AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 23, 2001
                                                         REGISTRATION NO. 333-__
================================================================================


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                  ------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                  ------------
                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


          DELAWARE                                          13-3286161
-------------------------------                         -------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. Employer
 Incorporation or Organization)                         Identification No.)

                                 245 PARK AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10167
                                 (212) 272-2000
               (Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
        including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)


                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
                            CAPITAL ACCUMULATION PLAN
                          FOR SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTORS
                            (Full Title of the Plan)


                             SAMUEL L. MOLINARO JR.
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
                                 245 PARK AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10167
                                 (212) 272-2000
            (Name, Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
                   including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                                   COPIES TO:
                              DENNIS J. BLOCK, ESQ.
                          CADWALADER, WICKERSHAM & TAFT
                                 100 MAIDEN LANE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10038
                                 (212) 504-6000
                               ------------------


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

=============================================================================================================================
                                                                                          PROPOSED MAXIMUM        AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES      AMOUNT TO BE      PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING       AGGREGATE OFFERING      REGISTRATION
        TO BE REGISTERED              REGISTERED(1)          PRICE PER UNIT(2)                PRICE(2)              FEE(2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>                <C>                             <C>                     <C>
Common Stock, par value $1.00
     per share                           414,153              $44.59                        $18,467,082             $4,616
=============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Plus such indeterminate number of shares pursuant to Rule 416 as may be
     issued in respect of stock splits, stock dividends and similar
     transactions.
(2)  Pursuant to Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933, the proposed maximum
     aggregate offering price and the registration fee are based upon the
     average of the high and low prices per share of the Registrant's Common
     Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on March 22,
     2001.

================================================================================
<PAGE>


                                Explanatory Note


This Registration Statement is being filed solely for purposes of registering
the shares for resale by the Selling Stockholders. The reoffer prospectus
which is filed as a part of this Registration Statement has been prepared in
accordance with the requirements of Form S-3, and pursuant to General
Instruction C of Form S-8 may be used for reoffers or resales of the shares
that have been acquired by the Selling Stockholders.


<PAGE>


                               REOFFER PROSPECTUS

                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.


                         414,153 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK


     Certain of our employees, all of whom are named in this prospectus, are
selling for their own accounts up to 414,153 shares of our Common Stock that
they acquired pursuant to our Capital Accumulation Plan for Senior Managing
Directors. We will not receive any of the proceeds from such sales.

     The Selling Stockholders propose to sell the shares from time to time in
transactions occurring either on or off the New York Stock Exchange at
prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Sales may be made through
brokers or to dealers, who are expected to receive customary commissions or
discounts.

     The Selling Stockholders and participating brokers and dealers may be
deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, in
which event any profit on the sale of shares by those Selling Stockholders and
any commissions or discounts received by those brokers or dealers may be deemed
to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.

     Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and/or Bear, Stearns Securities Corp.,
subsidiaries of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., may act as a broker on behalf
of one or more of the Selling Stockholders.

     The Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"BSC". On March 22, 2001, the closing price of the Common Stock on the Exchange
was $45.21 per share.



     NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS
PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.




                                 March 23, 2001
<PAGE>


     YOU SHOULD ONLY RELY ON THE INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE OR
PROVIDED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY SUPPLEMENT. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE
ELSE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH DIFFERENT INFORMATION. THE COMMON STOCK IS NOT BEING
OFFERED IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER IS NOT PERMITTED. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME
THAT THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY SUPPLEMENT IS ACCURATE AS OF ANY
DATE OTHER THAN THE DATE ON THE FRONT OF THOSE DOCUMENTS.

                                ----------------

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----

Where You Can Find More Information...........................................2
Forward-Looking Statements....................................................3
Certain Definitions...........................................................4
The Company...................................................................5
Selling Stockholders..........................................................7
Plan of Distribution.........................................................11
Experts......................................................................12



                 WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     We file annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other
information required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). You
may read and copy any of these filed documents at the SEC's public reference
rooms located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at Seven World
Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and at Northwest Atrium
Center, 5000 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511.
Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public
reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC's
web site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of these reports, proxy statements and
other information can also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock
Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

     We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), with respect to the Common Stock. This prospectus, which
constitutes a part of that Registration Statement, does not include all the
information contained in that Registration Statement and its exhibits. For
further information with respect to the Company and the Common Stock, you should
consult the Registration Statement and its exhibits. Statements contained in
this prospectus concerning the provisions of any documents are necessarily
summaries of those documents, and each statement is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the copy of the document filed with the SEC. The Registration
Statement and any of its amendments, including exhibits filed as a part of the
Registration Statement or an amendment to the Registration Statement, are
available for inspection and copying through the entities listed above.

     The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information that we
file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to the other information we have filed with the SEC. The
information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this


                                      -2-
<PAGE>


prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically
update and supersede this information.

     The following documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 of
the Exchange Act (File No. 1-8989) and any future filings under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act made before the termination of the
offering are incorporated by reference:

      (i)  the Annual Report on Form 10-K (including the portions of the
           Company's Annual Report to Stockholders and Proxy Statement
           incorporated by reference therein) for the fiscal year ended November
           30, 2000; and

      (ii) the description of the Common Stock, which is registered under
           Section 12 of the Exchange Act, set forth under the caption
           "Description of Capital Stock" contained in the Company's
           Registration Statement on Form 10, dated September 19, 1985.

     We will provide to you without charge, a copy of any or all documents
incorporated by reference into this prospectus except the exhibits to such
documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in
such documents). You may request copies by writing or telephoning us at our
Corporate Communications Department, The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., 245 Park
Avenue, New York, New York 10167; telephone number (212) 272-2000.


                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     CERTAIN STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS
PROSPECTUS INCLUDING (WITHOUT LIMITATION) CERTAIN MATTERS DISCUSSED UNDER "LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS," "MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" AND "QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
MARKET RISK" INCLUDED IN OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON
FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2000, WHICH HAS BEEN FILED WITH
THE SEC, ARE "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE
SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
CONCERNING MANAGEMENT'S EXPECTATIONS, STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES, BUSINESS PROSPECTS,
ANTICIPATED ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL CONDITION AND OTHER SIMILAR
MATTERS ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, WHICH COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS
TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DISCUSSED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SPEAK ONLY AS OF THE DATE OF THE DOCUMENT IN WHICH
THEY ARE MADE. WE DISCLAIM ANY OBLIGATION OR UNDERTAKING TO PROVIDE ANY UPDATES
OR REVISIONS TO ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT TO REFLECT ANY CHANGE IN OUR
EXPECTATIONS OR ANY CHANGE IN EVENTS, CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH THE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT IS BASED.




                                      -3-
<PAGE>


                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS


     Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus:

o    the "Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to The Bear Stearns Companies
     Inc. and its subsidiaries;

o    "AMEX" refers to the American Stock Exchange;

o    "Bear Stearns" refers to Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.;

o    "BSB" refers to Bear Stearns Bank plc;

o    "BSSC" refers to Bear, Stearns Securities Corp.;

o    "BSIL" refers to Bear, Stearns International Limited;

o    "Common Stock" refers to the Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of
     The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.;

o    "NASD" refers to the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; and

o    "NYSE" refers to the New York Stock Exchange.

Bear Stearns, BSB, BSSC and BSIL are subsidiaries of The Bear Stearns Companies
Inc.





                                      -4-
<PAGE>


                                   THE COMPANY

     We are a holding company that, through our subsidiaries, principally Bear
Stearns, BSSC, BSIL and BSB, is a leading investment banking, securities trading
and brokerage firm serving corporations, governments, institutional and
individual investors worldwide. BSSC, a subsidiary of Bear Stearns, provides
professional and correspondent clearing services, in addition to clearing and
settling our proprietary and customer transactions. Our business includes:

o    market-making and trading in US government, government agency, corporate
     debt and equity, mortgage-related, asset-backed and municipal securities;

o    trading in options, futures, foreign currencies, interest rate swaps and
     other derivative products;

o    securities, options and futures brokerage;

o    providing securities clearance services;

o    managing equity and fixed income assets for institutional and individual
     clients;

o    financing customer activities;

o    securities lending;

o    securities and futures arbitrage;

o    involvement in specialist activity on both the NYSE and the AMEX;

o    underwriting and distributing securities;

o    arranging for the private placement of securities;

o    assisting in mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and leveraged
     transactions;

o    making principal investments in leveraged acquisitions;

o    engaging in commercial real estate activities;

o    investment management and advisory; and

o    fiduciary, custody, agency and securities research services.


Our business is conducted:

o    from our principal offices in New York City;

o    from domestic regional offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver,
     Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Juan;

o    from representative offices in Beijing, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Seoul and
     Shanghai;


                                      -5-
<PAGE>


o    through international offices in Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Lugano,
     Singapore and Tokyo; and

o    through joint ventures with other firms in Belgium, Greece and Spain.

Our international offices provide services and engage in investment activities
involving foreign clients and international transactions. Additionally, certain
of these foreign offices provide services to US clients. We provide trust
company and clearance services through our subsidiary, Custodial Trust Company,
which is located in Princeton, New Jersey.

     Bear Stearns and BSSC are broker-dealers registered with the SEC.
Additionally, Bear Stearns is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC.
Bear Stearns and/or BSSC are also members of the NYSE, all other principal US
securities and futures exchanges, the NASD, the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission, the National Futures Association and the International Stock
Exchange. Bear Stearns is a "primary dealer" in US government securities, as
designated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

     BSIL is a full service broker-dealer based in London and is a member of
Eurex (formerly the Deutsche Terminborse), the International Petroleum Exchange,
the London Commodity Exchange, the London International Financial Futures and
Options Exchange, the London Securities & Derivatives Exchange, Marche a Terme
International de France, SA and the London Clearing House. BSIL is supervised by
and is regulated in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Futures
Authority.

     BSB is an Irish-based bank, which was incorporated in 1996 and subsequently
granted a banking license under the Irish Central Bank Act, 1971. BSB allows our
existing and prospective clients the choice of dealing with a banking
counterparty.

     We are incorporated in the State of Delaware. Our principal executive
office is located at 245 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10167; our telephone
number is (212) 272-2000. Our Internet address is http://www.bearstearns.com.


                                      -6-
<PAGE>


                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     This prospectus relates to shares of Common Stock that have been acquired
by the Selling Stockholders named below pursuant to our Capital Accumulation
Plan for Senior Managing Directors.

     Each of the Selling Stockholders is an employee of the Company or one of
its subsidiaries and is a Senior Managing Director of Bear Stearns. The
following table sets forth:

     o    the name and principal position or positions over the past three years
          with the Company of each Selling Stockholder (other than such Selling
          Stockholder's current position as a Senior Managing Director of Bear
          Stearns);

     o    the number of shares of Common Stock each Selling Stockholder
          beneficially owned as of March 13, 2001;

     o    the number of shares of Common Stock acquired by each Selling
          Stockholder pursuant to the Plan and being registered under this
          Registration Statement, some or all of which shares may be sold
          pursuant to this prospectus; and

     o    the number of shares of Common Stock and the percentage, if 1% or
          more, of the total class of Common Stock outstanding to be
          beneficially owned by each Selling Stockholder following this
          offering, assuming the sale pursuant to this offering of all shares
          acquired by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to the Plan and
          registered under this Registration Statement.

There is no assurance that any of the Selling Stockholders will sell any or all
of the shares offered by them under this Registration Statement. The address of
each Selling Stockholder is c/o The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., 245 Park
Avenue, New York, New York 10167.




                                      -7-
<PAGE>


     This table reflects all Selling Stockholders who are eligible to resell and
the number of shares available to be resold by such Selling Stockholders.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                                              SHARES               SHARES                    AFTER THIS OFFERING
  SELLING STOCKHOLDERS AND PRINCIPAL       BENEFICIALLY          COVERED BY           ----------------------------------
      POSITIONS WITH THE COMPANY          OWNED (1)(2)(3)     THIS PROSPECTUS             NUMBER               PERCENT
------------------------------------      ---------------     ---------------         ----------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>                 <C>                     <C>                   <C>
Edward Almeida                                  23,283               1,722                   21,561               *
Wayne Angell                                     9,181               2,677                    6,504               *
Raymond Aronson                                  2,636                 386                    2,250               *
Perrin Arturi                                    1,470                 594                      876               *
Jeffrey C. Bernstein                            24,702               2,406                   22,296               *
Damion Carufe                                    3,511               1,255                    2,256               *
James E. Cayne (4)                           4,598,412              41,816                4,556,596             2.96%
   President
   Chief Executive Officer
Vincent M. Cazzetta                              2,123                 198                    1,925               *
Daniel A. Celentano                              9,960               1,593                    8,367               *
Pasquale CeStaro, III                           32,575               2,390                   30,185               *
Peter Cherasia (a)                              38,631               7,958                   30,673               *
John Chimento                                    4,002               1,007                    2,995               *
Ralph Cioffi                                    84,337              20,772                   63,565               *
Marshall Coburn                                 19,214               2,873                   16,341               *
Barry J. Cohen                                 170,488               5,486                  165,002               *
Michael Cohen                                   16,492               1,422                   15,070               *
David S. Connelly                                6,171               4,786                    1,385               *
Steven M. Dantus (5)                            36,006               4,112                   31,894               *
Andrew Decker                                    1,660               1,265                      395               *
Richard W. Dimino                               69,530                 499                   69,031               *
John Doyle                                       1,378               1,050                      328               *
Kenneth Edlow                                  128,406               1,493                  126,913               *
   Secretary
Yan Erlikh                                      34,933               7,124                   27,809               *
Marc Feuer                                       5,046                 618                    4,428               *
William Finn                                    37,343               1,316                   36,027               *
Michael Frankel                                 27,678               1,026                   26,652               *
William Gangi                                    5,254               3,223                    2,031               *
Bruce E. Geismar (a)(6)                        103,232               5,798                   97,434               *
Andrew E. Haas (7)                              34,441               3,735                   30,706               *
Robert Harteveldt                               14,623               7,767                    6,856               *
Cory Hechler                                    11,184               3,083                    8,101               *
Kent Hiteshew                                    1,827                 875                      952               *
Daniel Hoffman                                  13,715               3,230                   10,485               *
Marjorie Hogan                                  15,613               2,677                   12,936               *
Michael Hyatt (8)                               60,819               2,135                   58,684               *
Robert B. Jackman                              236,236               2,942                  233,294               *
William M. Jennings                            334,320               2,496                  331,824               *
Brian C. Jerome                                 22,386               1,648                   20,738               *
Michael Josephson                               25,780               2,104                   23,676               *
Richard Kahn                                     4,894                 753                    4,141               *
Daniel L. Keating (a)                          145,630               2,495                  143,135               *
Frederick N. Khedouri                           14,768               4,655                   10,113               *
John Knight                                      4,240                 737                    3,503               *
John Y. Koren                                   12,466               1,656                   10,810               *
Hans Rudolph Kunz                               78,418               3,674                   74,744               *
</TABLE>



                                      -8-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                                              SHARES               SHARES                    AFTER THIS OFFERING
  SELLING STOCKHOLDERS AND PRINCIPAL       BENEFICIALLY          COVERED BY           ----------------------------------
      POSITIONS WITH THE COMPANY          OWNED (1)(2)(3)     THIS PROSPECTUS             NUMBER               PERCENT
------------------------------------      ---------------     ---------------         ----------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>                 <C>                     <C>                   <C>
Pascal Lambert                                   2,683                 301                    2,382               *
Andrew Lawrence                                109,839                 670                  109,169               *
Mark E. Lehman (9)                             138,170               4,638                  133,532               *
   Executive Vice President
   General Counsel
Frederick Leuffer                               32,078               3,053                   29,025               *
Marshall J Levinson (10)                         5,023                 725                    4,298               *
   Controller
Anthony Liberatore                               5,996               1,019                    4,977               *
Bruce M. Lisman                                180,223               7,474                  172,749               *
Roland N. Livney                                 8,875               4,629                    4,246               *
Shumer Lonoff                                    2,648                  40                    2,608               *
Michael A. Lorig                                20,376               3,166                   17,210               *
Ralph Mack                                       5,834               5,123                      711               *
Anthony Magro                                    4,112               4,112                        -               *
David Malpass                                    2,336               2,042                      294               *
Thomas Marano                                    3,717               2,561                    1,156               *
Michael J. Margolis                              3,296                 381                    2,915               *
George J. Mason                                 23,059                 874                   22,185               *
Jeffrey A. Mayer                                 4,396               4,112                      284               *
James McKenna                                    1,765               1,437                      328               *
Jeffrey Mehl                                    69,228               1,864                   67,364               *
Michael Minikes (a) (11)                       383,568              17,623                  365,945               *
   Treasurer
Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.                          14,456               1,041                   13,415               *
   Senior Vice President-Finance
   Chief Financial Officer
Dominick Mondi                                   4,331               2,037                    2,294               *
Donald R. Mullen (a)                             6,473               6,473                        -               *
Mark Murphy                                      4,698               4,031                      667               *
Steven B. Nakovich                              54,851               2,115                   52,736               *
Andrew Neff                                     15,154               1,500                   13,654               *
Barry Nix                                        6,674               6,674                        -               *
Timothy O'Neill                                 12,414               1,987                   10,427               *
Craig M. Overlander                              7,438               4,432                    3,006               *
Aldo Parcesepe                                 169,129               3,630                  165,499               *
Terese D. Payne                                134,580               5,672                  128,908               *
   (Leave of Absence)
Edward Raice                                    20,851                 424                   20,427               *
Stephen E. Raphael                              10,523               7,576                    2,947               *
Robert Reitzes                                   7,138               6,138                    1,000               *
Michael Saperstein (12)                        623,815                  75                  623,740               *
Michael D. Sargent                              84,146               1,318                   82,828               *
Kenneth Savio                                   32,699               2,135                   30,564               *
Steven Scari                                    12,638               1,896                   10,742               *
Joel S. Schlesinger                             12,687               1,175                   11,512               *
Clark Schubach                                  44,020               1,585                   42,435               *
Alan D. Schwartz                               871,567              21,361                  850,206               *
Theodore M. Serure                               4,647               1,486                    3,161               *
Nathaniel Singer                                 2,422                 960                    1,462               *
Anthony P. Skvarla                              27,035                 600                   26,435               *
Andrew Sloves                                   20,519               5,414                   15,105               *
Kevin Smyth                                     23,835               2,446                   21,389               *
</TABLE>


                                      -9-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                                              SHARES               SHARES                    AFTER THIS OFFERING
  SELLING STOCKHOLDERS AND PRINCIPAL       BENEFICIALLY          COVERED BY           ----------------------------------
      POSITIONS WITH THE COMPANY          OWNED (1)(2)(3)     THIS PROSPECTUS             NUMBER               PERCENT
------------------------------------      ---------------     ---------------         ----------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>                 <C>                     <C>                   <C>
Kurt Soukup                                     15,724              15,215                      509               *
Kenneth Spindel                                  8,825                 881                    7,944               *
Sheldon I. Stein                                 2,761               2,496                      265               *
Robert Steinberg                               935,954              10,486                  925,468               *
Stephen M. Straty                                2,373               2,312                       61               *
Theodore H. Strauss                             24,087                 800                   23,287               *
Kok Wee Tan                                      2,339               2,339                        -               *
Donald Tang                                      6,819               6,819                        -               *
Salvatore Tiano                                  6,623               2,205                    4,418               *
Michael Urfirer                                141,526              28,558                  112,968               *
Eli Wachtel (13)                                14,250               2,135                   12,115               *
James Wolfsberg                                  3,005               1,419                    1,586               *
George J. Zahringer                             20,786               2,979                   17,807               *
Uzi Zucker (a)                                 235,140               1,957                  233,183               *
</TABLE>
------------------
* Less than one (1%) percent.

(a)  Former member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

(1)  Nature of beneficial ownership is sole voting and investment power except
     as indicated in subsequent notes.

(2)  Includes shares of Common Stock owned by the Selling Stockholders through
     The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP").
     Shares owned by the ESOP that are allocated to employees' accounts are
     voted on a "pass through" basis by the employees to whose accounts such
     shares are allocated. Shares not allocated to accounts and allocated shares
     for which voting directions have not been received are voted by the trustee
     of the ESOP in proportion to the manner in which allocated shares are
     directed to be voted by participants in the ESOP.

(3)  Does not include an aggregate of 20,748,656 shares underlying units
     credited under the Capital Accumulation Plan and the Restricted Stock Award
     Plan to the indicated individuals because such individuals neither have the
     present ability to direct the vote nor the ability to dispose of such
     shares and will not have such rights within 60 days.

(4)  Does not include 45,669 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Cayne's wife,
     as to which shares Mr. Cayne disclaims beneficial ownership. Does not
     include 235,254 shares of Common Stock held by trusts established for Mr.
     Cayne's children, as to which shares Mr. Cayne disclaims beneficial
     ownership. Does not include 8,048 shares of Common Stock owned by a child
     of Mr. Cayne, as to which shares Mr. Cayne disclaims beneficial ownership.

(5)  Includes 22 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Dantus as custodian for his
     child.

(6)  Does not include 2,348 shares of Common Stock owned by a child of Mr.
     Geismar, as to which shares Mr. Geismar disclaims beneficial ownership.

(7)  Includes 318 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Haas as custodian for his
     children.

(8)  Includes 694 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Hyatt as custodian for his
     children.

(9)  Does not include 29,763 shares of Common Stock held in a trust established
     for Mr. Lehman's wife, as to which shares Mr. Lehman disclaims beneficial
     ownership.

(10) Does not include 77 shares of Common Stock held in a trust established for
     Mr. Levinson's daughter, as to which shares Mr. Levinson disclaims
     beneficial ownership.

(11) Does not include 1,760 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Minikes' wife,
     as to which shares Mr. Minikes disclaims beneficial ownership.

(12) Does not include 161,060 shares of Common Stock held in two trusts
     established for Mr. Saperstein's daughter, as to which shares Mr.
     Saperstein disclaims beneficial ownership.

(13) Mr. Wachtel also has a short position of 9,892 shares of Common Stock.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     Shares covered by this prospectus will be sold by the Selling Stockholders
as principals for their own account. We will not receive any proceeds from sales
of any shares by Selling Stockholders.

     The Selling Stockholders or their pledgees, donees, transferees or other
successors in interest (including Bear Stearns to the extent that shares may be
sold from a margin account) may sell shares pursuant to this prospectus from
time to time:

     o    in transactions (including one or more block transactions) on the
          NYSE;

     o    in the public market off the NYSE;

     o    in privately negotiated transactions;

     o    through put or call options transactions relating to the shares;

     o    through short sales of shares; or

     o    in a combination of such transactions.

Each sale may be made either at the market price prevailing at the time of sale
or at a negotiated price. Sales may be made through brokers or to dealers, and
such brokers or dealers may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
discounts not exceeding those customary in similar transactions. Any shares
covered by this prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this
prospectus. All expenses of registration incurred in connection with this
offering are being borne by the Company, but all brokerage commissions and other
expenses incurred by a Selling Stockholder will be borne by that Selling
Stockholder.

     The Selling Stockholders and any dealer acting in connection with the
offering or any broker executing a sell order on behalf of a Selling Stockholder
may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act, in
which event any profit on the sale of shares by a Selling Stockholder and any
commissions or discounts received by any such broker or dealer may be deemed to
be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. In addition, any such
broker or dealer may be required to deliver a copy of this prospectus to any
person who purchases any of the shares from or through such broker or dealer.

     Bear Stearns and/or BSSC may act as a broker on behalf of one or more of
the Selling Stockholders in connection with sales under this prospectus and may
receive customary commissions in connection therewith. Bear Stearns and BSSC are
member firms of the NASD and their activities in connection with the offering
will conform to the requirements set forth in Rule 2720 of the NASD Conduct
Rules.

     In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if
applicable, the shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers
or dealers.


                                      -11-
<PAGE>


                                     EXPERTS

     The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement
schedules incorporated in this prospectus by reference from our 2000 Annual
Report on Form 10-K have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated in this prospectus
by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such
firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.





                                      -12-
<PAGE>


                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3.    INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to
Section 13 of the Exchange Act (File No. 1-8989), are incorporated herein by
reference: (i) the Annual Report on Form 10-K (including the portions of the
Company's Annual Report to Stockholders and Proxy Statement incorporated by
reference therein) for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000; and (ii) the
description of the Common Stock, which is registered under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, set forth under the caption "Description of Capital Stock"
contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10, dated September
19, 1985. All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration
Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment indicating that
all securities offered hereby have been sold or deregistering all securities
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.


ITEM 4.    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     Not Applicable.


ITEM 5.    INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     Not Applicable.


ITEM 6.    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Reference is made to Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
which provides for indemnification of directors and officers in certain
circumstances.

     Article VIII of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
provides for indemnification of directors and officers of the Company against
certain liabilities incurred as a result of their duties as such and also
provides for the elimination of the monetary liability of directors for certain
actions as such. The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended, is filed as Exhibit 4(a)(1) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3
(No. 333-57083) filed June 17, 1998.

     We have in effect reimbursement insurance for our directors' and officers'
liability claims and directors' and officers' liability insurance indemnifying,
respectively, ourselves and our directors and officers within specific limits
for certain liabilities incurred by them, subject to the conditions and
exclusions and deductible provisions of the policies.

     For the undertaking with respect to indemnification, see Item 9.


                                      II-1
<PAGE>


ITEM 7.    EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     With respect to the restricted securities reoffered or resold pursuant to
this Registration Statement, the registrant claimed an exemption from
registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2) thereof. Such
restricted securities were issued to the Selling Stockholders in connection with
their deferral of income under the registrant's Capital Accumulation Plan for
Senior Managing Directors.

ITEM 8.    EXHIBITS.

           Exhibit No.          Description
           -----------          -----------

           4(a)(1)      --      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
                                Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                                4(a)(1) to the Registration Statement on Form
                                S-3 (File No. 333-57083)).

           4(a)(2)      --      Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                                Registrant's Adjustable Rate Cumulative
                                Preferred Stock, Series A (incorporated by
                                reference to Exhibit 4(a)(6) to the Registration
                                Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 33-49979)).

           4(a)(3)      --      Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                                Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series
                                E (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 to
                                the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
                                January 14, 1998).

           4(a)(4)      --      Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                                Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series
                                F (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 to
                                the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
                                April 20, 1998).

           4(a)(5)      --      Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                                Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series
                                G (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 to
                                the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
                                June 18, 1998).

           4(b)         --      Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant
                                (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (4)(b) to
                                Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
                                Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.
                                333-81901)).

           23(a)        --      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

           24           --      Power of attorney (included in the signature
                                pages to the Registration Statement).

     An opinion of counsel (Exhibit 5) is not being filed since the securities
being registered are not original issuance securities.


                                      II-2
<PAGE>

ITEM 9.    UNDERTAKINGS.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

     (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

     (i)    to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
            Securities Act;

     (ii)   to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
            effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent
            post-effective amendment thereto) which, individually or in the
            aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
            forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
            any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the
            total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which
            was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
            estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of
            prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the
            aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a
            20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth
            in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
            Registration Statement;

     (iii)  to include any material information with respect to the plan of
            distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement
            or any material change to such information in this Registration
            Statement;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(i) and
(a)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports
filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement.

     (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each such post-effective amendment will be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time will be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering
thereof.

     (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

     (d) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof.

     (e) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the provisions referred to in Item 15 of this
Registration Statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in
the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                      II-3
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
hereby certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of
the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on March 23, 2001.



                                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.



                                         By: /s/ SAMUEL L. MOLINARO JR.
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                 SAMUEL L. MOLINARO JR.
                                                 Senior Vice President - Finance
                                                 and Chief Financial Officer


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Alan C. Greenberg, James E. Cayne and Samuel L.
Molinaro Jr. and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform such and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on March 23, 2001.


             SIGNATURE                                   TITLE
             ---------                                   -----

                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.


 /s/ ALAN C. GREENBERG                    Chairman of the Board and Director
--------------------------------------
          ALAN C. GREENBERG


 /s/ JAMES E. CAYNE                       President, Chief Executive Officer
------------------------------------         and Director (Principal
           JAMES E. CAYNE                    Executive Officer)


 /s/ CARL D. GLICKMAN                     Director
------------------------------------
          CARL D. GLICKMAN


 /s/ DONALD J. HARRINGTON                 Director
------------------------------------
        DONALD J. HARRINGTON

                                      II-4
<PAGE>


             SIGNATURE                                   TITLE
             ---------                                   -----


 /s/ WILLIAM L. MACK                      Director
------------------------------------
           WILLIAM L. MACK


 /s/ FRANK T. NICKELL                     Director
------------------------------------
          FRANK T. NICKELL


                                          Director
------------------------------------
         FREDERIC V. SALERNO


 /s/ ALAN D. SCHWARTZ                     Director
------------------------------------
          ALAN D. SCHWARTZ

 /s/ WARREN J. SPECTOR                    Director
------------------------------------
          WARREN J. SPECTOR


 /s/ VINCENT TESE                         Director
------------------------------------
            VINCENT TESE


 /s/ FRED WILPON                          Director
------------------------------------
             FRED WILPON


 /s/ SAMUEL L. MOLINARO JR.               Senior Vice President - Finance
------------------------------------         and Chief Financial Officer
       SAMUEL L. MOLINARO JR.                (Principal Financial Officer)


 /s/ MARSHALL J LEVINSON                  Controller
------------------------------------         (Principal Accounting Officer)
         MARSHALL J LEVINSON


                                      II-5
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT
NUMBER                       DESCRIPTION
-------                      -----------

4(a)(1)         --           Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
                             Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                             4(a)(1) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3
                             (File No. 333-57083)).

4(a)(2)         --           Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                             Registrant's Adjustable Rate Cumulative Preferred
                             Stock, Series A (incorporated by reference to
                             Exhibit 4(a)(6) to the Registration Statement on
                             Form S-8 (File No. 33-49979)).

4(a)(3)         --           Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                             Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series E
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 to the
                             Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on January
                             14, 1998).

4(a)(4)         --           Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                             Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series F
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 to the
                             Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on April
                             20, 1998).

4(a)(5)         --           Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                             Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 to the
                             Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on June
                             18, 1998).

4(b)            --           Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (4)(b) to
                             Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
                             Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-81901)).

23(a)           --           Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

24              --           Power of attorney (included in the signature pages
                             to the Registration Statement).
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "REGISTRATION STATEMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 57176}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC", "cik": "0000777001", "assigned-sic": "6211", "irs-number": "133286161", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1130"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-57460", "film-number": "1577053"}, "business-address": {"street1": "245 PARK AVE", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10167", "phone": "2122722000"}}
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 23, 2001
                                                         REGISTRATION NO. 333-__
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                  ------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                  ------------
                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

          DELAWARE                                          13-3286161
-------------------------------                         -------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. Employer
 Incorporation or Organization)                         Identification No.)

                                 245 PARK AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10167
                                 (212) 272-2000
               (Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
        including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
                            CAPITAL ACCUMULATION PLAN
                          FOR SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTORS
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                             SAMUEL L. MOLINARO JR.
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
                                 245 PARK AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10167
                                 (212) 272-2000
            (Name, Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
                   including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                                   COPIES TO:
                              DENNIS J. BLOCK, ESQ.
                          CADWALADER, WICKERSHAM & TAFT
                                 100 MAIDEN LANE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10038
                                 (212) 504-6000
                               ------------------
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

=============================================================================================================================
                                                                                          PROPOSED MAXIMUM        AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES      AMOUNT TO BE      PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING       AGGREGATE OFFERING      REGISTRATION
        TO BE REGISTERED              REGISTERED(1)          PRICE PER UNIT(2)                PRICE(2)              FEE(2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, par value $1.00
     per share                           414,153              $44.59                        $18,467,082             $4,616
=============================================================================================================================
(1)  Plus such indeterminate number of shares pursuant to Rule 416 as may be
     issued in respect of stock splits, stock dividends and similar
     transactions.
(2)  Pursuant to Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933, the proposed maximum
     aggregate offering price and the registration fee are based upon the
     average of the high and low prices per share of the Registrant's Common
     Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on March 22,
     2001.

================================================================================
Explanatory Note

This Registration Statement is being filed solely for purposes of registering
the shares for resale by the Selling Stockholders. The reoffer prospectus
which is filed as a part of this Registration Statement has been prepared in
accordance with the requirements of Form S-3, and pursuant to General
Instruction C of Form S-8 may be used for reoffers or resales of the shares
that have been acquired by the Selling Stockholders.
REOFFER PROSPECTUS

                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

                         414,153 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

     Certain of our employees, all of whom are named in this prospectus, are
selling for their own accounts up to 414,153 shares of our Common Stock that
they acquired pursuant to our Capital Accumulation Plan for Senior Managing
Directors. We will not receive any of the proceeds from such sales.

     The Selling Stockholders propose to sell the shares from time to time in
transactions occurring either on or off the New York Stock Exchange at
prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Sales may be made through
brokers or to dealers, who are expected to receive customary commissions or
discounts.

     The Selling Stockholders and participating brokers and dealers may be
deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, in
which event any profit on the sale of shares by those Selling Stockholders and
any commissions or discounts received by those brokers or dealers may be deemed
to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.

     Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and/or Bear, Stearns Securities Corp.,
subsidiaries of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., may act as a broker on behalf
of one or more of the Selling Stockholders.

     The Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"BSC". On March 22, 2001, the closing price of the Common Stock on the Exchange
was $45.21 per share.

     NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS
PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                                 March 23, 2001
YOU SHOULD ONLY RELY ON THE INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE OR
PROVIDED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY SUPPLEMENT. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE
ELSE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH DIFFERENT INFORMATION. THE COMMON STOCK IS NOT BEING
OFFERED IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER IS NOT PERMITTED. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME
THAT THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY SUPPLEMENT IS ACCURATE AS OF ANY
DATE OTHER THAN THE DATE ON THE FRONT OF THOSE DOCUMENTS.

                                ----------------

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----

Where You Can Find More Information...........................................2
Forward-Looking Statements....................................................3
Certain Definitions...........................................................4
The Company...................................................................5
Selling Stockholders..........................................................7
Plan of Distribution.........................................................11
Experts......................................................................12

                 WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     We file annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other
information required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). You
may read and copy any of these filed documents at the SEC's public reference
rooms located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at Seven World
Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and at Northwest Atrium
Center, 5000 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511.
Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public
reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC's
web site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of these reports, proxy statements and
other information can also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock
Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

     We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), with respect to the Common Stock. This prospectus, which
constitutes a part of that Registration Statement, does not include all the
information contained in that Registration Statement and its exhibits. For
further information with respect to the Company and the Common Stock, you should
consult the Registration Statement and its exhibits. Statements contained in
this prospectus concerning the provisions of any documents are necessarily
summaries of those documents, and each statement is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the copy of the document filed with the SEC. The Registration
Statement and any of its amendments, including exhibits filed as a part of the
Registration Statement or an amendment to the Registration Statement, are
available for inspection and copying through the entities listed above.

     The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information that we
file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to the other information we have filed with the SEC. The
information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this

                                      -2-
prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically
update and supersede this information.

     The following documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 of
the Exchange Act (File No. 1-8989) and any future filings under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act made before the termination of the
offering are incorporated by reference:

      (i)  the Annual Report on Form 10-K (including the portions of the
           Company's Annual Report to Stockholders and Proxy Statement
           incorporated by reference therein) for the fiscal year ended November
           30, 2000; and

      (ii) the description of the Common Stock, which is registered under
           Section 12 of the Exchange Act, set forth under the caption
           "Description of Capital Stock" contained in the Company's
           Registration Statement on Form 10, dated September 19, 1985.

     We will provide to you without charge, a copy of any or all documents
incorporated by reference into this prospectus except the exhibits to such
documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in
such documents). You may request copies by writing or telephoning us at our
Corporate Communications Department, The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., 245 Park
Avenue, New York, New York 10167; telephone number (212) 272-2000.

                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     CERTAIN STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS
PROSPECTUS INCLUDING (WITHOUT LIMITATION) CERTAIN MATTERS DISCUSSED UNDER "LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS," "MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" AND "QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
MARKET RISK" INCLUDED IN OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON
FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2000, WHICH HAS BEEN FILED WITH
THE SEC, ARE "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE
SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
CONCERNING MANAGEMENT'S EXPECTATIONS, STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES, BUSINESS PROSPECTS,
ANTICIPATED ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL CONDITION AND OTHER SIMILAR
MATTERS ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, WHICH COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS
TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DISCUSSED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SPEAK ONLY AS OF THE DATE OF THE DOCUMENT IN WHICH
THEY ARE MADE. WE DISCLAIM ANY OBLIGATION OR UNDERTAKING TO PROVIDE ANY UPDATES
OR REVISIONS TO ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT TO REFLECT ANY CHANGE IN OUR
EXPECTATIONS OR ANY CHANGE IN EVENTS, CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH THE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT IS BASED.

                                      -3-
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

     Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus:

o    the "Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to The Bear Stearns Companies
     Inc. and its subsidiaries;

o    "AMEX" refers to the American Stock Exchange;

o    "Bear Stearns" refers to Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.;

o    "BSB" refers to Bear Stearns Bank plc;

o    "BSSC" refers to Bear, Stearns Securities Corp.;

o    "BSIL" refers to Bear, Stearns International Limited;

o    "Common Stock" refers to the Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of
     The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.;

o    "NASD" refers to the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; and

o    "NYSE" refers to the New York Stock Exchange.

Bear Stearns, BSB, BSSC and BSIL are subsidiaries of The Bear Stearns Companies
Inc.

                                      -4-
THE COMPANY

     We are a holding company that, through our subsidiaries, principally Bear
Stearns, BSSC, BSIL and BSB, is a leading investment banking, securities trading
and brokerage firm serving corporations, governments, institutional and
individual investors worldwide. BSSC, a subsidiary of Bear Stearns, provides
professional and correspondent clearing services, in addition to clearing and
settling our proprietary and customer transactions. Our business includes:

o    market-making and trading in US government, government agency, corporate
     debt and equity, mortgage-related, asset-backed and municipal securities;

o    trading in options, futures, foreign currencies, interest rate swaps and
     other derivative products;

o    securities, options and futures brokerage;

o    providing securities clearance services;

o    managing equity and fixed income assets for institutional and individual
     clients;

o    financing customer activities;

o    securities lending;

o    securities and futures arbitrage;

o    involvement in specialist activity on both the NYSE and the AMEX;

o    underwriting and distributing securities;

o    arranging for the private placement of securities;

o    assisting in mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and leveraged
     transactions;

o    making principal investments in leveraged acquisitions;

o    engaging in commercial real estate activities;

o    investment management and advisory; and

o    fiduciary, custody, agency and securities research services.

Our business is conducted:

o    from our principal offices in New York City;

o    from domestic regional offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver,
     Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Juan;

o    from representative offices in Beijing, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Seoul and
     Shanghai;

                                      -5-
o    through international offices in Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Lugano,
     Singapore and Tokyo; and

o    through joint ventures with other firms in Belgium, Greece and Spain.

Our international offices provide services and engage in investment activities
involving foreign clients and international transactions. Additionally, certain
of these foreign offices provide services to US clients. We provide trust
company and clearance services through our subsidiary, Custodial Trust Company,
which is located in Princeton, New Jersey.

     Bear Stearns and BSSC are broker-dealers registered with the SEC.
Additionally, Bear Stearns is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC.
Bear Stearns and/or BSSC are also members of the NYSE, all other principal US
securities and futures exchanges, the NASD, the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission, the National Futures Association and the International Stock
Exchange. Bear Stearns is a "primary dealer" in US government securities, as
designated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

     BSIL is a full service broker-dealer based in London and is a member of
Eurex (formerly the Deutsche Terminborse), the International Petroleum Exchange,
the London Commodity Exchange, the London International Financial Futures and
Options Exchange, the London Securities & Derivatives Exchange, Marche a Terme
International de France, SA and the London Clearing House. BSIL is supervised by
and is regulated in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Futures
Authority.

     BSB is an Irish-based bank, which was incorporated in 1996 and subsequently
granted a banking license under the Irish Central Bank Act, 1971. BSB allows our
existing and prospective clients the choice of dealing with a banking
counterparty.

     We are incorporated in the State of Delaware. Our principal executive
office is located at 245 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10167; our telephone
number is (212) 272-2000. Our Internet address is http://www.bearstearns.com.

                                      -6-
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     This prospectus relates to shares of Common Stock that have been acquired
by the Selling Stockholders named below pursuant to our Capital Accumulation
Plan for Senior Managing Directors.

     Each of the Selling Stockholders is an employee of the Company or one of
its subsidiaries and is a Senior Managing Director of Bear Stearns. The
following table sets forth:

     o    the name and principal position or positions over the past three years
          with the Company of each Selling Stockholder (other than such Selling
          Stockholder's current position as a Senior Managing Director of Bear
          Stearns);

     o    the number of shares of Common Stock each Selling Stockholder
          beneficially owned as of March 13, 2001;

     o    the number of shares of Common Stock acquired by each Selling
          Stockholder pursuant to the Plan and being registered under this
          Registration Statement, some or all of which shares may be sold
          pursuant to this prospectus; and

     o    the number of shares of Common Stock and the percentage, if 1% or
          more, of the total class of Common Stock outstanding to be
          beneficially owned by each Selling Stockholder following this
          offering, assuming the sale pursuant to this offering of all shares
          acquired by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to the Plan and
          registered under this Registration Statement.

There is no assurance that any of the Selling Stockholders will sell any or all
of the shares offered by them under this Registration Statement. The address of
each Selling Stockholder is c/o The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., 245 Park
Avenue, New York, New York 10167.

                                      -7-
This table reflects all Selling Stockholders who are eligible to resell and
the number of shares available to be resold by such Selling Stockholders.
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                                              SHARES               SHARES                    AFTER THIS OFFERING
  SELLING STOCKHOLDERS AND PRINCIPAL       BENEFICIALLY          COVERED BY           ----------------------------------
      POSITIONS WITH THE COMPANY          OWNED (1)(2)(3)     THIS PROSPECTUS             NUMBER               PERCENT
------------------------------------      ---------------     ---------------         ----------------------------------
Edward Almeida                                  23,283               1,722                   21,561               *
Wayne Angell                                     9,181               2,677                    6,504               *
Raymond Aronson                                  2,636                 386                    2,250               *
Perrin Arturi                                    1,470                 594                      876               *
Jeffrey C. Bernstein                            24,702               2,406                   22,296               *
Damion Carufe                                    3,511               1,255                    2,256               *
James E. Cayne (4)                           4,598,412              41,816                4,556,596             2.96%
   President
   Chief Executive Officer
Vincent M. Cazzetta                              2,123                 198                    1,925               *
Daniel A. Celentano                              9,960               1,593                    8,367               *
Pasquale CeStaro, III                           32,575               2,390                   30,185               *
Peter Cherasia (a)                              38,631               7,958                   30,673               *
John Chimento                                    4,002               1,007                    2,995               *
Ralph Cioffi                                    84,337              20,772                   63,565               *
Marshall Coburn                                 19,214               2,873                   16,341               *
Barry J. Cohen                                 170,488               5,486                  165,002               *
Michael Cohen                                   16,492               1,422                   15,070               *
David S. Connelly                                6,171               4,786                    1,385               *
Steven M. Dantus (5)                            36,006               4,112                   31,894               *
Andrew Decker                                    1,660               1,265                      395               *
Richard W. Dimino                               69,530                 499                   69,031               *
John Doyle                                       1,378               1,050                      328               *
Kenneth Edlow                                  128,406               1,493                  126,913               *
   Secretary
Yan Erlikh                                      34,933               7,124                   27,809               *
Marc Feuer                                       5,046                 618                    4,428               *
William Finn                                    37,343               1,316                   36,027               *
Michael Frankel                                 27,678               1,026                   26,652               *
William Gangi                                    5,254               3,223                    2,031               *
Bruce E. Geismar (a)(6)                        103,232               5,798                   97,434               *
Andrew E. Haas (7)                              34,441               3,735                   30,706               *
Robert Harteveldt                               14,623               7,767                    6,856               *
Cory Hechler                                    11,184               3,083                    8,101               *
Kent Hiteshew                                    1,827                 875                      952               *
Daniel Hoffman                                  13,715               3,230                   10,485               *
Marjorie Hogan                                  15,613               2,677                   12,936               *
Michael Hyatt (8)                               60,819               2,135                   58,684               *
Robert B. Jackman                              236,236               2,942                  233,294               *
William M. Jennings                            334,320               2,496                  331,824               *
Brian C. Jerome                                 22,386               1,648                   20,738               *
Michael Josephson                               25,780               2,104                   23,676               *
Richard Kahn                                     4,894                 753                    4,141               *
Daniel L. Keating (a)                          145,630               2,495                  143,135               *
Frederick N. Khedouri                           14,768               4,655                   10,113               *
John Knight                                      4,240                 737                    3,503               *
John Y. Koren                                   12,466               1,656                   10,810               *
Hans Rudolph Kunz                               78,418               3,674                   74,744               *
-8-
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                                              SHARES               SHARES                    AFTER THIS OFFERING
  SELLING STOCKHOLDERS AND PRINCIPAL       BENEFICIALLY          COVERED BY           ----------------------------------
      POSITIONS WITH THE COMPANY          OWNED (1)(2)(3)     THIS PROSPECTUS             NUMBER               PERCENT
------------------------------------      ---------------     ---------------         ----------------------------------
Pascal Lambert                                   2,683                 301                    2,382               *
Andrew Lawrence                                109,839                 670                  109,169               *
Mark E. Lehman (9)                             138,170               4,638                  133,532               *
   Executive Vice President
   General Counsel
Frederick Leuffer                               32,078               3,053                   29,025               *
Marshall J Levinson (10)                         5,023                 725                    4,298               *
   Controller
Anthony Liberatore                               5,996               1,019                    4,977               *
Bruce M. Lisman                                180,223               7,474                  172,749               *
Roland N. Livney                                 8,875               4,629                    4,246               *
Shumer Lonoff                                    2,648                  40                    2,608               *
Michael A. Lorig                                20,376               3,166                   17,210               *
Ralph Mack                                       5,834               5,123                      711               *
Anthony Magro                                    4,112               4,112                        -               *
David Malpass                                    2,336               2,042                      294               *
Thomas Marano                                    3,717               2,561                    1,156               *
Michael J. Margolis                              3,296                 381                    2,915               *
George J. Mason                                 23,059                 874                   22,185               *
Jeffrey A. Mayer                                 4,396               4,112                      284               *
James McKenna                                    1,765               1,437                      328               *
Jeffrey Mehl                                    69,228               1,864                   67,364               *
Michael Minikes (a) (11)                       383,568              17,623                  365,945               *
   Treasurer
Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.                          14,456               1,041                   13,415               *
   Senior Vice President-Finance
   Chief Financial Officer
Dominick Mondi                                   4,331               2,037                    2,294               *
Donald R. Mullen (a)                             6,473               6,473                        -               *
Mark Murphy                                      4,698               4,031                      667               *
Steven B. Nakovich                              54,851               2,115                   52,736               *
Andrew Neff                                     15,154               1,500                   13,654               *
Barry Nix                                        6,674               6,674                        -               *
Timothy O'Neill                                 12,414               1,987                   10,427               *
Craig M. Overlander                              7,438               4,432                    3,006               *
Aldo Parcesepe                                 169,129               3,630                  165,499               *
Terese D. Payne                                134,580               5,672                  128,908               *
   (Leave of Absence)
Edward Raice                                    20,851                 424                   20,427               *
Stephen E. Raphael                              10,523               7,576                    2,947               *
Robert Reitzes                                   7,138               6,138                    1,000               *
Michael Saperstein (12)                        623,815                  75                  623,740               *
Michael D. Sargent                              84,146               1,318                   82,828               *
Kenneth Savio                                   32,699               2,135                   30,564               *
Steven Scari                                    12,638               1,896                   10,742               *
Joel S. Schlesinger                             12,687               1,175                   11,512               *
Clark Schubach                                  44,020               1,585                   42,435               *
Alan D. Schwartz                               871,567              21,361                  850,206               *
Theodore M. Serure                               4,647               1,486                    3,161               *
Nathaniel Singer                                 2,422                 960                    1,462               *
Anthony P. Skvarla                              27,035                 600                   26,435               *
Andrew Sloves                                   20,519               5,414                   15,105               *
Kevin Smyth                                     23,835               2,446                   21,389               *
-9-
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                                              SHARES               SHARES                    AFTER THIS OFFERING
  SELLING STOCKHOLDERS AND PRINCIPAL       BENEFICIALLY          COVERED BY           ----------------------------------
      POSITIONS WITH THE COMPANY          OWNED (1)(2)(3)     THIS PROSPECTUS             NUMBER               PERCENT
------------------------------------      ---------------     ---------------         ----------------------------------
Kurt Soukup                                     15,724              15,215                      509               *
Kenneth Spindel                                  8,825                 881                    7,944               *
Sheldon I. Stein                                 2,761               2,496                      265               *
Robert Steinberg                               935,954              10,486                  925,468               *
Stephen M. Straty                                2,373               2,312                       61               *
Theodore H. Strauss                             24,087                 800                   23,287               *
Kok Wee Tan                                      2,339               2,339                        -               *
Donald Tang                                      6,819               6,819                        -               *
Salvatore Tiano                                  6,623               2,205                    4,418               *
Michael Urfirer                                141,526              28,558                  112,968               *
Eli Wachtel (13)                                14,250               2,135                   12,115               *
James Wolfsberg                                  3,005               1,419                    1,586               *
George J. Zahringer                             20,786               2,979                   17,807               *
Uzi Zucker (a)                                 235,140               1,957                  233,183               *
------------------
* Less than one (1%) percent.

(a)  Former member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

(1)  Nature of beneficial ownership is sole voting and investment power except
     as indicated in subsequent notes.

(2)  Includes shares of Common Stock owned by the Selling Stockholders through
     The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP").
     Shares owned by the ESOP that are allocated to employees' accounts are
     voted on a "pass through" basis by the employees to whose accounts such
     shares are allocated. Shares not allocated to accounts and allocated shares
     for which voting directions have not been received are voted by the trustee
     of the ESOP in proportion to the manner in which allocated shares are
     directed to be voted by participants in the ESOP.

(3)  Does not include an aggregate of 20,748,656 shares underlying units
     credited under the Capital Accumulation Plan and the Restricted Stock Award
     Plan to the indicated individuals because such individuals neither have the
     present ability to direct the vote nor the ability to dispose of such
     shares and will not have such rights within 60 days.

(4)  Does not include 45,669 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Cayne's wife,
     as to which shares Mr. Cayne disclaims beneficial ownership. Does not
     include 235,254 shares of Common Stock held by trusts established for Mr.
     Cayne's children, as to which shares Mr. Cayne disclaims beneficial
     ownership. Does not include 8,048 shares of Common Stock owned by a child
     of Mr. Cayne, as to which shares Mr. Cayne disclaims beneficial ownership.

(5)  Includes 22 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Dantus as custodian for his
     child.

(6)  Does not include 2,348 shares of Common Stock owned by a child of Mr.
     Geismar, as to which shares Mr. Geismar disclaims beneficial ownership.

(7)  Includes 318 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Haas as custodian for his
     children.

(8)  Includes 694 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Hyatt as custodian for his
     children.

(9)  Does not include 29,763 shares of Common Stock held in a trust established
     for Mr. Lehman's wife, as to which shares Mr. Lehman disclaims beneficial
     ownership.

(10) Does not include 77 shares of Common Stock held in a trust established for
     Mr. Levinson's daughter, as to which shares Mr. Levinson disclaims
     beneficial ownership.

(11) Does not include 1,760 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Minikes' wife,
     as to which shares Mr. Minikes disclaims beneficial ownership.

(12) Does not include 161,060 shares of Common Stock held in two trusts
     established for Mr. Saperstein's daughter, as to which shares Mr.
     Saperstein disclaims beneficial ownership.

(13) Mr. Wachtel also has a short position of 9,892 shares of Common Stock.

                                      -10-
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     Shares covered by this prospectus will be sold by the Selling Stockholders
as principals for their own account. We will not receive any proceeds from sales
of any shares by Selling Stockholders.

     The Selling Stockholders or their pledgees, donees, transferees or other
successors in interest (including Bear Stearns to the extent that shares may be
sold from a margin account) may sell shares pursuant to this prospectus from
time to time:

     o    in transactions (including one or more block transactions) on the
          NYSE;

     o    in the public market off the NYSE;

     o    in privately negotiated transactions;

     o    through put or call options transactions relating to the shares;

     o    through short sales of shares; or

     o    in a combination of such transactions.

Each sale may be made either at the market price prevailing at the time of sale
or at a negotiated price. Sales may be made through brokers or to dealers, and
such brokers or dealers may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
discounts not exceeding those customary in similar transactions. Any shares
covered by this prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this
prospectus. All expenses of registration incurred in connection with this
offering are being borne by the Company, but all brokerage commissions and other
expenses incurred by a Selling Stockholder will be borne by that Selling
Stockholder.

     The Selling Stockholders and any dealer acting in connection with the
offering or any broker executing a sell order on behalf of a Selling Stockholder
may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act, in
which event any profit on the sale of shares by a Selling Stockholder and any
commissions or discounts received by any such broker or dealer may be deemed to
be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. In addition, any such
broker or dealer may be required to deliver a copy of this prospectus to any
person who purchases any of the shares from or through such broker or dealer.

     Bear Stearns and/or BSSC may act as a broker on behalf of one or more of
the Selling Stockholders in connection with sales under this prospectus and may
receive customary commissions in connection therewith. Bear Stearns and BSSC are
member firms of the NASD and their activities in connection with the offering
will conform to the requirements set forth in Rule 2720 of the NASD Conduct
Rules.

     In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if
applicable, the shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers
or dealers.

                                      -11-
EXPERTS

     The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement
schedules incorporated in this prospectus by reference from our 2000 Annual
Report on Form 10-K have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated in this prospectus
by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such
firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                      -12-
PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.    INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to
Section 13 of the Exchange Act (File No. 1-8989), are incorporated herein by
reference: (i) the Annual Report on Form 10-K (including the portions of the
Company's Annual Report to Stockholders and Proxy Statement incorporated by
reference therein) for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000; and (ii) the
description of the Common Stock, which is registered under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, set forth under the caption "Description of Capital Stock"
contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10, dated September
19, 1985. All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration
Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment indicating that
all securities offered hereby have been sold or deregistering all securities
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

ITEM 4.    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     Not Applicable.

ITEM 5.    INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     Not Applicable.

ITEM 6.    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Reference is made to Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
which provides for indemnification of directors and officers in certain
circumstances.

     Article VIII of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
provides for indemnification of directors and officers of the Company against
certain liabilities incurred as a result of their duties as such and also
provides for the elimination of the monetary liability of directors for certain
actions as such. The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended, is filed as Exhibit 4(a)(1) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3
(No. 333-57083) filed June 17, 1998.

     We have in effect reimbursement insurance for our directors' and officers'
liability claims and directors' and officers' liability insurance indemnifying,
respectively, ourselves and our directors and officers within specific limits
for certain liabilities incurred by them, subject to the conditions and
exclusions and deductible provisions of the policies.

     For the undertaking with respect to indemnification, see Item 9.

                                      II-1
ITEM 7.    EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     With respect to the restricted securities reoffered or resold pursuant to
this Registration Statement, the registrant claimed an exemption from
registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2) thereof. Such
restricted securities were issued to the Selling Stockholders in connection with
their deferral of income under the registrant's Capital Accumulation Plan for
Senior Managing Directors.

ITEM 8.    EXHIBITS.

           Exhibit No.          Description
           -----------          -----------

           4(a)(1)      --      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
                                Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                                4(a)(1) to the Registration Statement on Form
                                S-3 (File No. 333-57083)).

           4(a)(2)      --      Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                                Registrant's Adjustable Rate Cumulative
                                Preferred Stock, Series A (incorporated by
                                reference to Exhibit 4(a)(6) to the Registration
                                Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 33-49979)).

           4(a)(3)      --      Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                                Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series
                                E (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 to
                                the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
                                January 14, 1998).

           4(a)(4)      --      Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                                Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series
                                F (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 to
                                the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
                                April 20, 1998).

           4(a)(5)      --      Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                                Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series
                                G (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 to
                                the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
                                June 18, 1998).

           4(b)         --      Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant
                                (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (4)(b) to
                                Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
                                Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.
                                333-81901)).

           23(a)        --      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

           24           --      Power of attorney (included in the signature
                                pages to the Registration Statement).

     An opinion of counsel (Exhibit 5) is not being filed since the securities
being registered are not original issuance securities.

                                      II-2
ITEM 9.    UNDERTAKINGS.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

     (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

     (i)    to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
            Securities Act;

     (ii)   to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
            effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent
            post-effective amendment thereto) which, individually or in the
            aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
            forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
            any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the
            total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which
            was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
            estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of
            prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the
            aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a
            20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth
            in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
            Registration Statement;

     (iii)  to include any material information with respect to the plan of
            distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement
            or any material change to such information in this Registration
            Statement;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(i) and
(a)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports
filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement.

     (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each such post-effective amendment will be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time will be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering
thereof.

     (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

     (d) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof.

     (e) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the provisions referred to in Item 15 of this
Registration Statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in
the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-3
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
hereby certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of
the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on March 23, 2001.

                                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

                                         By: /s/ SAMUEL L. MOLINARO JR.
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                 SAMUEL L. MOLINARO JR.
                                                 Senior Vice President - Finance
                                                 and Chief Financial Officer

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Alan C. Greenberg, James E. Cayne and Samuel L.
Molinaro Jr. and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform such and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on March 23, 2001.

             SIGNATURE                                   TITLE
             ---------                                   -----

                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

 /s/ ALAN C. GREENBERG                    Chairman of the Board and Director
--------------------------------------
          ALAN C. GREENBERG

 /s/ JAMES E. CAYNE                       President, Chief Executive Officer
------------------------------------         and Director (Principal
           JAMES E. CAYNE                    Executive Officer)

 /s/ CARL D. GLICKMAN                     Director
------------------------------------
          CARL D. GLICKMAN

 /s/ DONALD J. HARRINGTON                 Director
------------------------------------
        DONALD J. HARRINGTON

                                      II-4
SIGNATURE                                   TITLE
             ---------                                   -----

 /s/ WILLIAM L. MACK                      Director
------------------------------------
           WILLIAM L. MACK

 /s/ FRANK T. NICKELL                     Director
------------------------------------
          FRANK T. NICKELL

                                          Director
------------------------------------
         FREDERIC V. SALERNO

 /s/ ALAN D. SCHWARTZ                     Director
------------------------------------
          ALAN D. SCHWARTZ

 /s/ WARREN J. SPECTOR                    Director
------------------------------------
          WARREN J. SPECTOR

 /s/ VINCENT TESE                         Director
------------------------------------
            VINCENT TESE

 /s/ FRED WILPON                          Director
------------------------------------
             FRED WILPON

 /s/ SAMUEL L. MOLINARO JR.               Senior Vice President - Finance
------------------------------------         and Chief Financial Officer
       SAMUEL L. MOLINARO JR.                (Principal Financial Officer)

 /s/ MARSHALL J LEVINSON                  Controller
------------------------------------         (Principal Accounting Officer)
         MARSHALL J LEVINSON

                                      II-5
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER                       DESCRIPTION
-------                      -----------

4(a)(1)         --           Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
                             Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                             4(a)(1) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3
                             (File No. 333-57083)).

4(a)(2)         --           Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                             Registrant's Adjustable Rate Cumulative Preferred
                             Stock, Series A (incorporated by reference to
                             Exhibit 4(a)(6) to the Registration Statement on
                             Form S-8 (File No. 33-49979)).

4(a)(3)         --           Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                             Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series E
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 to the
                             Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on January
                             14, 1998).

4(a)(4)         --           Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                             Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series F
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 to the
                             Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on April
                             20, 1998).

4(a)(5)         --           Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                             Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 to the
                             Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on June
                             18, 1998).

4(b)            --           Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (4)(b) to
                             Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
                             Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-81901)).

23(a)           --           Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

24              --           Power of attorney (included in the signature pages
                             to the Registration Statement).