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) January 5, 2005
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 (Commission File (IRS Employer
Jurisdiction of Number) Identification
Incorporation) 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
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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 is a copy of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Press Release, dated
January 5, 2005, announcing the approval of an amendment to its share repurchase
program to allow the company to purchase up to $1.0 billion in aggregate cost of
common stock. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99 to this Form
8-K and by this reference incorporated herein and made a part hereof.
This information shall be considered "filed" for purposes of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibit:
(99) Press Release, dated January 5, 2005.
Signature
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
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Jeffrey M. Farber
Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Dated: January 6, 2005
THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
(99) Press Release, dated January 5, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth Ventura (212) 272-9251
John Quinn (212) 272-5934
THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
REPLENISHES TOTAL SHARE REPURCHASE
AUTHORIZATION TO $1.0 BILLION
NEW YORK -January 5, 2005- The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (NYSE: BSC) today
announced that the Board of Directors of the company approved an amendment to
its share repurchase program to allow the company to purchase up to $1.0 billion
in aggregate cost of common stock. The amendment supercedes the previous
authorization and replenishes the total authorization back to $1.0 billion. The
company acquired approximately $623 million under the previous program. The
share repurchase program will be utilized primarily to acquire shares of common
stock in order to mitigate the dilutive effect of the company's stock award
plans. The purchases may be made periodically in 2005 or beyond in the open
market or through privately negotiated transactions.
Founded in 1923, The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (NYSE: BSC) is the
parent company of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., a leading investment banking and
securities trading and brokerage firm. With approximately $46.1 billion in total
capital, Bear Stearns serves governments, corporations, institutions and
individuals worldwide. The company's business includes corporate finance,
mergers and acquisitions, institutional equities and fixed income sales and
trading, securities research, private client services, derivatives, foreign
exchange and futures sales and trading, asset management and custody services.
Through Bear, Stearns Securities Corp., it offers financing, securities lending,
clearing and technology solutions to hedge funds, broker-dealers and investment
advisors. Headquartered in New York City, the company has approximately 11,000
employees worldwide. For additional information about Bear Stearns, please visit
the firm's website at http://www.bearstearns.com.