Conventional escrow · CARPA account
Secure the payment of the price and the completion of your transactions.
Fidens acts as escrow agent to secure the payment of the price in your financing, M&A, private equity and business-sale transactions. The price is held on a CARPA account, under the responsibility of Maître Martin Estanove, lawyer, and is released only when the agreed conditions are met — protecting both the payer and the payee.
The solution
A conventional escrow for every sensitive transaction
Any transaction where payment of the price must be guaranteed: the price is held by a trusted third party and released only when the conditions set by the parties are met.
Financing
Securing funds in financing and debt-raising transactions.
M&A
Escrow of the purchase price, earn-outs and representations & warranties.
Private Equity
Holding funds on the entry and exit of investors.
Sale of a business (fonds de commerce)
Escrow of the sale price during the creditors' opposition period.
Security interests
Autonomous guarantees, first-demand guarantees, cash collateral and more.
Real estate share deals
Escrow of the price in transfers of shares in property-holding companies — SCI, SCCV and other real-estate structures.
Dispute - Settlement agreements
Escrow of the sums agreed under a settlement ending a dispute.
Sale of tangible and intangible assets
Escrow of the price in sales of tangible or intangible assets — securities, patents, trademarks, isolated assets — as well as artworks.
Other escrows
Any situation requiring a trusted third party to hold funds (artwork, collector's car, yacht, etc.).
How it works
A clear journey, from agreement to release
Account opening & escrow agreement
Create your secure space and submit (or draft with our help) the escrow agreement tailored to your transaction.
Parties & bank details
Enter the depositing party, the beneficiary, their identities and bank details.
Funds held on a CARPA account
The funds are received and held on the lawyer's CARPA account, dedicated to your matter for a defined period.
Release upon conditions
The funds are released as soon as the agreed conditions precedent are met.
Why Fidens
The rigour of a lawyer, the safety of a CARPA account
Entrusting the escrow of the price to a lawyer provides an ethical and financial framework that only a legally authorised third party can guarantee: payment is secured until the agreed conditions are met.
Secured payment of the price
The price is held by a lawyer — a trusted third party bound by strict professional ethics — and released only on the agreed conditions.
Dedicated CARPA account
Funds held through the CARPA (the French bar's fund-handling body), in complete safety.
KYC / KYB framework
Identity of the parties and source of funds verified in line with AML/CFT obligations, before any escrow.
Confidentiality
Data handled in line with the GDPR; sensitive information encrypted and ring-fenced.
Traceability
Every step of the matter is time-stamped and documented, from receipt to release of the funds.
Pricing
Clear pricing, based on the transaction price
The escrow agent's fees are calculated on the transaction price, following a regressive scale.
Enter the transaction amount to estimate the escrow agent's fees.
Indicative estimate, fees excluding tax, calculated on the transaction amount. A minimum of €1,800 applies.
The scale in detail
| Transaction price | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to €180,000 | €1,800 |
| €180,000 to €500,000 | 1.5% |
| €500,000 to €1,000,000 | 1.2% |
| €1,000,000 to €3,000,000 | 1% |
| €3,000,000 to €5,000,000 | 0.95% |
| €5,000,000 to €10,000,000 | 0.9% |
| Above €10,000,000 | On quote |
- ◆Fees exclusive of tax, calculated on the transaction price.
- ◆A flat fee of €1,800 applies up to €180,000 of transaction price.
- ◆Above that, the bracket rate applies to the transaction price, with a minimum fee of €1,800.
- ◆Funds are held on the dedicated CARPA account; any bank charges (in particular international transfers) are additional.
Frequently asked questions
Everything about the escrow agent
What is an escrow agent?
An escrow agent is a trusted third party to whom the parties to a transaction entrust the funds (the price, an earn-out, a guarantee) until the agreed conditions are met. At Fidens, this role is performed by a lawyer, who holds the sums on a dedicated CARPA account and releases them only on the agreed conditions.
Why entrust the escrow to a lawyer rather than another third party?
A lawyer is bound by strict professional ethics and professional liability. The funds pass through the CARPA (the French bar's fund-handling body), which guarantees ring-fencing, traceability and control of movements under the supervision of the Bar — a level of security few third parties can offer.
When are the escrowed funds released?
The funds are released once the conditions set out in the escrow agreement are met: final signing, satisfaction of conditions precedent, expiry of an opposition period, or any other event agreed between the parties.
How much does an escrow with Fidens cost?
Fees are based on the transaction price, on a regressive scale, with a flat fee of €1,800 excl. tax up to €180,000. An online simulator gives you an instant estimate based on the amount of your transaction.
What happens in the event of a dispute?
With an escrow account, the funds remain locked until the parties reach agreement. The parties have a dedicated space to settle the disagreement amicably; if the deadlock persists, the evidence file can be passed to a legal partner. Fidens does not rule on the dispute: the funds are never released before both parties agree or the competent authority decides.
What is the difference between escrow and séquestre?
None! 'Escrow' is simply the English word for 'séquestre'. An escrow account and a séquestre account are the same thing: a third-party account that secures the funds until the conditions of the transaction are met.
Ready to secure the payment of the price?
Create your space and open an escrow matter in minutes — the price is protected until the conditions are met.
Contact
Let's discuss your transaction
Book a call with Maître Martin Estanove to explore setting up an escrow tailored to your situation.
Email — martin.estanove@meavocat.com
Phone — 06.16.74.09.21
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