Business Escrow Services
Whether you're involved in mergers, acquisitions, asset sales, or any other high-value business transactions, Wilmington Trust provides a secure, transparent, and efficient way to facilitate your deals. With our escrow and paying agent services, you can be confident that both parties meet all terms of the agreement before any funds or assets change hands.
Choose an escrow provider who is as committed to the deal as you are.
Business transactions can be stressful and comprise a certain amount of risk. It’s imperative to the success of the deal to choose a provider who has specific experience navigating the myriad types of business escrows.
Trust and Transparency of a Neutral Third-Party Agent
Customized Solutions to Fit Your Transaction
Efficient and Secure Transaction Process
Expedient Dispute Resolution
Business escrow services for unique transactions
Wilmington Trust offers escrow and paying agent services that adapt to your specific needs. We have the experience and infrastructure to help facilitate smooth and compliant transactions.
Facilitates tax-deferred property exchanges by securely holding proceeds between the sale and reinvestment of qualifying real estate.
An escrow arrangement used during a Section 363 sale under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In a 363 sale, a bankrupt company sells its assets to pay creditors. The escrow holds funds or assets temporarily to ensure that all sale conditions—such as court approvals, creditor agreements, or regulatory requirements—are met before finalizing the transaction.
Manages investor funds in private placements, capital raises, and structured finance transactions, facilitating proper disbursement upon meeting investment conditions.
Secures funds or assets while legal or contractual disputes are resolved, promoting fair allocation once a resolution is reached.
Secures buyer deposits to demonstrate commitment to a transaction, helping to make sure funds are properly allocated if the deal proceeds or is terminated under agreed conditions.
Manages collateral or scheduled payments for financing agreements, including holding property tax and insurance payments in certain cases. Custody solutions can be leveraged to securely administer assets and facilitate smooth disbursements.
Holds funds until contracted services or project milestones are completed, facilitating secure payment upon successful delivery.
Retains funds for post-closing adjustments, warranty obligations, or milestone-based disbursements in business transactions.
Safeguards source code, patents, and proprietary assets in technology or licensing deals, upholding access to critical IP under predefined conditions.
Holds settlement funds or disputed assets during legal proceedings, delivering fair distribution upon resolution.
Holds a portion of the purchase price to cover post-closing obligations such as indemnities, working capital adjustments, or earnouts, protecting buyers and sellers. Custody services can also be integrated to securely hold assets, support compliance, and facilitate efficient settlements.
Manages funds and documents in commercial real estate transactions, facilitating a trouble-free transfer of ownership once all conditions are met.
A royalty escrow is a financial arrangement where royalty payments—typically from intellectual property like music, books, artwork, or patents—are held by a neutral third party (escrow agent). The funds are only released when specific conditions in a contract are met, ensuring fair and secure distribution to the rightful recipients.
Holds shares and related funds in Escrow to support compliance with regulatory approvals, shareholder agreements, and other preconditions before the stock transfer is finalized. Custody services provide secure safekeeping of securities during the transaction process.
What to expect from an industry leader
Selecting the right escrow provider means choosing a team who understands the nuances of your industry, transaction structure, and regulatory landscape. See what Wilmington Trust brings to the table:
Risk Mitigation
Escrow services protect both the buyer and seller by mitigating either party’s risk of losing funds or assets due to fraudulent activity or unmet contractual obligations.
Trust and Transparency
Buyers and sellers can proceed with confidence, knowing that a neutral third party oversees the transaction and maintains compliance with the terms.
Efficient Transaction Process
With an efficient and secure process in place, you can close your business deals faster and without the fear of payment disputes or breaches of contract.
Customized to Fit Your Transaction
Each transaction is unique, and our escrow and paying agent services can be customized to meet your specific needs, whether it's for a sale, an acquisition, or a merger.
Dispute Resolution
In the event of a disagreement, we facilitate the resolution process to help ensure that both parties reach a fair and agreeable solution without the need for lengthy litigation.
Peace of Mind
Business transactions, especially large ones, can be stressful. Our escrow and paying agent services allow you to focus on growing your business while we handle the financial security of the deal.
Why Wilmington Trust
Wilmington Trust has been serving corporate and institutional clients for decades. Having worked on thousands of escrows we recognize they require a fast turnaround and are committed to the swift setup and efficient administration of your transaction. Let our experience make the difference for you.
Neutral Third-Party Facilitation
As an impartial entity, we guarantee that funds or assets are securely held until both parties fulfill their contractual obligations.
End-to-End Support
A dedicated account manager is assigned to assist you every step of the way, from an efficient Know Your Customer (KYC) process to setting up your escrow agreement and finalizing the transaction.
Escrow Account Management
Our escrow services include full account management and proper handling, tracking, and allocation of all necessary funds as agreed upon by both parties.
Escrow Agreement Tailored to Your Needs
To expedite the process we have pre-approved template agreements and will work with you to create customized escrow agreements that reflect the specific terms of your transaction.
Comprehensive Reporting
Throughout the transaction process, you will have access to detailed reports on the status of your escrow account and the transaction.
Fast Disbursement
Upon successful completion of the terms of the agreement, funds or assets are quickly disbursed to the designated party, reducing any delays or complications in the transaction.
Contact a specialist
Our business escrow professionals understand what it takes to make a transaction successful. We get to know each client's individual needs, help them troubleshoot any potential issues, and bring our experience to the table to provide a smooth transaction.
Nick Adams
Senior Vice President
Sales
U.S.
Rob Weiss
Senior Vice President
Sales
U.S.
Fredrik Berg
Senior Vice President
Sales
Europe
How can we help?
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FAQs
An escrow is a financial arrangement where a third party holds and regulates the payment of funds required for two parties involved in a transaction. To help ensure that the seller delivers goods or services, and the buyer pays only when the terms of the agreement are met. This protects both parties from potential fraud and failure to meet terms.
An escrow provides security for both the buyer and the seller. It helps ensure that the buyer’s funds are only released when the agreed-upon conditions (such as delivery of goods, transfer of assets, or meeting contractual terms) are satisfied. For the seller, it guarantees payment once conditions are met. It also adds an extra layer of trust in high-value transactions.
In an escrow agreement, the buyer and seller agree on the terms of the transaction. The buyer deposits funds into an escrow account, which is managed by a neutral third party (the escrow agent). Once the seller fulfills their part of the agreement (e.g., delivering the product, transferring business assets), the escrow agent releases the funds to the seller.
The escrow agent is typically a neutral third party, like Wilmington Trust, who holds the funds or assets in escrow and helps ensure both parties fulfill the terms of the agreement before releasing them.
The duration of an escrow transaction depends on the complexity of the deal and the conditions that must be met. It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. A typical business transaction might take 30-60 days, depending on how quickly both parties can fulfill their obligations.
Yes, we facilitate both domestic and international transactions, helping to ensure all legal and regulatory requirements are met.
Yes, an escrow account can hold other assets, such as business documents, intellectual property, shares, or other tangible or intangible assets, depending on the nature of the transaction.