I always suspected that ABC (or whoever) got equity in the companies, because they have (or used to have) a brief notice at the end of the show at the bottom of

I always suspected that ABC (or whoever) got equity in the companies, because they have (or used to have) a brief notice at the end of the show at the bottom of the screen with suggests that. But surely this must have tainted the whole process, because while an entrepreneur is considering a deal with the sharks, they would also have to take into account the equity they give away by just being a part of the show. I'm glad that's gone now. It probably means though, that the entrepreneurs will be able to buy back the equity, or buy their way out of the profit sharing agreement, more than likely at the highest possible valuations. But at least there is a way out. And it's good to know that future contestants won't have that to deal with.