Deal round-up 12/04/02

Carlyle backs Accucard financing

Accucard, the UK-based provider of customised credit cards, has completed a second round of financing worth £12.5m. The Carlyle Group has backed its original support for the firm’s £15m first round financing by also leading the second round of funding.

The latest funding round closed on March 13. Other participants included new investors Lloyds TSB Development Capital and EasyMoney.com as well as existing investor NetPartners. The company will use the money for expansion and product development.

Sofinnova supports esmertec second round

Esmertec, a global supplier of mobile devices, completed additional second round financing, raising a further E10m. Sofinnova Partners has supported this additional fundraising round joining previous backers Earlybird Venture Capital and Partners Private Equity.

In late 2001, the firm completed the first stage of its second round financing raising just under E7m. The Switzerland-based firm intends to use the funding to extend the company’s market reach. Jean Schmitt, partner at Sofinnova Partners, joined esmertec's board of directors.