Despite signs that the recession is bottoming out, default rates in the U.S. are likely to worsen as some big companies run out of cash, according to Bain & Company. As many as 287 companies with more than $100 million in assets defaulted on their debt in 2008 and 2009, compared with 116 for the four-year period from 2004 to 2007. As many as 300 more companies are likely to default by the end of 2011.

Source: Bain & Company