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Small Bone Innovations Inc., an orthopedics company focused on treatments for the small bones and joints, has sealed a $43 million credit facility. New Health Capital Partners Fund I provided the financing. In December, the company closed a $15 million Series F round. Small Bone has facilities in New York, Penn., France, Germany and Kuala Lumpur.

VeriClaim, a subsidiary of private equity-backed T&H Global Holdings, has acquired Cramer Johnson Wiggins & Associates Inc., a provider of administration services to the property and casualty insurance market. Terms of the deal were not released. T&H is majority owned by private equity investor Flexpoint Ford.

Gradient Resources Inc., a Reno, Nevada-based developer of geothermal power, has raised $63 million in financing, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Committee. The money comes largely in the form of options and warrants, according to the filing. Formerly known as Vulcan Power Co., the company is backed by energy-focused private equity firm Denham Capital.

The Jordan Co. has completed its acquisition of Heritage Food Service Equipment Inc., a distributor of replacement parts for commercial kitchen equipment manufacturers. Terms of the deal were not released. Heritage is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Denver-based private equity firm Excellere Partners has launched its second fund, Excellere Fund II, with $465 million. The company focuses on middle-market deals in companies with revenues ranging from $20 million to $150 million. The firm has $730 million of capital under management.

HealthpointCapital has acquired Blue Belt Technologies Inc., a maker of surgical instruments. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. As part of the deal, HealthpointCapital also announced that Eric Timko joined the company as president and chief executive.

Struggling women’s clothing retailer Talbots Inc. has received an unsolicited letter from private equity firm Sycamore Partners, proposing a $212 million buyout of the company. The $3-a-share cash offer values the retailer at a 92% premium to the stock's Tuesday close of $1.56. As PEHub.com reported previously, Sycamore in August grabbed a 9.9% stake in Talbots, becoming the second biggest shareholders in Talbots, after OppenheimerFunds, which at the time held a 13.27% stake, according to Reuters. Talbots' stock has dropped 82 percent this year, Reuters reported Wednesday. Talbots in a written statement Tuesday said it was evaluating the buyout proposal.

U.S. private equity firm Lone Star is the preferred bidder for Lloyds Banking Group's 1 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) Project Royal portfolio of UK commercial property debt, Reuters wrote Wednesday. Lone Star's bid was backed by about 300 million pounds of senior debt from Royal Bank of Canada and Citigroup, Reuters reported.

PwC has acquired certain assets of Folio Technologies LLC, a provider of product portfolio optimization technology. Financial terms of the deal were not released. As part of the deal Folio’s founders, Hervé Kieffel and Renato Cedolin, will join PwC.

Morgan Stanley Credit Partners provided $38 million in mezzanine debt financing as part of the acquisition of Englewood Tire Wholesale by Terry’s Tire Town. Based in Alliance, Ohio, Terry’s Tire Town is majority-owned by Talisman Capital Partners.