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 27, 2005
                                                         -----------------



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



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



            383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York      10179
            --------------------------------------------------
           (Address of principal executive offices)   (zip code)



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



                                 Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (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 8.01   Other Events.
            ------------
      Filed herewith are copies of:

      (a)   Form of Medium-Term Note, Series B (Accelerated Market Participation
            Securities, Linked to the Nasdaq 100(R) Index, Due July 2, 2007).

      (b)   Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP as to certain federal
            income tax consequences described in the Pricing Supplement, dated
            December 27, 2005, to the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus,
            each dated February 2, 2005, included in the Registration Statement
            on Form S-3 filed by the Company (Registration No. 333-121744).

      (c)   Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.


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

      (c)   Exhibits:

            The following exhibits are incorporated by reference into the
            Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-121744) as
            exhibits to such Registration Statement:

            4(b)(20)  Form of Medium-Term Note, Series B (Accelerated Market
                      Participation Securities, Linked to the Nasdaq 100(R)
                      Index, Due July 2, 2007).

            8(a)      Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP as to certain
                      federal income tax consequences.

            23(c)     Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP (Included in
                      Exhibit 8(a)).

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                                   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, 2006


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                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

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


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

4(b)(20)        Form of Medium-Term Note, Series B (Accelerated Market
                Participation Securities, Linked to the Nasdaq 100(R) Index, Due
                July 2, 2007).

8(a)            Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP as to certain 
                federal income tax consequences.

23(c)           Consent of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP (Included in
                Exhibit 8(a)).





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