AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 14, 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 Identification No.)
 Incorporation or Organization)


                                 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.
                    NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==================================================================================================================
                                                                                  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                      300,000 shares       $53.43                     $16,029,000          $4,007
==================================================================================================================
</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 June 12,
     2001.

<PAGE>



                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

      This Registration Statement is being filed by The Bear Stearns Companies
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") in order to register 300,000 shares
of the Company's common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"),
the maximum number of shares as to which options may be granted under The Bear
Stearns Companies Inc. Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Stock
Option Plan").

<PAGE>



                                     PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

      The documents containing information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will
be sent or given to employees eligible to participate in the Stock Option Plan
as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act. Those documents and the
documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement, taken
together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a)
of the Securities Act.



                                   I-1

<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; (ii) the
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 23, 2001; (iii) the
Current Reports on Form 8-K dated December 13, 2000, January 4, 2001, January
11, 2001, February 15, 2001, February 15, 2001, March 21, 2001, March 30, 2001,
April 20, 2001, May 3, 2001, and May 4, 2001; and (iv) 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 is filed as
Exhibit 4(a)(1) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-57083) filed
June 17, 1998 and the Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, dated April 2, 2001 is filed as Exhibit 4(a)(2) hereto.

      The registrant has in effect reimbursement insurance for directors' and
officers' liability claims and directors' and officers' liability insurance
indemnifying, respectively, the registrant and its 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.


ITEM 7.     EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

      Not Applicable.


                                      II-1
<PAGE>



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 Amendment of Restated Certificate
                             of Incorporation, dated April 2, 2001.

            4(a)(3)      --  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)(4)      --  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)(5)      --  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)(6)      --  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)).

            4(c)         --  The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Non-Employee
                             Directors' Stock Option Plan.

            5            --  Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.

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

            23(b)        --  Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
                             (included in Exhibit 5).

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


ITEM 9.           UNDERTAKINGS.

      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:



                                      II-2
<PAGE>



     (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 6 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 June 14, 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 June 14, 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 Executive Officer)
     JAMES E. CAYNE


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


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


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


                                      II-4
<PAGE>



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


 /s/ Frederic V. Salerno         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 Amendment of Restated Certificate of
                   Incorporation, dated April 2, 2001.

4(a)(3)     --     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)(4)     --     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)(5)     --     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)(6)     --     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)).

4(c)        --     The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Non-Employee Directors' Stock
                   Option Plan.

5           --     Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.

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

23(b)       --     Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft (included in
                   Exhibit 5).

24          --     Power of attorney (included in the signature pages to the
                   Registration Statement).
<PAGE>
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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 14, 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 Identification No.)
 Incorporation or Organization)

                                 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.
                    NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (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                      300,000 shares       $53.43                     $16,029,000          $4,007
==================================================================================================================
(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 June 12,
     2001.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

      This Registration Statement is being filed by The Bear Stearns Companies
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") in order to register 300,000 shares
of the Company's common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"),
the maximum number of shares as to which options may be granted under The Bear
Stearns Companies Inc. Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Stock
Option Plan").
PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

      The documents containing information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will
be sent or given to employees eligible to participate in the Stock Option Plan
as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act. Those documents and the
documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement, taken
together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a)
of the Securities Act.

                                   I-1
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; (ii) the
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 23, 2001; (iii) the
Current Reports on Form 8-K dated December 13, 2000, January 4, 2001, January
11, 2001, February 15, 2001, February 15, 2001, March 21, 2001, March 30, 2001,
April 20, 2001, May 3, 2001, and May 4, 2001; and (iv) 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 is filed as
Exhibit 4(a)(1) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-57083) filed
June 17, 1998 and the Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, dated April 2, 2001 is filed as Exhibit 4(a)(2) hereto.

      The registrant has in effect reimbursement insurance for directors' and
officers' liability claims and directors' and officers' liability insurance
indemnifying, respectively, the registrant and its 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.

ITEM 7.     EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

      Not Applicable.

                                      II-1
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 Amendment of Restated Certificate
                             of Incorporation, dated April 2, 2001.

            4(a)(3)      --  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)(4)      --  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)(5)      --  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)(6)      --  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)).

            4(c)         --  The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Non-Employee
                             Directors' Stock Option Plan.

            5            --  Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.

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

            23(b)        --  Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
                             (included in Exhibit 5).

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

ITEM 9.           UNDERTAKINGS.

      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                                      II-2
(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 6 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 June 14, 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 June 14, 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 Executive Officer)
     JAMES E. CAYNE

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

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

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

                                      II-4
/s/ Frank T. Nickell            Director
---------------------------
     FRANK T. NICKELL

 /s/ Frederic V. Salerno         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 Amendment of Restated Certificate of
                   Incorporation, dated April 2, 2001.

4(a)(3)     --     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)(4)     --     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)(5)     --     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)(6)     --     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)).

4(c)        --     The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Non-Employee Directors' Stock
                   Option Plan.

5           --     Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.

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

23(b)       --     Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft (included in
                   Exhibit 5).

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