As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 2005

                                                     Registration No. 333-106567
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM S-8
                           POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT TO
                             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
                           One World Financial Center
                            New York, New York 10281
                                 (212) 504-6000

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



                                Explanatory Note

      On June 27, 2003, The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-106567) in order to register an
aggregate of 3,500,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $1.00 per
share (the "Common Stock"), issuable from time to time upon settlement of awards
of stock units pursuant to the Company's Long-Term Incentive Stock Award
Program.

      This Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement is being filed
solely for purposes of registering 13,460 shares of Common Stock awarded
pursuant to the Company's Long-Term Incentive Stock Award Program to certain
employees who are affiliates of the Company (the "Selling Stockholders") for
resale by the Selling Stockholders. The reoffer prospectus which is filed as a
part of this Registration Statement has been prepared in accordance with the
requirements of Form S-3, and pursuant to General Instruction C of Form S-8 may
be used for reoffers or resales of the shares of Common Stock that have been
acquired by the Selling Stockholders pursuant to the Company's Long-Term
Incentive Stock Award Program.



                               REOFFER PROSPECTUS

                         The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.

                          13,460 Shares of Common Stock

      Certain of our employees, all of whom are named in this prospectus, may
offer and sell from time to time, for their own accounts up to 13,460 shares of
our Common Stock that they acquired in connection with grants of restricted
stock units pursuant to our Long-Term Incentive Stock Award Program. We will not
receive any of the proceeds from such sales.

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

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

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

      The Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"BSC". On July 13, 2005, the closing price of the Common Stock on the Exchange
was $107.04 per share.

      Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

                                  July 14, 2005



      You should only rely on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus or any supplement. We have not authorized anyone
else to provide you with different information. The Common Stock is not being
offered in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume
that the information in this prospectus or any supplement is accurate as of any
date other than the date on the front of those documents.

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

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION............................................2
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS.....................................................3
THE COMPANY....................................................................4
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS...........................................................7
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION...........................................................9
EXPERTS.......................................................................10

                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

      We file current, annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other
information required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the
SEC's public reference room located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the
public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the
SEC's internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of these reports, proxy
statements and other information can also be inspected at the offices of the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

      Our website is http://www.bearstearns.com. We make available free of
charge on our website, via a link to the SEC's internet site at
http://www.sec.gov, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form
10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed
on behalf of directors and executive officers and amendments to those reports
filed or furnished pursuant to the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably
practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to,
the SEC.

      In addition, we currently make available on http://www.bearstearns.com our
most recent annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for
the current fiscal year and our most recent proxy statement, although in some
cases these documents are not available on our website as soon as they are
available on the SEC's internet site. You will need to have on your computer the
Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view these documents, which are in the .PDF
format.

      We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), with respect to the Common Stock issuable pursuant to
Long-Term Incentive Stock Award Program. This prospectus, which constitutes a
part of that Registration Statement, does not include all the information
contained in that Registration Statement and its exhibits. For further
information with respect to the Company and the Common Stock, you should consult
the Registration Statement and its exhibits. Statements contained in this
prospectus concerning the provisions of any documents are necessarily summaries
of those documents, and each statement is qualified in its entirety by reference
to the copy of the document filed with the SEC. The


                                      -2-


Registration Statement and any of its amendments, including exhibits filed as a
part of the Registration Statement or an amendment to the Registration
Statement, are available for inspection and copying through the entities listed
above.

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

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

            (i) the Annual Report on Form 10-K (including the portions of the
      Company's Annual Report to Stockholders and Proxy Statement incorporated
      by reference therein) for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004;

            (ii) the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters
      ended February 28, 2005 and May 31, 2005;

            (iii) the Current Reports on Form 8-K dated December 21, 2004,
      December 28, 2004, January 5, 2005, January 6, 2005, January 20, 2005,
      January 25, 2005, February 2, 2005, February 23, 2005, March 16, 2005,
      March 28, 2005, April 8, 2005, April 26, 2005, April 28, 2005, May 20,
      2005, June 15, 2005, June 20, 2005, June 21, 2005 and July 11, 2005; 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.

      We will provide to you without charge, a copy of any or all documents
incorporated by reference into this prospectus except the exhibits to such
documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in
such documents). You may request copies by writing or telephoning us at our
Investor Relations Department, The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., 383 Madison
Avenue, New York, New York 10179; telephone number (212) 272-2000.

                           FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

      Certain statements included in or incorporated by reference into this
prospectus including (without limitation) certain matters discussed under "Legal
Proceedings," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about
Market Risk" included in or incorporated by reference in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004 and our Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended February 28, 2005 and May 31, 2005,
which have been filed with the SEC, are "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements concerning management's expectations, strategic
objectives, business prospects, anticipated economic performance and financial
condition and other similar matters are subject to risks and uncertainties,
which could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in
the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the
date of the document in which they are made. We disclaim any obligation or
undertaking to provide any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement
to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based.


                                      -3-


                                   THE COMPANY

      We are a holding company that, through our broker-dealer and international
bank subsidiaries, principally Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. ("Bear Stearns"); Bear,
Stearns Securities Corp. ("BSSC"); Bear, Stearns International Limited ("BSIL")
and Bear Stearns Bank plc ("BSB") is a leading investment banking, securities
and derivatives trading, clearance and brokerage firm serving corporations,
governments, institutional and individual investors worldwide. BSSC, a
subsidiary of Bear Stearns, provides professional and correspondent clearing
services, in addition to clearing and settling customer transactions and certain
of our proprietary transactions. In addition to conducting a substantial portion
of our operating activities through certain of our regulated subsidiaries (Bear
Stearns, BSSC, BSIL and BSB), we also conduct significant activities through
other wholly-owned subsidiaries including: Bear Stearns Global Lending Limited
("BSGL"), Custodial Trust Company ("CTC"), Bear Stearns Financial Products Inc.
("BSFP"), Bear Stearns Capital Markets Inc. ("BSCM"), EMC Mortgage Corporation
("EMC"), Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage, Inc. ("BSCMI"), Bear Stearns Credit
Products Inc. ("BSCPI") and Bear Stearns Forex Inc. ("BSFX").

      Our business includes:

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

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

o     securities, options and futures brokerage;

o     providing securities clearance services;

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

o     financing customer activities;

o     securities lending;

o     securities and futures arbitrage;

o     involvement in specialist activities on the NYSE and International
      Securities Exchange;

o     underwriting and distributing securities;

o     arranging for the private placement of securities;

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

o     making principal investments in leveraged acquisitions;

o     engaging in commercial real estate activities;

o     investment management and advisory services; and

o     fiduciary, custody, agency and securities research services.


                                      -4-


Our business is conducted:

o     from our principal offices in New York City;

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

o     from representative offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo and Shanghai;
      and

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

Our international offices provide services and engage in investment activities
involving foreign clients and international transactions. Additionally, certain
of these foreign offices provide services to US clients.

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

      BSIL is a full service broker-dealer based in London and among other
European exchanges, is a member of Eurex Deutschland, the International
Petroleum Exchange, Euronext Liffe, Euronext Paris and Euronext Amsterdam. BSIL
is supervised by and is regulated in accordance with the rules of the Financial
Services Authority. BSIL is incorporated in the United Kingdom.

      BSB is an Ireland-based bank, which was registered in 1996 and
subsequently granted a banking license on April 10, 1997 under the Irish Central
Bank Act, 1971. BSB allows our existing and prospective clients the opportunity
of dealing with a banking counterparty. BSB is incorporated in Ireland.

      BSGL provides loans to certain Bear Stearns customers. BSGL is
incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

      CTC, a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") insured New Jersey
state chartered bank, offers a range of trust, lending and securities-clearance
services. CTC provides the Company with banking powers including access to the
securities and funds-wire services of the Federal Reserve System. CTC provides
trust, custody, agency and securities lending services for institutional
accounts; commercial and margin lending; the clearance of government securities
for institutions and dealers; and the processing of mortgage and
mortgage-related products, including derivatives and collateralized mortgage
obligations products. At November 30, 2004, CTC held approximately $81 billion
of assets for clients, including institutional clients such as pension funds,
mutual funds, endowment funds and insurance companies. CTC is incorporated in
the State of New Jersy.

      BSFP transacts business as a triple-A-rated counterparty to eligible
clients, offering a wide range of fixed income and equity derivative products.
Eligible clients are those rated A3 or better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
and A- or better by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services or counterparties
acceptable to both rating agencies. BSFP transfers its market risk associated
with derivative transactions to Bear Stearns Capital Markets Inc., an affiliate
of BSFP and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. BSFP is incorporated in
the State of Delaware.


                                      -5-


      BSCM is engaged in fixed income derivatives transactions and hedges
associated therewith. BSCM is incorporated in the State of Delaware.

      EMC is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") and
Freddie MAC approved lender based in Irving, Texas. EMC purchases both
conforming and non-conforming, investment-grade and non-investment grade,
conventional fixed rate and adjustable rate residential mortgage loans with
servicing released or retained and sells such loans to investors. EMC also
purchases and sells residual certificates and mortgage servicing rights. In
addition, through a subsidiary, EMC may originate commercial construction loans
through approved brokers. EMC is incorporated in the State of Delaware.

      BSCMI is primarily engaged in the acquisition and securitization of
commercial mortgage loans for resale in the form of pass-through securities
("certificates"). These certificates represent fractional and undivided
interests in pools of mortgage loans held in a trust. BSCMI is incorporated in
the State of New York.

      BSCPI is engaged in credit derivatives transactions and hedges associated
therewith. BSCPI is incorporated in the State of Delaware.

      BSFX is a foreign exchange dealer engaged in foreign currency transactions
and hedges associated therewith. BSFX is incorporated in the State of Delaware.

      We are incorporated in the State of Delaware. Our principal executive
office is located at 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, and our
telephone number is (212) 272-2000. Our internet address is
http://www.bearstearns.com. Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus, the
terms "Company," "we," "us" and "our" refer to The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.
and its subsidiaries.


                                      -6-


                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

      This prospectus relates to shares of Common Stock that have been acquired
by the Selling Stockholders named below in connection with grants of restricted
stock units pursuant to our Long-Term Incentive Stock Award Program.

      Each of the Selling Stockholders is an employee of the Company or one of
its subsidiaries. The following table sets forth:

      o     the name and principal position or positions over the past three
            years with the Company of each Selling Stockholder;

      o     the number of shares of Common Stock each Selling Stockholder
            beneficially owned as of July 8, 2005;

      o     the number of shares of Common Stock acquired by each Selling
            Stockholder in connection with grants of restricted stock units
            pursuant to our Long-Term Incentive Stock Award Program and being
            registered under this Registration Statement, some or all of which
            shares may be sold pursuant to this prospectus; and

      o     the number of shares of Common Stock and the percentage, if 1% or
            more, of the total class of Common Stock outstanding to be
            beneficially owned by each Selling Stockholder following this
            offering, assuming the sale pursuant to this offering of all shares
            acquired by such Selling Stockholder in connection with grants of
            restricted stock units pursuant to our Long-Term Incentive Stock
            Award Program and registered under this Registration Statement.

There is no assurance that any of the Selling Stockholders will sell any or all
of the shares offered by them under this Registration Statement. The address of
each Selling Stockholder is c/o The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., 383 Madison
Avenue, New York, New York 10179.



                                                                               Shares Beneficially
                                                                                Owned After this
                                                Shares        Shares Covered        Offering
                         Position(s) with    Beneficially        by this       -------------------
Selling Stockholder        the Company      Owned (1)(2)(3)     Prospectus     Number      Percent
----------------------   ----------------   ---------------   --------------   -------     -------
                                                                            
Jeffrey M. Farber        Senior Managing                749              252       497           *
                         Director and
                         Controller

Michael Minikes (a)(4)   Senior Managing            263,293            7,663   255,630           *
                         Director and
                         Treasurer

Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.   Senior Managing             31,016            5,545    25,471           *
                         Director,
                         Executive Vice
                         President and
                         Chief Financial
                         Officer


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


                                      -7-


* Less than one (1%) percent.

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

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

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

(3)   Does not include an aggregate of 422,292 shares underlying units credited
      under the Capital Accumulation Plan to the indicated individuals because
      such individuals neither have the present ability to direct the vote nor
      the ability to dispose of such shares and will not have such rights within
      60 days.

(4)   Does not include 1,780 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Minikes' wife,
      as to which shares Mr. Minikes disclaims beneficial ownership.


                                      -8-


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

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

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

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

      o     in the public market off the NYSE;

      o     in privately negotiated transactions;

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

      o     in a combination of such transactions.

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

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

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

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


                                      -9-


                                     EXPERTS

      The consolidated financial statements, the related financial statement
schedule, and management's report on the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2004 have
been incorporated by reference in this prospectus and have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as
stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference (which
reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial
statements and related financial statement schedule and include an explanatory
paragraph referring to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards ("SFAS") No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" as amended
by SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and
Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123," in 2003, discussed in Note
1 to the consolidated financial statements, (2) express an unqualified opinion
on management's assessment regarding the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting, and (3) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness
of internal control over financial reporting), and have been so incorporated in
reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.

      With respect to the unaudited interim financial information for the
periods ended February 28, 2005 and February 29, 2004 and May 31, 2005 and May
31, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference, Deloitte & Touche LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, have applied limited procedures
in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States) for a review of such information. However, as stated in their
reports included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended February 28, 2005 and May 31, 2005, which are incorporated by
reference herein, they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on the
interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their
reports on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature
of the review procedures applied. Deloitte & Touche LLP is not subject to the
liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their
reports on the unaudited interim financial information because those reports are
not "reports" or a "part" of the registration statement prepared or certified by
an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act.


                                      -10-


                                     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, 2004; (ii) the
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended February 28, 2005
and May 31, 2005; (iii) the Current Reports on Form 8-K dated December 21, 2004,
December 28, 2004, January 5, 2005, January 6, 2005, January 20, 2005, January
25, 2005, February 2, 2005, February 23, 2005, March 16, 2005, March 28, 2005,
April 8, 2005, April 26, 2005, April 28, 2005, May 20, 2005, June 15, 2005, June
20, 2005, June 21, 2005 and July 11, 2005; 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 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)(4)     -- 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)(5)     -- 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)(6)     -- 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)(7)     -- 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)(8)     -- 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).


                                      II-2


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

      4(a)(9)     -- Certificate of Elimination of the Adjustable Rate
                     Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A of the registrant
                     (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(a)(9) to the
                     Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on
                     Form S-8 (File No. 333-108976)).

      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
                     (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 to the
                     Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-106567)).

      23          -- Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

      24          -- Power of attorney (included in the signature pages to the
                     Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-106567)).

      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;

                  (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


                                      II-3


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 July 14, 2005.

                                        THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

                                        By:     /s/ Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                  Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.
                                                 Executive Vice President
                                                and Chief Financial Officer

      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 July 14, 2005.

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

                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.


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


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


      /s/ Henry S. Bienen         Director
--------------------------------
        Henry S. Bienen


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


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


               *                  Director
--------------------------------
        Frank T. Nickell


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


                                      II-5


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


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


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


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


               *                  Director
--------------------------------
          Vincent Tese


  /s/ Wesley S. Williams, Jr.     Director
--------------------------------
    Wesley S. Williams, Jr.


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


     /s/ Jeffrey M. Farber        Controller
--------------------------------     (Principal Accounting Officer)
       Jeffrey M. Farber


* By: /s/ Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.
     ---------------------------
     Samuel L. Molinaro Jr.
        Attorney-in-Fact


                                      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
                  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)(4)     --    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)(5)     --    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)(6)     --    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)(7)     --    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)(8)     --    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(a)(9)     --    Certificate of Elimination of the Adjustable Rate Cumulative
                  Preferred Stock, Series A of the registrant (incorporated by
                  reference to Exhibit 4(a)(9) to the Post-Effective Amendment
                  No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.
                  333-108976).

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
                  (incorporated by



                  reference to Exhibit 10 to the Registration Statement on Form
                  S-8 (File No. 333-106567)).

23          --    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

24          --    Power of attorney (included in the signature pages to the
                  Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-106567)).