SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)
Amendment No.

Bear Stearns Companies Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

073902108

(CUSIP Number)

February 14, 2008

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

þ Rule 13d-1(b)
o Rule 13d-(c)
o Rule 13d-1(d)

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 

CUSIP No.		073902108

CUSIP No.		073902108

CUSIP 073902108

Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:

Bear Stearns Companies Inc.

Item 1(b). Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:

One Metrotech North
9^th Floor
Brooklyn, New York 11201

Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing:

Wilmington Trust Corporation, Wilmington Trust Company.

Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence:

1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890

Item 2(c). Citizenship:

Wilmington Trust Corporation is a Delaware corporation;
Wilmington Trust Company is a Delaware banking corporation.

Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:

Common Stock

Item 2(e). CUSIP Number:

073902108

Item 3. If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:

(a)		o		Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
(b)		þ		Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.
		Wilmington Trust Company, a Bank, is a wholly- owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation.

(c)		o		Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange Act.
(d)		o		Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act.
(e)		o		An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f)		o		An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g)		þ		A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
		Wilmington Trust Corporation is a Parent Holding Company.
(h)		o		A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;
(i)		o		A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act;
(j)		þ		Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
		Wilmington Trust Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company are a Group.

Item 4. Ownership.

Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

(a)		Amount beneficially owned:
		Wilmington Trust Corporation:			27,336,926			shares
		Wilmington Trust Company:			27,336,556			shares
(b)		Percent of class:
		Wilmington Trust Corporation:			18.8	%
		Wilmington Trust Company:			18.7	%
(c)		Number of shares as to which Wilmington Trust Corporation, Wilmington Trust

Company, have:

(i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote		shares					43,446
(ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote		shares					27,316,339
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of		shares					10,620
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of		shares					8,925

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following: o
      N/A

Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. 2008 Trust.

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.

Wilmington Trust Company:           BK

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

Wilmington Trust Corporation:       HC
Wilmington Trust Company:           BK

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.

Not applicable.

Item 10. Certifications.

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

February 22, 2008		Wilmington Trust Corporation
		Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee
		By:		/s/ Gerard A. Chamberlain
				Gerard A. Chamberlain
				Vice President and Assistant Secretary