Ask for experience: “How many business-asset / M&A escrows have you done in the last 24 months? What size, equity vs asset, hold-back structure?”
- Confirm escrow structuring: Do they handle stock/membership interest transfers, indemnity escrows, enterprise asset purchase, working capital adjustment escrows, earn-outs?
- Verify licensing and risk mitigation: Are they properly licensed under Arizona escrow / trust laws? Do they have wire-fraud prevention, segregated accounts, insurance?
- Understand fees and terms: Structure of fees (flat + percentage, holdback fees, release schedules), timelines, conditions for release.
- Make sure fit for your business model: Given you operate under an Elite Caliber hierarchy and likely private equity orientation, ensure the escrow firm fits that type of acquisition (not just residential real-estate escrows).
- Ask for references (non-confidential or anonymized) of similar transactions they’ve handled.