FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * NOVELLY PAUL A   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC [BSC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) P.O. BOX 7009 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/28/2006 (Street) ST. THOMAS, VI 00801 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share 02/28/2006(1)   M   31 A $ 0 2,311.825 (2) D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Restricted Stock Units

(5)

02/28/2006

M(1)

31

02/28/2006

02/28/2006

Common Stock

31

$ 0

0

D

Non-Employee Director Stock Options (Right to Buy)

$ 134.44

02/28/2006

A(3)

69

08/30/2006

02/28/2016

Common Stock

69

$ 0

69

D

Restricted Stock Units

(5)

02/28/2006

A(4)

23

08/30/2006

08/30/2006

Common Stock

23

$ 0

23

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
NOVELLY PAUL A P.O. BOX 7009 ST. THOMAS, VI 00801	X

Signatures

/s/ James F. Sanders		03/01/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Automatic vesting of restricted stock units previously issued under the issuer's Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option and Stock Unit Plan; exempt under Rule 16b-3.
(2)	Includes all dividends through the transaction date. Does not include 100,000 shares owned by St. Albans Global Management LLLP, a Delaware limited liability limited partnership ("Global"), of which Mr. Novelly is the chief executive officer. Mr. Novelly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by Global.
(3)	Exempt issuance of options under Rule 16b-3 pursuant to the issuer's Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option and Stock Unit Plan.
(4)	Exempt grant of Restricted Stock Units under Rule 16b-3 pursuant to the issuer's Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option and Stock Unit Plan.
(5)	1-for-1
Remarks: Attorney in fact for the Reporting Person, Paul A. Novelly

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