COEUR D ALENE MINES CORP
S-3/A, 1994-05-24
SILVER ORES
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<PAGE>   1
 
   
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 24, 1994
    
   
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 33-53023
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
    
 
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
                        COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>
                        IDAHO                                               82-0109423
   (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION OR            (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
                     ORGANIZATION)

           400 COEUR D'ALENE MINES BUILDING                             DENNIS E. WHEELER
                   505 FRONT AVENUE                                   CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD,
              COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO 83814                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                     208-667-3511                                COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION
             (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE                        400 COEUR D'ALENE MINES BUILDING
           AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING                               505 FRONT AVENUE
              AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S                            COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO 83814
             PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                                  208-667-3511
                                                        (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE
                                                                             NUMBER,
                                                            INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
                    PLEASE SEND COPIES OF COMMUNICATIONS TO:
                             WALTER FREEDMAN, ESQ.
                        FREEDMAN, LEVY, KROLL & SIMONDS
                         1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W.
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036
 
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC:  From time to
time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
 
     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. / /
 
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. /X/
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             PROPOSED    PROPOSED
                                                                              MAXIMUM     MAXIMUM
                                                                AMOUNT       OFFERING    AGGREGATE    AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                                          TO BE        PRICE PER   OFFERING   REGISTRATION
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED                                   REGISTERED      UNIT(1)    PRICE(1)        FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>                  <C>     <C>          <C>

6 3/8% Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2004.......    $100,000,000     100%    $100,000,000  $34,482.75
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, and Rights to
  purchase Series A Junior Preferred Stock attached
  thereto................................................. 3,816,793 shs.(2)                            None
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The
    price shown for the Debentures is based on the offering price of the
    Debentures in January 1994.
 
   
(2) There are being registered hereunder the 3,816,793 shares of Common Stock
    and attached Rights required at the initial conversion price for conversion
    of the Debentures being registered hereunder, plus such additional
    indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock and attached Rights as may
    become issuable upon conversion by reason of adjustments in the conversion
    price. No registration fee is required for Common Stock and attached Rights
    reserved for conversion because such shares will be issued for no additional
    consideration.
    
                            ------------------------
     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 8(A), MAY
DETERMINE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
     MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
     BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
     THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY
     NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH
     OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR
     QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
PROSPECTUS
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
   
                               DATED MAY 24, 1994
    
 
                                  $100,000,000
 
                  [LOGO]      COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION
 
              6 3/8% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2004
 
                    Interest payable July 31 and January 31
                            ------------------------
 
   
     This Prospectus relates to $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
6 3/8% Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2004 (the "Debentures") of Coeur
d'Alene Mines Corporation ("Coeur" or the "Company"), and the shares of common
stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company which are
issuable from time to time upon conversion of the Debentures. Either the
Debentures or Common Stock issued upon conversion may be offered from time to
time for the account of holders of Debentures named herein (the "Selling
Debentureholders"). The Company will not receive any proceeds from this
offering. Prior to this offering, there has not been any public market for the
Debentures. The Debentures have been approved for listing on the New York Stock
Exchange.
    
 
   
     The Debentures are convertible into 3,816,793 shares of Common Stock on or
before January 31, 2004, unless previously redeemed, at a conversion price of
$26.20 per share (or approximately 38 shares per $1,000 principal amount of
Debentures), subject to adjustment in certain events. On May 23, 1994, the last
reported sale price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite
Tape was $19.75 per share. The Common Stock is traded under the symbol "CDE."
    
 
   
     The Debentures are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time on or after
January 31, 1997, at the redemption prices set forth herein plus accrued
interest. The Debentures are required to be repurchased at the option of the
holder if a Designated Event (as defined herein) occurs, at 100% of the
principal amount thereof plus accrued interest. No assurance can be given that
the Company will have the financial resources necessary to repurchase the
Debentures upon the occurrence of a Designated Event.
    
 
   
     The Debentures are unsecured and subordinate in right of payment to all
existing or future Senior Debt (as defined herein) and rank pari passu with the
Company's other outstanding convertible debentures. The Debentures are also
effectively subordinated to liabilities of the Company's subsidiaries. The
Indenture relating to the Debentures does not restrict the incurrence of Senior
Debt or other indebtedness by the Company or any subsidiary. See "Description of
Debentures."
    
 
     See "Risk Factors" for information that should be considered by prospective
investors.
 
     THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
 
     The Company has been advised by the Selling Debentureholders that the
Selling Debentureholders, acting as principals for their own account, directly,
through agents designated from time to time, or through dealers or underwriters
also to be designated, may sell all or a portion of the Debentures or shares of
Common Stock offered hereby from time to time on terms to be determined at the
time of sale. To the extent required, the principal amount of Debentures or the
number of shares of Common Stock to be sold, the names of the Selling
Debentureholders, the purchase price, the name of any such agent, dealer or
underwriter and any applicable commissions with respect to a particular offer
will be set forth in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement. The aggregate
proceeds to the Selling Debentureholders from the sale of Debentures and Common
Stock offered by the Selling Debentureholders hereby will be the purchase price
of such Debentures or Common Stock less any commissions. See "Plan of
Distribution" herein for indemnification arrangements between the Company and
the Selling Debentureholders.
 
     The Selling Debentureholders and any broker-dealers, agents or underwriters
that participate with the Selling Debentureholders in the distribution of the
Debentures or shares of Common Stock may be deemed to be "underwriters" within
the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), in
which event any commissions received by such broker-dealers, agents or
underwriters and any profit on the resale of the Debentures or shares of Common
Stock purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or
discounts under the Securities Act.
 
     The Debentures were issued by the Company in January and February 1994 in
connection with an offering to "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in
Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to certain non-U.S. persons in reliance
upon Regulation S under the Securities Act.
 
   
                  The date of this Prospectus is May   , 1994.
    
<PAGE>   3
 
     No dealer, salesman or other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations not contained or incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus and, if given or made, such other information or
representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company,
any Selling Debentureholder or any other person. Neither the delivery of this
Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create
any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company
since the date hereof. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy the securities offered hereby to any person or
by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation may not
lawfully be made.
                            ------------------------
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and, in accordance therewith, files
reports, proxy or information statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). The Company's Common
Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and The Pacific Stock Exchange.
Reports, proxy or information statements and other information filed by the
Company with the Commission under the Exchange Act can be inspected and copied
at prescribed rates at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549; at the following Regional Offices of the Commission: Suite 1300,
Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York, 10048; and Suite 1400,
Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661;
and at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York,
New York 10005, and The Pacific Stock Exchange, 115 Sansome Street (Suite 1004),
San Francisco, California 94104.
 
     The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form
S-3 (herein, together with all amendments and exhibits, referred to as the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act. This Prospectus does not
contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain
parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Commission. For further information, reference is hereby made to the
Registration Statement.
 
               INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
 
   
     The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1993 (the "1993 10-K") and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 1994 (the "March 31, 1994 10-Q"), as filed with the Commission
(File No. 1-8641) pursuant to Section 12 or 13 of the Exchange Act, are hereby
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. In addition, all documents filed
by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering
of the Debentures or Common Stock shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus and to be part hereof from the date of filing of
such documents. Any statement contained herein or in any document incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent any statement
contained in this Prospectus or in any subsequently filed document which also is
or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statements so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
    
 
     The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of
this Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a
copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference (not
including the exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference in such documents). Requests for such copies should be
directed to William F. Boyd, Secretary, Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation, 400
Coeur d'Alene Mines Building, 505 Front Avenue, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814,
telephone number: (208)667-3511.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   4
 
                       SUMMARY OF TERMS OF THE DEBENTURES
 
     The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
description of the terms and provisions of the Debentures set forth herein under
"Description of Debentures."
 
Securities Offered.........  $100,000,000 principal amount of 6 3/8% Convertible
                             Subordinated Debentures Due 2004.
 
Maturity Date..............  January 31, 2004
 
Interest Payment Dates.....  July 31 and January 31, commencing July 31, 1994.
 
   
Conversion.................  Convertible into 3,816,793 shares of Common Stock
                             on or before January 31, 2004, unless previously
                             redeemed, at a conversion price of $26.20 per
                             share, subject to adjustment in certain events.
    
 
Optional Redemption........  Redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole
                             or in part at any time on or after January 31,
                             1997, at the redemption prices set forth herein
                             plus accrued interest. See "Description of
                             Debentures -- Optional Redemption of Debentures."
 
Repurchase at Option of
Holder Upon Occurrence of a
Designated Event...........  The Debentures are required to be repurchased at
                             100% of their principal amount at the option of the
                             holder, if a Designated Event (as defined) occurs.
                             See "Description of Debentures -- Repurchase at
                             Option of Holder Upon Occurrence of a Designated
                             Event."
 
Subordination..............  The Debentures are subordinated to all Senior Debt
                             (as defined). The Debentures are also effectively
                             subordinated to liabilities of the Company's
                             subsidiaries. The Indenture does not restrict the
                             incurrence of Senior Debt or other indebtedness by
                             the Company or any subsidiary.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   5
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     The Company is principally engaged in the exploration, development,
operation and/or ownership of gold and silver mining properties located within
the United States in Nevada, Idaho and Alaska and abroad in New Zealand and
Chile. The Company's most significant properties are: (i) the Rochester Mine
located in northwestern Nevada, which is owned and operated by Coeur and on
which the Company has conducted silver and gold surface mining operations since
September 1986, and which is believed to be one of the largest and lowest cost
of production primary silver mines in the United States; (ii) the Golden Cross
Mine, an underground and surface mining operation located near Waihi, New
Zealand, which is operated by Coeur and in which the Company has an 80%
operating interest which it acquired on April 30, 1993; (iii) the Galena Mine,
an underground silver mine in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District in northern
Idaho in which the Company has a 62.5% non-operating interest and at which
mining operations were suspended on July 26, 1992 due to prevailing silver
prices; (iv) the Coeur Mine, an underground silver mine in the Coeur d'Alene
Mining District which Coeur owns and in which it has a 50% non-operating joint
venture interest and at which mining operations were suspended on April 3, 1991
due to prevailing silver prices; (v) the Kensington Property, located north of
Juneau, Alaska, which was acquired in 1987 and is being developed as an
underground gold mine jointly by Coeur and its 50% joint venture partner; and
(vi) the Fachinal Property, located in southern Chile, South America, which
Coeur acquired, along with certain Chilean exploratory properties, in 1990 and
at which a final feasibility study, expected to be completed in May 1994, is
being conducted with respect to proposed underground and surface gold and silver
mining activities. Coeur also has interests in other properties which are the
subject of silver or gold exploration activities and on which no commercially
minable ore bodies have been identified.
 
   
     Through The Flexaust Company ("Flexaust") division of the Company's
wholly-owned subsidiary Callahan Mining Corporation ("Callahan"), Coeur is also
engaged in the manufacture and sale of lightweight flexible hose and duct and
metal tubing. Flexaust's products are used in a wide variety of industrial and
commercial applications for conveying air, dust, fumes and materials. The
percentage of the Company's revenues and total income contributed by Flexaust in
the year ended December 31, 1993 was 12.2% and 3.5%, respectively, and in the
quarter ended March 31, 1994 was 10.6% and 3.3%, respectively.
    
 
   
     The Debentures were issued by the Company in January and February 1994 in
connection with an offering to "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in
Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to certain non-U.S. persons in reliance
upon Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Company plans to use the
approximately $95.7 million net proceeds from such offering for general
corporate purposes, including the possible acquisition of, or investment in,
additional precious metals mines, properties or businesses, and for possible
developmental activities on new or existing mining properties. The Company
invested such proceeds in interest-bearing marketable securities and money
market obligations pending the planned use thereof for such purposes. The
Company's acquisition efforts are primarily focused upon operating precious
metals mines and precious metals properties or businesses that are expected to
become operational in the near future. The Company currently is engaged in the
review and investigation of opportunities for expansion of its business through
acquisitions, investments or other transactions. Presently, however, there are
no agreements or understandings relating to any specific acquisitions or
investments.
    
 
     The Company is an Idaho corporation organized in 1928. Its executive
offices are located at 400 Coeur d'Alene Mines Building, 505 Front Avenue, Coeur
d'Alene, Idaho 83814. The telephone number is (208) 667-3511.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   6
 
                         SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
     The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial information
for the five fiscal years ended December 31, 1993. Such information should be
read in conjunction with, and is qualified by reference to, the financial
statements and other information and data contained or incorporated herein by
reference to the 1993 10-K and March 31, 1994 10-Q. See "Incorporation of
Certain Information by Reference."
    
 
INCOME STATEMENT DATA(1)
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             QUARTER ENDED
                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                          MARCH 31,
                            -----------------------------------------------------------    ------------------
                               1989          1990         1991       1992        1993       1993       1994
                            ----------    ----------    --------    -------    --------    -------    -------
                            (RESTATED)    (RESTATED)
<S>                         <C>           <C>           <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
Revenues.................    $105,571      $ 73,451     $ 67,046    $56,428    $ 83,719    $13,262    $24,482
Total income.............      22,793        17,874       14,183      9,612      14,827      2,013      4,442
Loss before cumulative
  effect of change in
  accounting method......      (3,846)       (4,190)     (14,399)      (759)    (13,290)    (1,981)    (2,597)
Cumulative effect of
  change in accounting
  method.................          --            --           --         --       5,181      5,181         --
Net Income (loss)........      (3,846)       (4,190)     (14,399)      (759)     (8,109)     3,201     (2,597)
Loss per share before
  cumulative effect of
  change in accounting
  method.................       (0.29)        (0.30)       (0.94)     (0.05)      (0.87)     (0.13)     (0.17)
Net Income (loss) per
  share(2)...............       (0.29)        (0.30)       (0.94)     (0.05)      (0.53)      0.21      (0.17)
Ratio of earnings to
  fixed charges(3).......          --            --           --         --          --         --         --
</TABLE>
    
 
BALANCE SHEET DATA
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           DECEMBER 31,                             MARCH
                                   ------------------------------------------------------------      31,
                                      1989          1990         1991        1992        1993        1994
                                   ----------    ----------    --------    --------    --------    --------
                                   (RESTATED)    (RESTATED)
<S>                                <C>           <C>           <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Total assets....................    $235,998      $276,402     $261,600    $325,256    $325,708    $422,389
Working capital.................     119,648       153,768      132,126     181,775     107,633     192,848
Long-Term debt(4)...............      61,461        59,548       57,902     131,134     129,234     228,737
Shareholders' equity............     156,495       200,040      183,938     180,991     170,849     162,311
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Effective January 1, 1993, the Company changed its method of accounting for
    income taxes by adopting Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS)
    109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." FAS 109 requires an asset and liability
    approach to accounting for income taxes and establishes criteria for
    recognizing deferred tax assets. The cumulative effect of the accounting
    change on prior years at January 1, 1993 of $5,181,188, or $.34 per share,
    is included above in the Income Statement Data for the year ended December
    31, 1993. The results of operations for that year also reflect approximately
    $9.4 million of nonrecurring write-offs relating to the settlement of
    litigation, resolution of an environmental matter and the write-off of
    uncollectible notes receivable. During 1991, Callahan effected certain
    write-downs, primarily relating to abandonment of the Ropes Mine, in a net
    amount of $5,744,000. In addition, Coeur incurred approximately $5,151,000
    of nonrecurring expenses relating to the acquisition by merger of Callahan
    during 1991. In 1990, Coeur wrote off $5,561,000 of its interest in the
    Thunder Mountain Mine to net realizable value in connection with the
    discontinuation of operations at that mine. During 1989, Callahan wrote down
    its investment in the Ropes Mine by $8,511,000.
 
(2) Earnings per share are calculated based on the weighted average number of
    common shares outstanding. The 6% Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due
    2002 are considered to be Common Stock equivalents. Accordingly, such
    debentures are assumed to be converted, and interest expense on such
    debentures, net of income tax expense, has been considered in the
    computation of earnings per share, except in those instances where the
    effects of conversion would be antidilutive.
 
   
(3) For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings
    consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed
    charges. Fixed charges consist of interest and that portion of rent deemed
    representative of interest. Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed
    charges in the following amounts: $3,879,088 in 1989, $6,570,855 in 1990,
    $17,204,300 in 1991, $7,501,107 in 1992, $20,649,666 in 1993, and $2,702,022
    in the quarter ended March 31, 1994.
    
 
   
(4) Includes obligations under long-term leases.
    
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   7
 
   
                                  RISK FACTORS
    
 
     Investors should carefully review the considerations set forth below as
well as the other information included in this Offering Circular and the
documents incorporated by reference herein.
 
DEPENDENCE UPON GOLD AND SILVER PRICES
 
   
     The results of the Company's operations are significantly affected by the
market prices of gold and silver. Those prices may fluctuate widely and are
affected by many factors beyond the Company's control, including interest rates,
expectations regarding inflation, currency values, global and regional political
and economic conditions and other factors. The depressed price of silver led to
the suspension of mining activity at the Galena Mine (in July 1992, during which
month the average price of silver was $3.95 per ounce) and at the Coeur Mine (in
April 1991, during which month the average price of silver was $3.97 per ounce).
Any resumption of mining at those mines, which the Company does not believe will
be considered unless the market price of silver exceeds $6.00 per ounce, will
require the affirmative decision of Asarco, Incorporated, the operator of those
mines. The Company's Rochester Mine, which it wholly owns and operates, and the
Golden Cross Mine, which the Company operates and in which it has an 80%
operating interest, are the Company's currently operating mining properties.
Although the Company believes operation of the Fachinal Property is economically
feasible at current gold and silver prices, a decision to proceed will not be
made prior to completion of a final feasibility study that is expected to be
completed in June 1994 and available for consideration by the Board of Directors
at its regularly scheduled meeting in mid-July 1994. A production decision
relating to the Kensington Property is subject to the approval by the Company
and its joint venture partner, a market price of gold of at least $400 per ounce
and certain required permits. The average market prices of gold (London final)
and silver (Handy and Harmon) in 1992 were $343.73 and $3.94, respectively, and
rose to $359.77 and $4.30 per ounce, respectively, in 1993, and to $384.30 and
$5.28, respectively, in the first quarter of 1994. The market prices of gold and
silver on May 23, 1994 were $386.45 and $5.70, respectively. No assurance can be
given with respect to such market prices in the future. See "Business -- Gold
and Silver Prices."
    
 
CONTINUING OPERATING LOSSES
 
   
     Giving retroactive effect to the Company's acquisition of Callahan on
December 31, 1991, which was accounted for on a pooling of interests basis, the
Company recorded losses of approximately $3.8 million in 1989, $4.2 million in
1990, $14.4 million in 1991 and $759,000 in 1992. Those losses largely reflect
the significant non-recurring write-offs relating to the closure of the Ropes
and Thunder Mountain Mines and expenses incurred in connection with the
acquisition of Callahan, as well as the low silver and gold prices prevailing
during these periods. The mine closure write-offs amounted to approximately $8.5
million in 1989, $5.6 million in 1990 and $5.7 million in 1991, and the expenses
incurred in connection with Coeur's acquisition by merger of Callahan in 1991
approximated $5.2 million. Furthermore, losses of approximately $2.0 million and
$13.3 million before the cumulative effect of a change in accounting were
recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 1993 and the year ended December 31,
1993, respectively. The loss before the cumulative effect of a change in
accounting in 1993 primarily resulted from approximately $9.4 million of non-
recurring write-offs relating to the settlement of litigation, resolution of an
environmental matter and the write-off of uncollectible notes receivable. A loss
of approximately $2.6 million was recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 1994.
The Company's return to profitability will primarily depend upon future silver
and gold prices and production levels.
    
 
ABSENCE OF EARNINGS TO SATISFY INTEREST AND OTHER FIXED CHARGES
 
   
     Primarily as a result of the losses discussed above, the Company's earnings
have been inadequate to satisfy fixed charges (i.e., interest plus that portion
of rent deemed representative of interest) for each of the last five years. The
amounts by which earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges for such
periods were approximately $3.9 million in 1989, $6.6 million in 1990, $17.2
million in 1991, $7.5 million in 1992, $20.6 million in 1993 and $2.7 million in
the quarter ended March 31, 1994. The Company expects to satisfy its fixed
charge and other expense obligations from cash flow from operations and, to the
extent that cash flow
    
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   8
 
   
from operations is insufficient, from working capital, which amounted to
approximately $192.8 million at March 31, 1994. The Company's net cash provided
by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 1993 and the quarter
ended March 31, 1994 was approximately $4.2 million and $3.9 million,
respectively. The Company's interest expense recently increased as a result of
the issuance in January and February 1994 of $100,000,000 principal amount of
the Debentures. Interest expense of approximately $2.5 million was incurred in
the quarter ended March 30, 1994, as compared with interest expense of
approximately $1.5 million in the first quarter of 1993. The availability in the
future of cash flow from operations or working capital to fund the payment of
interest on the Debentures and repayment of the principal amount of the
Debentures upon maturity will be dependent upon numerous factors that cannot now
be predicted, including silver and gold prices, the amount of the Company's
expenditures for acquisitions and for developmental and exploratory activities,
results of operations and the extent to which the Debentures are converted or
redeemed.
    
 
   
POSSIBLE INADEQUACY OF CASH FLOW
    
 
   
     The Company may not generate sufficient cash flow to also cover its
interest obligations under presently outstanding debt instruments, including the
Debentures. On a long-term basis, the ability of the Company to pay interest
accruing on and the principal amount of the Debentures will be dependent upon
the success of the Company's operations and the operations of properties or
businesses which may hereafter be acquired by the Company, as to which there can
be no assurance. Under the Indenture pursuant to which the Debentures were
issued, certain defaults in the payment of interest or principal on the
Debentures and certain other Events of Default (as defined) could result in the
acceleration of the maturity of the Debentures.
    
 
   
SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES
    
 
   
     The Debentures are subordinated and subject to the prior payment in full of
all Senior Debt (as defined). The Debentures also are effectively subordinated
to liabilities of the Company's subsidiaries. In that regard, the Company's
operating assets are presently in subsidiaries and it is expected that any
businesses acquired will be operated through subsidiaries. The Indenture does
not restrict the incurrence of Senior Debt or any other indebtedness by the
Company or any subsidiary. See "Description of Debentures--Subordination."
    
 
   
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH POSSIBLE ACQUISITIONS
    
 
     The Company periodically considers the acquisition of precious metals
mines, properties and businesses. As consideration for any acquisition, in
addition to the payment of cash, the Company may incur indebtedness or issue
debt or equity securities. Accordingly, any acquisition may result in
substantial dilution of the percentage ownership of public stockholders. The
Company intends to seek stockholder approval for any such acquisitions only to
the extent required by applicable law, regulations or stock exchange rules.
Indebtedness so issued may be senior in right of payment to the Debentures. The
Indenture does not restrict the amount of Senior Debt which may be issued by the
Company or the amount of indebtedness that may be incurred by any subsidiary.
 
   
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY'S EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
    
 
   
     Mineral exploration, particularly for gold and silver, involves many risks
and frequently is nonproductive. Once mineralization is discovered, it may take
a number of years from the initial phases until production is possible, during
which time the economic feasibility of production may change. Substantial
developmental expenditures are required to establish ore reserves, to determine
metallurgical processes to extract the metals from the ore and, in the case of
new properties, to construct mining and processing facilities. No representation
can be made as to whether or when, if ever, the Fachinal or Kensington
Properties will be placed into commercial production. A lawsuit was instituted
in December 1993 by a coalition of environmental and citizen groups against
certain government agencies challenging such agencies' interpretation of certain
Clean Water Act regulations in connection with possible mining operations at the
Kensington property. Although the Company believes the suit is without merit,
the Company's developmental activities at that property could be delayed or
otherwise adversely affected by that suit.
    
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   9
 
   
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY'S MINING ACTIVITIES
    
 
   
     Following the commencement of production, the mining business continues to
be subject to risks and hazards, including quantity of production, environmental
hazards, industrial accidents, encountering unusual or unexpected formations,
cave-ins, flooding and periodic interruptions due to inclement or hazardous
weather conditions. Such risks could result in damage to, or destruction of,
mineral properties or producing facilities, personal injury, environmental
damage, reduced production and delays in mining, monetary losses and possible
legal liability. Insurance fully covering certain environmental risks (including
potential liability for pollution or other hazards as a result of disposal of
waste products occurring from exploration and production) is not generally
available to the Company or to other companies within the industry. The Company
has been recognized for its commitment to environmental responsibility, and
knows of no material environmental liabilities to which it currently is subject.
However, if the Company were to become subject to environmental liabilities, the
payment of such liabilities would reduce the funds available to the Company.
Should the Company be unable to fund fully the cost of remedying an
environmental problem, the Company might be required to suspend operations or
enter into interim compliance measures pending completion of the required
remedy.
    
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
 
   
     General.  The Company's mining activities are subject to extensive federal,
state and local laws governing the protection of the environment, prospecting,
development, production, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, mine
safety, toxic substances and other matters. The costs associated with compliance
with such regulatory requirements are substantial and possible future
legislation and regulations could cause additional expense, capital
expenditures, restrictions and delays in the development of the Company's
properties, the extent of which cannot be predicted. In the context of
environmental permitting, including the approval of reclamation plans, the
Company must comply with known standards and regulations which may entail
significant costs and delays. Although Coeur has been recognized for its
commitment to environmental responsibility and it believes it is in substantial
compliance with applicable laws and regulations, amendments to current laws and
regulations, the more stringent implementation thereof through judicial review
or administrative action or the adoption of new laws, could have a materially
adverse effect upon the Company.
    
 
   
     EPA Regulations.  Mining wastes are currently exempt to a limited extent
from the extensive set of Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") regulations
governing hazardous waste. The EPA is proceeding with development of a program
to regulate mining waste pursuant to its solid waste management authority under
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"). Certain processing and
other wastes, as well as high volume extraction and bonification wastes, are
expected to eventually be regulated by the EPA under RCRA. In this connection,
legislative re-authorization of RCRA is currently pending and the EPA is
studying regulations concerning how mine wastes should be managed and regulated.
If the Company's mine wastes were treated as hazardous waste or such wastes
resulted in operations being designated as a "Superfund" site under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA"
or "Superfund") for cleanup, material expenditures would be required for the
construction of additional waste disposal facilities or for other remediation
expenditures. Under CERCLA, any owner or operator of the land since the time of
its contamination may be held liable and may be forced to undertake remedial
cleanup action or to pay for the government's cleanup efforts. Additional
regulations or requirements may also be imposed upon the Company's tailings and
waste disposal operations under the Nevada Water Pollution Control Law.
    
 
   
     Proposed Mining Legislation.  Legislation is presently pending in the U.S.
Congress to change the Mining Law of 1872 (the "Mining Act") under which the
Company holds mining claims on public lands. It is considered probable that the
Mining Act will be amended or be replaced by stricter legislation in 1994. The
strictest pending legislation contains new environmental standards and
conditions, additional reclamation requirements and extensive new procedural
steps which would likely result in delays in permitting. The legislation, as
proposed, would impose an 8% gross royalty on the value of minerals mined on
public lands, payable to the U.S. Government. Whether changes will be enacted or
the extent of any changes is not presently known and the potential impact on the
Company's United States activities is difficult to predict.
    
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   10
 
LIMITED PUBLIC MARKET FOR THE DEBENTURES
 
     The Debentures are owned by a small number of investors. Prior to the date
of this Prospectus, there was no public market for the Debentures. There can be
no assurance that an active public market for the Debentures will develop. If an
active public market does not develop, purchasers may experience difficulty in
reselling the Debentures.
 
   
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMON STOCK
    
 
   
     The market price of the Company's Common Stock is significantly affected by
the market prices of gold and silver which may fluctuate widely and are affected
by many factors beyond the Company's control. Although the Company has effected
cash dividends or distributions to the holders of its Common Stock in each year
since 1988, no assurance can be given that cash dividends or distributions will
be effected in future years.
    
 
   
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
    
 
   
     The Company's Articles of Incorporation include a "fair price" provision
applicable to certain business combination transactions in which the Company may
be involved, and the holders of the Company's Common Stock possess rights
attaching to such shares that would entitle the holder, in the event of certain
business combination transactions in which the Company may be involved, to
purchase shares of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock or shares of common
stock of the acquiring company on terms that may discourage certain types of
hostile takeover bids. See "Description of Capital Stock." The Indenture
pursuant to which the Debentures were issued includes provisions entitling
holders of Debentures to require the Company to repurchase all of the Debentures
in the event of certain transactions constituting a "Change in Control" of the
Company. See "Description of Debentures -- Repurchase at Option of Holder Upon
Occurrence of a Designated Event." Those provisions could discourage certain
types of hostile takeover bids.
    
 
   
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
    
 
   
     The Company's earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges for each of
the last five years and the quarter ended March 31, 1994. The amounts by which
earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges for such periods were
approximately $3.9 million in 1989, $6.6 million in 1990, $17.2 million in 1991,
$7.5 million in 1992, $20.6 million in 1993 and $2.7 million in the quarter
ended March 31, 1994. The Company's net cash provided by operating activities
during the year ended December 31, 1993 was approximately $4.2 million and
during the quarter ended March 31, 1994 was approximately $3.9 million. The
availability in the future of cash flow from operations or working capital to
fund the payment of interest on the Debentures and repayment of the principal
amount of Debentures upon maturity will be dependent upon numerous factors that
cannot now be predicted, including gold and silver prices and production levels,
the amount of the Company's expenditures for acquisitions as well as mining
property developmental and exploratory activities, the results of the Company's
operations and the extent to which the Debentures are converted or redeemed.
    
 
                            SELLING DEBENTUREHOLDERS
 
     The Debentures being offered hereby were originally issued by the Company
to Kidder, Peabody & Co. Incorporated in January and February 1994 in connection
with an offering of the Debentures effected in accordance with Rule 144A and
Regulation S under the Securities Act. The following table sets forth
information concerning the principal amount of Debentures beneficially owned by
each Selling Debentureholder. Other than as a result of the ownership of
Debentures or Common Stock, none of the Selling Debentureholders has had any
material relationship with the Company within the past three years, except as
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   11
 
noted herein. The Debentures and shares of Common Stock offered by this
Prospectus may be offered from time to time by the Selling Debentureholders
named below:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     PRINCIPAL AMOUNT      PRINCIPAL
                                                      OF DEBENTURES        AMOUNT OF      PERCENT OF
                                                       BENEFICIALLY       DEBENTURES      OUTSTANDING
                         NAME                             OWNED          BEING OFFERED    DEBENTURES
    ----------------------------------------------   ----------------    -------------    -----------
    <S>                                              <C>                 <C>              <C>
    Bank of America...............................     $ 18,000,000       $ 18,000,000        18.0%
    MFS Total Return Fund.........................        7,600,000          7,600,000         7.6
    President and Fellows of Harvard College......        3,000,000          3,000,000         3.0
    MFS/Sun Life Total Return Series..............        2,400,000          2,400,000         2.4
    Forest Fulcrum Fund...........................        1,850,000          1,850,000         1.9
    Merrill Lynch World Income Fund, Inc..........        1,500,000          1,500,000         1.5
    Froley, Revy Investment Co., Inc..............        1,200,000          1,200,000         1.2
    Southport Partners, L.P.......................        1,000,000          1,000,000         1.0
    Prudential Natural Resources Fund.............          800,000            800,000          .8
    Zazove Convertible Fund, L.P..................          500,000            500,000          .5
    Ametek Bermuda Ltd............................          400,000            400,000          .4
    Prudential Target Small Cap Value Fund........          350,000            350,000          .4
    PRS Fixed Rate Fund...........................          200,000            200,000          .2
    Sage Capital..................................          200,000            200,000          .2
    South Street Capital, L.P.....................          200,000            200,000          .2
                                                     ----------------    -------------       -----
              Total...............................     $ 39,200,000       $ 39,200,000        39.2%
</TABLE>
    
 
     Because the Selling Debentureholders may offer all or some of the
Debentures which they hold and/or shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion
thereof pursuant to the offering contemplated by this Prospectus, and because
there are currently no agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect
to the sale of any of the Debentures or shares of Common Stock that will be held
by the Selling Debentureholders after completion of this offering, no estimate
can be given as to the principal amount of Debentures or shares of Common Stock
that will be held by the Selling Debentureholders after completion of this
offering. See "Plan of Distribution."
 
     The Company and the Selling Debentureholders are obligated to indemnify
each other against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act. The
Company has agreed to pay the costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
preparation and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus forms a part.
 
                           DESCRIPTION OF DEBENTURES
 
     Debentures in the total principal amount of $100,000,000 were issued in
January and February 1994 pursuant to an Indenture (the "Indenture") between the
Company and Bankers Trust Company, as trustee (the "Trustee"), dated as of
January 26, 1994. The terms of the Debentures include those stated in the
Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Trust Indenture Act") as in effect on the date of
the Indenture. The Debentures are subject to all such terms, and holders of the
Debentures are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a
statement thereof. The following summary of certain provisions of the Indenture
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the Indenture, including the definitions therein of certain terms used below. A
copy of the Indenture is an exhibit to the 1993 10-K and is available on request
from the Company.
 
GENERAL
 
     The Debentures are general unsecured obligations of the Company limited to
$100,000,000 in aggregate principal amount. The Debentures bear interest at
6 3/8% per annum, payable semiannually on July 31 and January 31 in each year to
holders of record of Debentures at the close of business on the July 15 or
January 15 next preceding the interest payment date. The first interest payment
date will be July 31, 1994. Interest is computed on the basis of a 360-day year
of twelve 30-day months. The Debentures mature on January 31, 2004.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   12
 
     Holders must surrender the Debentures to a Paying Agent to collect
principal payments. The Company may pay principal and interest by its check and
may mail interest checks to a holder's registered address. The Trustee acts as
Conversion Agent, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change the
Conversion Agent, Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to
Debenture-holders. The Company or any of its subsidiaries may act as Conversion
Agent, Paying Agent or Registrar.
 
CONVERSION OF DEBENTURES
 
     The holder of any Debenture is entitled at any time prior to the close of
business on January 31, 2004, subject to prior redemption, to convert such
Debenture (or portions thereof which are in denominations of $1,000 or integral
multiples thereof) at the principal amount thereof, into shares of Common Stock,
at the conversion price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus, subject
to adjustment as described below. No payment or adjustment will be made on
conversion of any Debenture for interest accrued thereon or dividends on any
Common Stock issued and the holder will lose any right to payment of interest on
the Debentures surrendered for conversion; provided, however, that upon a call
for redemption by the Company, accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption
date shall be payable with respect to Debentures that are converted after a
notice of redemption has been mailed and on or prior to the redemption date.
Debentures surrendered for conversion during the period from the regular record
date for an interest payment to the corresponding interest payment date (except
Debentures called for redemption as described in the preceding sentence) must be
accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the interest thereon which the
holder is to receive on such interest payment date. The Company is not required
to issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Debentures and, in
lieu thereof, will pay a cash adjustment based upon the market price of the
Common Stock on the last business day prior to the date of conversion. In the
case of Debentures called for redemption, conversion rights will expire at the
close of business on the business day prior to the redemption date.
 
     The conversion price will be subject to adjustment in certain events,
including (i) the issuance of dividends (and other distributions) payable in
Common Stock on any class of capital stock of the Company, (ii) the issuance to
all holders of Common Stock of rights or warrants entitling them to subscribe
for or purchase Common Stock at less than the current market price (as defined
in the Indenture), (iii) subdivisions, combinations and reclassifications of
Common Stock, and (iv) distributions to all holders of Common Stock of evidences
of indebtedness of the Company or assets (including securities, but excluding
those rights, warrants, dividends and distributions referred to above and
dividends and distributions paid in cash out of the earned surplus of the
Company). No adjustment in the conversion price will be required unless such
adjustment would require a change of at least 1% of the conversion price then in
effect; provided, however, that any adjustment that would otherwise be required
to be made will be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent
adjustment. In addition to the foregoing adjustments, the Company will be
permitted to make such reductions in the conversion price as it considers to be
advisable in order that any event treated for federal income tax purposes as a
dividend of stock or stock rights will not be taxable to the holders of the
Common Stock. In case of certain consolidations or mergers to which the Company
is a party or the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company, each Debenture then outstanding would, without the consent of any
Holders of Debentures, become convertible only into the kind and amount of
securities, cash and other property receivable upon the consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the
Company into which such Debenture might have been converted immediately prior to
such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer.
 
     If the Company consolidates or merges into or sells, leases, conveys or
otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to any person, the
Debentures will become convertible into the kind and amount of securities, cash
or other assets which the holders of the Debentures would have owned immediately
after the transaction if the holders had converted the Debentures immediately
before the effective date of the transaction at the conversion price in effect
immediately prior to such effective date.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   13
 
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION OF DEBENTURES
 
     The Debentures are redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in
part, on or after January 31, 1997, at the redemption prices (expressed as
percentages of the principal amount) set forth below plus accrued interest to
the redemption date, if redeemed during the 12 month period beginning January 31
of the years indicated below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         REDEMPTION
                                     YEAR                                  PRICE
        ---------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
        <S>                                                              <C>
        1997...........................................................    103.643%
        1998...........................................................    102.732%
        1999...........................................................    101.821%
        2000...........................................................    100.911%
        2001 and thereafter............................................    100.000%
</TABLE>
 
     In the event of redemption of less than all of the Debentures, the
Debentures will be chosen by lot for redemption by the Trustee as provided in
the Indenture. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more
than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Debentures to be
redeemed at its registered address. On and after the redemption date interest
ceases to accrue on Debentures or portions thereof called for redemption.
 
REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER UPON OCCURRENCE OF A DESIGNATED EVENT
 
     If at any time there occurs any Designated Event (as defined below) with
respect to the Company, each holder of Debentures shall have the right, at the
holder's option, to require the Company to repurchase all of such holder's
Debentures, or a portion thereof which is $1,000 or any integral multiple
thereof, on the date (the "Repurchase Date") that is 45 days after the date of
the Company Notice (as defined below), at 100% of their principal amount,
together with accrued interest to the Repurchase Date.
 
     Within 30 days after the occurrence of a Designated Event, the Company is
obligated to mail to all holders of record of the Debentures a notice (the
"Company Notice") of the occurrence of such Designated Event and of the
repurchase right arising as a result thereof. The Company shall deliver a copy
of the Company Notice to the Trustee and shall cause a copy of such notice to be
published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York. To exercise the repurchase right, holders of Debentures must
deliver on or before the 30th day after the date of the Company Notice
irrevocable written notice to the Company (or an agent designated by the Company
for such purpose) of the holder's exercise of such right, together with the
Debentures with respect to which the right is being exercised, duly endorsed for
transfer.
 
     A Designated Event shall be deemed to have occurred upon the consummation
of a purchase, merger or acquisition constituting a "Change in Control." As used
herein, a "Change in Control" of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred
when: (i) all or substantially all of the Company's assets are sold as an
entirety to any person or related group of persons; (ii) there shall be
consummated any consolidation or merger of the Company (A) in which the Company
is not the continuing or surviving corporation (other than a consolidation or
merger with a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company in which all shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness thereof are
changed into or exchanged for the same consideration) or (B) pursuant to which
the Common Stock would be converted into cash, securities or other property, in
each case, other than a consolidation or merger of the Company in which the
holders of the Common Stock immediately prior to the consolidation or merger
have, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the common stock of the
continuing or surviving corporation immediately after such consolidation or
merger, or (iii) any person, or any persons acting together which would
constitute a "group" for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (other
than the Company, any Subsidiary, any employee stock purchase plan, stock option
plan or other stock incentive plan or program, retirement plan or automatic
dividend reinvestment plan or any substantially similar plan of the Company or
any Subsidiary or any person holding securities of the Company for or pursuant
to the terms of any such employee benefit plan), together with any
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   14
 
affiliates thereof, shall beneficially own (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act) at least 50% of the total voting power of all classes of capital
stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of
the Company.
 
   
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control as described above shall
not be deemed to have occurred if (i) the Current Market Price (as defined in
the Indenture) of the Common Stock is at least equal to 105% of the conversion
price of the Debentures in effect immediately preceding the time of such Change
in Control, or (ii) all of the consideration (excluding cash payments for
fractional shares) in the transaction giving rise to such Change in Control to
the holders of Common Stock consists of shares of common stock that are, or
immediately upon issuance will be, listed on a national securities exchange or
quoted in the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. National Market
System ("NASDAQ-NMS"), and as a result of such transaction the Debentures become
convertible solely into such common stock, or (iii) the consideration in the
transaction giving rise to such Change in Control to the holders of Common Stock
consists of cash, securities that are, or immediately upon issuance will be,
listed on a national securities exchange or quoted in the NASDAQ-NMS, or a
combination of cash and such securities, and the aggregate fair market value of
such consideration (which, in the case of such securities, shall be equal to the
average of the daily closing prices of such securities during the ten
consecutive trading days commencing with the sixth trading day following
consummation of such transaction) is at least 105% of the conversion price of
the Debentures in effect on the date immediately preceding the closing date of
such transaction. The Company's ability to pay cash to the holders of Debentures
upon a repurchase could be limited by financial covenants contained in future
Senior Debt instruments to which the Company may be a party.
    
 
     If any repurchase pursuant to the foregoing provisions constitutes an
"issuer tender offer" as defined in Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act, such
transaction would be subject to the requirements of Rule 13e-4, including the
filing of an Issuer Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 13D-4 with the Commission
and the furnishing of certain information contained therein to the
Debentureholders. The holders' repurchase right upon the occurrence of a
Designated Event could discourage the acquisition of the Company by a potential
acquiror.
 
SUBORDINATION
 
     The Debentures are subordinated and subject, to the extent and in the
manner set forth in the Indenture, to the prior payment in full of all Senior
Debt. Senior Debt is defined to include all indebtedness, whether now
outstanding or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Company
for money borrowed from others (including obligations under capitalized leases
or purchase money mortgages) or in connection with the acquisition by it or a
Subsidiary of any other business or entity, and, in each case, renewals,
extensions and funding thereof, other than (i) any such indebtedness as to
which, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same, it is provided that
such indebtedness is not superior in right of payment to the Debentures, (ii)
indebtedness of the Company to any Affiliate, (iii) the Company's 7% Convertible
Subordinated Debentures Due 2002 and the Company's 6% Convertible Subordinated
Debentures Due 2002 and (iv) the Debentures.
 
   
     As of March 31, 1994, the Company had approximately $13.6 million of Senior
Debt outstanding. The Company's 6% Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2002,
of which $50 million principal amount is outstanding, and 7% Convertible
Subordinated Debentures Due 2002, of which $75 million principal amount is
outstanding, rank pari passu with the Debentures. The Company conducts
significant operations through its subsidiaries. The rights of the Company's
creditors, including the holders of the Debentures, to participate in the assets
of any subsidiary will be subject to prior claims of such subsidiary's
creditors. The Indenture does not restrict the incurrence of Senior Debt or
other indebtedness, secured or unsecured, by the Company or any subsidiary.
    
 
   
     No payment of principal, if any, or interest on the Debentures may be made
and no Debentures may be purchased if the Company is then in default in the
payment of any Senior Debt or if at the time any other event of default under
the terms of any Senior Debt exists permitting acceleration thereof. Upon any
payment or distribution of assets of the Company in the event of any insolvency,
reorganization, liquidation or similar
    
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   15
 
proceeding, all Senior Debt must be repaid in full (including any interest
thereon accruing after the commencement of any proceeding) before the Holders of
the Debentures will be entitled to receive or retain any payment. If the
Debentures are declared due and payable before their stated maturity because of
any Event of Default, no payment may be made in respect of the Debentures unless
and until all senior Debt shall have been paid in full.
 
     By reason of such subordination, in the event of insolvency, creditors of
the Company who are holders of Senior Debt may recover more, ratably, than
Holders of Debentures, and creditors of the Company who are neither holders of
Senior Debt nor Holders of Debentures may recover less, ratably, than holders of
Senior Debt.
 
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OF ASSETS
 
     The Company may not consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, lease,
convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to,
another corporation, person or entity unless (i) the Company is the surviving
person or the successor or transferee is a corporation organized under the laws
of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (ii) the
successor assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Debentures and
the Indenture and (iii) after such transaction no Event of Default exists.
 
COVENANTS
 
   
     The Company shall not adopt any plan of liquidation which provides for,
contemplates or the effectuation of which is preceded by (i) the sale, lease,
conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company otherwise than substantially as an entirety and (ii) the distribution of
all the proceeds of such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition unless the
Company makes provisions for satisfaction of the Company's obligation to pay
principal and interest on the Debentures. The provisions of the Indenture would
not prevent the Company from engaging in a highly leveraged transaction,
reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction that could
adversely affect the holders of the Debentures.
    
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
 
     An Event of Default includes: (i) default in the payment of any interest,
continued for 30 days; (ii) default in the payment of principal or premium, if
any, when due; (iii) default in the payment of the repurchase price in respect
of any Debenture on the Repurchase Date in accordance with the Indenture; (iv)
default in the performance of any other covenant continued for 60 days after
written notice as provided in the Indenture; (v) default in respect of
indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed which results in acceleration of
the maturity of $1,000,000 or more of indebtedness, if such acceleration is not
rescinded or indebtedness discharged within 10 days after written notice to the
Company as provided in the Indenture; and (vi) certain events in bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization. If any Event of Default shall happen and be
continuing, the Trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding Debentures may declare the Debentures due and payable. At any time
after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Debentures has been
made, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration has been obtained,
the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures may,
under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration.
 
   
     The Indenture provides that if an Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment
of principal or interest on the Debentures at the request of the holders of at
least 25% in principal amount of the Debentures so long as such holders offer to
indemnify the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense. The Indenture also
provides, however, that the right of any holder of Debentures to receive payment
of principal and interest on the Debentures or to bring suit for the enforcement
of any such payment shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the
holder.
    
 
     The Indenture provides that the Trustee will be under no obligation,
subject to the duty of the Trustee during any Default to act with the required
standard of care, to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at
the request or direction of any of the holders, unless such holders shall have
offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnification. Subject to such provisions
for indemnification of the Trustee, the holders of a
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   16
 
majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures will have the right
to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the
Trustee.
 
     The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures
may on behalf of the holders of all Debentures waive compliance by the Company
with certain restrictive provisions of the Indenture. The holders of a majority
in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures may on behalf of the holders
of all Debentures waive certain past defaults except a default in payment of the
principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, any Debenture or in respect of
a provision which under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the
consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture affected thereby.
 
     The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement
regarding compliance with the Indenture, and upon becoming aware of any Default
or Event of Default, a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
 
   
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF THE INDENTURE
    
 
     The Company may terminate its obligations under the Indenture at any time
by delivering all outstanding Debentures to the Trustee for cancellation. After
all the Debentures have been called for redemption, the Company may terminate
all of its obligations under the Indenture, other than its obligations to pay
the principal of and interest on the Debentures and certain other obligations,
at any time, by depositing with the Trustee money or non-callable U.S.
Government obligations sufficient to pay all remaining indebtedness on the
Debentures.
 
REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER OF DEBENTURES
 
   
     As of the date of this Prospectus, all Debentures are represented by two
global Debentures (the "Global Debentures") issued to Depository Trust Company
("DTC") and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. The
Trustee, as custodian (the "Custodian"), acts as custodian of the Global
Debentures for DTC. DTC or its nominee, and the Trustee, as Custodian, will
implement the following procedures relating to the registration and transfer of
Debentures. Currently, ownership of beneficial interests in the Global
Debentures is limited to participants in DTC's book-entry settlement system or
persons that hold interests through participants, and ownership of beneficial
interests in a Global Debenture is shown on records maintained by DTC (with
respect to interests of participants in DTC), or by participants in DTC or
persons that may hold interests through such participants (with respect to
persons other than participants in DTC).
    
 
     Upon notification to the Trustee (on a form approved by the Company) of any
sale of any Debentures pursuant to this Prospectus, the Company will, unless
otherwise instructed, issue a Debenture in fully registered, certificated form
(a "Definitive Debenture") in exchange for the interest in the Global Debenture
representing the Debentures transferred. In the event such an exchange is to be
effected, the Trustee will cause, in accordance with the standing instructions
and procedures existing between DTC and the Custodian, the aggregate principal
amount of the Global Debenture to be reduced. Following such reduction, the
Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the
transferee a Definitive Debenture, provided that the Trustee has received
written or electronic instructions to that effect from DTC or its nominee on
behalf of any person having a beneficial interest in the Debentures evidenced by
the Global Debenture and a written order of such person containing registration
instructions.
 
     Upon surrender of any Definitive Debenture to the Trustee for exchange or
registration of transfer and upon receipt by the Trustee of a written order of
the person surrendering such Definitive Debenture containing any necessary
registration instructions, the Company will execute and the Trustee will
authenticate and deliver to the holder making the exchange or to the transferee,
as the case may be, one or more new Definitive Debentures.
 
     Any person having a beneficial interest in Debentures evidenced by a Global
Debenture may upon request exchange its interest in the Global Debenture for a
Definitive Debenture in the manner set forth in the Indenture. In addition, the
Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine not to have a
Global
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   17
 
Debenture, and, in such event, will issue Definitive Debentures in exchange for
the Debentures represented by the Global Debenture.
 
     A Definitive Debenture may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a
Global Debenture.
 
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
 
     Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Debentures may be
amended or supplemented with the consent of the holders of at least a majority
in principal amount of such then outstanding Debentures, and any existing
default or compliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the
holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debentures.
Without the consent of any holder of the Debentures, the Company and the Trustee
may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Debentures to cure any ambiguity,
defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Debentures in addition to
or in place of certified Debentures, to provide for the assumption of the
Company's obligations to holders of the Debentures in the case of a merger or
acquisition, or to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the
legal rights of any holder of the Debentures. Without the consent of each holder
affected, the Company may not reduce the principal amount of Debentures the
holders of which must consent to an amendment of the Indenture; reduce the rate
or change the interest payment time of any Debenture; reduce the principal of or
change the fixed maturity of any Debenture or alter the redemption provision
with respect thereto; make any Debenture payable in money other than that stated
in the Debenture; make any change in the provisions concerning waiver of
Defaults or Events of Default by holders of the Debentures or rights of holders
to receive payment of principal or interest; make any change that adversely
affects the right to convert any Debenture; or make any change in the
subordination provisions that adversely affects the rights of any holder.
 
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
 
     Bankers Trust Company is Trustee under the Indenture. The Trustee is also
trustee under an indenture in respect of $75 million principal amount of 7%
Convertible Subordinated Debenture Due 2002 issued by the Company in December
1992, which ranks pari passu with the Debentures.
 
     The holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Debentures have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee. The Indenture
provides that in case an Event of Default shall occur (which shall not be
cured), the Trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the
degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to
such provisions, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its
rights or powers under the Indenture at the request of any of the holders of the
Debentures, unless they shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity
satisfactory to it.
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
COMMON STOCK
 
   
     The Company is authorized to issue up to 60,000,000 shares of Common Stock,
of which, at May 24, 1994, 15,354,627 shares were outstanding, 1,058,453 shares
were held as treasury stock, 3,816,793 shares were reserved for possible
issuance upon the conversion of the Debentures, 4,783,163 shares were reserved
for issuance upon conversion of the Company's $75 million principal amount of 7%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2002, 1,923,076 shares were reserved for
issuance upon conversion of the Company's $50 million principal amount of 6%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2002, and 121,537 shares were reserved
for issuance under the Company's 1989 Long-Term Incentive Plan. In addition, the
Company has reserved an additional amount of shares (expected to approximate
202,531 shares based on the closing sale price of the Common Stock reported on
the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on May 23, 1994) in connection with
the expected settlement of a lawsuit.
    
 
     The holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of
record on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders, and upon giving
notice required by law, may cumulate their votes in
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   18
 
elections of directors. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any
shares of Preferred Stock of the Company outstanding at the time, holders of
Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends as may be declared
by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor and, in the
event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, are entitled
to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities. Holders
of Common Stock have no preemptive rights and have no rights to convert their
Common Stock into any other security. The outstanding Common Stock is fully-paid
and non-assessable.
 
     The Company's Articles of Incorporation include a "fair price" provision
applicable to certain business combination transactions in which the Company may
be involved. The provision requires that an Interested Stockholder (the holder
of 10% or more of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock) not engage
in certain specified transactions (e.g., mergers, sales of assets, dissolution
and liquidation) unless one of three conditions is met: (i) a majority of the
directors who are unaffiliated with the Interested Stockholder and were
directors before the Interested Stockholder became an Interested Stockholder
approve the transaction; (ii) holders of 80% of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock approve the transaction; or (iii) the stockholders are all paid a "fair
price," i.e., generally the higher of the fair market value of the shares or the
same price as the price paid to stockholders in the transaction in which the
Interested Stockholder acquired its block. By discouraging certain types of
hostile takeover bids, the fair price provision may tend to insulate current
management against the possibility of removal. The Company is not aware of any
person or entity proposing or contemplating such a transaction.
 
     The transfer agent and registrar for the Company's Common Stock is First
Interstate Bank of Oregon, N.A., Portland, Oregon.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The Company is authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock, none of which have been issued. The Board of Directors has the authority
to determine the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting
rights, rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, redemption
prices, sinking fund terms on any series of Preferred Stock, the number of
shares constituting any such series and the designation thereof. Holders of
Preferred Stock have no preemptive rights and have no rights to convert their
Preferred Stock into any other securities. While series may be designated and
Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in the future, except upon
exercise of the Rights, the Company has no present plans to issue any such
shares.
 
     On May 24, 1989, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a dividend
distribution of one Right for each outstanding share of the Company's Common
Stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 16, 1989. Each
Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock at a purchase price of $100
in cash ("Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of
the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of May 24, 1989, (the
"Rights Agreement") between the Company and First Interstate Bank of Oregon,
N.A., as Rights Agent. The Rights are not exercisable or detachable from the
Common Stock until ten days after any person or group acquires 20% or more (or
commences a tender offer for 30% or more) of the Company's Common Stock. If any
person or group acquires 30% or more of the Company's Common Stock or acquires
the Company in a merger or other business combination, each Right (other than
those held by the acquiring person) will entitle the holder to purchase
Preferred Stock of the Company or common stock of the acquiring company having a
market value of approximately two times the $100 exercise price. The Rights
expire on May 24, 1999, and can be redeemed by the Company at any time prior to
their becoming exercisable. Shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
expiration date of the Rights upon conversion of the Debentures will be
accompanied by Rights.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
   
     The Company, which received the proceeds from the original sale of the
Debentures in January and February 1994, will not receive any of the proceeds
from this offering. The Company has been advised by the Selling Debentureholders
that the Selling Debentureholders may sell all or a portion of the Debentures or
    
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   19
 
shares of Common Stock offered hereby from time to time in transactions effected
on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise on terms to be determined at the
times of such sales. The Selling Debentureholders may also make private sales
directly or through a broker or brokers. Alternatively, any of the Selling
Debentureholders may from time to time offer the Debentures or shares of Common
Stock through underwriters, including Kidder, Peabody & Co. Incorporated
("Kidder, Peabody"), dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form
of underwriting discounts, commissions or concessions from the Selling
Debentureholders and/or the purchasers of the Debentures or shares of Common
Stock for whom they may act as agent. To the extent required, the aggregate
principal amount of Debentures and/or number of shares of Common Stock to be
sold, the names of the Selling Debentureholders, the purchase price, the name of
any such agent, dealer or underwriter and any applicable commissions with
respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying Prospectus
Supplement. The aggregate proceeds to the Selling Debentureholders from the sale
of the Debentures and Common Stock offered by the Selling Debentureholders
hereby will be the purchase price of such Debentures and shares of Common Stock
less any broker's commissions.
 
     There is no assurance that the Selling Debentureholders will sell any or
all of the Debentures or shares of Common Stock offered hereby.
 
   
     The Company has been advised by Kidder, Peabody that it is presently
making, and intends to continue making, a market in the Debentures; however, it
is not obligated to do so and any such market making may be discontinued at any
time. The Debentures have been designated as "PORTAL" securities eligible for
quotation in the National Association of Securities Dealers PORTAL system. The
Debentures have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange and
Debentures sold hereunder will be eligible for trading thereon. However, there
can be no assurance that an active market for the Debentures will develop.
    
 
     In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if
applicable, the Debentures and shares of Common Stock will be sold in such
jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In
addition, in certain states the Debentures may not be sold unless they have been
registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from
the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
 
     The Selling Debentureholders and any broker-dealers, agents or underwriters
that participate with the Selling Debentureholders in the distribution of the
Debentures or shares of Common Stock may be deemed to be "underwriters" within
the meaning of the Securities Act, in which event any commissions received by
such broker-dealers, agents or underwriters and any profit on the resale of the
Debentures or shares of Common Stock purchased by them may be deemed to be
underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.
 
     Pursuant to certain rules under the Exchange Act, any person who
participates in the offering of Debentures or shares of Common Stock made hereby
in one or more transactions that are distinguished from ordinary trading
transactions by the presence of special selling efforts and selling methods, may
not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to either the
Debentures or the Common Stock for a period of nine business days (two business
days in the case of Common Stock) prior to the commencement of such offering. In
addition, and without limiting the foregoing, each Selling Debentureholder will
be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Rules 10b-6 and 10b-7,
which provisions may limit the timing of purchases and sales of Debentures or
shares of Common Stock by the Selling Debentureholders.
 
     The Company will pay all expenses incident to the offering and sale of the
Debentures and Common Stock to the public other than underwriting discounts and
selling commissions and fees. See "Selling Debentureholders."
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     The legality of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for the
Company by Freedman, Levy, Kroll & Simonds, Washington, D.C.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   20
 
                              INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
     The consolidated financial statements of the Company appearing in the
Company's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1993 have
been audited by Ernst & Young, independent auditors as set forth in their report
thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated
financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such
report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
 
     The financial statements of Cyprus Gold New Zealand Limited for the years
ended December 31, 1992 and 1991 appearing in that Form 10-K were audited by
Price Waterhouse, independent auditors and are incorporated herein by reference.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   21
 
- ------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------
 
   
  NO DEALER, SALESMAN OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND,
IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY, ANY SELLING DEBENTUREHOLDER OR
ANY OTHER PERSON. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE
HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS
BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
   
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        PAGE
                                        ----
<S>                                     <C>
Available Information.................    2
Incorporation of Certain Information
  by Reference........................    2
Summary of Terms of the Debentures....    3
The Company...........................    4
Summary Financial Information.........    5
Risk Factors..........................    6
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges....    9
Selling Debentureholders..............    9
Description of Debentures.............   10
Description of Capital Stock..........   16
Plan of Distribution..................   17
Legal Matters.........................   18
Independent Auditors..................   19
</TABLE>
    
- ------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------


- ------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------
 
   
                              [LOGO] COEUR D'ALENE
    
 
   
                               MINES CORPORATION
    
 
   
                       $100,000,000 OF 6 3/8% CONVERTIBLE
    
   
                        SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2004
    
                            ------------------------
   
                                   PROSPECTUS
    
                            ------------------------
   
                                  MAY   , 1994
    
 
- ------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   22
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
     The estimated expenses to be paid by the Registrant in connection with the
securities being registered are as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
        <S>                                                               <C>
        SEC registration fee...........................................   $ 34,482.75
        Printing and engraving expenses................................     16,000.00
        Accounting fees and expenses...................................     45,000.00
        Legal fees and expenses........................................     50,000.00
        Blue Sky fees and expenses (including legal fees)..............      2,500.00
        Miscellaneous..................................................      2,017.25
                                                                          -----------
                  Total................................................   $150,000.00
                                                                          -----------
                                                                          -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
     Under Title 30, Section 30-1-5 of the Idaho Code and Article VI(b) of the
Registrant's By-Laws, the Registrant's directors and officers may be indemnified
against certain liabilities which they may incur in their capacities as such.
The material terms of the indemnification provisions are indemnification (i)
with respect to civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings
brought because the defendant is or was serving as an officer, director,
employee or agent of the Company; (ii) for judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement reasonably incurred; (iii) if the defendant acted in good faith and
in a manner he believed to be in the best interest of the Company; and (iv) if,
with respect to a criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful. Attorney's fees are included in such indemnification to
the extent the indemnified party is successful on the merits in defense of the
proceeding. If the foregoing criteria are met, indemnification also applies to a
suit threatened or pending by the Company against the officer, director,
employee or agent with respect to attorney's fees unless there is negligence on
the part of the indemnified party. Indemnification is made only upon a
determination by the Company that it is proper under the circumstances because
the applicable standard is met. The determination shall be made by a majority
vote of (i) a quorum of the board of directors consisting of those persons who
are not parties to the proceeding; (ii) if such a quorum is not available, by
independent legal counsel in writing; or (iii) by the shareholders. Expenses for
defense may be paid in advance of final disposition of the proceeding if the
indemnified party provides an undertaking to repay such amounts if it is
determined the applicable standard has not been met. The Registrant also has an
officers' and directors' liability insurance policy. This insurance policy
contains a limit of liability of $10 million with a retention to the Company of
$500,000, on a claims made basis. The policy covers claims against officers and
directors for "wrongful acts" and also reimburses the Company to the extent the
Company indemnifies officers and directors in accordance with applicable law and
its by-laws. "Wrongful act" is defined to mean any breach of duty, neglect,
error, misstatement, misleading statement, omission or act by the directors or
officers of the Company in their respective capacities as such, or any matter
claimed against them solely by reason of their status as directors or officers
of the Company. The policy contains numerous exclusions of liability which are
exceptions to coverage.
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS.
 
   
<TABLE>
      <S>      <C> 
        4(a)   --  Indenture, dated as of January 26, 1994, between the Registrant and Bankers
                   Trust Company, as trustee, with respect to the Registrant's 6 3/8% Convertible
                   Subordinated Debentures Due 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
                   No. 10(gg) to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                   December 31, 1993).
        4(b)   --  Form of First Supplemental Indenture to the Indenture listed as Exhibit 4(a)
                   above.*
        5      --  Legal opinion, dated April 8, 1994, of Freedman, Levy, Kroll & Simonds
                   regarding legality of securities offered.*
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   23
 
   
<TABLE>
      <S>      <C> 
       10      --  Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 18, 1994, between the Registrant
                   and Kidder, Peabody & Co. Incorporated (incorporated hereby by reference to
                   Exhibit No. 10(ii) to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
                   ended December 31, 1993).
       12      --  Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.*
       23.1    --  Consent of Ernst & Young.*
       23.2    --  Consent of Freedman, Levy, Kroll and Simonds (included in Exhibit 5).
       23.3    --  Consent of Ernst & Young. (Filed herewith.)
       24      --  Power of Attorney.*
       25      --  Form of Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of Bankers Trust Company, as
                   trustee.*
</TABLE>
    
 
     --------------------
   
     * Filed with the original Registration Statement on April 8, 1994.
    
 
       ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
 
     (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes
 
          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include
     any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
     previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change
     to such information in the registration statement;
 
          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
     therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.
 
     (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
     (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
 
     (d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for
the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under
subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the
rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of
the Act.
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   24
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
     PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT OR AMENDMENT THERETO TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED,
THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO, ON THE 23RD DAY OF MAY,
1994.
    
 
                                          COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION
                                                       (Registrant)
 
   
                                          By:        DENNIS E. WHEELER
                                             ---------------------------------
                                                     DENNIS E. WHEELER
                                             (CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PRESIDENT
                                                AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   25
 
   
     PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR AMENDMENT THERETO HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE
FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   SIGNATURE                                  TITLE                    DATE
- -----------------------------------------------   ------------------------------   -------------
<S>                                               <C>                              <C>
                                                      Chairman of the Board
                                                          of Directors,
                                                         President, Chief
                                                      Executive Officer and
                                                       Director (Principal
               DENNIS E. WHEELER                        Executive Officer)         May 23, 1994
- -----------------------------------------------
               DENNIS E. WHEELER
                                                           Senior Vice
                                                     President -- Finance and
                                                      Treasurer, (Principal
                                                     Financial and Accounting
                                                             Officer)
                       *                                   and Director            May 23, 1994
- -----------------------------------------------
                JAMES A. SABALA


                       *                                     Director              May 23, 1994
- -----------------------------------------------
               JOSEPH C. BENNETT

                       *                                     Director              May 23, 1994
- -----------------------------------------------
                JAMES J. CURRAN


                       *                                     Director              May 23, 1994
- -----------------------------------------------
               JEFFERY T. GRADE


                       *                                     Director              May 23, 1994
- -----------------------------------------------
               DUANE B. HAGADONE


                       *                                     Director              May 23, 1994
- -----------------------------------------------
               JAMES A. MCCLURE


* By           DENNIS E. WHEELER
- -----  ----------------------------------------
               DENNIS E. WHEELER
               ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   26
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      SEQUENTIALLY
EXHIBIT                                                                                 NUMBERED
NUMBER                                      EXHIBITS                                      PAGE
- ------        ---------------------------------------------------------------------   -------------
<S>       <C> 
   4(a)   --  Indenture, dated as of January 26, 1994, between the Registrant and
              Bankers Trust Company, as trustee, with respect to the Registrant's
              6 3/8% Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2004 (incorporated
              herein by reference to Exhibit No. 10(gg) to the Registrant's Annual
              Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993).
   4(b)   --  Form of First Supplemental Indenture to the Indenture listed as
              Exhibit 4(a) above.*
   5      --  Legal opinion, dated April 8, 1994, of Freedman, Levy, Kroll &
              Simonds regarding legality of securities offered.*
  10      --  Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 18, 1994, between the
              Registrant and Kidder, Peabody & Co. Incorporated (incorporated
              hereby by reference to Exhibit No. 10(ii) to the Registrant's Annual
              Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993).
  12      --  Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.*
  23.1    --  Consent of Ernst & Young.*
  23.2    --  Consent of Freedman, Levy, Kroll and Simonds (included in Exhibit 5).
  23.3    --  Updated consent of Ernst & Young. (Filed herewith.)
  24      --  Power of Attorney.*
  25      --  Form of Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of Bankers Trust
              Company, as trustee.*
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
   
* Filed with the original Registration Statement on April 8, 1994.
    

<PAGE>   1
 
   
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.3
    
 
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
     We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Independent
Auditors" in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 and related prospectus of
Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation pertaining to the registration of $100,000,000
of 6 3/8% Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2004 and to the incorporation
by reference therein of our report dated February 11, 1994 with respect to the
consolidated financial statements and schedules of Coeur d'Alene Mines
Corporation included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
December 31, 1993 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
                                          ERNST & YOUNG
 
Seattle, Washington
   
May 24, 1994
    


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