A more thorough explanation:

Equity participation refers to the practice of including a lender in the ownership of a project as a requirement for the lender to grant a loan. This is also known as an equity kicker.

For example, if a company wants to build a new factory but does not have enough funds to do so, they may seek a loan from a bank. The bank may agree to provide the loan, but only if they are given a percentage of ownership in the factory. This means that the bank will share in the profits and losses of the factory, in addition to receiving interest on the loan.

Another example could be a real estate developer who wants to build a new apartment complex. They may seek a loan from an investor, who agrees to provide the funds but only if they are given a percentage of ownership in the complex. This means that the investor will share in the rental income and any profits from the sale of the complex.

These examples illustrate how equity participation works in practice. By including a lender in the ownership of a project, the lender has a vested interest in the success of the project and is more likely to provide the necessary funds. It also allows the borrower to access funds that they may not have been able to obtain otherwise.