|
New
Issue
|
STRUCTURED
EQUITY PRODUCTS
Indicative
Terms
|
THE
BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
INVESTMENT
HIGHLIGHTS
|
|
Reverse
Convertible
Note
Securities
|
·
One
year term to maturity
·
Note
offering linked to the American Depositary Shares of América Móvil, S.A.B.
de C.V., (the “Reference Asset”).
·
The
Notes pay a fixed rate coupon of [13.60]% per annum, payable in arrears
as
two semi-annual cash payments, each equal to one-half of the Coupon
Rate
times the principal amount of the Notes. Interest will be computed
using a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months, unadjusted.
·
The
Notes are a direct obligation of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.
(Rated A1
by Moody’s / A+ by S&P).
·
Issue
price for the Note offering: [100]% of principal amount ($1,000).
However,
investors who purchase an aggregate principal amount of at least
$1,000,000 of this Note offering will be entitled to purchase each
Note
for [99.00]% of the principal amount.
·
The
Notes are not principal protected if: (i) the Trading Level of the
Reference Asset ever equals or falls below the Contingent Protection
Level
at any time from the Pricing Date up to and including the Calculation
Date; and
(ii) the Final Level of the Reference Asset is less than the Initial
Level
of the Reference Asset.
·
The
Notes do not participate in the upside of the Reference Asset. Even
if the
Final Level of the Reference Asset exceeds the Initial Level of the
Reference Asset, your return will not exceed the principal amount
invested
plus the coupon payments.
|
Reference
Asset
|
Symbol
|
Term
to
Maturity
|
Coupon
Rate,
per annum
|
Contingent
Protection
Percentage
|
Initial
Public
Offering
Price1
|
American
Depositary Shares of América Móvil,
S.A.B.
de C.V., traded on the NYSE
|
AMX
|
1
year
|
[13.60]%
|
[80]%
|
[100]%
|
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 offerings will arrange to send you the prospectus
if you request it by
calling toll free
1-866-803-920
______________________
1 Investors
who purchase an aggregate principal amount of at least $1,000,000
of this
Note offering will be entitled to purchase each Note for [99.00]%
of the
principal amount.
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
GENERAL
TERMS FOR THE NOTE
OFFERING
|
ISSUER:
|
The
Bear Stearns Companies Inc.
|
ISSUER’S
RATING:
|
A1
/ A+ (Moody’s / S&P).
|
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF OFFERING:
|
[●]
|
DENOMINATIONS:
|
$1,000
per Note and $1,000 multiples thereafter.
|
REFERENCE
ASSET:
|
The
American Depositary Shares of América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V., traded on the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (“NYSE”) under the symbol
“AMX.”
|
SELLING
PERIOD ENDS:
|
[●],
2007.
|
PRICING
DATE:
|
[●],
2007.
|
SETTLEMENT
DATE:
|
[●],
2007.
|
CALCULATION
DATE:
|
[●],
2008.
|
MATURITY
DATE:
|
[●],
2008.
|
COUPON
RATE (PER ANNUM):
|
[13.60]%
per annum, payable semi-annually. Interest will be computed
using a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months, unadjusted.
|
CONTINGENT
PROTECTION PERCENTAGE:
|
[80.00]%.
|
CONTINGENT
PROTECTION LEVEL:
|
[●]
(Contingent Protection Percentage x Initial Level).
|
AGENT’S
DISCOUNT:
|
[●]%
, to be disclosed in the final pricing supplement.
|
CASH
SETTLEMENT VALUE:
|
We
will pay you 100% of the principal amount of your Notes,
in cash, at
maturity if either of the following is true: (i) the Trading Level
of the Reference Asset never equals or falls below the
Contingent
Protection Level at any time from the Pricing Date up to
and including the
Calculation Date; or (ii) the Final Level of the Reference Asset is
equal to or greater than the Initial Level of the Reference
Asset.
|
However,
if both of the following are true, the amount of principal
you
receive at maturity will be reduced by the percentage decrease
in the
Reference Asset: (i) the Trading Level of the Reference
Asset ever equals
or falls below the Contingent Protection Level at any time
from the
Pricing Date up to and including the Calculation Date;
and (ii) the
Final Level of the Reference Asset is less than the Initial
Level of the
Reference Asset. In that event, we, at our option, will
either: (i)
physically deliver to you an amount of the Reference Asset
equal to the
Exchange Ratio plus the Fractional Share Cash Amount (which
means that you
will receive shares with a market value that is less than
the full
principal amount of your Notes); or (ii) pay you a cash
amount equal to
the principal amount you invested reduced by the percentage
decrease in
the Reference Asset. It is our intent to physically deliver
the Reference
Asset when applicable, but we reserve the right to settle
the Notes in
cash.
|
|
INTEREST
PAYMENT DATES:
|
[●],
2008 and the Maturity Date.
|
INITIAL
LEVEL:
|
The
Closing Price of the Reference Asset on the Pricing
Date.
|
FINAL
LEVEL:
|
The
Closing Price of the Reference Asset on the Calculation
Date.
|
EXCHANGE
RATIO:
|
[●],
i.e., $1,000 divided by the Initial Level (rounded down
to the nearest
whole number, with fractional shares to be paid in
cash).
|
FRACTIONAL
SHARE CASH AMOUNT:
|
An
amount in cash per Note equal to the Final Level multiplied
by the
difference between (x) $1,000 divided by the Initial Level
(rounded to the
nearest three decimal places), and (y) the Exchange
Ratio.
|
CUSIP:
|
[073902MJ4].
|
LISTING:
|
The
Note will not be listed on any U.S. securities exchange
or quotation
system.
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
ADDITIONAL
TERMS SPECIFIC TO THE
NOTES
|
·
|
Prospectus
Supplement, dated August 16, 2006:
|
·
|
Prospectus,
dated August 16, 2006:
|
SELECTED
RISK
CONSIDERATIONS
|
·
|
Suitability
of Note for Investment — A
person should reach a decision to invest in the Notes after carefully
considering, with his or her advisors, the suitability of the Notes
in
light of his or her investment objectives and the information set
out in
the Prospectus Supplement. Neither the Issuer nor any dealer participating
in the offering makes any recommendation as to the suitability
of the
Notes for investment.
|
|
·
|
Not
Principal Protected —The
Notes are not principal protected. If both
of
the following are true, the amount of principal you receive at
maturity
will be reduced by the percentage decrease in the Reference Asset:
(i) the
Trading Level of the Reference Asset ever equals or falls below
the
Contingent Protection Level at any time from the Pricing Date up
to and
including the Calculation Date; and
(ii) the Final Level of the Reference Asset is less than the Initial
Level
of the Reference Asset. In that event, we, at our option, will
either: (i)
physically deliver to you an amount of the Reference Asset equal
to the
Exchange Ratio plus the Fractional Share Cash Amount (which means
that you
will receive shares with a market value that is less than the full
principal amount of your Notes); or (ii) pay you a cash amount
equal to
the principal amount you invested reduced by the percentage decrease
in
the Reference Asset.
|
|
·
|
Return
Limited to Coupon — Your
return is limited to the principal amount you invested plus the
coupon
payments. You will not participate in any appreciation in the value
of the
Reference Asset.
|
|
·
|
No
Secondary Market — Because
the Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange, a secondary
trading market is not expected to develop, and, if such a market
were to
develop, it may not be liquid. Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. intends under
ordinary market conditions to indicate prices for the Notes on
request.
However, there can be no guarantee that bids for the outstanding
Notes
will be made in the future; nor can the prices of any such bids
be
predicted.
|
|
·
|
No
Interest, Dividend or Other Payments —
You will not receive any interest or dividend payments or other
distributions on the stock comprising the Reference Asset; nor
will such
payments be included in the calculation of the Cash Settlement
Value you
will receive at maturity.
|
|
·
|
Taxes —
We intend to treat the Note as a put option written by you in respect
of
the Reference Asset and a deposit with us of cash in an amount
equal to
the issue price of the Note to secure your potential obligation
under the
put option, and we intend to treat the deposit as a short-term
obligation
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Pursuant to the terms of
the Notes,
you agree to treat the Notes in accordance with this characterization
for
all U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, because under certain
circumstances the Notes may be outstanding for more than one year
it is
possible that the Notes may not be treated as short-term obligations,
in
which case the tax treatment of interest payments on the Notes
is
described in "U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations -- Tax Treatment
of
U.S. Holders -- Tax Treatment of the Deposit on Notes with a Term
of More
Than a Year" in the prospectus supplement. Moreover, because there
are no
regulations, published rulings or judicial decisions addressing
the
characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of securities
with
terms that are substantially the same as those of the Notes, other
characterizations and treatments are possible. See “Certain U.S. Federal
Income Tax Considerations” below.
|
|
·
|
The
Notes Are Subject to Equity Market Risks—
The
Notes involve exposure to price movements in the equity securities
to
which they are respectively linked. Equity securities price movements
are
difficult to predict, and equity securities may be subject to volatile
increases or decreases in value.
|
|
·
|
The
Notes May be Affected by Certain Corporate Events and You Will
Have
Limited Antidilution Protection —
Following certain corporate events relating to the underlying Reference
Asset (where the underlying company is not the surviving entity),
you will
receive at maturity, cash or a number of shares of the common stock
or
American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) of a successor corporation to the
underlying company, based on the Closing Price of such successor’s common
stock or ADSs, as applicable. The Calculation Agent for the Notes
will
adjust the amount payable at maturity by adjusting the Initial
Level of
the Reference Asset, Contingent Protection Level, Contingent Protection
Percentage and Exchange Ratio for certain events affecting the
Reference
Asset, such as stock splits and stock dividends and certain other
corporate events involving an underlying company. However, the
Calculation
Agent is not required to make an adjustment for every corporate
event that
can affect the Reference Asset. If an event occurs that is perceived
by
the market to dilute the Reference Asset but that does not require
the
Calculation Agent to adjust the amount of the Reference Asset payable
at
maturity, the market value of the Notes and the amount payable
at maturity
may be materially and adversely
affected.
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
·
|
ADSs
of América
Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V. ("AMX"),
which are quoted and traded in the U.S., may trade differently
from AMX L
Shares, which are quoted and traded in Mexican Pesos—
Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Mexican
Peso and the U.S.
Dollar may affect the U.S. Dollar equivalent of the Mexican
Peso price of
AMX L Shares on the Mexican Exchange and, as a result,
may affect the
market price of the ADSs of AMX, which may consequently
affect the market
value of the Notes.
|
INTEREST
AND PAYMENT AT
MATURITY
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
Scenario
1
The
price of the underlying shares generally increases over
the term of the
Note. The Contingent Protection Level is never
breached.
|
|
|
|
Outcome
The
Cash Settlement Value equals 100% of the principal amount
of the Notes.
The share price generally increased over the term of
the Note and never
breached the Contingent Protection
Level.
|
Scenario
2
The
price of the underlying shares generally declines over
the term of the
Note. The Contingent Protection Level is never
breached.
|
|
Outcome
The
Cash Settlement Value equals 100% of the principal
amount of the Notes.
The share price decreased over the term of the Note
and at maturity was
below the Initial Level, but never breached the Contingent
Protection
Level.
|
||
Scenario
3
The
price of the underlying shares declines over the term
of the Note. The
Contingent Protection Level is
breached.
|
|
|
|
Outcome
The
Cash Settlement Value is less than the principal amount
of the Notes,
reflecting the percentage decline in the underlying
shares below the
Initial Level. The Contingent Protection Level is breached
so there is no
principal protection.
|
Scenario
4
The
price of the underlying shares declines below the Contingent
Protection
Level, but ultimately recovers to finish above its
Initial
Level.
|
|
|
|
Outcome
The
Cash Settlement Value equals 100% of the principal
amount of the Notes.
Even though the share price decreased below the Contingent
Protection
Level during the term of the Note, by the Calculation
Date
the
underlying
share price was above the Initial
Level.
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
REFERENCE
ASSET INFORMATION
|
ILLUSTRATIVE
EXAMPLES & HISTORICAL
TABLES
|
·
|
Investor
purchases $1,000 principal amount of Notes
on the Pricing Date at the
initial offering price of 100% and holds
the Notes to maturity. No Market
Disruption Events or Events of Default occur
during the term of the
Notes.
|
·
|
Initial
Level: $64.00
|
·
|
Contingent
Protection Percentage: 80%
|
·
|
Contingent
Protection Level: $51.20 ($64.00 x
80%)
|
·
|
Exchange
Ratio: 15 ($1,000/$64.00)
|
·
|
Coupon:
13.60% per annum, paid semi-annually in
arrears.
|
·
|
The
reinvestment rate on any interest payments
made during the term of the
Notes is assumed to be 0%. The one-year total
return on a direct
investment in the Reference Asset is calculated
below prior to the
deduction of any brokerage fees or charges.
Both a positive reinvestment
rate, or the incurrence of any brokerage
fees or charges, would increase
the total return on the Notes relative to
the total return of the
Reference Asset.
|
·
|
Assumes
cash settlement at maturity.
|
·
|
Maturity:
One year.
|
·
|
Dividend
and dividend yield on the Reference Asset:
$0.36 and 0.57% per annum.
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
Investment
in the Notes
|
Direct
Investment in the Reference
Asset
|
|||||||
Initial
Level
|
Hypothetical
Final
Level
|
Cash
Settlement
Value
|
Total
Coupon
Payments
(in
%
Terms)
|
1-Year
Total
Return
|
Percentage
Change in
Value
of Reference
Asset
|
Dividend
Yield
|
1-Year
Total Return
|
|
64.00
|
83.20
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
30.00%
|
0.57%
|
30.57%
|
64.00
|
80.00
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
25.00%
|
0.57%
|
25.57%
|
64.00
|
76.80
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
20.00%
|
0.57%
|
20.57%
|
64.00
|
73.60
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
15.00%
|
0.57%
|
15.57%
|
64.00
|
70.40
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
10.00%
|
0.57%
|
10.57%
|
64.00
|
67.20
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
5.00%
|
0.57%
|
5.57%
|
64.00
|
64.00
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
0.00%
|
0.57%
|
0.57%
|
64.00
|
60.80
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
-5.00%
|
0.57%
|
-4.43%
|
64.00
|
57.60
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
-10.00%
|
0.57%
|
-9.43%
|
64.00
|
54.40
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
-15.00%
|
0.57%
|
-14.43%
|
Investment
in the Notes
|
Direct
Investment in the Reference
Asset
|
|||||||
Initial
Level
|
Hypothetical
Final
Level
|
Cash
Settlement
Value
|
Total
Coupon
Payments
(in
%
Terms)
|
1-Year
Total
Return
|
Percentage
Change in
Value
of Reference
Asset
|
Dividend
Yield
|
1-Year
Total Return
|
|
64.00
|
80.00
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
25.00%
|
0.57%
|
25.57%
|
64.00
|
76.80
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
20.00%
|
0.57%
|
20.57%
|
64.00
|
73.60
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
15.00%
|
0.57%
|
15.57%
|
64.00
|
70.40
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
10.00%
|
0.57%
|
10.57%
|
64.00
|
67.20
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
5.00%
|
0.57%
|
5.57%
|
64.00
|
64.00
|
$1,000.00
|
13.60%
|
13.60%
|
|
0.00%
|
0.57%
|
0.57%
|
64.00
|
60.80
|
$950.00
|
13.60%
|
8.60%
|
|
-5.00%
|
0.57%
|
-4.43%
|
64.00
|
57.60
|
$900.00
|
13.60%
|
3.60%
|
|
-10.00%
|
0.57%
|
-9.43%
|
64.00
|
54.40
|
$850.00
|
13.60%
|
-1.40%
|
|
-15.00%
|
0.57%
|
-14.43%
|
64.00
|
51.20
|
$800.00
|
13.60%
|
-6.40%
|
|
-20.00%
|
0.57%
|
-19.43%
|
64.00
|
48.00
|
$750.00
|
13.60%
|
-11.40%
|
|
-25.00%
|
0.57%
|
-24.43%
|
64.00
|
44.80
|
$700.00
|
13.60%
|
-16.40%
|
|
-30.00%
|
0.57%
|
-29.43%
|
64.00
|
41.60
|
$650.00
|
13.60%
|
-21.40%
|
|
-35.00%
|
0.57%
|
-34.43%
|
64.00
|
38.40
|
$600.00
|
13.60%
|
-26.40%
|
|
-40.00%
|
0.57%
|
-39.43%
|
64.00
|
35.20
|
$550.00
|
13.60%
|
-31.40%
|
|
-45.00%
|
0.57%
|
-44.43%
|
64.00
|
32.00
|
$500.00
|
13.60%
|
-36.40%
|
|
-50.00%
|
0.57%
|
-49.43%
|
64.00
|
28.80
|
$450.00
|
13.60%
|
-41.40%
|
|
-55.00%
|
0.57%
|
-54.43%
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS
GROUP
|
Quarter
Ending
|
Quarterly
High
|
Quarterly
Low
|
Quarterly
Close
|
Quarter
Ending
|
Quarterly
High
|
Quarterly
Low
|
Quarterly
Close
|
|
June
28,
2002
|
6.67
|
3.90
|
4.47
|
|
March
31,
2005
|
19.80
|
15.90
|
17.20
|
September
30,
2002
|
4.97
|
3.85
|
4.03
|
|
June
30,
2005
|
20.49
|
16.05
|
19.87
|
December
31,
2002
|
5.25
|
3.90
|
4.79
|
|
September
30,
2005
|
26.36
|
19.65
|
26.32
|
March
31,
2003
|
5.23
|
4.17
|
4.46
|
|
December
30,
2005
|
31.32
|
22.20
|
29.26
|
June
30,
2003
|
6.37
|
4.46
|
6.25
|
|
March
31,
2006
|
36.88
|
29.55
|
34.26
|
September
30,
2003
|
8.06
|
6.22
|
7.70
|
|
June
30,
2006
|
41.25
|
26.88
|
33.26
|
December
31,
2003
|
9.17
|
7.34
|
9.11
|
|
September
29,
2006
|
39.80
|
31.04
|
39.37
|
March
31,
2004
|
13.26
|
9.10
|
12.88
|
|
December
29,
2006
|
46.15
|
38.37
|
45.22
|
June
30,
2004
|
13.37
|
10.32
|
12.12
|
|
March
30,
2007
|
48.67
|
41.89
|
47.79
|
September
30,
2004
|
13.15
|
10.76
|
13.01
|
|
June
29,
2007
|
64.93
|
47.88
|
61.93
|
December
31,
2004
|
17.50
|
12.76
|
17.45
|
|
July
2,
2007
to
September
24,
2007
|
66.85
|
49.54
|
63.94
|
CERTAIN
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX
CONSIDERATIONS
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS
GROUP
|
Reference
Asset
|
Term
to
Maturity
|
Coupon
Rate,
per
annum
|
Yield
on
the
Deposit,
per
Annum
|
Put
Premium,
per
Annum
|
América
Móvil,
S.A.B.
de
C.V
|
1
year
|
[13.60]%
|
[●]%
|
[●]%
|