Lehman Brothers [1] deserves plaudits for its ability to pick its way through the recent rumor-laden minefield. It is not the next Bear Stearns [2], a reflection of good luck and good planning. Fortune offers an insightful look at how the bank prepared for a potential crisis. Starting a year ago, the firm worked "to reduce a technical but crucial funding measurement: its net repo liability. This is a measurement of the firm's liability in its book of overnight and short-term loans, or repurchase agreements." Lehman Brothers had a little less than $19.1 billion in net exposure, down from $24.5 billion a year earlier, the magazine notes. Bear Stearns [3]' net rose to $74.5 billion from $31 billion.  

For more:
- here's the article [4]

Poll Question: Which company appears to be, in all likelihood, the next Bear Stearns? Vote Here [5]

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Still unfolding: The scam that hit Lehman Brothers. Article [6]
Lehman doubters' short-sightedness backfires. Article [7]
Sign of times: New CFO at Lehman Brothers. Article [8]
Similarities between Bear Stearns and Enron? Article [9]
Bear Stearns: A timeline of decline. View timeline [10]