BEAR STEARNS reports 2007 second quarter results post record quarterly net revenues of $2.5 BILLION

Global Clearing Services, Asset Management and Private Client Services Divisions All Report Record Quarterly Net Revenues

NEW YORK, NY — The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (NYSE:BSC) today reported earnings per share (diluted), after a non-cash charge, of $2.52 for the second quarter ended May 31, 2007, down 32% from $3.72 per share for the second quarter of 2006. Second quarter results include the effect of a $227 million or $0.88 per share (diluted) non-cash charge related to the write-down of intangible assets, representing goodwill and specialist rights of Bear Wagner Specialists. Earnings per share (diluted) excluding this charge would have been $3.40 for the 2007 second quarter. Net income for the second quarter of 2007, after the non-cash charge, was $362 million. Net income excluding the non-cash charge would have been $486 million, down 10% from $539 million for the second quarter of 2006. Net revenues for the 2007 second quarter were a record $2.512 billion, up from the previous record of $2.499 billion reported for the 2006 second quarter. The annualized return on common stockholders’ equity for the second quarter of 2007 was 11.6%, and 16.4% for the trailing 12-month period ended May 31, 2007. Excluding the non-cash charge, annualized return on common stockholders’ equity for the second quarter of 2007 would have been 15.6%, and 17.5% for the trailing 12-month period ended May 31, 2007.

“The diversity of our franchise is clearly demonstrated in the record net revenues generated this quarter,” said James E. Cayne, chairman and chief executive officer of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. “The Global Clearing Services and Wealth Management segments reported record performance while results were also very strong from debt and equity underwriting, equity derivatives and leveraged finance. Internationally, we continue to grow aggressively, hiring talented people, broadening our product platform and reaching new clients in multiple geographies.”

A brief discussion of the firm’s business segments follows:

CAPITAL MARKETS
Capital Markets net revenues for the second quarter of 2007 were $1.9 billion, down 10% from a record high of $2.1 billion for the quarter ended May 31, 2006.

* Institutional Equities net revenues were $543 million, a slight decline from $560 million for the second quarter of 2006. Record revenues in equity derivatives and risk arbitrage, as well as continued strong results from international sales and trading, drove second quarter 2007 performance. The 2006 second quarter included gains recognized from the initial public offering of NYSE Group, without these gains net revenues for the 2007 quarter would have increased significantly as compared with the prior year period.
* Fixed Income net revenues were $962 million for the 2007 second quarter, down 21% from record revenues of $1.2 billion recorded in the second quarter of 2006. The credit business produced strong results led by credit derivatives and the record net revenues in leveraged finance. Mortgage-related revenues reflected both industry-wide declines in residential mortgage origination and securitization volumes and challenging market conditions in the sub-prime and Alt-A mortgage sectors.
* Investment Banking net revenues were $357 million, up 28% from the $278 million in the 2006 second quarter. Underwriting net revenues increased, driven by active corporate and financial sponsor clients. Merger and acquisition advisory fees were strong, reflecting continued robust market conditions and the completion of a number of marquee transactions.

GLOBAL CLEARING SERVICES
Global Clearing Services net revenues were a record setting $317 million for the second quarter of 2007, up 10% from $287 million in the year-ago quarter. Net interest revenues reached an all time high, primarily due to increased average customer margin balances and customer short balances. Average customer margin debt balances for the quarter ended May 31, 2007 reached a record average of $95.4 billion, up 40% from an average of $68.4 billion in the quarter ended May 31, 2006. Customer short balances averaged $101.9 billion during the second quarter of 2007, up 27% from an average of $80.2 billion in the second quarter of 2006.

WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Wealth Management net revenues for the quarter ended May 31, 2007 reached a record $341 million, up 123% from $153 million in the second quarter of 2006.

* Private Client Services net revenues were a record $157 million, an increase of 21% from $130 million in the 2006 second quarter. The strong results were driven by higher management and performance fees from an increase in fee-based assets and favorable market conditions.
* Asset Management net revenues were also a record for the second quarter of 2007 and reached $184 million. These results show a significant increase from the $23 million posted in the 2006 second quarter. The increase was due to higher management and performance fees and favorable investment performance. Assets under management rose 25% to $60 billion on May 31, 2007, up from $48 billion on May 31, 2006.

EXPENSES

* Compensation as a percentage of net revenues was 49.0% in the second quarter of 2007 as compared with 48.8% for the second quarter of 2006. For the first six months of fiscal 2007 compensation to net revenues was 48.8%, compared with 48.4% for the six months ended May 31, 2006.
* Non-compensation expenses were $727 million for the quarter ended May 31, 2007, up 63% from $445 million in the 2006 second quarter. The increase in non-compensation related expenses was largely due to the $227 million non-cash charge related to the write-down of intangible assets, representing goodwill and specialist rights, of Bear Wagner Specialists. Excluding this non-cash charge, non-compensation expenses would have been $509 million, up 14% from $445 million in the May 2006 quarter. Increased transactional costs related to higher business volumes as well as occupancy, communications and technology costs associated with a rise in employee headcount were the primary drivers of the increase in expenses.
* The increase in the income tax rate from the first quarter of 2007 was largely due to a charge of approximately $20 million as a result of a remeasurement of deferred tax assets due to an enacted reduction in state and local taxes in future years.

The pre-tax profit margin for the quarter ended May 31, 2007 was 22.0% as compared with 33.4% for the quarter ended May 31, 2006. Excluding the write-down for impairment, the pre-tax profit margin would have been 30.7%.

As of May 31, 2007, total capital, including stockholders’ equity and long-term borrowings, was approximately $75.1 billion. Book value as of May 31, 2007 was $92.50 per share, based on 144.7 million shares outstanding.