Filed
Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration
No. 333−136666
March
21, 2007
 |
New
Issue
|
STRUCTURED
EQUITY PRODUCTS
Indicative
Terms
|
 |
|
THE
BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
INVESTMENT
HIGHLIGHTS
|
|
|
3-month
term to maturity
|
|
|
Reverse
Convertible
Note
Securities
|
· Note
offering linked to the common stock of IntercontinentalExchange,
Inc. (the
“Reference Asset”).
· The
Notes pay a fixed rate coupon of [21.00]% per annum, payable
as a single
cash payment at maturity equal to one-quarter of the Coupon Rate
times the
principal amount of the Notes.
· 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 [99.50]% of the principal amount.
· The
Notes are not principal protected if: (i) the Closing Price of
the
Reference Asset ever equals or falls below the Contingent Protection
Level
on any day 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
|
|
IntercontinentalExchange,
Inc., common stock, traded on the NYSE
|
ICE
|
3
months
|
[21.00]%
|
[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
1-866-803-9204.
|
|||||
____________
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 [99.50]%
of the
principal amount.
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
|
GENERAL
TERMS FOR THE NOTE
OFFERING
|
This
free
writing prospectus relates to the offering of Notes linked to the common
stock
of IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. We reserve the right to withdraw,
cancel or
modify the offering and to reject orders in whole or in part. Although
the Note
offering relates to the Reference Asset, you should not construe that
fact as a
recommendation as to the merits of acquiring an investment linked to
such
Reference Asset or as to the suitability of an investment in the Note.
Defined
terms not defined herein shall have the same meaning as in the Prospectus
Supplement discussed below.
|
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
common stock of IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (“ICE”), traded on the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc. (“NYSE”) under the symbol
“ICE.”
|
|
|
SELLING
PERIOD ENDS:
|
March
[27], 2007.
|
|
|
PRICING
DATE:
|
March
[27], 2007.
|
|
|
SETTLEMENT
DATE:
|
March
[30], 2007.
|
|
|
CALCULATION
DATE:
|
June
[27], 2007.
|
|
|
MATURITY
DATE:
|
[July
2], 2007.
|
|
|
COUPON
RATE (PER ANNUM):
|
[21.00]%
per annum, payable at maturity.
|
|
|
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 Closing Price of the Reference
Asset never
equals or falls below the Contingent Protection Level on any
day 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
Closing Price of the Reference Asset ever equals or falls below
the
Contingent Protection Level on any day 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 DATE:
|
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:
|
[073902LX4].
|
|
|
LISTING:
|
The
Note will not be listed on any U.S. securities exchange or
quotation
system.
|
BEAR,
STEARNS & CO. INC.
-2-
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
|
ADDITIONAL
TERMS SPECIFIC TO THE
NOTES
|
You
should read this document together with the prospectus, dated August
16, 2006
(the “Prospectus”), as supplemented by the prospectus supplement, dated August
16, 2006 (the “Prospectus Supplement”). You should carefully consider, among
other things, the matters set forth in “Risk Factors” and “Risk Factors -
Additional Risks Relating to Notes with an Equity Security or Equity
Index as
the Reference Asset” in the Prospectus Supplement, as the Note involves risks
not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult
your
investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest
in the
Note. The Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement may be accessed on the
SEC Web
site at www.sec.gov as follows:
|
·
|
Prospectus
Supplement, dated August 16, 2006:
|
|
·
|
Prospectus,
dated August 16, 2006:
|
|
SELECTED
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
|
The
following highlights some, but not all, of the risk considerations
relevant to
investing in the Notes. The
following must be read in conjunction with the sections “Risk Factors” and “Risk
Factors - Additional Risks Relating to Notes with an Equity Security
or Equity
Index as the Reference Asset,” beginning on pages S-7 and S-14,
respectively, in the Prospectus Supplement.
|
·
|
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
Closing Price of the Reference Asset ever equals or falls
below the
Contingent Protection Level on any day 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. 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
of a successor
corporation to the underlying company, based on the Closing
Price of such
successor’s common stock. 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.
|
BEAR,
STEARNS & CO. INC.
-3-
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
|
INTEREST
AND PAYMENT AT MATURITY
|
Interest.
The
interest rate for the Notes is designated on the cover of this free-writing
prospectus. The interest paid will include interest accrued from the Original
Issue Date to, but excluding, the Maturity Date. Interest will be payable
to the
person to whom principal is payable.
Payment
at Maturity.
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 Closing Price of the Reference Asset never equals
or
falls below the Contingent Protection Level on
any
day 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 Closing
Price
of the Reference Asset ever equals or falls below the Contingent Protection
Level on any day 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.
We
will
(i) provide written notice to the Trustee and to the Depositary, on or
prior to the Business Day immediately prior to the Maturity Date of the
amount
of cash or number of shares of the Reference Asset (and cash in respect
of
coupon and cash in respect of any fractional shares of the Reference Asset),
as
applicable, to be delivered, and (ii) deliver such cash or shares of the
Reference Asset (and cash in respect of coupon and cash in respect of any
fractional shares of the Reference Asset), if applicable, to the Trustee
for
delivery to you. The Calculation Agent shall determine the Exchange
Ratio.
The
following scenarios and graphs generally illustrate how the Cash Settlement
Value of the Reverse Convertible Note Securities is determined:
|
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.
|
BEAR,
STEARNS & CO. INC.
-4-
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
|
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.
|
|
REFERENCE
ASSET INFORMATION
|
We
urge
you to read the section “Sponsors or Issuers and Reference Asset” on
page S-25 in the Prospectus Supplement. Companies with securities
registered under the Exchange Act are required to file periodically certain
financial and other information specified by the SEC. Information provided
to or
filed with the SEC electronically can be accessed through a website maintained
by the SEC. The address of the SEC’s website is http://www.sec.gov. Information
provided to or filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act by the
company
issuing the Reference Asset can be located by reference to the SEC file
number
provided below.
The
summary information below regarding the company issuing the stock comprising
the
Reference Asset comes from such issuer’s SEC filings and has not been
independently verified by us. We do not make any representations as to
the
accuracy or completeness of such information or of any filings made by
the
issuer of the Reference Asset with the SEC. Investors
are urged to refer to the SEC filings made by the issuer and to other
publicly
available information (such as the issuer’s annual report) to obtain an
understanding of the issuer’s business and financial prospects. The summary
information contained below is not designed to be, and should not be
interpreted
as, an effort to present information regarding the financial prospects
of the
issuer or any trends, events or other factors that may have a positive
or
negative influence on those prospects or as an endorsement of the
issuer.
BEAR,
STEARNS & CO. INC.
-5-
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
IntercontinentalExchange,
Inc. (“ICE”)
IntercontinentalExchange,
Inc.’s (“ICE”) common stock, par value $0.01 per share, trades on the NYSE under
the symbol “ICE.” ICE is an electronic global futures and over-the-counter
marketplace for trading a broad array of energy products. ICE also
offers a
variety of market data services for both futures and over-the-counter
markets
through its market data subsidiary. ICE’s
SEC file number is 001-32671.
|
ILLUSTRATIVE
EXAMPLES & HISTORICAL
TABLES
|
The
following are illustrative examples demonstrating the hypothetical
amounts
payable at maturity based on the assumptions outlined below. These
examples do
not purport to be representative of every possible scenario concerning
increases
or decreases in the Reference Asset or of the movements that are likely
to occur
with respect to the Reference Asset. You should not construe these
examples or
the data included in the tables set forth below as an indication of
the expected
performance of any of the Notes. Some amounts are rounded and actual
returns may
be different.
Assumptions:
|
·
|
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: $130.00
|
|
·
|
Contingent
Protection Percentage: 80%
|
|
·
|
Contingent
Protection Level: $104.00 ($130.00 x
80%)
|
|
·
|
Exchange
Ratio: 7 ($1,000/$130.00)
|
|
·
|
Coupon:
21.00% per annum, paid as a single cash payment at
maturity.
|
|
·
|
The
reinvestment rate on any interest payments made during the
term of the
Notes is assumed to be 0%. The three-month 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:
Three months.
|
|
·
|
Dividend
and dividend yield on the Reference Asset: No dividend distributed.
|
Example
1
- On the
Calculation Date, the Final Level of $156.00 is greater than the Initial
Level,
resulting in a payment at maturity of the principal of $1,000, regardless
of
whether the Contingent Protection Level was ever reached or breached,
plus one
interest payment of $52.50, for payments totaling $1,052.50. If you
had invested
directly in the Reference Asset for the same three-month period, you
would have
received total cash payments of $1,200.00 (number of shares of the
Reference
Asset multiplied by the Final Level), assuming liquidation of shares
at the
Final Level. You would have earned a 5.25% return with an investment
in the
Notes and a 20.00% return with a direct investment in the Reference
Asset.
Example
2
- On the
Calculation Date, the Final Level of $117.00 is below the Initial Level,
but the
Closing Price never equaled or fell below the Contingent Protection
Level. As
discussed in example 1 above, an investor would receive total payments
of
$1,052.50, earning a 5.25% return over the term of the Notes. A direct
investment in the Reference Asset during that same three-month time
period would
have generated a return of $900.00 (number of shares of the Reference
Asset
multiplied by the Final Level), assuming liquidation of shares at the
Final
Level. You would have earned a 5.25% return with an investment in the
Notes and
incurred a loss of 10.00% with a direct investment in the Reference
Asset.
Example
3
- On the
Calculation Date, the Final Level of $91.00 is below the Initial Level
and also
is below the Contingent Protection Level. At our election, an investor
would
receive a cash payment in the amount of $699.97 plus one interest payment
of
$52.50, for payments totaling $751.47. If you had invested directly
in the
Reference Asset for the same three-month period, you would have received
total
cash payments of $700.00 (number of shares of the Reference Asset multiplied
by
the Final Level), assuming liquidation of shares at the Final Level.
An
investment in the Notes would have resulted in a loss of 24.75%, while
a direct
investment in the Reference Asset would have resulted in a loss of
30.00%.
BEAR,
STEARNS & CO. INC.
-6-
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
Table
of Hypothetical Cash Settlement Values
Assumes
the Closing Price Never
Equals
or Falls Below the Contingent Protection Level Before the Calculation
Date
|
Investment
in the Notes
|
Direct
Investment in the Reference Asset
|
|||||||
|
Initial
Level
|
Hypothetical
Final Level
|
Cash
Settlement Value
|
Total
Coupon Payments (in % Terms)
|
3-month
Total Return
|
Percentage
Change in Value of Reference Asset
|
Dividend
Yield
|
3-month
Total Return
|
|
|
130.00
|
169.00
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
30.00%
|
0.00%
|
30.00%
|
|
130.00
|
162.50
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
25.00%
|
0.00%
|
25.00%
|
|
130.00
|
156.00
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
20.00%
|
0.00%
|
20.00%
|
|
130.00
|
149.50
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
15.00%
|
0.00%
|
15.00%
|
|
130.00
|
143.00
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
10.00%
|
0.00%
|
10.00%
|
|
130.00
|
136.50
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
5.00%
|
0.00%
|
5.00%
|
|
130.00
|
130.00
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
|
130.00
|
123.50
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
-5.00%
|
0.00%
|
-5.00%
|
|
130.00
|
117.00
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
-10.00%
|
0.00%
|
-10.00%
|
|
130.00
|
110.50
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
-15.00%
|
0.00%
|
-15.00%
|
Table
of Hypothetical Cash Settlement Values
Assumes
the Closing Price Does
Equal or
Fall Below the Contingent Protection Level Before the Calculation
Date
|
Investment
in the Notes
|
Direct
Investment in the Reference Asset
|
|||||||
|
Initial
Level
|
Hypothetical
Final Level
|
Cash
Settlement Value
|
Total
Coupon Payments (in % Terms)
|
3-month
Total Return
|
Percentage
Change in Value of Reference Asset
|
Dividend
Yield
|
3-month
Total Return
|
|
|
130.00
|
162.50
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
25.00%
|
0.00%
|
25.00%
|
|
130.00
|
156.00
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
20.00%
|
0.00%
|
20.00%
|
|
130.00
|
149.50
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
15.00%
|
0.00%
|
15.00%
|
|
130.00
|
143.00
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
10.00%
|
0.00%
|
10.00%
|
|
130.00
|
136.50
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
5.00%
|
0.00%
|
5.00%
|
|
130.00
|
130.00
|
$1,000.00
|
5.25%
|
5.25%
|
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
|
130.00
|
123.50
|
$950.00
|
5.25%
|
0.25%
|
|
-5.00%
|
0.00%
|
-5.00%
|
|
130.00
|
117.00
|
$900.00
|
5.25%
|
-4.75%
|
|
-10.00%
|
0.00%
|
-10.00%
|
|
130.00
|
110.50
|
$850.00
|
5.25%
|
-9.75%
|
|
-15.00%
|
0.00%
|
-15.00%
|
|
130.00
|
104.00
|
$800.00
|
5.25%
|
-14.75%
|
|
-20.00%
|
0.00%
|
-20.00%
|
|
130.00
|
97.50
|
$750.00
|
5.25%
|
-19.75%
|
|
-25.00%
|
0.00%
|
-25.00%
|
|
130.00
|
91.00
|
$700.00
|
5.25%
|
-24.75%
|
|
-30.00%
|
0.00%
|
-30.00%
|
|
130.00
|
84.50
|
$650.00
|
5.25%
|
-29.75%
|
|
-35.00%
|
0.00%
|
-35.00%
|
|
130.00
|
78.00
|
$600.00
|
5.25%
|
-34.75%
|
|
-40.00%
|
0.00%
|
-40.00%
|
|
130.00
|
71.50
|
$550.00
|
5.25%
|
-39.75%
|
|
-45.00%
|
0.00%
|
-45.00%
|
|
130.00
|
65.00
|
$500.00
|
5.25%
|
-44.75%
|
|
-50.00%
|
0.00%
|
-50.00%
|
|
130.00
|
58.50
|
$450.00
|
5.25%
|
-49.75%
|
|
-55.00%
|
0.00%
|
-55.00%
|
The
following table sets forth on a per share basis the high and low closing
prices,
as well as end-of-quarter closing prices, for the Reference Asset during
the
periods indicated below. We obtained the information in the tables below
from
Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification.
|
Quarter
Ending
|
Quarterly
High |
Quarterly
Low |
Quarterly
Close |
Quarter
Ending
|
Quarterly
High |
Quarterly
Low |
Quarterly
Close |
|
|
December
30, 2005
|
44.21
|
26.00
|
36.35
|
September
29, 2006
|
77.92
|
51.77
|
75.07
|
|
|
March
31, 2006
|
73.59
|
36.00
|
69.05
|
December
29, 2006
|
113.85
|
72.15
|
107.90
|
|
| January 3, 2007 to | ||||||||
|
June
30, 2006
|
82.40
|
45.27
|
57.94
|
March
20, 2007
|
167.00
|
108.15
|
129.89
|
BEAR,
STEARNS & CO. INC.
-7-
|
|
STRUCTURED
PRODUCTS GROUP
|
|
CERTAIN
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX
CONSIDERATIONS
|
This
summary supplements the section entitled “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations” in the prospectus supplement and supersedes it to the extent
inconsistent therewith but is subject to the limitations
and qualifications set
forth therein. In the opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, special
U.S. tax counsel to us, the following discussion, when read
together with the
section entitled, “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the
prospectus supplement, summarizes certain of the material
U.S. federal income
tax consequences of the purchase, beneficial ownership, and
disposition of the
Notes.
There
are
no statutory provisions, 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.
Under one approach, the Note should be treated as a put option
written by you
(the “Put Option”) that permits us to (1) sell the Reference Assets to you
at
maturity for an amount equal to the principal amount of the
Note, or (2) “cash
settle” the Put Option (i.e., require you to pay to us at maturity
the
difference between the principal amount of the Note and the
value of the
Reference Assets otherwise deliverable under the Put Option),
and a deposit with
us of cash (the “Deposit”) in an amount equal to the “issue price” (as described
in the prospectus supplement) of your Notes to secure your
potential obligation
under the Put Option. We intend to treat the Notes consistent
with this approach
and pursuant to the terms of the Notes, you agree to treat
the Notes under this
approach for all U.S. federal income tax purposes. The description
below of the
Reference Asset includes a chart that indicates the portion
of each interest
payment that represents the yield on the Deposit and the
Put Premium, assuming
that the issue price of the Notes is par. You may contact
Bill Bamber at (212)
272-6635 for the issue price of the Notes.
We
also
intend to treat the Deposits as “short-term obligations” for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —Tax Treatment
of the Deposit on Notes with a Term of One Year or Less” in the prospectus
supplement for certain U.S. federal income tax considerations
applicable to
short-term obligations.
Because
there are no statutory provisions, 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 and the
timing and character
of income in respect of the Notes might differ from the treatment
described
above. For example, the Notes could be treated as short-term
obligations rather
than a Put Option and a Deposit.
PROSPECTIVE
PURCHASERS OF NOTES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS
TO THE FEDERAL, STATE,
LOCAL, AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE,
OWNERSHIP AND
DISPOSITION OF NOTES.
|
Reference
Asset
|
Term
to Maturity
|
Coupon
Rate, per
annum |
Yield
on the Deposit,
per Annum |
Put
Premium, per
Annum |
|
IntercontinentalExchange,
Inc.
|
3
months
|
[21.00]%
|
[●]%
|
[●]%
|
BEAR,
STEARNS & CO. INC.
-8-