SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K
                                 Current Report

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

   Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 20, 2001
                                                    --------------

                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
                         -------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



        DELAWARE                 File No. 1-8989                 13-3286161
        --------                 ---------------                 ----------

    (State or other          (Commission File Number)          (IRS Employer
    jurisdiction of                                            Identification
     incorporation)                                               Number)



              245 Park Avenue, New York, New York     10167
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            (Address of principal executive offices  zip code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:    (212) 272-2000
                                                       --------------



                                 Not Applicable
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          (former name or former address, if changed since last report)








Item 5.  Other Events

            Filed herewith are copies of:

      (a)   Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as to legality of the 6.50%
            Global Notes due 2006 to be issued by The Bear Stearns Companies
            Inc. (the "Company");

      (b)   Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as to certain federal
            income tax consequences described in the Prospectus Supplement,
            dated April 20, 2001, to the Prospectus, dated January 11, 2001,
            included in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by the
            Company (Registration No. 333-52902).

      (c)   Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.

Item 7.       Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
              ------------------------------------------------------------------

      (a)   Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired:

            Not applicable.

      (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information:

            Not applicable.

      (c)   Exhibits:

            The following exhibits are incorporated by reference into the
            Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-52902) as
            exhibits to such Registration Statement:

            5(a) Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as to legality of the
            6.50% Global Notes due 2006 to be issued by the Company.

            8(a) Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as to certain federal
            income tax consequences (Included in Exhibit 5(a)).

            23(c) Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft (Included
            in Exhibit 5(a)).








                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                       THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.



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

Dated:  April 27, 2001








                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.       Description

5(a)              Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as to legality of the
                  6.50% Global Notes due 2006 to be issued by The Bear Stearns
                  Companies Inc.

8(a)              Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as to certain federal
                  income tax consequences (Included in Exhibit 5(a).

23(c)             Consent of Cadwalader,  Wickersham & Taft (Included in Exhibit
                  5(a)).