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PRICING SUPPLEMENT NO. 53 Rule 424(b)(3)
DATED: April 1, 1996 File No. 33-63561
(To Prospectus dated December 18, 1995
and Prospectus Supplement dated December 18, 1995)
$3,650,742,350
THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES B
WITH MINIMUM MATURITY OF NINE MONTHS FROM DATE OF ISSUE
Principal Amount: Floating Rate Notes Book Entry Notes
$50,000,000 [x] [x]
Original Issue Date: Fixed Rate Notes Certificated Notes
04/04/96 [_] [_]
Maturity Date: 04/06/99
Option to Extend Maturity: No [x]
Yes [_] Final Maturity Date:
Optional Optional
Redemption Repayment Repayment
Redeemable On Price(s) Date(s) Price(s)
------------- -------- ------- --------
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Applicable Only to Fixed Rate Notes:
- -----------------------------------
Interest Rate:
Applicable Only to Floating Rate Notes:
- --------------------------------------
Interest Rate Basis: Maximum Interest Rate: N/A
[_] Commercial Paper Rate Minimum Interest Rate: N/A
[_] Federal Funds Rate Interest Reset Date(s): **
[_] Treasury Rate Interest Reset Period: Quarterly
[*] LIBOR Interest Payment Date(s): ***
[_] Prime Rate Interest Payment Period: Quarterly
[_] CMT Rate
Initial Interest Rate: ****
Index Maturity: Three Months
Spread (plus or minus): +0.20%
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* For purposes of this Note, LIBOR will be determined by the Calculation
Agent in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) With respect to an Interest Determination Date, LIBOR will be
determined on the basis of the offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars
having the Index Maturity specified above, commencing on the second London
Banking Day immediately following such Interest Determination Date, which
appears on Telerate page 3750 (or such other page as may replace such
Telerate page 3750 for the purpose of displaying London interbank rates of
major banks), as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such Interest Determination
Date. If no such rate appears on Telerate page 3750 (or such other page),
LIBOR for such Interest Determination Date will be determined as if the
parties had specified the rate described in (ii) below.
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(ii) With respect to an Interest Determination Date on which no
offered rate appears on Telerate page 3750 (or such other page) as
described in (i) above, LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the rates
at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such Interest Determination
Date at which deposits in U.S. dollars having the Index Maturity specified
above are offered to prime banks in the London interbank market by four
major banks in the London interbank market selected by the Calculation
Agent commencing on the second London Banking Day immediately following such
Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount equal to an amount of
not less than $1,000,000 that is representative of a single transaction in
such market at such time. The Calculation Agent will request the principal
London office of each of such banks to provide a quotation of its rate.
If at least two such quotations are provided, LIBOR for such Interest
Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer
than two quotations are provided, LIBOR for such Interest Determination Date
will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M.,
New York City time, on such Interest Determination Date by three major banks
in the City of New York, selected by the Calculation Agent for loans in U.S.
dollars to leading European banks, having the specified Index Maturity
commencing on the second London Banking Day immediately following such
Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount equal to an amount of
not less than $1,000,000 that is representative of a single transaction in
such market at such time; provided, however, that if the banks selected as
aforesaid by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this
sentence, LIBOR will be LIBOR in effect on such Interest Determination
Date.
** The 6th of each July, October, January and April during the term
hereof.
*** The 6th of each July, October, January and April during the term
hereof, and 04/06/99.
**** Three month LIBOR as of 04/02/96 plus 20 basis points.
The distribution of Notes will conform to the requirements set forth in the
applicable sections of Schedule E to the By-laws of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
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