As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2007
                                                     Registration No. 333-108976
================================================================================


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                  ------------
                                    FORM S-8
                        POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 7 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.
             Capital Accumulation Plan for Senior Managing Directors

                         The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.
                           Restricted Stock Unit Plan
                            (Full Title of the Plans)


                             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 September 19, 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. 333-108976) in order to register an
aggregate of 40,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $1.00
per share (the "Common Stock"), which included 33,000,000 shares of Common Stock
issuable from time to time upon settlement of awards of stock units (the "CAP
Units") pursuant to the Company's Capital Accumulation Plan for Senior Managing
Directors (the "CAP Plan") and 7,000,000 shares of Common Stock issuable from
time to time upon settlement of awards of restricted stock units pursuant to the
Company's Restricted Stock Unit Plan.

   This Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement is being
filed solely for purposes of registering 13,751 shares of Common Stock awarded
pursuant to the CAP Plan 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 CAP Plan.







                               REOFFER PROSPECTUS

                         The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.


                          13,751 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 13,751 shares of our
Common Stock that they acquired pursuant to our Capital Accumulation Plan for
Senior Managing Directors. We will not receive any of the proceeds from such
sales.

   The Selling Stockholders propose to sell the shares from time to time in
transactions occurring either on or off the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. 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 NYSE under the symbol "BSC." On March 21,
2007, the closing price of the Common Stock on the NYSE was $152.49 per share.



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









                                 March 22, 2007





   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..................................................................3
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 Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). You
may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference room
located at 100 F Street, N.E., 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 public 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 any amendments to such 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 33,000,000 shares of Common Stock issuable
pursuant to our Capital Accumulation Plan for Senior Managing Directors. 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


                                      -2-


summaries of those documents, and each statement is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the copy of the document filed with the SEC. The Registration
Statement and any of its amendments, including exhibits filed as a part of the
Registration Statement or an amendment to the Registration Statement, are
available for inspection and copying through the entities listed above.

   The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information that we file
with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to the other information we have filed with the SEC. The
information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this
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, 2006 filed
      with the SEC on February 13, 2007;

            (ii) the Current Reports on Form 8-K dated December 14, 2006,
      January 10, 2007, January 25, 2007, February 14, 2007 and March 15, 2007;
      and

            (iii) 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, 2006, which has been filed with
the SEC, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements
concerning management's expectations, strategic objectives, business prospects,
anticipated economic performance and financial condition and other similar
matters are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results
to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which
they are made. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to provide any updates
or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our
expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the
forward-looking statement is based.


                                   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,


                                      -3-


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 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") Bear Stearns Credit Products Inc. ("BSCPI"), Bear Stearns Forex Inc.
("BSFX"), EMC Mortgage Corporation ("EMC") and Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage,
Inc. ("BSCMI") and through our majority owned subsidiary Bear Hunter Holdings
LLC ("BHH").


   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 and market-making activities on the NYSE, American
   Stock Exchange ("AMEX") and International Securities Exchange ("ISE");

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 and residential mortgage loan origination and
   securitization activities;

o  investment management and advisory services; and

o  fiduciary, custody, agency and securities research services.


   Our business is conducted:

o  from our principal offices in New York City;



                                      -4-


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

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. BSIL is incorporated in
the United Kingdom and is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services
Authority.


   BSB was registered with the Irish Companies Registration Office on November
27, 1995 and was granted a banking license on April 10, 1997. BSB allows our
existing and prospective clients the opportunity of dealing with a banking
counterparty. BSB is incorporated in Ireland and is regulated by the Financial
Regulator.


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


   CTC, a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 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, 2006, 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 Jersey.


   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.


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


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


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




                                      -5-


   EMC was incorporated in the State of Delaware on September 26, 1990, as a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and maintains its principal office at
2780 Lake Vista Drive, Texas. EMC is a mortgage banking company approved by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD"), Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") and Federal National Mortgage Association
("FNMA"). EMC purchases both conforming and non-conforming, investment-grade and
non-investment grade, conventional fixed rate and adjustable rate residential
mortgage loans with the right to service released or retained and sells such
loans to investors. EMC also purchases and sells residual certificates and
mortgage servicing rights.


   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.


   BHH is a Delaware limited liability company jointly owned by the Company and
Hunter Partners LLC. Bear Wagner Specialists LLC, BHH's principal wholly owned
subsidiary, is a registered broker dealer primarily engaged in specialist and
market-making activities on the NYSE, AMEX and ISE.


   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 pursuant to our Capital Accumulation Plan
for Senior Managing Directors.


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

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

   o  the number of shares of Common Stock each Selling Stockholder beneficially
      owned as of February 21, 2007;

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

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


Certain of the Selling Stockholders may sell some or all of the shares listed
below from time to time in order to satisfy tax obligations incurred in
connection with the receipt of awards of Common Stock pursuant to the CAP Plan.
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
                                                                     Offering
                                                                -------------------
                                         Shares       Shares
                       Position(s)    Beneficially  Covered by
                           with          Owned         this
Selling Stockholder    the Company     (1)(2)(3)    Prospectus   Number     Percent
-------------------  ---------------  ------------  ----------   --------   -------
                                                             
James E. Cayne (4)   Chairman of the     6,399,914       3,119  6,396,795      5.34%
                     Board and Chief
                     Executive
                     Officer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeffrey M. Farber    Senior Vice            26,381         140     26,241      *
                     President -
                     Finance and
                     Controller
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alan C. Greenberg    Chairman of            16,818       1,818     15,000      *
                     Executive
                     Committee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Minikes      Treasurer             275,710       1,295    274,415      *
  (a)(5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Samuel L. Molinaro   Executive Vice        239,059       1,482    237,576      *
  Jr.                President and
                     Chief Financial
                     Officer



                                      -7-




-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Shares
                                                                   Beneficially
                                                                 Owned After this
                                                                     Offering
                                                                -------------------
                                         Shares       Shares
                       Position(s)    Beneficially  Covered by
                           with          Owned         this
Selling Stockholder    the Company     (1)(2)(3)    Prospectus   Number     Percent
-------------------  ---------------  ------------  ----------   --------   -------
                                                             
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alan D. Schwartz     President and       1,414,513       2,934  1,411,579  1.18%
                     Co-Chief
                     Operating
                     Officer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warren J. Spector    President and         519,243       2,963    516,280     *
  (6)                Co-Chief
                     Operating
                     Officer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------




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

*   Less than one percent (1%).


(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 2,608,104 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) Includes 45,669 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Cayne's wife, as to
    which shares Mr. Cayne disclaims beneficial ownership. Includes 205,315
    shares of Common Stock held by a charitable trust, as to which shares Mr.
    Cayne disclaims beneficial ownership but for which Mr. Cayne has voting and
    dispositive power. Does not include 213,254 shares of Common Stock held by
    trusts established for Mr. Cayne's children, as to which shares Mr. Cayne
    disclaims beneficial ownership. Does not include 8,593 shares of Common
    Stock owned by the children of Mr. Cayne, as to which shares Mr. Cayne
    disclaims beneficial ownership.


(5) Does not include 714 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Minikes' wife, as
    to which shares Mr. Minikes disclaims beneficial ownership.


(6) Does not include 636 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Spector's wife, as
    to which shares Mr. Spector 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 by reference in this prospectus from the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2006 have
been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by
reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such
firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.






























                                      -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, 2006 filed with the SEC on
February 13, 2007; (ii) the Current Reports on Form 8-K dated December 14, 2006,
January 10, 2007, January 25, 2007, February 14, 2007 and March 15, 2007; and
(iii) 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.


Item 7.     Exemption from Registration Claimed.


   Not Applicable.




                                      II-1


Item 8.     Exhibits.


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

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

            4(a)(2)        --  Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate
                               of Incorporation 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)).

                                      II-2


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

            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).

            5              --  Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
                               (previously filed with the Registration Statement
                               on Form S-8 (File No. 333-108976)).

            10(a)          --  The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Capital
                               Accumulation Plan for Senior Managing Directors
                               (amended and restated as of October 28, 1999 and
                               further amended as of March 31, 2004)
                               (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a)(1) to
                               the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
                               quarter ended May 31, 2004, filed on July 15,
                               2004).

            10(b)          --  The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Capital
                               Accumulation Plan for Senior Managing Directors
                               (amended and restated November 29, 2000 for plan
                               years beginning on or after July 1, 1999, and
                               further amended as of March 31, 2004, February 8,
                               2006 and February 28, 2006) (incorporated by
                               reference to Exhibit B to the registrant's
                               Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2006 Annual
                               Meeting of Stockholders).

            10(c)          --  The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Restricted Stock
                               Unit Plan (amended and restated as of March 31,
                               2004) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                               10(a)(4) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
                               the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2004, filed on
                               July 15, 2004).

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

            23(b)          --  Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
                               (included in Exhibit 5 to the Registration
                               Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-108976)).

            24             --  Power of attorney (included in the signature
                               pages to the Registration Statement on Form S-8
                               (File No. 333-108976)).





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



                                      II-3


      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 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 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
   employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
   Securities Exchange Act of 1934) 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 March 22, 2007.


                                           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 March 22, 2007.





             Signature                                   Title

                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

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


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


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


        /s/ Michael Goldstein             Director
   --------------------------
          Michael Goldstein


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


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


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






                                      II-5





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


                  *                       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             Senior Vice President - Finance
   --------------------------              and Controller
          Jeffrey M. Farber                (Principal Accounting Officer)




     /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).


                                      II-7


Exhibit
Number             Description
-------            -----------

5              --  Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
                   (previously filed with the Registration Statement
                   on Form S-8 (File No. 333-108976)).

10(a)          --  The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Capital
                   Accumulation Plan for Senior Managing Directors
                   (amended and restated as of October 28, 1999 and
                   further amended as of March 31, 2004)
                   (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a)(1) to
                   the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
                   quarter ended May 31, 2004, filed on July 15,
                   2004).

10(b)          --  The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Capital
                   Accumulation Plan for Senior Managing Directors
                   (amended and restated November 29, 2000 for plan
                   years beginning on or after July 1, 1999, and
                   further amended as of March 31, 2004, February 8,
                   2006 and February 28, 2006) (incorporated by
                   reference to Exhibit B to the registrant's
                   Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2006 Annual
                   Meeting of Stockholders).

10(c)          --  The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Restricted Stock
                   Unit Plan (amended and restated as of March 31,
                   2004) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                   10(a)(4) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
                   the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2004, filed on
                   July 15, 2004).

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

23(b)          --  Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
                   (included in Exhibit 5 to the Registration
                   Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-108976)).

24             --  Power of attorney (included in the signature
                   pages to the Registration Statement on Form S-8
                   (File No. 333-108976)).




                                      II-8