Title
of Each Class of Securities Offered
|
|
Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price
|
|
Amount
of Registration Fee(1)
|
Medium
Term Notes, Series B
|
|
$3,000,000
|
|
$117.90
|
·
|
The
Notes are linked to the performance of the Standard
and Poor’s 500®
Index
(the “Index”) and are not principal protected. When we refer to Notes in
this pricing supplement, we mean Notes with a principal amount of
$1,000.00. On the Maturity Date, you will receive the “Cash Settlement
Value,” an amount in cash depending on the Index
Return.
|
·
|
The
Cash Settlement Value, per Note, will be calculated as follows:
|
·
|
The
Index Return will equal the quotient of (a) the Final Index Level
minus
the Initial Index Level, divided by (b) the Initial Index Level.
|
·
|
The
Upside Participation Rate will equal
200.00%.
|
·
|
The
Notes will not pay interest during the term of the
Notes.
|
·
|
The
Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or quotation
system.
|
·
|
The
scheduled Calculation Date for the Notes is March 10, 2009. The
Calculation Date is subject to adjustment as described
herein.
|
·
|
The
Maturity Date for the Notes is expected to be March 13, 2009. If
the
Calculation Date is postponed, the Maturity Date will be three Business
Days following the postponed Calculation
Date.
|
·
|
The
CUSIP number for the Notes is
0739282P7.
|
Per
Note
|
Total
|
||
Initial
public offering price
|
100.00%
|
$3,000,000
|
|
Agent’s
discount
|
0.10%
|
$3,000
|
|
Proceeds,
before expenses, to us
|
99.90%
|
$2,997,000
|
·
|
Growth
potential—The return, if any, on the Notes is based upon whether and the
extent to which (subject to the maximum return of 23.00%) the Final
Index
Level is greater than the Initial Index
Level.
|
·
|
Potential
leverage in the increase, if any, of the Index—The Notes may be an
attractive investment for investors who have a bullish view of the
Index
over the term of the Notes. If held to maturity, the Notes allow
you to
participate in the potential increase in the Index, not to exceed
the
maximum return of 23.00%.
|
·
|
Diversification—Because
the Index represents a broad spectrum of the United States equity
market,
the Notes may allow you to diversify an existing
portfolio.
|
·
|
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 executory contracts linked to the level
of the
Index 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 executory 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. Federal
Income Tax Considerations” herein.
|
·
|
Possible
loss of principal—The
Notes are not principal protected. If
the Index Return is less than -10.00%, for each 1% difference between
the
Index Return and -10.00%, you will lose an amount of your Notes equal
to
the product of (i) 1.1111% multiplied by (ii) the $1,000.00 principal
amount of the Notes
(which amount will be greater than the 1% difference between the
Index
Return and -10.00%).
|
·
|
No
current income—We will not pay any interest during the term of 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 Date from an issuer with a comparable
credit
rating.
|
·
|
Maximum
return on the Notes of 23.00%—You will not receive more than the maximum
return of 23.00% at maturity,
regardless of the positive percentage increase of the Final Index
Level
over the Initial Index Level.
Because the maximum return on the Notes is 23.00%, the maximum Cash
Settlement Value is $1,230.00.
|
·
|
No
interest, dividend or other payments—You will not receive any interest,
dividend payments or other distributions on the stocks underlying
the
Index, 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 or
quotation system, 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 or quotation
system, 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 upon 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.
|
|
Index:
|
Standard
& Poor’s 500®
Index (ticker “SPX”), as published by S&P (the
“Sponsor”).
|
|
Principal
amount:
|
Each
Note will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000.00 and $1,000.00
multiples thereafter; provided, however, that the minimum purchase
for any
purchaser domiciled in a Member state of the European Economic Area
shall
be $100,000.00. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes being
offered
is $3,000,000. When we refer to “Note” or “Notes” in this pricing
supplement, we mean Notes each with a principal amount of
$1,000.00.
|
|
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 that depends upon the Index Return. The Cash Settlement Value,
per
Note, will be calculated as follows:
|
|
(i)
if the Index Return is greater than zero, the Cash Settlement Value
will
be equal to the $1,000.00 principal amount of the Note plus the product
of
(a) $1,000 multiplied by (b) the Upside Participation Rate (200.00%)
multiplied by (c) the Index Return; provided that in no event will
the
Cash Settlement Value payable at maturity exceed $1,230.00 per Note,
which
represents a maximum return of 23.00% on the Notes;
|
||
(ii)
if the Index Return is less than or equal to zero but greater than
or
equal to -10.00%, the Cash Settlement Value will be equal to the
$1,000.00
principal amount of the Note; or
|
||
(iii)
if the Index Return is less than -10.00%, then the Cash Settlement
Value
for each Note will be equal to the $1,000 principal amount minus
1.1111%
of the $1,000 principal amount for each percentage point that the
Index
Return is less than -10.00%. For example, if the Index Return is
-30%, you
will suffer a 22.22% loss and, therefore, the Cash Settlement Value
of
each Note will be equal to 77.78% of the principal
amount.
|
||
Index
Return:
|
Equals
the quotient of (a) the Final Index Level minus the Initial Index
Level,
divided by (b) the Initial Index Level.
|
|
Upside
Participation Rate:
|
Equals
200.00%.
|
|
Interest:
|
The
Notes will not bear interest during the term of the
Notes.
|
|
Initial
Index Level:
|
Equals
1,336.91, the closing level of the Index on February 7, 2008, as
determined by the Calculation Agent.
|
|
Final
Index Level:
|
The
Final Index Level will be determined by the Calculation Agent and
will
equal the closing level of the Index on the Calculation Date as determined
by the Calculation Agent.
|
|
Calculation
Date:
|
March
10, 2009 unless
such date is not an Index Business Day, in which case the Calculation
Date
shall be the next Index Business Day.
The Calculation Date is subject to adjustment as described under
“Description of the Notes - Market Disruption Events.”
|
|
Issue
Date:
|
February
12, 2008.
|
|
Maturity
Date:
|
The
Notes are expected to mature on March 13, 2009 unless such date is
not a
Business Day, in which case the Maturity Date shall be the next Business
Day. If the Calculation Date is adjusted due to the occurrence of
a Market
Disruption Event, the Maturity Date will be three Business Days following
the adjusted Calculation Date.
|
Exchange
listing:
|
The
Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or quotation
system.
|
|
Index
Business Day:
|
Means
any day on which the Relevant Exchange (as defined below) and each
Related
Exchange (as defined below) are scheduled to be open for
trading.
|
|
Business
Day:
|
Any
day other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banking institutions
in the
cities of New York, New York and London, England are not authorized
or
obligated by law or executive order to be closed.
|
|
Calculation
Agent:
|
Bear,
Stearns & Co. Inc. (“Bear
Stearns”).
|
·
|
want
potential upside exposure to stocks underlying the
Index;
|
·
|
believe
that the level of the Index will increase over the term of the Notes
and
that such increase will not exceed 23.00%;
|
·
|
are
willing to risk the possible loss of their initial investment in
the Notes
in exchange for the opportunity to participate in the appreciation,
if
any, of the Index of up to 11.50% (which represents a maximum return
per
Note of 23.00%);
|
·
|
are
willing to hold the Notes until maturity;
and
|
·
|
are
willing to forgo income in the form of interest payments on the Notes
or
dividend payments on the stocks underlying the
Index.
|
·
|
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 Index (since the return on the Notes
is
capped at 23.00%);
|
·
|
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 Index over the term of the
Notes.
|
·
|
Index
performance.
We
expect that the value of the Notes prior to maturity will depend
substantially on whether the level of the Index is greater than the
Initial Index Level. If you decide to sell your Notes when the level
of
the Index exceeds the Initial Index Level, you may nonetheless receive
substantially less than the amount that would be payable at maturity
based
on that level of the Index because of expectations that the level
of the
Index will continue to fluctuate until the Final Index Level is
determined. Economic, financial, regulatory, geographic, judicial,
political and other developments that affect the securities in the
Index
may also affect the level of the Index and, thus, the value of the
Notes.
|
·
|
Volatility
of the Index.
Volatility is the term used to describe the size and frequency of
market
fluctuations. If the volatility of the Index increases or decreases,
the
trading value of the Notes may be adversely affected. This volatility
may
increase the risk that the level of the Index will decline, which
could
negatively affect the trading value of Notes. The effect of the volatility
of the Index 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 level of the Index, which would affect
the
value of the Notes. Rising interest rates may lower the level of
the Index
and, thus, the value of the Notes. Falling interest rates may increase
the
level of the Index 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, A2 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 level of the Index, it is
uncertain whether an improvement in our credit ratings, financial
condition or results of operations will have a positive effect on
the
trading value of the Notes.
|
·
|
Time
remaining to maturity.
A
“time premium” results from expectations concerning the level of the Index
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 may be less sensitive to the volatility of the
Index.
|
·
|
Dividend
yield.
The value of the Notes may also be affected by the dividend yields
on the
stocks in the Index. In general, because the Index 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 companies issuing the securities comprising the
Index.
General economic conditions and earnings results of the companies
whose
stocks comprise the Index, and real or anticipated changes in those
conditions or results, may affect the trading value of the Notes.
For
example, some of the stocks included in the Index may be affected
by
mergers and acquisitions, which can contribute to volatility of the
Index.
As a result of a merger or acquisition, one or more stocks in the
Index
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 stock originally included in the
Index.
|
·
|
Size
and liquidity of the trading market.
The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or quotation
system, 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.
|
·
|
Inclusion
of commission. The
inclusion of commissions and projected profit from hedging in the
original
price of the Notes is likely to adversely affect secondary market
prices.
Assuming no change in the market conditions or any other relevant
factors,
the price, if any, at which Bear Stearns may be willing to purchase
the
Notes in secondary market transactions may be lower than the original
price of the Notes, because the original price included, and secondary
market prices are likely to exclude, commissions paid with respect
to the
Notes, as well as the projected profit included in the cost of hedging
our
obligations under the Notes. In addition, any such prices may differ
from
values determined by pricing models used by Bear Stearns as a result
of
dealer discounts, mark-ups or other transaction costs.
|
·
|
Investor
purchases $1,000.00 aggregate principal amount of Notes at the initial
public offering price of $1,000.00.
|
·
|
Investor
holds the Notes to maturity.
|
·
|
The
Initial Index Level is equal to
1,350.00.
|
·
|
The
maximum return on the Notes is 23.00%, or $1,230.00 per
Note.
|
·
|
The
Upside Participation Rate is
200.00%.
|
·
|
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
Index Level
|
1,350.00
|
1,350.00
|
1,350.00
|
1,350.00
|
|||
Hypothetical
Final Index Level
|
1,890.00
|
1,485.00
|
1,242.00
|
945.00
|
|||
Value
of Final Index Level relative to the Initial Index Level
|
Higher
|
Higher
|
Lower
|
Lower
|
|||
Principal
fully repaid?
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|||
Cash
Settlement Value per Note
|
$1,230.00
|
$1,200.00
|
$1,000.00
|
$777.80
|
Initial
Index Level
|
Final
Index Level
|
Index
Return
|
Cash
Settlement Value Per Note
|
Return
if Held to Maturity
|
Initial
Index Level
|
Final
Index Level
|
Index
Return
|
Cash
Settlement Value Per Note
|
Return
if Held to Maturity
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,728.00
|
+28.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,336.50
|
-1.00%
|
1000.00
|
0.00%
|
1,350.00
|
1,714.50
|
+27.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,323.00
|
-2.00%
|
1000.00
|
0.00%
|
1,350.00
|
1,701.00
|
+26.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,309.50
|
-3.00%
|
1000.00
|
0.00%
|
1,350.00
|
1,687.50
|
+25.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,296.00
|
-4.00%
|
1000.00
|
0.00%
|
1,350.00
|
1,674.00
|
+24.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,282.50
|
-5.00%
|
1000.00
|
0.00%
|
1,350.00
|
1,660.50
|
+23.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,269.00
|
-6.00%
|
1000.00
|
0.00%
|
1,350.00
|
1,647.00
|
+22.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,255.50
|
-7.00%
|
1000.00
|
0.00%
|
1,350.00
|
1,633.50
|
+21.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,242.00
|
-8.00%
|
1000.00
|
0.00%
|
1,350.00
|
1,620.00
|
+20.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,228.50
|
-9.00%
|
1000.00
|
0.00%
|
1,350.00
|
1,606.50
|
+19.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,215.00
|
-10.00%
|
1000.00
|
0.00%
|
1,350.00
|
1,593.00
|
+18.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,201.50
|
-11.00%
|
988.89
|
-1.11%
|
1,350.00
|
1,579.50
|
+17.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,188.00
|
-12.00%
|
977.78
|
-2.22%
|
1,350.00
|
1,566.00
|
+16.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,174.50
|
-13.00%
|
966.67
|
-3.33%
|
1,350.00
|
1,552.50
|
+15.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,161.00
|
-14.00%
|
955.56
|
-4.44%
|
1,350.00
|
1,539.00
|
+14.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,147.50
|
-15.00%
|
944.44
|
-5.56%
|
1,350.00
|
1,525.50
|
+13.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,134.00
|
-16.00%
|
933.33
|
-6.67%
|
1,350.00
|
1,512.00
|
+12.00%
|
$
1,230.00
|
23.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,120.50
|
-17.00%
|
922.22
|
-7.78%
|
1,350.00
|
1,498.50
|
+11.00%
|
$
1,220.00
|
22.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,107.00
|
-18.00%
|
911.11
|
-8.89%
|
1,350.00
|
1,485.00
|
+10.00%
|
$
1,200.00
|
20.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,093.50
|
-19.00%
|
900.00
|
-10.00%
|
1,350.00
|
1,471.50
|
+9.00%
|
$
1,180.00
|
18.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,080.00
|
-20.00%
|
888.89
|
-11.11%
|
1,350.00
|
1,458.00
|
+8.00%
|
$
1,160.00
|
16.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,066.50
|
-21.00%
|
877.78
|
-12.22%
|
1,350.00
|
1,444.50
|
+7.00%
|
$
1,140.00
|
14.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,053.00
|
-22.00%
|
866.67
|
-13.33%
|
1,350.00
|
1,431.00
|
+6.00%
|
$
1,120.00
|
12.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,039.50
|
-23.00%
|
855.56
|
-14.44%
|
1,350.00
|
1,417.50
|
+5.00%
|
$
1,100.00
|
10.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,026.00
|
-24.00%
|
844.44
|
-15.56%
|
1,350.00
|
1,404.00
|
+4.00%
|
$
1,080.00
|
8.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
1,012.50
|
-25.00%
|
833.33
|
-16.67%
|
1,350.00
|
1,390.50
|
+3.00%
|
$
1,060.00
|
6.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
999.00
|
-26.00%
|
822.22
|
-17.78%
|
1,350.00
|
1,377.00
|
+2.00%
|
$
1,040.00
|
4.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
985.50
|
-27.00%
|
811.11
|
-18.89%
|
1,350.00
|
1,363.50
|
+1.00%
|
$
1,020.00
|
2.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
972.00
|
-28.00%
|
800.00
|
-20.00%
|
1,350.00
|
1,350.00
|
0.00%
|
$
1,000.00
|
0.00%
|
|
1,350.00
|
958.50
|
-29.00%
|
788.89
|
-21.11%
|
·
|
the
issuance of stock dividends,
|
·
|
the
granting to shareholders of rights to purchase additional shares
of
stock,
|
·
|
the
purchase of shares by employees pursuant to employee benefit
plans,
|
·
|
consolidations
and acquisitions,
|
·
|
the
granting to shareholders of rights to purchase other securities of
the
company,
|
·
|
the
substitution by Standard & Poor’s of particular Reference Index stocks
in the SPX, and
|
·
|
other
reasons.
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
|
January
|
980.28
|
1,279.64
|
1,394.46
|
1,366.01
|
1,130.20
|
855.70
|
1,131.13
|
1,181.27
|
1,280.08
|
1,438.24
|
1,378.55
|
February
|
1,049.34
|
1,238.33
|
1,366.42
|
1,239.94
|
1,106.73
|
841.15
|
1,144.94
|
1,203.60
|
1,280.66
|
1,406.82
|
-
|
March
|
1,101.75
|
1,286.37
|
1,498.58
|
1,160.33
|
1,147.39
|
848.18
|
1,126.21
|
1,180.59
|
1,294.83
|
1,420.86
|
-
|
April
|
1,111.75
|
1,335.18
|
1,452.43
|
1,249.46
|
1,076.92
|
916.92
|
1,107.30
|
1,156.85
|
1,310.61
|
1,482.37
|
-
|
May
|
1,090.82
|
1,301.84
|
1,420.60
|
1,255.82
|
1,067.14
|
963.59
|
1,120.68
|
1,191.50
|
1,270.09
|
1,530.62
|
-
|
June
|
1,133.84
|
1,372.71
|
1,454.60
|
1,224.42
|
989.82
|
974.50
|
1,140.84
|
1,191.33
|
1,270.20
|
1,503.35
|
-
|
July
|
1,120.67
|
1,328.72
|
1,430.83
|
1,211.23
|
911.62
|
990.31
|
1,101.72
|
1,234.18
|
1,276.66
|
1,455.27
|
-
|
August
|
957.28
|
1,320.41
|
1,517.68
|
1,133.58
|
916.07
|
1,008.01
|
1,104.24
|
1,220.33
|
1,303.82
|
1,473.99
|
-
|
September
|
1,017.01
|
1,282.71
|
1,436.51
|
1,040.94
|
815.28
|
995.97
|
1,114.58
|
1,228.81
|
1,335.85
|
1,526.75
|
-
|
October
|
1,098.67
|
1,362.93
|
1,429.40
|
1,059.78
|
885.76
|
1,050.71
|
1,130.20
|
1,207.01
|
1,377.94
|
1,549.38
|
-
|
November
|
1,163.63
|
1,388.91
|
1,314.95
|
1,139.45
|
936.31
|
1,058.20
|
1,173.82
|
1,249.48
|
1,400.63
|
1,481.14
|
-
|
December
|
1,229.23
|
1,469.25
|
1,320.28
|
1,148.08
|
879.82
|
1,111.92
|
1,211.92
|
1,248.29
|
1,418.30
|
1,468.36
|
-
|
·
|
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.
|
$3,000,000
|
Total
|
$3,000,000
|
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.
$3,000,000
Medium-Term
Notes, Series B
Linked
to the Standard and Poor’s 500®
Index
Due
March 13, 2009
PRICING
SUPPLEMENT
Bear,
Stearns & Co. Inc.
February
12, 2008
|
||
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
|||
|
|||
Pricing
Supplement
|
|||
Page
|
|||
Summary
|
PS-2
|
||
Key
Terms
|
PS-4
|
||
Questions
and Answers
|
PS-6
|
||
Risk
Factors
|
PS-10
|
||
Description
of the Notes
|
PS-17
|
||
Description
of the Index
|
PS-25
|
||
Certain
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
|
PS-29
|
||
Certain
ERISA Considerations
|
PS-32
|
||
Use
of Proceeds and Hedging
|
PS-33
|
||
Supplemental
Plan of Distribution
|
PS-33
|
||
Legal
Matters
|
PS-34
|
||
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
|
||