason" termination during a specific period after a change in control.

For details about the impact of a merger or an acquisition on your stock grants, see the FAQs in the section M&A: Impact elsewhere on this website.