Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  J P MORGAN CHASE & CO
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
04/07/2008
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC [BSC]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
270 PARK AVENUE
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director __X__ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

NEW YORK, NY 10017
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 15,124,114
D (1)
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Options to Buy Common Stock 04/07/2008 04/19/2008 Common Stock 50,000 $ 105 I See footnote (2)
Options to Buy Common Stock 04/07/2008 07/18/2008 Common Stock 188,000 $ 100 I See footnote (2)
Options to Buy Common Stock 04/07/2008 07/18/2008 Common Stock 19,800 $ 110 I See footnote (2)
Options to Buy Common Stock 04/07/2008 04/19/2008 Common Stock 250,000 $ 65 I See footnote (2)
Options to Buy Common Stock 04/07/2008 07/18/2008 Common Stock 270,300 $ 75 I See footnote (2)
Options to Buy Common Stock 04/07/2008 01/16/2009 Common Stock 159,200 $ 80 I See footnote (2)
Options to Buy Common Stock 04/07/2008 07/18/2008 Common Stock 48,000 $ 85 I See footnote (2)
Options to Buy Common Stock 04/07/2008 07/18/2008 Common Stock 45,700 $ 90 I See footnote (2)
Options to Buy Common Stock 04/07/2008 04/19/2008 Common Stock 26,800 $ 85 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/15/2010 Common Stock 23,900 $ 60 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/16/2009 Common Stock 97,500 $ 10 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/15/2010 Common Stock 21,400 $ 100 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/15/2010 Common Stock 2,400 $ 120 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/16/2009 Common Stock 1,200 $ 95 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/16/2009 Common Stock 9,800 $ 100 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/16/2009 Common Stock 25,000 $ 70 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock 04/07/2008 04/19/2008 Common Stock 95,000 $ 15 I See footnote (2)
Options to Sell Common Stock 04/07/2008 01/17/2009 Common Stock 22,600 $ 70 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock 04/07/2008 01/17/2009 Common Stock 10,000 $ 80 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock 04/07/2008 01/16/2010 Common Stock 200,000 $ 30 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock 04/07/2008 01/16/2010 Common Stock 70,000 $ 50 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock 04/07/2008 01/17/2009 Common Stock 35,000 $ 100 I See footnote (3)
Options to Sell Common Stock 04/07/2008 04/19/2008 Common Stock 3,200 $ 70 I See footnote (3)
Options to Buy Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/16/2010 Common Stock 168,900 $ 110 I See footnote (2)
Options to Buy Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/17/2009 Common Stock 590,700 $ 100 I See footnote (2)
Options to Buy Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/17/2009 Common Stock 205,600 $ 105 I See footnote (2)
Options to Buy Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/17/2009 Common Stock 608,500 $ 110 I See footnote (2)
Options to Buy Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/16/2010 Common Stock 50,000 $ 150 I See footnote (3)
Options to Buy Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/17/2009 Common Stock 20,000 $ 95 I See footnote (3)
Options to Buy Common Stock (Short Position) 04/07/2008 01/17/2009 Common Stock 25,000 $ 100 I See footnote (3)

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
J P MORGAN CHASE & CO
270 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10017
    X    

Signatures

/s/ Anthony J. Horan 04/15/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes the indirect beneficial ownership of 300 shares owned by J. P. Morgan Ventures Corporation, 415,768 shares owned by J. P. Morgan Whitefriars Inc. and 1,652 shares owned by J. P. Morgan Securities Inc., all wholly owned subsidiaries of the Reporting Person.
(2) Beneficial ownership of this position is held by J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reporting Person.
(3) Beneficial ownership of this position is held by J.P. Morgan Whitefriars, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reporting Person.
 
Remarks:
This Form 3 is the first of two Form 3s being filed to reflect Reporting Person's initial beneficial ownership on 04/07/2008.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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