Services
Escrow agency
When money, shares or documents should change hands only once agreed conditions are met, Arista holds them as a neutral party until they are.
Get in touchBoth sides can commit with confidence.
The buyer knows the money is there. The seller knows it will be released once the conditions are met. Arista stands between them, follows the agreement both sides signed, and acts only on its terms.
When escrow is used
Any transaction where one side commits before the other has delivered can be held in escrow. These are the most common.
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Business sales and share purchases
Completion funds, deferred consideration and retentions, held until warranties or conditions are satisfied.
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Property transactions
Deposits and purchase funds, held until title passes and the agreed conditions are met.
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Joint ventures and shareholder agreements
Capital contributions or share certificates, held until each party has done what it agreed to do.
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Conditional and deferred payments
Payments that depend on future results, released when the agreed figures are confirmed.
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Amounts in dispute
Funds held while the parties resolve a disagreement, released on joint instructions or a final decision.
How an escrow arrangement works
Every arrangement follows the same five steps. The detail of each is fixed in the agreement before anything is deposited.
Agree
The parties and Arista sign an escrow agreement setting out what is held, the conditions for release and who can give instructions.
Onboard
We identify every party and check the source of the funds, as anti-money laundering rules require.
Deposit
The depositing party transfers the funds or documents to be held under the agreement.
Verify
We check that each release condition has been met, exactly as the agreement defines it.
Release
We release the funds or documents to the right party. If the conditions are not met, the agreement says what happens next.
Common questions
Who can use the escrow service?
Private clients and companies who are party to a transaction. Every party is identified and checked before anything is deposited.
Where are the funds held?
In an account named in the escrow agreement. We explain the arrangements in full before anyone signs.
What happens if the parties disagree?
We follow the escrow agreement. The funds stay where they are until both parties give joint instructions or a final decision is reached under the process the agreement sets out.
Can the agreement be tailored to our transaction?
Yes. The release conditions are written for each transaction, and we are happy to work with the parties' own lawyers on the wording.
How are fees set?
We agree the fee for each arrangement in advance, based on what is held, for how long, and how involved the release conditions are.