Trouble

Former Republican Congressman Michael Huffington has filed a lawsuit against The Carlyle Group alleging the private-equity firm misrepresented the safety of Carlyle Capital Corp, the publicly traded mortgage-securities fund that collapsed last spring.

, a significant lender for the middle market, said it’s in active discussions with regulators in order to improve its near-term liquidity position.

, a medical supplies company owned by Warburg Pincus, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It also said it’s reached a deal with some lenders to reduce its debt and improve its capital structure.

Global Safety Textiles Holdings LLC, a Greensboro, N.C.-based unit of WL Ross & Co.‘s International Textile Group Inc., has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Kainos Partners Holding Co., operator of 56 Dunkin’ Donuts franchises in New York, South Carolina and Nevada, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Dunkin’ Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin’ Brands, which is owned by Bain Capital and THL Partners.

Kellwood Co., an apparel company taken private last year by Sun Capital Partners, may file for bankruptcy after failing to reach a debt restructuring agreement, according to The Wall Street Journal.

RathGibson Inc., a Lincolnshire, Ill.-based maker of industrial tubing and pipes, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. DLJ Merchant Banking bought the company in 2007 from Castle Harlan for $440 million.

V&D, a Dutch department store chain, has asked staff to postpone a 3.3 percent wage increase until February 2010, in order to save jobs. The company is currently planning 500 layoffs, but says the raise delay could cut that figure to just 60 jobs. A Dutch labor union leader rejects what he considers to be a false choice. V&D is a subsidiary of Maxeda, which was bought in 2004 for 2.4 billion by Cinven, AlpInvest, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Permira.