Which of the following statements about equity financing is true?

Equity financing involves raising capital by selling shares of a company to investors. When a business utilizes equity financing, it is essentially exchanging ownership in the company for funds, which means that investors become partial owners. One key aspect of equity financing is that it does not require the company to make regular payments like debt financing would.

If the business fails, any funds acquired through equity financing do not need to be repaid, as the investors take on the risk of their investment along with the potential for returns. Instead of expecting repayment, investors look for a return on their investment through dividends or appreciation in the value of their shares if the company succeeds.

This risk-reward dynamic is a fundamental characteristic of equity financing, distinguishing it from structures like loans or bonds, where there are obligatory repayment terms regardless of the business's performance. Thus, the statement that the funding does not need to be repaid if the business fails accurately reflects how equity financing operates.