Connie Loizos

New York Life Capital Partners, a wholly-owned investment boutique of New York Life that manages approximately $9 billion of private equity assets, including equity co-investment, mezzanine, fund of funds programs and separate accounts, today announced that the firm has renamed itself GoldPoint Partners.

Sol Systems, a Washington, D.C.-based solar finance firm, has added two people to its board of advisors: Jonathan Silver and Ed Feo. Silver has worked within the federal government, leading investments in clean and renewable energy; he has also cofounded a venture capital firm called Core Capital Partners. Feo is the managing director of USRG Renewable Finance, the renewable-energy-focused private equity firm. Sol Systems has also hired Stephanie Smith as general counsel and EVP for operations. Smith was previously an associate at Cooley LLP.

Monday, 11-year-old online antiques marketplace 1stdibs.com disclosed that it has raised $102 million over the last 19 months, including a new, $42 million round. Aside from the stunning amount of capital involved, the deal is interesting for a number of reasons.

Prospect Mortgage, a Sherman Oaks, Calif.-based home purchase lender, has appointed Michael Williams, a former president and CEO of Fannie Mae, chairman of its board of directors. Prior to Fannie Mae, Williams held positions at KPMG Peat Marwick and the DuPont Company. Prospect is backed by the private equity firm Sterling Partners.

Nutrastar International, a Harbin, China-based producer of health beverages and organic and specialty foods, has appointed Richard Fearon to its board of directors. Fearon is the founder and managing partner of Accretive Capital Partners, a 12-year-old private equity fund that seeks out take-private candidates and has offices in Boston, New York and West Palm Beach, Fla.

Anyone who is alarmed to learn that most of today’s seed-funded startups will not survive hasn’t been paying very close attention.

Chassis Brakes International, a brakes and brakes component maker (and portfolio company of the private equity firm KPS Capital Partners), has acquired substantially all of the assets of Autocast and Forge Pty Ltd (ACF), which is among Australia's largest independent cast iron foundries and serves the automotive industry.

Silverback Enterprise Group, an Austin-based company that rolls up enterprise software concerns, has acquired EPM Live, a maker of work management software. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Boston-based Sigma Prime Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund, has brought aboard John Simon as a managing director. Simon was most recently a managing director at Generaly Catalyst Partners, which he cofounded.

Affiliates and clients of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, including KKR Financial Holdings, along with co-investors Pfeffer Capital and CP Realty, have acquired 164 acres of land in Willison, North Dakota, to develop a residential community with 330 apartments. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.