Rising rates will speed up the clock on retail's $3.7 billion time bomb

CNBC ------- Times are about to get even more trying for the country's distressed retail chains, which have tripled in number over the past six years to reach their highest level since the Great Recession. After years of low rates fueled a private equity "feasting" on retail firms, Moody's Investors Service says that 19 distressed companies have "well over" $3.7 billion in debt that matures over the next five years. Roughly 30 percent of that total is due by the end of next year. Now, as revenues continue to tumble and debt maturities swell, these companies will soon be faced with another headwind: rising interest rates. To learn more click on the picture below to read the article.