Free
Writing Prospectus
Filed
Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration
No. 333−136666
March
14, 2007
|
||
|
New
Issue
|
Indicative
Terms
|
THE
BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
Note
Linked to a Portfolio Assets
Due:
September [l],
2012
INVESTMENT
HIGHLIGHTS
|
|
|
·
5½ year term to maturity.
· The
Notes are 100% principal protected.
· Issue
is a direct obligation of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (Rated
A1 by
Moody's/A+ by S&P).
· Issue
Price: 100.00% of the principal amount ($1,000 per Note) ([99.00]%
for
investors who purchase a principal amount of at least
$1,000,000).
· Linked
to equally-weighted portfolio comprised of four equity indices:
(1) the
S&P 500®
Index; (2) the Dow Jones EURO STOXX 50®
Index; (3) the Nikkei 225™
Stock Index; and (4) the S&P BRIC 40™
Index.
· The
Cash Settlement Value will depend on whether the average closing
level of
the Portfolio over six observation dates during the final six
months of
the Note's term is greater than or less than the Portfolio's
initial level
(with 100% Participation).
· If,
at maturity, the Portfolio Return is greater than zero,
the Cash Settlement Value for each Note will be equal to the
principal
amount of the Note, plus the product of : (i) $1,000 multiplied
by (ii)
the Portfolio return, multiplied by (iii) the Participation
Rate.
· If
at maturity, the Portfolio Return is equal to or less than
zero, the Cash
Settlement Value for each Note will be
$1,000.
|
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
(212) 272-6928
|
The
issuer has filed a registration statement (including a
prospectus) with
the SEC for the offering to which this free writing prospectus
relates.
Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that
registration
statement and other documents the issuer has filed with
the SEC for more
complete information about the issuer and this offering.
You may get these
documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site
at
www.sec.gov. Alternatively,
the
issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in
the offering will
arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by
calling toll free
1-866-803-9204.
The
Notes will not be listed on any U.S. securities exchange
or quotation
system. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor
any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or
determined that this free writing prospectus is truthful
or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
GENERAL
TERMS
|
ISSUER:
|
The
Bear Stearns Companies Inc.
|
|
ISSUER’S
RATING:
|
A1
/ A+ (Moody’s / S&P).
|
|
CUSIP
NUMBER:
|
073928U76
|
|
ISSUE
PRICE:
|
100.00%
of the Principal Amount (99.00% for investors who purchase
a Principal
Amount of at least $1,000,000).
|
|
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT:
|
$[●]
|
|
DENOMINATIONS:
|
$1,000
per Note and $1,000 multiples thereafter
|
|
SELLING
PERIOD ENDS:
|
March
[●], 2007
|
|
SETTLEMENT
DATE:
|
March
[●], 2007
|
|
MATURITY
DATE:
|
September
[●], 2012 (for a term of approximately 66 months). The Maturity
Date is
subject to adjustment as described in the Pricing
Supplement.
|
|
CASH
SETTLEMENT VALUE:
|
An
amount in cash that depends upon the Portfolio Return. If,
at maturity,
the Portfolio Return is greater than zero, the Cash Settlement
Value is
equal to:
Principal
Amount of Note + [$1,000 x Portfolio Return x Participation
Rate]
If,
at maturity, the Portfolio Return is equal to or less than
zero, the Cash
Settlement Value is equal to the principal amount of the
Notes.
|
|
PORTFOLIO
RETURN:
|
An
amount determined by the Calculation Agent and equal to the arithmetic
average of the Index Performances of the four
Components.
|
|
INDEX
PERFORMANCE:
|
|
As
of the Final Valuation Date and with respect to a Component,
the quotient,
expressed as a percentage, of (i) the arithmetic average of the
Observation Levels for that Component as of each Observation
Date minus
the Initial Component Level of that Component divided by (ii)
the Initial
Component Level of that Component.
|
FINAL
VALUATION DATE:
|
September
[●],
2012. The
Final Valuation Date is subject to adjustment as described in
the Pricing
Supplement.
|
|
OBSERVATION
LEVELS:
|
As
of any Observation Date and for each Component, the closing index
level as
reported by the relevant Component Sponsor and displayed on Bloomberg
Page
SPX <Index> <Go> with respect to the SPX, Bloomberg Page SX5E
<Index> <Go> with respect to the SX5E; Bloomberg Page NKY
<Index> <Go> with respect to the NKY; and Bloomberg Page SBR
<Index> <Go> with respect to the
SBR.
|
|
OBSERVATION
DATES:
|
April
[●],
2012, May [●],
2012, June [●],
2012, July [●],
2012, August [●],
2012, and September [●],
2012. The Observation Dates are subject to adjustment as described
in the
Pricing Supplement.
|
|
INITIAL
COMPONENT LEVELS:
|
[●]
with respect to the SPX; [●]with
respect to the SX5E; [●]with
respect to the NKY; [●]with
respect to the SBR.
|
|
INTEREST:
|
The
Notes will not bear interest.
|
|
PARTICIPATION
RATE:
|
[100.00]%
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
COMPONENTS:
|
•
The S&P 500® Index (Bloomberg Ticker: SPX
<Index>) (“SPX”):
-
Standard and Poor’s 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted index of 500
stocks. The index is designed to measure the performance of
the broad
domestic US economy through changes in the aggregate market
value of 500
stocks representing all major industries.
•
The
Dow Jones EURO STOXX 50® Index (Bloomberg
Ticker: SX5E <Index>) (“SX5E”):
-
The Dow Jones EURO STOXX 50 is composed of 50 component stocks
of market
sector leaders from within the Dow Jones EURO STOXXSMIndex,
which includes
stocks selected from the Eurozone. The component stocks have
a high degree
of liquidity and represent the largest companies across all
market sectors
defined by the Dow Jones Global Classification Standard.
•
The Nikkei 225TM Stock Index (Bloomberg Ticker: NKY
<Index>) (“NKY”):
-
The Nikkei 225 Stock Index is a modified, price-weighted stock
index
calculated, published and disseminated by Nihon Keizai Shimbun,
Inc. that
measures the composite price performance of 225 selected Japanese
stocks.
It is intended to represent a broad cross-section of Japanese
industries,
and requires that the 75 most liquid issues of the Tokyo Stock
Exchange be
included in the index.
•
The S&P BRIC 40™ Index (Bloomberg Ticker: SBR <Index>)
(“SBR”):
-
The S&P BRIC 40™ Index is published by Standard and Poor’s with the
intention of providing exposure to the 40 largest and most
liquid
companies from the emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India
and China.
The index uses a modified market capitalization weighting scheme,
with
modifications being to market cap weights, if required, to
reflect
available float, reduce single stock concentration and enhance
index
basket liquidity.
|
|
COMPONENT
SPONSORS:
|
Standard
& Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. as the sponsor
of the S&P 500® Index and the S&P BRIC 40™ Index, STOXX
Limited, a partnership of Deutsche Börse AG, Dow Jones & Company and
the SWX Group as the sponsors of the Dow Jones EURO STOXX 50®
Index and Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Inc. as the sponsor of the Nikkei
225™
Stock Index.
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
ADDITIONAL
TERMS SPECIFIC TO THE
NOTES
|
· |
Pricing
Supplement dated March 14,
2007 (subject to completion):
|
· |
Prospectus
Supplement dated August 16, 2006:
|
· |
Prospectus
dated August 16, 2006:
|
ILLUSTRATIVE
EXAMPLES OF CASH SETTLEMENT VALUE
|
· |
Investor
purchases $1,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes at the initial
public
offering price of $1,000.
|
· |
Investor
holds the Notes to maturity.
|
· |
The
Initial Component Level for the SPX is equal to 1,460.00.
|
· |
The
Initial Component Level for the SX5E is equal to 4,250.00.
|
· |
The
Initial Component Level for the NKY is equal to
18,000.00.
|
· |
The
Initial Component Level for the SBR is equal to
2,150.00.
|
· |
All
returns are based on a 66-month term, pre-tax
basis.
|
· |
No
Market Disruption Events or Events of Default occur during the
term of the
Notes.
|
SPX
Initial
|
SPX
Avg / Initial
|
SX5E
Initial
|
SX5E
Avg / Initial
|
NKY
Initial
|
NKY
Avg/ Initial
|
SBR
Initial
|
SBR
Avg/ Initial
|
Portfolio
Average/ Initial
|
Participation
Rate
|
Cash
Settlement Value Per $1,000 Note
|
1,460.00
|
81.45%
|
4,250.00
|
79.09%
|
18,000.00
|
85.47%
|
2,150.00
|
86.41%
|
83.11%
|
100.00%
|
$1,000.00
|
1,460.00
|
146.33%
|
4,250.00
|
162.39%
|
18,000.00
|
139.05%
|
2,150.00
|
223.63%
|
167.85%
|
100.00%
|
$1,678.53
|
1,460.00
|
137.74%
|
4,250.00
|
106.13%
|
18,000.00
|
79.07%
|
2,150.00
|
96.82%
|
104.94%
|
100.00%
|
$1,049.39
|
1,460.00
|
99.04%
|
4,250.00
|
134.68%
|
18,000.00
|
163.06%
|
2,150.00
|
109.23%
|
126.50%
|
100.00%
|
$1,265.03
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
|
SPX
|
SX5E
|
NKY
|
SBR
|
Initial
Component Level
|
1,460.00
|
4,250.00
|
18,000.00
|
2,150.00
|
April
[●], 2012 Observation Value
|
1,659.76
|
5,464.54
|
20,989.71
|
2,648.69
|
May
[●], 2012 Observation Value
|
1,905.57
|
5,740.11
|
25,402.46
|
3,679.32
|
June
[●], 2012 Observation Value
|
2,163.55
|
6,704.82
|
26,431.03
|
3,980.13
|
July
[●], 2012 Observation Value
|
2,201.91
|
7,915.44
|
23,933.15
|
6,700.94
|
August
[●], 2012 Observation Value
|
2,461.03
|
7,943.48
|
27,532.46
|
6,406.99
|
September
[●], 2012 Observation Value
|
2,427.08
|
7,642.31
|
25,889.35
|
5,432.06
|
Average
Observation Level
|
2,136.49
|
6,901.78
|
25,029.69
|
4,808.02
|
Average
Observation Level as % of Initial Component Level
|
146.33%
|
162.39%
|
139.05%
|
223.63%
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
SPX
|
SX5E
|
NKY
|
SBR
|
|
Initial
Component Level
|
1,460.00
|
4,250.00
|
18,000.00
|
2,150.00
|
April
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,396.39
|
5,074.83
|
16,340.55
|
1,763.73
|
May
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,343.04
|
3,583.03
|
14,941.97
|
1,529.03
|
June
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,227.98
|
3,035.13
|
14,855.81
|
1,688.34
|
July
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,077.18
|
3,044.54
|
14,997.51
|
1,861.33
|
August
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,094.58
|
2,909.69
|
15,748.70
|
2,125.00
|
September
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
996.06
|
2,521.39
|
15,423.94
|
2,178.84
|
Average
Observation Level
|
1,189.20
|
3,361.43
|
15,384.75
|
1,857.71
|
Average
Observation Level as % of Initial Component
Level
|
81.45%
|
79.09%
|
85.47%
|
86.41%
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
|
SPX
|
SX5E
|
NKY
|
SBR
|
Initial
Component Level
|
1,460.00
|
4,250.00
|
18,000.00
|
2,150.00
|
April
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,573.09
|
4,041.13
|
17,986.77
|
2,354.12
|
May
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,732.43
|
4,299.08
|
20,530.07
|
2,716.51
|
June
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
2,096.43
|
4,541.78
|
12,872.44
|
2,265.07
|
July
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
2,039.93
|
4,482.89
|
10,129.13
|
1,895.64
|
August
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
2,196.69
|
4,771.55
|
11,671.66
|
2,106.75
|
September
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
2,427.09
|
4,926.34
|
12,203.64
|
1,152.17
|
Average
Observation Level
|
2,010.94
|
4,510.46
|
14,232.29
|
2,081.71
|
Average
Observation Level % of Initial Component Level
|
137.74%
|
106.13%
|
79.07%
|
96.82%
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
|
SPX
|
SX5E
|
NKY
|
SBR
|
Initial
Component Level
|
1,460.00
|
4,250.00
|
18,000.00
|
2,150.00
|
April
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,062.36
|
4,767.18
|
22,467.67
|
1,659.02
|
May
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,331.05
|
5,410.71
|
28,059.12
|
2,409.84
|
June
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,580.96
|
4,959.85
|
33,645.52
|
2,248.67
|
July
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,645.45
|
5,452.00
|
29,976.19
|
2,235.03
|
August
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,506.44
|
7,023.66
|
29,909.19
|
2,699.37
|
September
[●],
2012 Observation Value
|
1,549.83
|
6,731.03
|
32,044.70
|
2,838.79
|
Average
Observation Level
|
1,446.01
|
6,868.69
|
29,350.40
|
2,348.45
|
Average
Observation Level as % of Initial Component Level
|
99.04%
|
134.68%
|
163.06%
|
109.23%
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
Example
1
|
Example
2
|
Example
3
|
Example
4
|
|
Hypothetical
Initial Component Level for SPX
|
1,460.00
|
1,460.00
|
1,460.00
|
1,460.00
|
Hypothetical
average Observation Level for SPX
|
2,163.5
|
6,901.8
|
25,029.69
|
4,808.02
|
Hypothetical
Initial Component Level for SX5E
|
4,250.00
|
4,250.00
|
4,250.00
|
4,250.00
|
Hypothetical
average Observation Level for SX5E
|
6,901.80
|
3,361.40
|
4,510.40
|
6,868.90
|
Hypothetical
Initial Component Level for NKY
|
18,000.00
|
18,000.00
|
18,000.00
|
18,000.00
|
Hypothetical
average Observation Level for NKY
|
25,029.69
|
15,384.75
|
14,232.29
|
29,350.40
|
Hypothetical
Initial Component Level for SBR
|
2,150.00
|
2,150.00
|
2,150.00
|
2,150.00
|
Hypothetical
average Observation Level for SBR
|
4,808.02
|
1,857.71
|
2,081.71
|
2,348.45
|
Portfolio
Return
|
Positive
|
Negative
|
Positive
|
Positive
|
Principal
protected?
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Cash
Settlement Value per Note
|
$1,678.53
|
$1,000.00
|
$1,049.39
|
$1,265.03
|
S&P
500® Index
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
||||||
January
|
1,130.20
|
855.70
|
1131.13
|
1,181.27
|
1,280.08
|
1,438.24
|
||||||
February
|
1,106.73
|
841.15
|
1144.94
|
1,203.60
|
1,280.66
|
|||||||
March
|
1,147.39
|
848.18
|
1126.21
|
1,180.59
|
1,294.83
|
|||||||
April
|
1,076.92
|
916.92
|
1107.3
|
1,156.85
|
1,310.61
|
|||||||
May
|
1,067.14
|
963.59
|
1120.68
|
1,191.50
|
1,270.09
|
|||||||
June
|
989.82
|
974.50
|
1140.84
|
1,191.33
|
1,270.20
|
|||||||
July
|
911.62
|
990.31
|
1101.72
|
1,234.18
|
1,276.66
|
|||||||
August
|
916.07
|
1,008.01
|
1104.24
|
1,220.33
|
1,303.82
|
|||||||
September
|
815.28
|
995.97
|
1114.58
|
1,228.81
|
1,335.85
|
|||||||
October
|
885.76
|
1,050.71
|
1130.2
|
1,207.01
|
1,377.94
|
|||||||
November
|
936.31
|
1,058.20
|
1173.82
|
1,249.48
|
1,400.63
|
|||||||
December
|
879.82
|
1,111.92
|
1211.92
|
1,248.29
|
1,418.30
|
Dow
Jones EURO STOXX 50®
Index
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
||||||
January
|
3,670.26
|
2,248.17
|
2,839.13
|
2,984.59
|
3,691.41
|
4,178.54
|
||||||
February
|
3,624.74
|
2,140.73
|
2,893.18
|
3,058.32
|
3,774.51
|
|||||||
March
|
3,784.05
|
2,036.86
|
2,787.49
|
3,055.73
|
3,853.74
|
|||||||
April
|
3,574.23
|
2,324.23
|
2,787.48
|
2,930.10
|
3,839.90
|
|||||||
May
|
3,425.79
|
2,330.06
|
2,749.62
|
3,076.70
|
3,637.17
|
|||||||
June
|
3,133.39
|
2,419.51
|
2,811.08
|
3,181.54
|
3,648.92
|
|||||||
July
|
2,685.79
|
2,519.79
|
2,720.05
|
3,326.51
|
3,691.87
|
|||||||
August
|
2,709.29
|
2,556.71
|
2,670.79
|
3,263.78
|
3,808.70
|
|||||||
September
|
2,204.39
|
2,395.87
|
2,726.30
|
3,428.51
|
3,899.41
|
|||||||
October
|
2,518.99
|
2,575.04
|
2,811.72
|
3,320.15
|
4,004.80
|
|||||||
November
|
2,656.85
|
2,630.47
|
2,876.39
|
3,447.07
|
3,987.23
|
|||||||
December
|
2,386.41
|
2,760.66
|
2,951.01
|
3,578.93
|
4,119.94
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
Nikkei
225™
Stock
Index
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
||||||
January
|
9,997.80
|
8,339.94
|
10,783.61
|
11,387.59
|
16,649.82
|
17,383.42
|
||||||
February
|
10,587.83
|
8,363.04
|
11,041.92
|
11,740.60
|
16,205.43
|
|||||||
March
|
11,024.94
|
7,972.71
|
11,715.39
|
11,668.95
|
17,059.66
|
|||||||
April
|
11,492.54
|
7,831.42
|
11,761.79
|
11,008.90
|
16,906.23
|
|||||||
May
|
11,763.70
|
8,424.51
|
11,236.37
|
11,276.59
|
15,467.33
|
|||||||
June
|
10,621.84
|
9,083.11
|
11,858.87
|
11,584.01
|
15,505.18
|
|||||||
July
|
9,877.94
|
9,563.21
|
11,325.78
|
11,899.60
|
15,456.81
|
|||||||
August
|
9,619.30
|
10,343.55
|
11,081.79
|
12,413.60
|
16,140.76
|
|||||||
September
|
9,383.29
|
10,219.05
|
10,823.57
|
13,574.30
|
16,127.58
|
|||||||
October
|
8,640.48
|
10,559.59
|
10,771.42
|
13,606.50
|
16,399.39
|
|||||||
November
|
9,215.56
|
10,100.57
|
10,899.25
|
14,872.15
|
16,274.33
|
|||||||
December
|
8,578.95
|
10,676.64
|
11,488.76
|
16,111.43
|
17,225.83
|
S&P
BRIC 40™ Index
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
||||||
January
|
541.56
|
474.87
|
867.75
|
961.09
|
1,575.05
|
2,098.12
|
||||||
February
|
558.94
|
480.23
|
930.92
|
1,074.02
|
1,599.68
|
|||||||
March
|
583.39
|
478.05
|
929.27
|
1,002.04
|
1,614.88
|
|||||||
April
|
588.99
|
534.21
|
788.05
|
966.65
|
1,743.36
|
|||||||
May
|
581.15
|
577.00
|
792.05
|
1,009.56
|
1,558.56
|
|||||||
June
|
518.70
|
613.99
|
801.02
|
1,066.05
|
1,630.68
|
|||||||
July
|
451.64
|
622.48
|
802.64
|
1,134.86
|
1,694.62
|
|||||||
August
|
479.35
|
691.47
|
838.89
|
1,200.43
|
1,722.80
|
|||||||
September
|
419.63
|
717.72
|
902.36
|
1,337.18
|
1,715.35
|
|||||||
October
|
456.02
|
743.64
|
908.55
|
1,231.71
|
1,847.16
|
|||||||
November
|
473.49
|
763.45
|
952.32
|
1,317.51
|
2,003.46
|
|||||||
December
|
470.45
|
866.07
|
973.47
|
1,354.94
|
2,181.25
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
SELECTED
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
|
· |
No
current income—We
will not pay any interest on the Notes. The yield on the
Notes therefore
may be less than the overall return you would earn if you
purchased a
conventional debt security at the same time and with the
same
maturity.
|
· |
No
interest, dividend or other payments—You
will not receive any interest, dividend payments or other
distributions on
the stocks underlying the Components; nor will such payments
be included
in the calculation of the Cash Settlement Value you will
receive at
maturity.
|
· |
Not
exchange-listed—The
Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange and
we do not expect a
trading market to develop, which may affect the price that
you receive for
your Notes upon any sale prior to maturity. If you sell
the Notes prior to
maturity, you may receive less, and possibly significantly
less, than your
initial investment in the Notes.
|
· |
Liquidity—Because
the Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange,
we do not expect
a trading market to develop, and, if such a market were
to develop, it may
not be liquid. Our subsidiary, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. has advised us
that they intend under ordinary market conditions to indicate
prices for
the Notes on request. However, we cannot guarantee that
bids for
outstanding Notes will be made in the future; nor can we
predict the price
at which those bids will be made. In any event, Notes will
cease trading
as of the close of business on the Maturity Date.
|
· |
The
Components may not move in tandem—At
a time when the level of one or more of the Components
increases, the
level of one or more of the other Components may decline.
Therefore, in
calculating the Portfolio Return, increases in the level
of one or more of
the Components may be moderated, or wholly offset, by lesser
increases or
declines in the level of one or more of the other
Components.
|
LICENSE
AGREEMENTS
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|