ESCROW AGREEMENT
Exhibit 99.(k)(8)
This escrow agreement (this “Agreement”), effective as of September [ ], 2024, is made by FT Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Total Return Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”), UMB Fund Services, Inc., as recordkeeper (“UMBFS”) and UMB Bank, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund is a closed-end fund which is authorized to offer and sell limited partnership interests (“Interests”) in reliance on exemptions provided in the Securities Act of 1933, the Investment Company Act of 1940 and state securities laws for transactions not involving any public offering; and
WHEREAS, the Fund generally accepts subscription proceeds for Interests and may accept requests for the repurchase of Interests in accordance with the terms of the terms of the Fund’s confidential offering memorandum; and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint UMB Bank, N.A. as escrow agent for the purpose of holding investment proceeds tendered by investors prior to the time such funds are transferred to the Fund for investment.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Appointment and Delegation. The Fund hereby appoints UMB Bank, N.A. as Escrow Agent, on the terms set forth in this Agreement. UMB Bank, N.A. hereby agrees to serve as Escrow Agent on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Fund hereby authorizes UMBFS, in its capacity as recordkeeper, to provide instructions to the Escrow Agent on the Fund’s behalf in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
| 2. | Procedures. |
(a) The Fund will establish an escrow account with the Escrow Agent consisting of four (4) segregated sub-accounts, the Subscription Sub-Account, the Repurchase Sub-Account, the Income Sub-Account and the Holdback Sub-Account. Purchase payments periodically received by UMBFS (the “Purchase Proceeds”) will be deposited into the Subscription Sub-Account. Proceeds from periodic repurchases of Interests by the Fund from its subscribers (“Repurchase Proceeds”) will be deposited into the Repurchase Sub-Account, less an appropriate withholding, as described in the Fund’s then-current Private Placement Memorandum (the “Holdback Amount”), if applicable. Any Holdback Amount will be deposited into the Holdback Sub-Account (the Subscription Sub-Account, the Repurchase Sub-Account and the Holdback Sub-Account shall be referred to collectively as the “Escrow Accounts”).
(b) Simultaneously with any deposit of Purchase Proceeds, UMBFS will deliver to the Escrow Agent a cash letter (the “Cash Deposit Letter”) confirming the amount of the Purchase Proceeds so delivered. In the event the Fund or UMBFS provides written notice to the Escrow Agent that an underlying purchase order has been revoked in the form of a cash letter (the “Purchase Reversal Letter”), the Escrow Agent shall promptly (but in no event later than the close of business on the day of receipt of such Purchase Reversal Letter in accordance with subparagraph (d) or Paragraph 4) transfer from the Subscription Sub-Account the Purchase Proceeds specified in the Purchase Reversal Letter to UMBFS in accordance with the payment procedures in Paragraph 4. The Escrow Agent shall have no duty or obligation with respect to the collection of any Purchase Proceeds.
(c) On the last business day of each calendar month, UMBFS will deliver to the Escrow Agent a cash letter instructing the Escrow Agent to disburse the Purchase Proceeds, if any, on deposit (the “Cash Disbursement Letter”).
(d) The Escrow Agent shall provide the Fund and UMBFS with a statement of the assets held and transactions of the Escrow Accounts on a monthly basis and shall provide electronic access on a daily basis. At the Escrow Agent’s request, UMBFS shall provide periodic summaries of Escrow Account activity.
(e) The Escrow Agent shall invest all amounts deposited in the Escrow Accounts with it hereunder, and earnings thereon, if any, in the UMB Money Market Special Account. All monies must be deposited to the Escrow Accounts prior to 4:00 p.m. CT in order to receive credit for that day’s earnings. All investment earnings on the Escrow Accounts shall be transferred on the first business day of each month to the Income Sub-Account. In turn, the earnings will be swept to the Fund’s custody account on the first business day of the month.
(f) The Fund may from time to time deposit Repurchase Proceeds in the Repurchase Sub-Account. On the last business day of each calendar quarter during which repurchases occur, UMBFS will deliver to the Escrow Agent a cash letter to disburse the Repurchase Proceeds, if any, on deposit in custody, and a cash letter to move the Repurchase Proceeds out of the Repurchase Sub-Account for disbursement to investors (each, a “Repurchase Disbursement Letter”).
(g) On an annual basis, UMBFS will deliver to the Escrow Agent a cash letter to disburse the Holdback Amount, if any, on deposit in the Holdback Sub-Account (the “Holdback Disbursement Letter”).
(h) In the event an adjustment needs to be made in connection with any money movement hereunder, UMBFS shall deliver to the Escrow agent a cash letter specifying the corrective action to be taken.
(i) Prior to delivery to it or its designated agents of the Purchase Proceeds or Repurchase Proceeds, the Fund or its agents shall have no title, right, claim, lien or any other interest in the funds held in escrow hereunder, and such funds shall under no circumstances be available to the Fund or its agents or their creditors for payment or reimbursement for liabilities or indebtedness.
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3. Compensation. For its services hereunder, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to a one-time account acceptance fee of $500, plus an annual escrow fee of $600 for the Escrow Accounts and transaction fees of $5 per deposit and/or distribution. In addition to the foregoing fees, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to the administration of this Agreement and the Escrow Accounts such as, but not limited to, wire fees, postage, shipping, courier, telephone and facsimile charges will be paid directly by the Fund.
4. Payment Procedures.
(a) Whenever payments are required to be made to the Escrow Agent under this Agreement, such payments shall be made by electronic transfer per the following instructions:
UMB Bank, N.A., Kansas City, Missouri
ABA # 000000000
A/C # 9800006823
A/C Name: Trust Clearing
Ref: ______________________
(b) Whenever payments are required to be made by the Escrow Agent to UMBFS under this Agreement, such payments shall be made by electronic transfer per the following instructions:
UMB Bank, N.A., Kansas City, Missouri
ABA #000000000
A/C # ________________
Ref: _____________________
Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
(c) Every cash letter delivered to the Escrow Agent hereunder pursuant to Paragraph 2 shall bear the signature of two (2) authorized UMBFS signers. If requested by UMBFS, each cash letter shall also bear the countersignature of one (1) authorized Fund signer. In connection with the execution of this Agreement, UMBFS shall deliver to the Escrow Agent, and the Fund shall deliver to UMBFS, a list of authorized signers, together with a certificate of incumbency and specimen signatures. The party providing such certificate may provide an updated certificate evidencing the appointment, removal or change of authority of any authorized signer, it being understood that the party relying on such certificate shall not be held to have notice of any change in the authority of any authorized signer until receipt of written notice thereof.
(d) A cash letter must be received by the Escrow Agent by 3:00 p.m. CT on the day such cash letter is transmitted in order for the instructions contained in such cash letter to be honored on that day.
| 5. | Representations. The Fund represents and warrants as follows: |
(a) it is duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and all necessary action has been taken by it and it is duly authorized to enter into this Agreement;
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(b) its Tax Identification Number is 00-0000000;
(c) this Agreement and all other documents related to the transactions described herein have been duly executed and delivered by the Fund and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Fund, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms;
(d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all other documents related to the transactions described herein by the Fund do not and will not breach or violate or cause a default under its limited partnership agreement or any provision of any agreement, instrument, judgment, injunction or order applicable to or binding upon it.
| 6. | Miscellaneous. |
It is understood and agreed, further, that the Escrow Agent shall:
(a) be under no duty to pay and transfer any monies hereunder, unless the same shall have been first received by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement;
(b) be under no duty to accept any information from any person or entity other than the Fund or UMBFS, and then only to the extent and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement;
(c) act hereunder as a depository only and be protected in acting upon any written instruction or notice provided by the Fund or UMBFS pursuant to this Agreement and the information contained therein without responsibility to determine the validity or sufficiency of the same, and be protected in acting upon any other notice, opinion, request, certificate, approval, consent or other paper delivered to it and represented to it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties;
(d) be indemnified and held harmless by the Fund against any claim made against it by reason of its acting or failing to act in connection with any of the transactions contemplated hereby and against any loss, liability, cost, suit or expense, including the expense of defending itself against any claim of liability it may sustain in carrying out the terms of this Agreement except such claims which are occasioned by its fraud, bad faith, reckless disregard of its duties, gross negligence or willful misconduct;
(e) have no liability or duty to inquire into the terms and conditions of any subscriptions for Interests, and that its duties and responsibilities shall be limited to those expressly set forth under this Agreement and are purely ministerial in nature;
(f) be permitted to consult with counsel of its choice, including in-house counsel, and shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel, provided, however, that nothing contained in this Subparagraph (f), nor any action taken by the Escrow Agent, or of any such counsel, shall relieve the Escrow Agent from liability for any claims which are occasioned by its fraud, bad faith, reckless disregard of its duties, gross negligence or willful misconduct, all as provided in Subparagraph (d) above;
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(g) not be bound by any amendment or revocation of this Agreement, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by all of the parties of this Agreement;
(h) be entitled to refrain from taking any action other than to keep all property held by it in escrow hereunder until it shall be directed otherwise in writing by the Fund, or by a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction, provided that it shall be uncertain as to its duties and rights hereunder (including, without limitation, the receipt of conflicting instructions or directions from any of the parties hereto or any third parties);
(i) have no liability for following the instructions herein contained or expressly provided for, or written instructions given by, the Fund or UMBFS;
(j) have the right, at any time, to resign hereunder by giving written notice of its resignation to the Fund at the address as set forth in Subparagraph (l) hereof, at least sixty (60) days before the date specified for such resignation to take effect, and upon the effective date of such resignation;
| (i) | all cash and other funds and all other property then held by the Escrow Agent hereunder shall be delivered by it to such successor Escrow Agent as may be designated in writing by the Fund, whereupon the Escrow Agent’s obligations hereunder shall cease and terminate; |
| (ii) | if no such successor Escrow Agent has been designated by such date, all obligations of the Escrow Agent hereunder shall, nevertheless, cease and terminate, and the Escrow Agent’s sole responsibility thereafter shall be to keep all property then held by it and to deliver the same to a person designated in writing by the Fund or in accordance with the directions of a final order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; yet, if no such designation, order or judgment is received by Escrow Agent within sixty (60) days after its giving such resignation notice, it is unconditionally and irrevocably authorized and empowered to petition a court of competent jurisdiction for directions. |
(k) be reimbursed by the Fund upon its request for all reasonable costs, fees, charges, expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of this Agreement, or as a result of the acceptance of this Agreement.
(l) all deliveries and notices to the Escrow Agent shall be in writing and shall be sent or delivered to:
UMB Bank, N.A., as Escrow Agent
Corporate Trust & Escrow Services
Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
0000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
5
Suite 1900
Dallas, TX 75206
xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx
All deliveries and notices hereunder to the Fund shall be in writing and shall be sent or delivered to:
FT Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Total Return
Fund
Attn: First Trust Capital Management L.P.
000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
All deliveries and notices hereunder to UMBFS shall be in writing and shall be sent or delivered to:
UMB Fund Services, Inc.
Attn: Legal Department
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
(m) Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall confer upon anyone other than the parties hereto any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri and may be amended or settled only by a writing executed by the parties thereto.
(n) This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be regarded for all purposes as an original, and such counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument. In addition, the transaction described herein may be conducted and related documents may be stored by electronic means. Copies, telecopies, facsimiles, electronic files and other reproductions of original executed documents shall be deemed to be authentic and valid counterparts of such original documents for all purposes, including the filing of any claim, action or suit in the appropriate court of law.
(o) In order to comply with provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, as amended from time to time, Xxxxxx Agent may request certain information and/or documentation to verify, confirm and record identification of persons or entities who are parties to the Agreement.
7. Tax Reporting. The parties hereto agree that for purposes of tax reporting, all interest or other income, if any, attributable to the Escrow Accounts pursuant to this Agreement shall be allocable to the Fund. The Fund agrees to provide the Escrow Agent with an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 upon execution of this Agreement. The Fund understands that if such tax reporting documentation is not so certified to the Escrow Agent, the Escrow Agent may be required by the Internal Revenue Code, as amended from time to time, to withhold a portion of any interest or other income earned on the investment of monies or other property held by the Escrow Agent pursuant to this Agreement. The Escrow Agent will prepare and send notifications on Form 1099 for each calendar year for which such Form is required during the term hereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the Escrow Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers.
| FT Vest Rising Dividend Achievers | UMB Bank, N.A. | |||
| Total Return Fund | ||||
| By: | By: | |||
| Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | Name: | ||
| Title: | Treasurer | Title: | ||
| Date: | Date: | |||
| UMB Fund Services, Inc. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Date: | ||
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