Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. was a New York-based global investment bank, securities trading and brokerage firm focused on serving corporations, institutions, governments, and individuals. The Firm's investment banking services included corporate finance, M&A, capital raising, financial restructuring, and fairness opinion. Sector expertise included apparel/textiles, communications, consumer products/services, distribution, electronics, financial services, IT, leisure, life science, media, plastics, retail, test/measurement equipment, and transportation. It was absorbed by J.P. Morgan on October 1, 2008. The Firm was originally formed in 1923 and was based in New York City.