UNITED STATES
                       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): December 28, 2004
                                                        -------------------

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



         DELAWARE                   File No. 1-8989           13-3286161
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(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                                    Identification Number)



 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York                         10179
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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)



      Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

   |_|    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act 
(17 CFR 230.425)

   |_|    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act 
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)

   |_|    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the 
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

   |_|    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the 
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Item 1.01   Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
            ------------------------------------------

      The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. grants various awards to its executive
officers under its 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 (the "Capital Accumulation
Plan") and Stock Award Plan, amended and restated as of March 31, 2004 (the
"Stock Award Plan"). Forms of award grant agreements are attached hereto as
exhibits and are hereby incorporated by reference.

Item 9.01   Financial Statements and Exhibits.
            ---------------------------------

      (c)   Exhibits:

            10.1      Form of Agreement evidencing a grant of CAP Units to
                      Executive Officers under the Capital Accumulation Plan.

            10.2      Form of Agreement evidencing a grant of Nonqualified Stock
                      Options (subject to vesting) to Executive Officers under
                      the Stock Award Plan.

            10.3      Form of Agreement evidencing a grant of Nonqualified Stock
                      Options (immediately exercisable) to Executive Officers
                      under the Stock Award Plan.


                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                       THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.



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


Dated:  January 4, 2005


                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------


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

10.1              Form of Agreement evidencing a grant of CAP Units to Executive
                  Officers under the Capital Accumulation Plan.

10.2              Form of Agreement evidencing a grant of Nonqualified Stock
                  Options (subject to vesting) to Executive Officers under
                  the Stock Award Plan.

10.3              Form of Agreement evidencing a grant of Nonqualified Stock
                  Options (immediately exercisable) to Executive Officers
                  under the Stock Award Plan.