As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2003

                                                     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)


                               383 Madison Avenue
                            New York, New York 10179
                                 (212) 272-2000
               (Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
        including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)


                         The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.
                     Long-Term Incentive Stock Award Program
                            (Full Title of the Plan)


                             Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.
              Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                         The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.
                               383 Madison Avenue
                            New York, New York 10179
                                 (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 LLP
                                 100 Maiden Lane
                            New York, New York 10038
                                 (212) 504-6000
                               ------------------


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===================================================================================================================================
Title of Each Class                                           Proposed                 Proposed
   of Securities                 Amount to be             Maximum Offering         Maximum Aggregate                 Amount of
 to be Registered                Registered(1)            Price Per Unit(2)        Offering Price(2)            Registration Fee(2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>                          <C>                     <C>                           <C>
Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share                  3,500,000 shares             $73.975                 $258,912,500                  $20,946.02
===================================================================================================================================
</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 26, 2003.
<PAGE>

                                Explanatory Note

On December 11, 2000, The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), issued a one-time award of non-transferable restricted stock
units ("Units") to certain existing key employees under the Company's Long-Term
Incentive Stock Award program. Such award covered 3,183,461 Units at June 24,
2003 that generally vest over a four-and-one-half year period, except with
respect to certain employees whose Units vest 100% after five years. Upon
vesting, shares of the Company's common stock, par value $1.00 per share
("Common Stock"), will be issued to the holders of the Units for no
consideration. This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed to
register 3,500,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock issuable from time to
time upon vesting of the Units, which includes (i) 3,183,461 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon settlement of the 3,183,461 Units outstanding at June 24,
2003, (ii) 84,528 shares of Common Stock issuable upon settlement of additional
Units that have been credited to employees in lieu of dividends paid on our
Common Stock ("dividend equivalents"), and (iii) 232,011 shares of Common Stock
that would be issuable upon settlement of Units that may be credited to
employees from time to time by reason of dividend equivalents.

<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 who have been granted awards of restricted stock
units under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Stock Award program as specified
by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (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.



<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 Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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, 2002;
(ii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended February 28,
2003; (iii) the Current Reports on Form 8-K dated December 18, 2002, December
18, 2002, December 20, 2002, January 8, 2003, January 14, 2003, January 30,
2003, February 11, 2003, February 11, 2003, February 24, 2003; March 19, 2003;
March 19, 2003; March 26, 2003; April 7, 2003; April 24, 2003; April 28, 2003;
April 28, 2003; June 2, 2003; June 18, 2003; June 18, 2003; and June 19, 2003;
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) to the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-92357) filed June 14, 2001.

      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.

      Not Applicable.

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 of the registrant (incorporated by
                           reference to Exhibit 4(a)(2) to the Registration
                           Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-92357)).

            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 Correction to the Certificate of
                           Stock Designation relating to the registrant's
                           Adjustable Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A
                           (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(a)(7) to the
                           Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.
                           33-49979)).

            4(a)(5)    --  Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                           registrant's 6.15% 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)(6)    --  Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                           registrant's 5.72% 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)(7)    --  Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                           registrant's 5.49% 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(a)(8)    --  Certificate of Elimination of the Cumulative
                           Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A; Cumulative
                           Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B; Cumulative
                           Convertible Preferred Stock, Series C; and Cumulative
                           Convertible Preferred Stock, Series D of the
                           registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                           4(d)(9) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
                           January 15, 2002).

                                      II-2
<PAGE>
            Exhibit No.    Description
            -----------    -----------

            4(a)(9)    --  Certificate of Elimination of the 7.88% Cumulative
                           Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B of the
                           registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                           4(d)(10) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
                           January 15, 2002).

            4(a)(10)   --  Certificate of Elimination of the 7.60% Cumulative
                           Convertible Preferred Stock, Series C of the
                           registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                           4(d)(11) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
                           January 15, 2002).

            4(b)       --  Amended and Restated By-laws of the registrant as
                           amended through January 8, 2002 (incorporated by
                           reference to Exhibit 4(d)(6) to the Current Report on
                           Form 8-K filed on January 15, 2002).

            10         --  Form of Long-Term Incentive Stock Award Agreement.

            23         --  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.

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;

                                      II-3
<PAGE>

                  (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-4
<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 27, 2003.



                                           THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.



                                           By: /s/ Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.
                                              Executive Vice President
                                              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 27, 2003.



             Signature                                   Title
             ---------                                   -----


                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.



      /S/ Alan C. Greenberg               Chairman of the Executive Committee
------------------------------------         and Director
          Alan C. Greenberg


      /S/  James E. Cayne                 Chairman of the Board, Chief
------------------------------------         Executive Officer (Principal
           James E. Cayne                    Executive Officer) and Director



                                          Director
------------------------------------
          Carl D. Glickman


                                          Director
------------------------------------
        Donald J. Harrington


                                      II-5
<PAGE>

             Signature                                   Title
             ---------                                   -----

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


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


                                         Director
------------------------------------
           Paul A. Novelly


                                          Director
------------------------------------
         Frederic V. Salerno


     /s/  Alan D. Schwartz                President, Co-Chief Operating
-----------------------------------         Officer and Director
          Alan D. Schwartz


     /s/  Warren J. Spector               President, Co-Chief Operating
------------------------------------         Officer and Director
          Warren J. Spector


       /s/  Vincent Tese                  Director
------------------------------------
            Vincent Tese


        /s/  Fred Wilpon                  Director
------------------------------------
             Fred Wilpon


  /s/  Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.             Executive Vice President and Chief
------------------------------------         Financial Officer
       Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.                (Principal Financial Officer)



    /s/  Marshall J Levinson              Controller
------------------------------------         (Principal Accounting Officer)
         Marshall J Levinson


                                      II-6
<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 of the registrant (incorporated by reference to
                   Exhibit 4(a)(2) to the Registration Statement on Form S-8
                   (File No. 333-92357)).

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 Correction to the Certificate of Stock
                   Designation relating to the registrant's Adjustable Rate
                   Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (incorporated by
                   reference to Exhibit 4(a)(7) to the Registration Statement on
                   Form S-8 (File No. 33-49979)).

4(a)(5)     --     Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the registrant's
                   6.15% 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)(6)     --     Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the registrant's
                   5.72% 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)(7)     --     Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the registrant's
                   5.49% 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(a)(8)     --     Certificate of Elimination of the Cumulative Convertible
                   Preferred Stock, Series A; Cumulative Convertible Preferred
                   Stock, Series B; Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
                   Series C; and Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series
                   D of the registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                   4(d)(9) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January
                   15, 2002).

4(a)(9)     --     Certificate of Elimination of the 7.88% Cumulative
                   Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B of the registrant
                   (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(d)(10) to the Current
                   Report on Form 8-K filed on January 15, 2002).

4(a)(10)    --     Certificate of Elimination of the 7.60% Cumulative
                   Convertible Preferred Stock, Series C of the registrant
                   (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(d)(11) to the Current
                   Report on Form 8-K filed on January 15, 2002).

4(b)        --     Amended and Restated By-laws of the registrant as amended
                   through January 8,


                                      II-8
<PAGE>

                   2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(d)(6) to the
                   Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 15, 2002).

10          --     Form of Long-Term Incentive Stock Award Agreement.

23          --     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

24          --     Power of attorney (included in the signature pages to the
                   Registration Statement).
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2003

                                                     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)

                               383 Madison Avenue
                            New York, New York 10179
                                 (212) 272-2000
               (Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
        including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                         The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.
                     Long-Term Incentive Stock Award Program
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                             Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.
              Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                         The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.
                               383 Madison Avenue
                            New York, New York 10179
                                 (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 LLP
                                 100 Maiden Lane
                            New York, New York 10038
                                 (212) 504-6000
                               ------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===================================================================================================================================
Title of Each Class                                           Proposed                 Proposed
   of Securities                 Amount to be             Maximum Offering         Maximum Aggregate                 Amount of
 to be Registered                Registered(1)            Price Per Unit(2)        Offering Price(2)            Registration Fee(2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share                  3,500,000 shares             $73.975                 $258,912,500                  $20,946.02
===================================================================================================================================
(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 26, 2003.
Explanatory Note

On December 11, 2000, The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), issued a one-time award of non-transferable restricted stock
units ("Units") to certain existing key employees under the Company's Long-Term
Incentive Stock Award program. Such award covered 3,183,461 Units at June 24,
2003 that generally vest over a four-and-one-half year period, except with
respect to certain employees whose Units vest 100% after five years. Upon
vesting, shares of the Company's common stock, par value $1.00 per share
("Common Stock"), will be issued to the holders of the Units for no
consideration. This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed to
register 3,500,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock issuable from time to
time upon vesting of the Units, which includes (i) 3,183,461 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon settlement of the 3,183,461 Units outstanding at June 24,
2003, (ii) 84,528 shares of Common Stock issuable upon settlement of additional
Units that have been credited to employees in lieu of dividends paid on our
Common Stock ("dividend equivalents"), and (iii) 232,011 shares of Common Stock
that would be issuable upon settlement of Units that may be credited to
employees from time to time by reason of dividend equivalents.
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 who have been granted awards of restricted stock
units under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Stock Award program as specified
by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (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.
PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.     Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

      The following documents filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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, 2002;
(ii) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended February 28,
2003; (iii) the Current Reports on Form 8-K dated December 18, 2002, December
18, 2002, December 20, 2002, January 8, 2003, January 14, 2003, January 30,
2003, February 11, 2003, February 11, 2003, February 24, 2003; March 19, 2003;
March 19, 2003; March 26, 2003; April 7, 2003; April 24, 2003; April 28, 2003;
April 28, 2003; June 2, 2003; June 18, 2003; June 18, 2003; and June 19, 2003;
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) to the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-92357) filed June 14, 2001.

      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.

      Not Applicable.

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 of the registrant (incorporated by
                           reference to Exhibit 4(a)(2) to the Registration
                           Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-92357)).

            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 Correction to the Certificate of
                           Stock Designation relating to the registrant's
                           Adjustable Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A
                           (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(a)(7) to the
                           Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.
                           33-49979)).

            4(a)(5)    --  Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                           registrant's 6.15% 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)(6)    --  Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                           registrant's 5.72% 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)(7)    --  Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the
                           registrant's 5.49% 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(a)(8)    --  Certificate of Elimination of the Cumulative
                           Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A; Cumulative
                           Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B; Cumulative
                           Convertible Preferred Stock, Series C; and Cumulative
                           Convertible Preferred Stock, Series D of the
                           registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                           4(d)(9) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
                           January 15, 2002).

                                      II-2
Exhibit No.    Description
            -----------    -----------

            4(a)(9)    --  Certificate of Elimination of the 7.88% Cumulative
                           Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B of the
                           registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                           4(d)(10) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
                           January 15, 2002).

            4(a)(10)   --  Certificate of Elimination of the 7.60% Cumulative
                           Convertible Preferred Stock, Series C of the
                           registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                           4(d)(11) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
                           January 15, 2002).

            4(b)       --  Amended and Restated By-laws of the registrant as
                           amended through January 8, 2002 (incorporated by
                           reference to Exhibit 4(d)(6) to the Current Report on
                           Form 8-K filed on January 15, 2002).

            10         --  Form of Long-Term Incentive Stock Award Agreement.

            23         --  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.

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;

                                      II-3
(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-4
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 27, 2003.

                                           THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

                                           By: /s/ Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.
                                              Executive Vice President
                                              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 27, 2003.

             Signature                                   Title
             ---------                                   -----

                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

      /S/ Alan C. Greenberg               Chairman of the Executive Committee
------------------------------------         and Director
          Alan C. Greenberg

      /S/  James E. Cayne                 Chairman of the Board, Chief
------------------------------------         Executive Officer (Principal
           James E. Cayne                    Executive Officer) and Director

                                          Director
------------------------------------
          Carl D. Glickman

                                          Director
------------------------------------
        Donald J. Harrington

                                      II-5
Signature                                   Title
             ---------                                   -----

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

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

                                         Director
------------------------------------
           Paul A. Novelly

                                          Director
------------------------------------
         Frederic V. Salerno

     /s/  Alan D. Schwartz                President, Co-Chief Operating
-----------------------------------         Officer and Director
          Alan D. Schwartz

     /s/  Warren J. Spector               President, Co-Chief Operating
------------------------------------         Officer and Director
          Warren J. Spector

       /s/  Vincent Tese                  Director
------------------------------------
            Vincent Tese

        /s/  Fred Wilpon                  Director
------------------------------------
             Fred Wilpon

  /s/  Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.             Executive Vice President and Chief
------------------------------------         Financial Officer
       Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.                (Principal Financial Officer)

    /s/  Marshall J Levinson              Controller
------------------------------------         (Principal Accounting Officer)
         Marshall J Levinson

                                      II-6
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 of the registrant (incorporated by reference to
                   Exhibit 4(a)(2) to the Registration Statement on Form S-8
                   (File No. 333-92357)).

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 Correction to the Certificate of Stock
                   Designation relating to the registrant's Adjustable Rate
                   Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (incorporated by
                   reference to Exhibit 4(a)(7) to the Registration Statement on
                   Form S-8 (File No. 33-49979)).

4(a)(5)     --     Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the registrant's
                   6.15% 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)(6)     --     Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the registrant's
                   5.72% 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)(7)     --     Certificate of Stock Designation relating to the registrant's
                   5.49% 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(a)(8)     --     Certificate of Elimination of the Cumulative Convertible
                   Preferred Stock, Series A; Cumulative Convertible Preferred
                   Stock, Series B; Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
                   Series C; and Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series
                   D of the registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                   4(d)(9) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January
                   15, 2002).

4(a)(9)     --     Certificate of Elimination of the 7.88% Cumulative
                   Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B of the registrant
                   (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(d)(10) to the Current
                   Report on Form 8-K filed on January 15, 2002).

4(a)(10)    --     Certificate of Elimination of the 7.60% Cumulative
                   Convertible Preferred Stock, Series C of the registrant
                   (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(d)(11) to the Current
                   Report on Form 8-K filed on January 15, 2002).

4(b)        --     Amended and Restated By-laws of the registrant as amended
                   through January 8,

                                      II-8
2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(d)(6) to the
                   Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 15, 2002).

10          --     Form of Long-Term Incentive Stock Award Agreement.

23          --     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

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