Title
of Each Class of Securities Offered
|
|
Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price
|
|
Amount
of Registration Fee(1)
|
Medium-Term
Notes, Series B
|
|
$750,000
|
|
$23.03
|
·
|
The
Notes are linked to the performance of the common stock of NYSE
Group,
Inc. (NYSE: NYX) (the “Reference Issuer”) and are not principal protected.
When we refer to Notes in this pricing supplement, we mean Notes
with a
principal amount of $1,000. On the Maturity Date, you will receive
the
“Cash Settlement Value,” an amount in cash depending upon the relation of
the Final Share Price to the Initial Share
Price.
|
·
|
The
“Initial Share Price” equals $87.67, the closing price of the Reference
Share on March 23, 2007.
|
·
|
The
“Final Share Price” will be determined by the Calculation Agent and will
equal the closing price of the Reference Share on the Calculation
Date.
|
·
|
If,
at maturity, the Final Share Price is greater than or equal to
the Initial
Share Price, the Cash Settlement Value is equal to, per Note, the
principal amount of the Note, plus the lesser of:
|
·
|
200.00%
of the percentage increase in the Reference Share, multiplied by
the
principal amount of the Note, and
|
·
|
38.00%
(the maximum return on the Notes) multiplied by the principal amount
of
the Note.
|
·
|
If,
at maturity, the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share
Price,
you will receive less, and possibly significantly less, than your
initial
investment in the Notes. In this case, the Cash Settlement Value
is equal
to, per Note:
|
·
|
$1,000
multiplied by the amount, in percentage terms, equal to the Final
Share
Price divided by the Initial Share
Price.
|
·
|
The
CUSIP number for the Notes is
073928V26.
|
Per
Note
|
Total
|
||
Initial
public offering price1
|
100%
|
$750,000
|
|
Agent’s
discount
|
1.25%
|
$9,375
|
|
Proceeds,
before expenses, to us
|
98.75%
|
$740,625
|
·
|
Growth
potential—The return, if any, on the Notes is based upon whether the Final
Share Price is greater than or equal to the Initial Share
Price.
|
·
|
Potential
leverage in the increase, if any, in the Reference Share—The Notes may be
an attractive investment for investors who have a bullish view
of the
Reference Share in the short-term. If held to maturity, the Notes
allow
you to participate in 200.00% of the potential increase in the
Reference
Share, not to exceed the maximum return of 38.00%, representing
a 19.00%
increase in the Initial Share
Price.
|
·
|
Taxes—The
U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Notes
are
complex and uncertain. We intend to treat the Notes for all tax
purposes
as pre-paid cash-settled forward contracts linked to the price
of the
Reference Share and, where required, to file information returns
with the
Internal Revenue Service in accordance with such treatment. Prospective
investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the
U.S.
federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Notes.
Assuming
the Notes are treated as pre-paid cash-settled forward contracts,
you
should be required to recognize capital gain or loss to the extent
that
the cash you receive on the Maturity Date or upon a sale or exchange
of
the Notes prior to the Maturity Date differs from your tax basis
on the
Notes (which will generally be the amount you paid for the Notes).
See
“Certain U.S. Income Tax Considerations”
herein.
|
·
|
Possible
loss of principal—The Notes are not principal protected. If the Final
Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price, there will be
no
principal protection on the Notes and the Cash Settlement Value
you will
receive will be less than the initial offering price in proportion
to the
percentage decline in the Reference Share. In that case, you will
receive
less, and possibly significantly less, than your initial investment
in the
Notes.
|
·
|
Maximum
return of 38.00%—You will not receive more than the maximum return of
38.00% at maturity. Because the maximum return on the Notes is
38.00%, the
maximum Cash Settlement Value is $1,380.00. Therefore, the Cash
Settlement
Value will not reflect the increase in the value of the Notes if
the
Initial Share Price increases by more than 19.00%.
|
·
|
No
interest, dividend or other payments—You will not receive any interest,
dividend payments or other distributions on the Reference Share,
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. (“Bear
Stearns”) 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.
|
Issuer:
|
The
Bear Stearns Companies Inc.
|
Reference
Issuer:
|
NYSE
Group, Inc. (NYSE: NYX)
|
Reference
Share:
|
The
common stock of NYSE Group, Inc.
|
Face
amount:
|
Each
Note will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and $1,000
multiples thereafter; provided, however, that the minimum purchase
for any
purchaser domiciled in a Member state of the European Economic
Area shall
be $100,000. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes being
offered is
$750,000. When we refer to “Note” or “Notes” in this pricing supplement,
we mean Notes each with a principal amount of $1,000.
|
Further
issuances:
|
Under
certain limited circumstances, and at our sole discretion, we may
offer
further issuances of the Notes. These further issuances, if any,
will be
consolidated to form a single series with the Notes and will have
the same
CUSIP number and will trade interchangeably with the Notes immediately
upon settlement.
|
Cash
Settlement Value:
|
On
the Maturity Date, you will receive the Cash Settlement Value,
an amount
in cash depending upon the relation of the Final Share Price to
the
Initial Share Price. If, at maturity, the Final Share Price is
greater
than or equal to the Initial Share Price, the Cash Settlement Value
is
equal to, per Note, the lesser of:
|
|
|
Thus,
if the Final Share Price is greater than 119.00% of the Initial
Share
Price, regardless of the extent to which the Final Share Price
is greater
than the Initial Share Price, we will pay you $1,380.00 per Note,
which
represents a maximum return of 38.00%.
|
|
If,
at maturity, the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share
Price,
you will receive less, and possibly significantly less, than the
principal
you invested. In this case, the Cash Settlement Value is equal
to, per
Note:
|
|
Interest:
|
The
Notes will not bear interest.
|
Upside
Participation Rate:
|
200.00%
|
Initial
Share Price:
|
Equals
$87.67, the closing price of the Reference Share on March 23,
2007.
|
Final
Share Price:
|
The
Final Share Price will be determined by the Calculation Agent and
will
equal the closing price of the Reference Share on the Calculation
Date.
|
Calculation
Date:
|
April
23, 2008 unless such date is not a Reference Share Business Day,
in which
case the Calculation Date shall be the next Reference Share Business
Day.
The Calculation Date is subject to adjustment as described under
“Description of the Notes - Market Disruption Events.”
|
Maturity
Date:
|
The
Notes are expected to mature on April 28, 2008 unless such date
is not a
Reference Share Business Day, in which case the Maturity Date shall
be the
next Reference Share Business Day. If the Calculation Date is adjusted
due
to the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event, the Maturity Date
will be
three Reference Share Business Days following the adjusted Calculation
Date.
|
Exchange
listing:
|
The
Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
|
Reference
Share Business Day:
|
Means
any day on which the Primary Exchange and each Related Exchange
are
scheduled to be open for trading.
|
·
|
want
potential upside exposure to the Reference
Share;
|
·
|
believe
that the Reference Share will increase over the term of the Notes
and that
such increase will not exceed 19.00%;
|
·
|
are
willing to risk the possible loss of 100% of their investment in
exchange
for the opportunity to participate in 200.00% of the appreciation,
if any,
in the Reference Share of up to 19.00% (which represents a maximum
return
per Note of 38.00%), and
|
·
|
are
willing to forgo interest payments on the Notes or dividend payments
on
the Reference Share.
|
·
|
you
seek principal protection;
|
·
|
you
seek current income or dividend payments from your
investment;
|
·
|
you
seek an investment that offers the possibility to fully participate
in the
potential appreciation of the Reference Share (since the return
on the
Notes is capped at 38.00%);
|
·
|
you
seek an investment with an active secondary
market;
|
·
|
you
are unable or unwilling to hold the Notes until maturity;
or
|
·
|
you
do not have a bullish view of the Reference Share over the term
of the
Notes.
|
·
|
Reference
Share performance.
We expect that the value of the Notes prior to maturity will depend
substantially on whether the Final Share Price is greater than
the Initial
Share Price. If you decide to sell your Notes when the price of
the
Reference Share exceeds the Initial Share Price, you may nonetheless
receive substantially less than the amount that would be payable
at
maturity based on that Reference Share price because of expectations
that
the Reference Share price will continue to fluctuate until the
Final Share
Price is determined. Economic, financial, regulatory, geographic,
judicial, political and other developments may affect the Reference
Share
and, thus, the value of the Notes.
|
·
|
Volatility
of the Reference Share.
Volatility is the term used to describe the size and frequency
of market
fluctuations. If the volatility of the Reference Share increases
or
decreases, the trading value of the Notes may be adversely affected.
This
volatility may increase the risk that the price of the Reference
Share
will decline, which could negatively affect the trading value of
Notes.
The effect of the volatility of the Reference Share on the trading
value
of the Notes may not necessarily decrease over time during the
term of the
Notes.
|
·
|
Interest
rates.
We expect that the trading value of the Notes will be affected
by changes
in U.S. interest rates. In general, if U.S. interest rates increase,
the
value of the Notes may decrease, and if U.S. interest rates decrease,
the
value of the Notes is expected to increase. Interest rates may
also affect
the economy and, in turn, the price of the Reference Share, which
(for the
reasons discussed above) would affect the value of the Notes. Rising
interest rates may lower the price of the Reference Share and,
thus, the
value of the Notes. Falling interest rates may increase the price
of the
Reference Share and, thus, the value of the Notes.
|
·
|
Our
credit ratings, financial condition and results of
operations.
Actual or anticipated changes in our current credit ratings, A1
by Moody’s
Investor Service, Inc. and A+ by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, as
well as our financial condition or results of operations may significantly
affect the trading value of the Notes. However, because the return
on the
Notes is dependent upon factors in addition to our ability to pay
our
obligations under the Notes, such as the price of the Reference
Share, an
improvement in our credit ratings, financial condition or results
of
operations is not expected to have a positive effect on the trading
value
of the Notes.
|
·
|
Time
remaining to maturity.
As the time remaining to maturity of the Notes decreases, the “time
premium” associated with the Notes will decrease. A “time premium” results
from expectations concerning the price of the Reference Share during
the
period prior to the maturity of the Notes. As the time remaining
to the
maturity of the Notes decreases, this time premium will likely
decrease,
potentially adversely affecting the trading value of the Notes.
As the
time remaining to maturity decreases, the trading value of the
Notes and
the supplemental return may be less sensitive to the volatility
of the
Reference Share.
|
·
|
Dividend
yield.
The value of the Notes may also be affected by the dividend yield
on the
Reference Share. In general, because the Cash Settlement Value
does not
incorporate the value of dividend payments, higher dividend yields
is
expected to reduce the value of the Notes and, conversely, lower
dividend
yields is expected to increase the value of the
Notes.
|
·
|
Events
involving the Reference Issuer.
General economic conditions and earnings results of the Reference
Issuer,
and real or anticipated changes in those conditions or results,
may affect
the trading value of the Notes. For example, the Reference Issuer
may be
affected by mergers and acquisitions, which can contribute to volatility
of the Reference Share. As a result of a merger or acquisition,
the
Reference Issuer may be replaced with a surviving or acquiring
entity’s
securities. The surviving or acquiring entity’s securities may not have
the same characteristics as the Reference
Share.
|
·
|
Size
and liquidity of the trading market.
The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange and we
do not
expect a trading market to develop. There may not be a secondary
market in
the Notes, which may affect the price that you receive for your
Notes upon
any sale prior to maturity. If a trading market does develop, there
can be
no assurance that there will be liquidity in the trading market.
If the
trading market for the Notes is limited, there may be a limited
number of
buyers for your Notes if you do not wish to hold your investment
until
maturity. This may affect the price you receive upon any sale of
the Notes
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.
|
·
|
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 Share Price is equal to
85.00.
|
·
|
The
Upside Participation Rate is
200.00%
|
·
|
The
maximum return on the Notes is
38.00%
|
·
|
All
returns are based on a 13-month term; pre-tax
basis.
|
·
|
No
Market Disruption Events occur during the term of the
Notes.
|
Example
1
|
Example
2
|
Example
3
|
Example
4
|
|
Initial
Share Price
|
85.00
|
85.00
|
85.00
|
85.00
|
Hypothetical
Final Share Price
|
87.55
|
114.75
|
85.00
|
63.75
|
Value
of Final Share Price relative to the Initial Share Price
|
Higher
|
Higher
|
Equal
|
Lower
|
Principal
fully repaid?
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Cash
Settlement Value per Note
|
$1,060.00
|
$1,380.00
|
$1,000.00
|
$750.00
|
Initial
Share Price
|
Final
Share Price
|
Percentage
Change in Reference Share
|
Cash
Settlement Value Per Note
|
Return
if Held to Maturity
|
Initial
Share
Price
|
Final
Share Price
|
Percentage
Change in Reference Share
|
Cash
Settlement Value Per Note
|
Return
if Held to Maturity
|
|
85.00
|
141.00
|
+65.88%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
83.00
|
-2.35%
|
$
976.47
|
-2.35%
|
|
85.00
|
139.00
|
+63.53%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
81.00
|
-4.71%
|
$
952.94
|
-4.71%
|
|
85.00
|
137.00
|
+61.18%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
79.00
|
-7.06%
|
$
929.41
|
-7.06%
|
|
85.00
|
135.00
|
+58.82%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
77.00
|
-9.41%
|
$
905.88
|
-9.41%
|
|
85.00
|
133.00
|
+56.47%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
75.00
|
-11.76%
|
$
882.35
|
-11.76%
|
|
85.00
|
131.00
|
+54.12%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
73.00
|
-14.12%
|
$
858.82
|
-14.12%
|
|
85.00
|
129.00
|
+51.76%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
71.00
|
-16.47%
|
$
835.29
|
-16.47%
|
|
85.00
|
127.00
|
+49.41%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
69.00
|
-18.82%
|
$
811.76
|
-18.82%
|
|
85.00
|
125.00
|
+47.06%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
67.00
|
-21.18%
|
$
788.24
|
-21.18%
|
|
85.00
|
123.00
|
+44.71%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
65.00
|
-23.53%
|
$
764.71
|
-23.53%
|
|
85.00
|
121.00
|
+42.35%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
63.00
|
-25.88%
|
$
741.18
|
-25.88%
|
|
85.00
|
119.00
|
+40.00%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
61.00
|
-28.24%
|
$
717.65
|
-28.24%
|
|
85.00
|
117.00
|
+37.65%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
59.00
|
-30.59%
|
$
694.12
|
-30.59%
|
|
85.00
|
115.00
|
+35.29%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
57.00
|
-32.94%
|
$
670.59
|
-32.94%
|
|
85.00
|
113.00
|
+32.94%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
55.00
|
-35.29%
|
$
647.06
|
-35.29%
|
|
85.00
|
111.00
|
+30.59%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
53.00
|
-37.65%
|
$
623.53
|
-37.65%
|
|
85.00
|
109.00
|
+28.24%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
51.00
|
-40.00%
|
$
600.00
|
-40.00%
|
|
85.00
|
107.00
|
+25.88%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
49.00
|
-42.35%
|
$
576.47
|
-42.35%
|
|
85.00
|
105.00
|
+23.53%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
47.00
|
-44.71%
|
$
552.94
|
-44.71%
|
|
85.00
|
103.00
|
+21.18%
|
$
1,380.00
|
38.00%
|
85.00
|
45.00
|
-47.06%
|
$
529.41
|
-47.06%
|
|
85.00
|
101.00
|
+18.82%
|
$
1,376.47
|
37.65%
|
85.00
|
43.00
|
-49.41%
|
$
505.88
|
-49.41%
|
|
85.00
|
99.00
|
+16.47%
|
$
1,329.41
|
32.94%
|
85.00
|
41.00
|
-51.76%
|
$
482.35
|
-51.76%
|
|
85.00
|
97.00
|
+14.12%
|
$
1,282.35
|
28.24%
|
85.00
|
39.00
|
-54.12%
|
$
458.82
|
-54.12%
|
|
85.00
|
95.00
|
+11.76%
|
$
1,235.29
|
23.53%
|
85.00
|
37.00
|
-56.47%
|
$
435.29
|
-56.47%
|
|
85.00
|
93.00
|
+9.41%
|
$
1,188.24
|
18.82%
|
85.00
|
35.00
|
-58.82%
|
$
411.76
|
-58.82%
|
|
85.00
|
91.00
|
+7.06%
|
$
1,141.18
|
14.12%
|
85.00
|
33.00
|
-61.18%
|
$
388.24
|
-61.18%
|
|
85.00
|
89.00
|
+4.71%
|
$
1,094.12
|
9.41%
|
85.00
|
31.00
|
-63.53%
|
$
364.71
|
-63.53%
|
|
85.00
|
87.00
|
+2.35%
|
$
1,047.06
|
4.71%
|
85.00
|
29.00
|
-65.88%
|
$
341.18
|
-65.88%
|
|
85.00
|
85.00
|
0.00%
|
$
1,000.00
|
0.00%
|
85.00
|
27.00
|
-68.24%
|
$
317.65
|
-68.24%
|
·
|
“Market
Disruption Event” means, with respect to the Reference Share:
|
(a)
|
limitation
on the hours in a trading day and/or number of days of trading
will not
constitute a Market Disruption Event if it results from an announced
change in the regular business hours of the relevant exchange,
and
|
(b)
|
for
purposes of clause (a) above, any limitations on trading during
significant market fluctuations, under NYSE Rule 80B, NASD Rule
4120 or
any analogous rule or regulation enacted or promulgated by the
NYSE, NASD
or any other self regulatory organization or the SEC of similar
scope as
determined by the Calculation Agent, will be considered
“material.”
|
2006
|
2007
|
|||
January
|
N/A
|
99.98
|
||
February
|
N/A
|
84.90
|
||
March
|
79.25
|
-
|
||
April
|
66.40
|
-
|
||
May
|
59.80
|
-
|
||
June
|
68.48
|
-
|
||
July
|
62.19
|
-
|
||
August
|
59.30
|
-
|
||
September
|
74.75
|
-
|
||
October
|
74.05
|
-
|
||
November
|
100.10
|
-
|
||
December
|
97.20
|
-
|
·
|
an
individual who is a citizen or a resident of the United States,
for
federal income tax purposes;
|
·
|
a
corporation (or other entity that is treated as a corporation for
federal
tax purposes) that is created or organized in or under the laws
of the
United States or any State thereof (including the District of
Columbia);
|
·
|
an
estate whose income is subject to federal income taxation regardless
of
its source; or
|
·
|
a
trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over its administration, and one or more United States
persons
(as defined for federal income tax purposes) have the authority
to control
all of its substantial decisions.
|
·
|
a
nonresident alien individual for federal income tax
purposes;
|
·
|
a
foreign corporation for federal income tax
purposes;
|
·
|
an
estate whose income is not subject to federal income tax on a net
income
basis; or
|
·
|
a
trust if no court within the United States is able to exercise
primary
jurisdiction over its administration or if United States persons
(as
defined for federal income tax purposes) do not have the authority
to
control all of its substantial
decisions.
|
Agent
|
Principal
Amount of Notes
|
Bear,
Stearns & Co. Inc.
|
$750,000
|
Total
|
$750,000
|
You
should only rely on the information contained in this pricing supplement,
the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus. We have
not
authorized anyone to provide you with information or to make any
representation to you that is not contained in this pricing supplement,
the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus. If anyone
provides
you with different or inconsistent information, you should not
rely on it.
This pricing supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement
and
prospectus are not an offer to sell these Notes, and these documents
are
not soliciting an offer to buy these Notes, in any jurisdiction
where the
offer or sale is not permitted. You should not under any circumstances
assume that the information in this pricing supplement, the accompanying
prospectus supplement and prospectus is correct on any date after
their
respective dates.
|
The
Bear Stearns
Companies
Inc.
$750,000
Medium-Term
Notes, Series B
Accelerated
Market
Participation
Securities
Linked
to the common stock of NYSE
Group,
Inc.
Due
April 28, 2008
PRICING
SUPPLEMENT
Bear,
Stearns & Co. Inc.
March
23, 2007
|
||
___________________
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
|||
Pricing
Supplement
|
|||
|
Page
|
||
Summary
|
PS-2
|
||
Key
Terms
|
PS-4
|
||
Questions
and Answers
|
PS-5
|
||
Risk
Factors
|
PS-9
|
||
Description
of the Notes
|
PS-15
|
||
Description
of the Reference Share
|
PS-25
|
||
Certain
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
|
PS-28
|
||
Certain
ERISA Considerations
|
PS-31
|
||
Use
of Proceeds and Hedging
|
PS-32
|
||
Supplemental
Plan of Distribution
|
PS-32
|
||
Legal
Matters
|
PS-33
|
||
Prospectus
Supplement
|
|||
Risk
Factors
|
S-3
|
||
Pricing
Supplement
|
S-8
|
||
Description
of Notes
|
S-8
|
||
Certain
US Federal Income Tax Considerations
|
S-32
|
||
Supplemental
Plan of Distribution
|
S-46
|
||
Listing
|
S-47
|
||
Validity
of the Notes
|
S-47
|
||
Glossary
|
S-47
|
||
Prospectus
|
|||
Where
You Can Find More Information
|
1
|
||
The
Bear Stearns Companies Inc.
|
2
|
||
Use
of Proceeds
|
4
|
||
Description
of Debt Securities
|
4
|
||
Description
of Warrants
|
16
|
||
Description
of Preferred Stock
|
21
|
||
Description
of Depositary Shares
|
25
|
||
Description
of Depository Contracts
|
28
|
||
Description
of Units
|
31
|
||
Book-Entry
Procedures and Settlement
|
33
|
||
Limitations
on Issuance of Bearer Debt Securities and Bearer Warrants
|
43
|
||
Plan
of Distribution
|
44
|
||
ERISA
Considerations
|
48
|
||
Legal
Matters
|
49
|
||
Experts
|
49
|
||