PRICING SUPPLEMENT NO. 31 Rule 424(b)(3)
DATED: December 16, 1998 File No. 333-61437
(To Prospectus dated August 26, 1998
and Prospectus Supplement dated August 26, 1998)
$7,315,045,162
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
$40,000,000 [x] [x]
Original Issue Date: Fixed Rate Notes Certificated Notes
December 23, 1998 [_] [_]
Maturity Date: CUSIP#: 073928 GC 1
December 23, 1999
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: Monthly
[_] LIBOR Reuters Interest Payment Date(s): **
[x] LIBOR Telerate
[_] Prime Rate Interest Payment Period: Monthly
[_] CMT Rate
Initial Interest Rate: ***
Index Maturity: One Month
Spread (plus or minus): +0.20%
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NYFS04...:\25\22625\0122\2041\SUPD218M.020
<PAGE>
* 1/25/99, 2/23/99, 3/23/99, 4/23/99, 5/24/99, 6/23/99,
7/23/99, 8/23/99, 9/23/99, 10/23/99 and 11/23/99.
** 1/25/99, 2/23/99, 3/23/99, 4/23/99, 5/24/99, 6/23/99, 7/23/99, 8/23/99,
9/23/99, 10/23/99, 11/23/99 and 12/23/99.
*** The one-month LIBOR rate on December 21, 1998 plus 20 basis
points.
The distribution of Notes will conform to the requirements set forth in Rule
2720 of the NASD Conduct Rules.
2
