PRICING SUPPLEMENT NO. 16 Rule 424(b)(3) DATED: June 17, 2003 File No. 333-104455 (To Prospectus dated April 24, 2003, and Prospectus Supplement dated April 24, 2003) $10,227,293,162 THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC. Medium-Term Notes, Series B Principal Amount: $100,000,000 Floating Rate Notes [x] Book Entry Notes [x] Original Issue Date: 6/20/2003 Fixed Rate Notes [ ] Certificated Notes [ ] Maturity Date: 6/20/2005 CUSIP#: 073928A29 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: Interest Payment Dates: Applicable Only to Floating Rate Notes: -------------------------------------- Interest Rate Basis: Maximum Interest Rate: N/A [ ] Commercial Paper Rate Minimum Interest Rate: N/A [ ] Federal Funds Effective Rate [ ] Federal Funds Open Rate Interest Reset Date(s): * [ ] Treasury Rate Interest Reset Period: Quarterly [ ] LIBOR Reuters Interest Payment Date(s): ** [x] LIBOR Telerate [ ] Prime Rate [ ] CMT Rate Initial Interest Rate: 1.215% Interest Payment Period: Quarterly Index Maturity: Three Months Spread (plus or minus): +0.15% * On the 20th of each September, December, March and June prior to Maturity. ** On the 20th of each September, December, March and June, including the maturity date. At February 28, 2003: o the Company had outstanding (on an unconsolidated basis) approximately $37.4 billion of debt and other obligations, including approximately $34.3 billion of unsecured senior debt and $2.6 billion of unsecured inter-company debt; and o subsidiaries of the Company had outstanding (after elimination of inter-company items) approximately $145.5 billion of debt and other obligations (including $47.9 billion related to securities sold under repurchase agreements, $52.9 billion related to payables to customers, $26.4 billion related to financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, and $18.3 billion of other liabilities, including $13.6 billion of debt). The distribution of Notes will conform to the requirements set forth in Rule 2720 of the NASD Conduct Rules.