Many businesses are—or soon will be—unable to meet their obligations. Not all businesses in distress are unsuccessful; sometimes, as in the economic circumstances arising from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the governmental directives tailored to address the related public health issues, even successful businesses must confront closures and steep declines in demand that could not have been anticipated, and may find it necessary or desirable to restructure their existing debt obligations.

On 2 September 2016, Hanjin filed a petition under Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, seeking recognition of its Korean rehabilitation proceedings as a "foreign main proceeding." Hanjin also sought provisional and final relief to prevent creditors from taking enforcement actions against Hanjin's interests within the jurisdiction of the United States.

The collapse of marine fuel trader OW Bunker & Trading A/S (“OW Bunker”) and its affiliates, in November 2014, has resulted in a blizzard of legal proceedings in the United States. Bunker suppliers and creditors of insolvent OW Bunker entities have sought to secure their claims by arresting vessels or proceeding directly against vessel owners and operators who contracted with OW Bunker entities to supply their vessels with bunkers.