The use of mini bonds has been pioneered by the likes of Hotel Chocolat, King of Shaves and John Lewis. Businesses sell mini-bonds to investors who then receive interest of a certain cent per annum until the bond expires, at which point the original investment is repaid in full. The bonds are unsecured non-convertible and non-transferable – which means they cannot be traded on a bond market. Capita Registrars estimates the UK mini-bond market will be worth £8bn by 2017, from just £90m in 2012.

http://realbusiness.co.uk/article/26904-crowdcube-targets-mid-market-firms-with-new-mini-bond-funding-option