How intermediaries use third-party managed accounts for high-value transactions

There's a moment in every major deal when someone asks the question that stops the room: "So who's actually holding the money?" 

It's usually around the time when the purchase agreement is finalised, due diligence is complete and everyone's ready to move forward – except nobody wants to be the first to wire £10 million to an account they don't fully trust. The buyer doesn't want to send funds until they're certain all conditions are met. The seller doesn't want to transfer ownership until they know the money is real and available. And everyone's lawyers are suddenly very interested in liability discussions. 

This is exactly the problem that third-party client accounts solve. They don’t just hold money safely – they create a framework of trust that allows complex, high-value deals to actually happen. Without neutral client accounts, many of today's most sophisticated transactions would simply be too risky for the parties involved. 

In this guide, we’ll explain where and why third-party client accounts make sense, how to roll them into your strategy and how they give you an advantage. 

Important: The information in this guide is general in nature, not legally binding, and should not be considered financial or investment advice.   

Key takeaways: 

• Third-party managed accounts (TPMAs) provide the neutral infrastructure needed to execute high-value, high-risk transactions with confidence. 

• Structured disbursements, multi-authorisation controls and secure holding periods help manage stakeholder expectations and reduce deal friction. 

• With pre-validated onboarding, real-time visibility and same-day settlements, TPMAs help maintain momentum while meeting regulatory standards. 

• Whether you're handling real estate, equity, or cross-border wealth transfers, TPMAs adapt to diverse asset classes and regulatory environments. 

  
  

Where high-value transactions rely on TPMAs 

The beauty of professional TPMAs lies in how versatile they are across different sectors and transaction types. They've become essential for: 

• Commercial property deals: Large-scale real estate transactions often involve multiple contingencies – for example, financing approval, zoning clearances and environmental assessments. TPMAs protect both sides by ensuring funds are only released when all conditions are genuinely satisfied. 

• Corporate acquisitions: M&A deals frequently include earnout payments, indemnity holdbacks and regulatory approval conditions. TPMAs provide the structure to manage these complex payment schedules safely. 

• Fund closings and capital calls: Investment funds need to collect committed capital from multiple investors while ensuring all regulatory and legal requirements are met. TPMAs give investors confidence their contributions are secure until everything is properly documented. 

• Cross-border wealth transfers: From family gifts and inheritance distributions to trust settlements across international boundaries, TPMAs provide the neutral ground needed to navigate different legal systems and tax implications. 

  
  

Global M&A activity reached $3.2 trillion in 2023, with an increasing share involving multiple jurisdictions and complex conditional payment structures. In these scenarios, third-party client accounts are an essential part of the process: some deals simply wouldn’t happen without them. 

Coordinating between stakeholders in complex deals 

Modern high-value transactions rarely involve just two parties. You might have buyers, sellers, investors, lenders, regulators, trustees and various advisors all with different interests and requirements. To coordinate effectively between them, you need a sophisticated strategy. 

Milestone-based fund releases, for example, are a cornerstone of many high-value deals. TPMA providers can structure disbursements tied to specific achievements, like regulatory approvals, performance benchmarks and legal confirmations, protecting everyone as deals move forward. Secure holding periods also help build trust, as all parties understand the timing and conditions that trigger payments.  

Multi-party authorisation is an option with TPMAs, too. Releases can require approval from multiple names parties, preventing any single person from acting unilaterally and ensuring all stakeholders have appropriate control. 

TPMAs are particularly valuable in private equity and venture capital deals, where payment schedules are often linked to performance metrics, compliance achievements, or other conditional triggers that may take months or years to resolve. 

Maintaining velocity without compromising security 

One of the biggest advantages of professional TPMA services is that they can accelerate transactions while increasing security. The best providers offer: 

• Pre-validated onboarding: All parties complete comprehensive due diligence and KYC checks before any funds are deposited, eliminating delays when it's time to close. 

• Same-day settlement capabilities: Once release conditions are satisfied, payments can be executed immediately, keeping deals on schedule. 

• Real-time transaction visibility: All parties can monitor the TPMA's status and access audit trails through secure online portals, reducing information requests and disputes. 

  
  

This speed is crucial in today's competitive environment. AML fines reached $6.6 billion globally in 2023, demonstrating that regulatory compliance can't be an afterthought. Taking that into account, it’s clear that having pre-built compliance infrastructure is a vital part of managing risk in large transactions. 

Adapting to different asset classes and jurisdictions 

Modern high-value transactions go way beyond traditional property escrow. Today, people place assets in a range of vehicles, from commercial real estate to digital holdings, some of which span multiple jurisdictions. Thankfully, TPMAs can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of all kinds of asset classes. 

• Multi-currency capabilities: Support for major currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, AED, and others, with built-in foreign exchange management when needed. 

• Regulatory compliance across jurisdictions: Adherence to requirements from different financial authorities – the FCA in the UK, the DFSA in Dubai, the MAS in Singapore, and others. 

• Localised procedures: Tailored processes for jurisdictions with unique requirements, such as India's GIFT City regulations or the UAE's DIFC framework. 

  
  

This flexibility explains why global law firms, family offices and investment managers increasingly rely on third-party managed accounts.  

The strategic advantage of professional TPMA solutions 

Third-party TPMAs have evolved from simple protective accounts into strategic transaction enablers. They solve coordination problems that would otherwise prevent deals from closing, create transparency that builds trust between parties, and provide regulatory infrastructure that keeps transactions compliant across nations and continents. 

For intermediaries, including law firms, fund administrators and family offices, the ability to offer professional TPMA arrangements often determines which opportunities they can pursue. The most sophisticated clients expect this level of operational capability – and the most complex deals simply can't proceed without it. 

In a market where trust, timing and regulatory precision often determine success, third-party managed accounts provide the infrastructure that allows ambitious deals to close with confidence. Simply put, they help control risk and make complicated transactions possible. 

To learn more about Interpolitan TPMA accounts and how we work with a range of intermediaries, including law firms and advisors, get in touch today.