AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 15, 2005
 
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
                                    FORM S-3
 
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
                            PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 

                                                 
                     NEW YORK                                           13-1808503
  (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION)           (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
                     

                     
             ONE NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE                              S. DAVID COLTON, ESQ.
              PHOENIX, AZ 85004-4414                     SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                  (602) 366-8100                                 PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,              ONE NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE
  INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL                  PHOENIX, AZ 85004-4414
                EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                                    (602) 366-8100
                                                     (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE
                                                                          NUMBER,
                                                        INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

 
                               PD CAPITAL TRUST I
                              PD CAPITAL TRUST II
    (EXACT NAMES OF REGISTRANTS AS SPECIFIED IN THEIR CERTIFICATES OF TRUST)
 

                                                 
                     DELAWARE                                                51-6516595
  (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION)     (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PD CAPITAL TRUST I)
                     

                     
           C/O PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION                                      51-6516596
             ONE NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE               (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PD CAPITAL TRUST II)
              PHOENIX, AZ 85004-4414
                  (602) 366-8100                                       S. DAVID COLTON, ESQ.
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,          SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
  INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANTS' PRINCIPAL                      PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION
                EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                                    ONE NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE
                                                                       PHOENIX, AZ 85004-4414
                                                                           (602) 366-8100
                                                     (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
                                                             INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

 
                                    COPY TO:
 
                             MICHAEL W. BLAIR, ESQ.
                            DEBEVOISE & PLIMPTON LLP
                                919 THIRD AVENUE
                               NEW YORK, NY 10022
                                 (212) 909-6000
 
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF THE PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From
time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 
     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]
 
     If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.  [ ]
                                                            ---------------
 
     If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering.  [ ]
                              ---------------
 
     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.  [ ]

 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 


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                                                                 PROPOSED MAXIMUM
                                                                AGGREGATE OFFERING           AMOUNT OF
     TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED              PRICE(1)           REGISTRATION FEE(2)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
Phelps Dodge Corporation Common Shares(3)...................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phelps Dodge Corporation Preferred Shares(4)................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phelps Dodge Corporation Senior Debt Securities(5)..........
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phelps Dodge Corporation Junior Subordinated Debt
  Securities(6).............................................
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Phelps Dodge Corporation Share Purchase Contracts to
  purchase Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares of Phelps
  Dodge Corporation(7)......................................
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Phelps Dodge Corporation Share Purchase Units, each
  representing ownership of a Share Purchase Contract and
  Senior Debt Securities, Junior Subordinated Debt
  Securities, Trust Preferred Securities or debt obligations
  of third parties(8).......................................
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Phelps Dodge Corporation Depositary Shares(9)...............
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phelps Dodge Corporation Warrants(10).......................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PD Capital Trust I Preferred Securities(11).................
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PD Capital Trust II Preferred Securities(11)................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phelps Dodge Corporation Guarantees of PD Capital Trust I
  and PD Capital Trust II Preferred Securities(12)..........
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.......................................................   $400,000,000(13)(14)         $47,080(15)
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 (1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee pursuant
     to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933 and exclusive of accrued
     interest and dividends, if any.
 (2) The registration fee has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o)
     under the Securities Act of 1933.
 (3) Includes Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Share Purchase Rights.
     Prior to the occurrence of certain events, such Rights will not be
     exercisable or evidenced separately from the Common Shares. Subject to note
     (13) below, we are registering such indeterminate number of Common Shares
     as may be sold from time to time by Phelps Dodge Corporation, including
     sales upon the exercise of Warrants or delivery upon settlement of Share
     Purchase Contracts. Also includes such indeterminate number of Common
     Shares as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for any securities
     being registered hereunder that provide for conversion or exchange into
     Common Shares.
 (4) Subject to note (13) below, we are registering such indeterminate number of
     Preferred Shares as may be sold from time to time by Phelps Dodge
     Corporation, including sales upon the exercise of Warrants or delivery upon
     settlement of Share Purchase Contracts. Also includes such indeterminate
     number of Preferred Shares as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange
     for any securities being registered hereunder that provide for conversion
     or exchange into Preferred Shares.
 (5) Subject to note (13) below, we are registering such indeterminate principal
     amount of Senior Debt Securities as may be sold from time to time by Phelps
     Dodge Corporation, including sales upon the exercise of Warrants or
     delivery upon settlement of Share Purchase Contracts. Also includes such
     indeterminate principal amount of Senior Debt Securities as may be issued
     upon conversion of or exchange for any securities being registered
     hereunder that provide for conversion or exchange into Senior Debt
     Securities.
 (6) Subject to note (13) below, we are registering such indeterminate principal
     amount of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities as may be sold from time to
     time by Phelps Dodge Corporation.
 (7) Subject to note (13) below, there is being registered hereunder an
     indeterminate amount and number of Share Purchase Contracts as may be sold
     from time to time by Phelps Dodge Corporation, representing rights to
     purchase Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares.
 (8) Subject to note (13) below, we are registering such indeterminate amount
     and number of Share Purchase Units as may be sold from time to time by
     Phelps Dodge Corporation, representing ownership of Share Purchase
     Contracts and Senior Debt Securities, Junior Subordinated Debt Securities,
     Preferred Securities of PD Capital Trust I or PD Capital Trust II, or debt
     obligations of third parties.
 (9) Subject to note (13) below, we are registering such indeterminate number of
     Depositary Shares to be evidenced by Depositary Receipts issued pursuant to
     a Deposit Agreement. In the event Phelps Dodge Corporation elects to offer
     to the public fractional interests in Senior Debt Securities, Junior
     Subordinated Debt Securities or Preferred Shares of Phelps Dodge
     Corporation registered hereunder, Depositary Receipts will be distributed
     to those persons purchasing such fractional interests and Senior Debt
     Securities, Junior Subordinated Debt Securities or Preferred Shares, as the
     case may be, will be issued to the Depositary under the Deposit Agreement.
     No separate consideration will be received for the Depositary Shares.
(10) Subject to note (13) below, we are registering such indeterminate amount
     and number of Warrants as may be sold from time to time by Phelps Dodge
     Corporation, representing rights to purchase Senior Debt Securities,
     Preferred Shares or Common Shares. Warrants may be sold separately or with
     Senior Debt Securities, Preferred Shares or Common Shares or other
     securities registered hereunder.
(11) Subject to note (13) below, we are registering such indeterminate number of
     Preferred Securities as may be sold severally from time to time by PD
     Capital Trust I and PD Capital Trust II.
(12) Includes the rights of holders of the Preferred Securities under the
     applicable guarantee of Preferred Securities, the obligations of Phelps
     Dodge Corporation under the applicable trust agreement of each of PD
     Capital Trust I and PD Capital

 
Trust II and the obligations of Phelps Dodge Corporation under the indenture for
the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities and any related supplemental indenture,
all of which are described in this Registration Statement. No separate
consideration will be received for any of such guarantee or obligations.
(13) The Prospectus included herein relates to $400,000,000 of securities. Such
     amount represents the principal amount of any Senior Debt Securities or
     Junior Subordinated Debt Securities issued at their principal amount, the
     issue price rather than the principal amount of any Senior Debt Securities
     or Junior Subordinated Debt Securities issued at an original issue
     discount, the liquidation preference of any Preferred Shares, the amount
     computed pursuant to Rule 457(c) for any Common Shares, the issue price of
     any Warrants, the exercise price of any offered securities issuable upon
     the exercise of Warrants and the initial public offering price of any
     Preferred Securities. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold
     separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder.
(14) No separate consideration will be received for the Senior Debt Securities,
     Preferred Shares, Common Shares or the Depositary Shares issuable upon
     conversion of or in exchange for any securities registered hereunder that
     provide for conversion or exchange into such securities. No separate
     consideration will be received for any Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
     if issued to evidence a loan by PD Capital Trust I, PD Capital Trust II or
     to Phelps Dodge Corporation, or for any Phelps Dodge Corporation
     Guarantees.
(15) The registration fee has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o)
     under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
                            ------------------------
 
     THE REGISTRANTS HEREBY AMEND THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANTS
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT THAT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
 
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THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE
CHANGED. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED
WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PRELIMINARY
PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL NOR DOES IT SEEK AN OFFER TO BUY THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
 
                                  $400,000,000
 
                        [PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION LOGO]
 
                            PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION
 
                                 COMMON SHARES
                                PREFERRED SHARES
                            SHARE PURCHASE CONTRACTS
                              SHARE PURCHASE UNITS
                               DEPOSITARY SHARES
                                    WARRANTS
                             SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
                      JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
 
                               PD CAPITAL TRUST I
                              PD CAPITAL TRUST II
                              PREFERRED SECURITIES
                     GUARANTEED BY PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION
 
     - By this prospectus, we may offer from time to time up to $400,000,000 of
       any combination of the securities described in this prospectus.
 
     - We will provide you with the specific terms of the securities we are
       offering in supplements to this prospectus. A supplement may also change
       or update information contained in this prospectus.
 
     - You should read this prospectus, including the documents and other
       information we have referred to under the heading "Where You Can Find
       More Information," and the prospectus supplement relating to the specific
       issue of securities carefully before you invest.
 
     - We may only use this prospectus to sell securities if it is accompanied
       by a prospectus supplement.
 
     - Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
       commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined
       this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the
       contrary is a criminal offense.
 
                  The date of this prospectus is      , 2005.

 
                                CAUTIONARY NOTE
 
GENERAL
 
     This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission utilizing a "shelf" registration process.
Under this shelf process, we may sell the securities described in the prospectus
from time to time. This prospectus provides you with a general description of
the securities we may offer. We may also add, update or change information
contained in this prospectus through one or more supplements to this prospectus.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference
in this prospectus and in any supplement. "Incorporation by reference" means
that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another
document filed separately with the SEC. We have not authorized any other person
to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different
or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We will not make an
offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is
not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this
prospectus and any supplement to this prospectus is current only as of the dates
on their covers. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects may have changed since that date.
 
     PD Capital Trust I and PD Capital Trust II, each of which is referred to in
this prospectus as a trust and which are collectively referred to as the trusts,
have no independent function other than to issue securities and to purchase
junior subordinated debt securities. This prospectus does not contain separate
financial statements for the trusts. Phelps Dodge Corporation files consolidated
financial information with the SEC that will include financial information
regarding the trusts.
 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
     This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents and
information incorporated by reference in them may contain forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Securities Exchange Act"). We intend these
forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for
forward-looking statements. You should be aware that these statements only
reflect our expectations and are not guarantees of performance. These statements
involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual events or results may
differ materially from our expectations. Important factors that could cause our
actual results to be materially different from our expectations include those
discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in each prospectus supplement. In
some cases, you can identify these statements by our use of forward-looking
words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect,"
"plan," "believe," "predict," "potential" and "intend." The safe harbor
provisions for forward-looking statements only apply to companies that have
previously offered securities to the public. Because each trust's offer of the
preferred securities constitutes each trust's initial public offering of
securities, the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws do not
apply to the trusts. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
 
                                        2

 
                            PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION
 
     Phelps Dodge Corporation (which may also be referred to herein as Phelps
Dodge, PD, we, us, our or our company) is one of the world's leading producers
of copper and molybdenum, the largest producer of molybdenum-based chemicals and
continuous-cast copper rod, and among the leading producers of magnet wire and
carbon black. We were incorporated as a business corporation under the laws of
the state of New York in 1885.
 
     Phelps Dodge consists of two major divisions: Phelps Dodge Mining Company
and Phelps Dodge Industries.
 
PHELPS DODGE MINING COMPANY
 
     Phelps Dodge Mining Company includes our worldwide, vertically integrated
copper operations from mining through rod production, marketing and sales;
molybdenum operations from mining through conversion to chemical and
metallurgical products, marketing and sales; other mining operations and
investments; and worldwide mineral exploration, technology and project
development programs in 12 reportable segments. Our copper mines comprise six
reportable segments in the United States (Morenci, Bagdad, Sierrita,
Miami/Bisbee, Chino/Cobre and Tyrone) and three reportable segments in South
America (Candelaria/Ojos del Salado, Cerro Verde and El Abra). The other
reportable segments include Manufacturing, Sales and Primary Molybdenum, along
with other mining activities.
 
PHELPS DODGE INDUSTRIES
 
     Phelps Dodge Industries is our manufacturing division comprising two
reportable segments that produce engineered products principally for the global
energy, transportation and specialty chemicals sectors. The two reportable
segments are Specialty Chemicals and Wire and Cable.
 
     For more information about our business and properties, refer to our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. More extensive
information concerning us is contained in that report. See "Incorporation by
Reference" in this prospectus.
 
     Our principal executive offices are located at One North Central Avenue,
Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4414, and our telephone number is (602) 366-8100.
 
                                        3

 
                                   THE TRUSTS
 
     We created each trust as a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to a trust
agreement. We will enter into an amended and restated trust agreement for each
trust, which will state the terms and conditions for the trust to issue and sell
its preferred securities and common securities.
 
     Each trust exists solely to:
 
     - issue and sell to the public preferred securities, representing undivided
       beneficial interests in the assets of the trust;
 
     - issue and sell to us common securities, representing undivided beneficial
       interests in the assets of the trust;
 
     - use the gross proceeds from the sale of its preferred and common
       securities to purchase a series of our junior subordinated debt
       securities;
 
     - distribute the cash payments it receives from the junior subordinated
       debt securities it owns to the holders of the preferred and common
       securities; and
 
     - engage in other activities that are necessary or incidental to these
       purposes.
 
     We will purchase all of the common securities of each trust. The common
securities will have terms substantially identical to, and will rank equal in
priority of payment with, the preferred securities. Payments will be made on
both the common securities and the preferred securities when payments of
interest are made on the junior subordinated debt securities, upon redemption of
the junior subordinated debt securities or in some circumstances upon
liquidation of the trust. However, if a default on the payments on the related
junior subordinated debt securities occurs, then cash distributions and
redemption, liquidation and other amounts payable on the common securities will
be subordinate in priority of payment to the amounts payable on the preferred
securities.
 
     Each of the trusts is a legally separate entity and the assets of one are
not available to satisfy the obligations of any of the others. We will guarantee
the preferred securities as described later in this prospectus. We will appoint
five trustees to conduct each trust's business and affairs:
 
     - Wachovia Bank, National Association, which will act as the property
       trustee;
 
     - Delaware Trust Company, National Association, which will act as the
       Delaware trustee; and
 
     - Three of our officers, who will act as the administrative trustees.
 
     We will pay all fees and expenses related to each trust and the offering of
the preferred securities and will pay all ongoing costs, expenses and
liabilities of each trust, except the trust's obligations under the preferred
and common securities.
 
     The trusts will not have separate financial statements. The statements
would not be material to holders of the trust preferred securities because the
trusts will not have independent operations and exist solely for the reasons
summarized above.
 
     The principal offices of each trust will be located at c/o Phelps Dodge
Corporation, One North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4414, and the
telephone number of each trust will be (602) 366-8100.
 
                                        4

 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will
use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate
purposes, which may include financing our acquisitions, capital expenditures and
daily operations and those of our subsidiaries, and refinancing debt. We may
also use the proceeds for temporary investments until we need them for general
corporate purposes. Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by each
trust will be used by the trust to purchase a series of our junior subordinated
debt securities.
 
              RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO
              COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
 
     The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and
earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for each of the
five years in the period ended December 31, 2004.
 


                                       FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                              ---------------------------------------------------
                              2004(b)   2003(b)    2002(b)    2001(b)    2000(b)
                               ----       ----       ----       ----       ----
                                                          
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
  Charges(a)................   10.6       1.5       (c)        (e)         1.4
Ratio of Earnings to
  Combined Fixed Charges and
  Preferred Stock Dividend
  Requirements(a)...........    9.7       1.4       (d)        N/A         N/A

 
---------------
(a) For purposes of computing the consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed
    charges, earnings consist of income before taxes, minority interests and
    equity in net earnings (losses) of affiliated companies, extraordinary items
    and cumulative effect of accounting changes. Minority interests in
    majority-owned subsidiaries were not deducted from earnings as all such
    subsidiaries had fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest (including
    capitalized interest) on all indebtedness, amortization of debt discount and
    expense, and that portion of rental expense which we believe to be
    representative of interest. For purposes of calculating the ratio of
    earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, the
    preferred stock dividend requirements were assumed to be equal to the
    pre-tax earnings which would be required to cover such dividend
    requirements. A statement setting forth the computation of the unaudited
    ratios of earnings to fixed charges is filed as Exhibit 12.1 to the
    registration statement that includes this prospectus.
 
(b) In accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable
    Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51" and the revised
    Interpretation, 2004 reflected full consolidation of El Abra and Candelaria;
    2000 through 2003 reflected El Abra and Candelaria on a pro-rata basis (51
    percent and 80 percent, respectively).
 
(c) Due to the loss recorded in 2002, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1.
    Phelps Dodge would have needed to generate additional earnings of $417.9
    million to achieve coverage of 1:1 in 2002.
 
(d) Due to the loss recorded in 2002, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1.
    Phelps Dodge would have needed to generate additional earnings of $427.0
    million to achieve a coverage of 1:1 in 2002.
 
(e) Due to the loss recorded in 2001, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We
    would have needed to generate additional earnings of $240.4 million to
    achieve a coverage of 1:1.
 
                                        5

 
                              ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
 
     Each trust will be treated as our wholly owned subsidiary for financial
reporting purposes and, therefore, included in our consolidated financial
statements. The classification of the preferred securities of each trust in our
consolidated financial statements is dependent upon the terms of the security
issued. The footnotes to our consolidated financial statements will disclose the
fact that the sole assets of each trust are investments in our junior
subordinated debt securities, as well as terms of those securities.
 
                        DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON SHARES
 
GENERAL
 
     Pursuant to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, we are
authorized to issue 200 million common shares having a par value of $6.25 per
share. Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
trading symbol "PD." The transfer and dividend paying agent and registrar for
our common shares is Mellon Investor Services LLC.
 
     We summarize below all of the material features of our common shares. The
summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by all of the
provisions of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, our By-Laws
and the Rights Agreement. Those documents are incorporated by reference as
exhibits to the registration statement that includes this prospectus, and we
encourage you to read them.
 
     The common shares when offered by this prospectus will, when issued, be
fully paid and nonassessable and will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive
or similar rights.
 
DIVIDENDS
 
     Subject to the preferential rights of any holders of any outstanding series
of our preferred shares, each holder of common shares is entitled to receive
dividends, if declared by our board of directors, out of funds that we can
legally use to pay dividends.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
 
     The holders of common shares will possess exclusive voting rights in our
company, except to the extent that our board of directors will have designated
voting power with respect to any preferred shares issued. Each holder of common
shares is entitled to one vote for each share registered in that holder's name
on our books on each matter submitted for a vote of holders of common shares.
 
LIQUIDATION RIGHTS
 
     In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of
common shares will be entitled to share proportionately in the distribution of
all of our assets remaining after payment of all of our debts and liabilities
and of all sums to which holders of any preferred shares may be entitled.
 
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
 
     Holders of common shares are not entitled to preemptive rights with respect
to any shares of our capital stock or other securities convertible into or
carrying rights or options to purchase any of our shares.
 
                                        6

 
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
 
     Each of our common shares, including those that may be issued in an
offering under this prospectus, carries with it one preferred share purchase
right. If these rights become exercisable, each right entitles the registered
holder to purchase one two-hundredth of a Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Share (subject to a proportionate decrease in the fractional number of
Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares that may be purchased if a
stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurs with respect to the
common shares and a proportionate increase in the event of a reverse stock
split). Until a right is exercised, the holder of the right has no right to vote
or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder as a result of holding
the right. The terms of the rights are described in the Rights Agreement, dated
as of February 5, 1998, between us and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as rights
agent. We summarize below all of the material features of the Rights Agreement.
The summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by all of the
provisions of the Rights Agreement. The Rights Agreement is incorporated by
reference as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this
prospectus, and we encourage you to read it.
 
     The rights trade automatically with our common shares. A holder of common
shares may exercise the rights only under the circumstances described below. The
rights are designed to protect our interests and the interests of our
shareholders against coercive takeover tactics. The rights are also designed to
encourage potential acquirors to negotiate with our board of directors before
attempting a takeover and to increase the ability of our board of directors to
negotiate terms of any proposed takeover that benefit our shareholders. The
rights may, but are not intended to, deter potential acquirors from making
takeover proposals.
 
     Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares will rank junior to all
other series of our preferred shares, including any preferred shares offered
under this prospectus, if our board of directors, in creating such preferred
shares, provides that they will rank senior to the Junior Participating
Cumulative Preferred Shares.
 
     The purchase price for each one two-hundredth of a Junior Participating
Cumulative Preferred Share is $210. We must adjust the purchase price if
specified events occur, such as:
 
     - if we pay stock dividends on the Junior Participating Cumulative
       Preferred Shares or effect a stock split or reverse stock split with
       respect to the Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares; or
 
     - if we issue any shares of our capital stock in a reclassification of the
       Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares.
 
     Holders may exercise their rights only following a distribution date. A
distribution date will occur on the earlier of the following: (1) ten days after
a public announcement or we otherwise receive notice that a person or group has
acquired 20% or more of our outstanding common shares or (2) ten business days
(or such later date as may be determined by our board of directors) after a
person or group makes or announces an offer to purchase our common shares,
which, if successful, would result in that person or group owning 20% or more of
our outstanding common shares. However, our board of directors may delay the
distribution date, as long as no person or group has acquired 20% or more of our
outstanding shares.
 
     The rights have some additional features that will be triggered upon the
occurrence of specified events, including:
 
     - if a person or group acquires 20% or more of our outstanding common
       shares, holders of the rights, other than such person or group, may
       purchase our common shares (instead of our Junior Participating
       Cumulative Preferred Shares) at 50% of the market value of the purchased
       common shares;
 
     - if a person or group acquires 20% or more of our outstanding common
       shares, our board of directors may, at any time before the person or
       group acquires 50% or more of the outstanding common shares, exchange all
       or part of the rights (other than rights held or previously held by the
 
                                        7

 
       20% or greater shareholder) for common shares at an exchange ratio equal
       to one common share per right, subject to adjustment; and
 
     - if we are involved in specified business combinations or the sale of 50%
       or more of our assets or earning power, the holders of the rights may
       purchase common shares of the acquiror or an affiliated company at 50% of
       market value.
 
     Any time before a person or group acquires 20% or more of our outstanding
common shares, our board of directors may redeem the rights in whole, but not in
part, at a redemption price of $0.01 per right, subject to adjustment for stock
dividends, stock splits and similar transactions. Our board of directors in its
sole discretion may establish the effective time, basis and conditions of the
redemption. Immediately upon redemption of the rights, the holder (1) can no
longer exercise such rights and (2) can only receive the redemption price.
 
     The rights will expire on February 24, 2008, unless we redeem them before
then. At any time before a person or group acquires 20% or more of our
outstanding common shares, our board of directors may amend the terms of the
rights without the consent of the holders of the rights in any manner our board
of directors deems desirable. Thereafter, our board of directors may amend the
terms of the rights without the consent of the holders of the rights only if the
amendment does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the rights.
 
                                        8

 
                      DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SHARES
 
     We are authorized by our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended,
to issue 6 million preferred shares having a par value of $1.00 per share, of
which 2 million have been designated 6.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Shares and 400,000 have been designated Junior Participating
Cumulative Preferred Shares and are described below. As of today, we have issued
2 million 6.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares and no other
preferred shares.
 
     We summarize below all of the material features of our preferred shares.
The summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by all of the
provisions of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, our By-Laws
and the Rights Agreement. Those documents are incorporated by reference as
exhibits to the registration statement that includes this prospectus, and we
encourage you to read them.
 
     Subject to limitations prescribed by the New York Business Corporation Law,
our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and our By-Laws, our
board of directors is authorized to fix the number of shares constituting each
series of preferred shares and the designations, preferences, rights and
limitations related to each series, including those provisions as may be desired
concerning voting, redemption, dividends, dissolution or the distribution of
assets, conversion or exchange, and such other subjects or matters as may be
fixed by resolution of our board of directors or a committee authorized by our
board of directors. The preferred shares when offered by this prospectus will,
when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable and will not have, or be subject
to, any preemptive or similar rights. As described above under "Description of
the Common Shares -- Rights Agreement," each of our common shares carries with
it one preferred share purchase right. The rights are designed to protect our
interests and the interests of our shareholders against coercive takeover
tactics. The rights are also designed to encourage potential acquirors to
negotiate with our board of directors before attempting a takeover and to
increase the ability of our board of directors to negotiate terms of any
proposed takeover that benefit our shareholders. The rights may, but are not
intended to, deter potential acquirors from making takeover proposals.
 
     We will describe in a prospectus supplement some or all of the following
terms of the series of preferred shares being offered:
 
     - title;
 
     - the number of shares offered;
 
     - the liquidation preference per share;
 
     - the purchase price;
 
     - the dividend rates, periods and/or payment dates or methods of
       calculation of the dividend rates;
 
     - whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if
       cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;
 
     - the procedures for any auction or remarketing, if any;
 
     - the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;
 
     - the provisions for redemption, if applicable;
 
     - any listing of the preferred shares on any securities exchange or market;
 
     - the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred shares
       will be convertible into our common shares, including the conversion
       price, or manner of calculation of the conversion price, and conversion
       period;
 
     - the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which preferred shares will
       be exchanged into debt securities, including the exchange price, or
       manner of calculating the exchange price, and the exchange period;
 
                                        9

 
     - voting rights, if any;
 
     - the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred shares as to
       dividend rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our
       affairs;
 
     - any limitations on issuance of any series of preferred shares ranking
       senior to or equal to the series of preferred shares as to dividend
       rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up; and
 
     - any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or
       restrictions.
 
     The applicable prospectus supplement will describe all of the material
United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the particular
series of preferred shares being offered.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the preferred
shares will, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, rank:
 
     - senior to all series of our common shares, and to all equity securities
       issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that such equity
       securities rank junior to the preferred shares with respect to dividend
       rights or rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up;
 
     - equal to all equity securities issued by us, the terms of which
       specifically provide that those equity securities will rank equal to the
       preferred shares with respect to dividend rights or rights upon our
       liquidation, dissolution or winding up; and
 
     - junior to all equity securities issued by us, the terms of which
       specifically provide that those equity securities rank senior to the
       preferred shares with respect to dividend rights or rights upon our
       liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
 
6.75% SERIES A MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES
 
 General
 
     Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, authorizes the
issuance of 6,000,000 preferred shares. Our 6.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Shares (the "Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares") constitute a
single series consisting of 2,000,000 preferred shares. We summarize below the
material features of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares. The summary is
not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Certificate of
Amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing the terms of
our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares. Our Restated Certificate of
Incorporation and the Certificate of Amendment are filed as exhibits to the
registration statement that includes this prospectus, and we encourage you to
read them.
 
 Ranking
 
     The Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares rank with respect to dividend
distributions and distributions upon the liquidation, winding up and dissolution
of the Corporation (i) senior to (a) the Common Shares, (b) the Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares, and (c) to each other class or series
of stock of Phelps Dodge, the terms of which do not expressly provide that it
ranks senior to or on a parity with the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares
as to dividend distributions and distributions upon the liquidation, winding up
or dissolution of Phelps Dodge and (ii) junior to any equity security, the terms
of which expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior to the
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares as to dividend distributions and
distributions upon liquidation, winding up or dissolution of Phelps Dodge.
 
 Dividends
 
    General
 
     Dividends on our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares will be payable
quarterly, if declared, on the 15th calendar day (or the following business day
if the l5th is not a business day) of August, November, February and May of each
year at the annual rate of $6.75 per Mandatory Convertible
                                        10

 
Preferred Share. The amount of dividends payable on each of our Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Shares for each full quarterly period will be computed by
dividing the annual dividend rate by four. The amount of dividends payable for
any other period that is shorter or longer than a full quarterly dividend period
will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months.
 
     We are obligated to pay a dividend on our Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Shares only if our board of directors or an authorized committee of our board
declares the dividend payable and we have assets that legally can be used to pay
the dividend.
 
     Dividends on our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares will be cumulative.
This means that, if our board of directors or an authorized committee of our
board fails to declare a dividend, the dividend will accumulate until declared
and paid or until forfeited upon optional conversion by the holder.
 
     We are not obligated to pay holders of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Shares any interest or sum of money in lieu of interest on any dividend not paid
on a dividend payment date or any other late payment. We are also not obligated
to pay holders of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares any dividend in
excess of the full dividends on the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares that
are payable as described in the preceding paragraphs.
 
    Payment Restrictions
 
     If we do not pay a dividend on a dividend payment date, then, until all
accrued and unpaid dividends are paid and the full quarterly dividend on our
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares for the current and all prior dividend
periods is declared and paid or set apart for payment:
 
     - We may not take any of the following actions with respect to any of our
       capital stock that ranks junior to our Mandatory Convertible Preferred
       Shares as to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon
       winding up, including our common shares:
 
      - declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution of assets on the
        junior capital stock, other than dividends or distributions of our
        capital stock that ranks junior to our Mandatory Convertible Preferred
        Shares as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon
        winding up; or
 
      - redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire the junior capital stock, except
        upon conversion or exchange for our capital stock that ranks junior to
        our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares as to payment of dividends
        and the distribution of assets upon winding up.
 
     - We may not redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire other of our capital
       stock that ranks equally with our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares
       as to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon winding up,
       except for conversion or exchange for shares of our capital stock that
       rank junior to our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares as to payment
       of dividends and the distribution of assets upon winding up.
 
    Automatic Conversion of Our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares
 
     Our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares, unless previously converted at
the option of a holder thereof or upon specified mergers described below, will
automatically convert, on August 15, 2005, the "conversion date," into a number
of newly issued common shares equal to the conversion rate.
 
     The conversion rate, which is the number of newly issued common shares
issuable upon conversion of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares on the
conversion date, will, subject to adjustment under certain circumstances as
described under "-- Anti-dilution Adjustment" below, be as follows:
 
     - If the "average market price" of our common shares, which is the average
       of the closing prices per common share on each of the 20 consecutive
       trading days ending on the third trading day immediately preceding the
       conversion date, is equal to or greater than $48.00, which we call the
 
                                        11

 
       threshold appreciation price, then the conversion rate will be 2.083 of
       our common shares per Mandatory Convertible Preferred Share.
 
     - If the average market price of our common shares is less than $48.00 but
       greater than $40.00, the conversion rate will be equal to $100.00 divided
       by the average market price of our common shares per Mandatory
       Convertible Preferred Share.
 
     - If the average market price of our common shares is less than or equal to
       $40.00, the conversion rate will be 2.5 of our common shares per
       Mandatory Convertible Preferred Share.
 
    Conversion
 
     Conversion into common shares will occur on August 15, 2005, unless a
holder has converted at his or her option prior to the conversion date, as
described below, or we are involved in a merger prior to the conversion date in
which at least 30% of the consideration for our common shares consists of cash
or cash equivalents, and such holder has converted through an early conversion
as described below.
 
     Prior to the date on which our common shares are issued on conversion, our
common shares underlying our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares will not be
deemed to be outstanding for any purpose and a holder thereof will have no
rights with respect to the common shares, including voting rights, rights to
respond to tender offers and rights to receive any dividends or other
distributions on our common shares by virtue of holding our Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Shares.
 
    Conversion at the Option of Holder
 
     The holders of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares have the right to
convert them, in whole or in part, at any time prior to the conversion date,
into our common shares at the optional conversion rate of 2.083 of our common
shares for each of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares, subject to
adjustment as described below.
 
     With limited exceptions, upon any optional conversion of our Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Shares, we will make no payment or allowance for unpaid
dividends, whether or not in arrears, on those Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Shares, or for dividends or distributions on our common shares issued upon
conversion.
 
    Early Conversion Upon Cash Merger
 
     Prior to the conversion date, if we are involved in a merger in which at
least 30% of the consideration for our common shares consists of cash or cash
equivalents, which we refer to as the "cash merger," then on or after the date
of the cash merger each holder of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares
will have the right to convert our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares at the
conversion rate in effect immediately before the cash merger. We refer to this
right as the "merger early conversion right."
 
    Anti-dilution Adjustments
 
     The formula for determining the conversion rate and the number of our
common shares to be delivered upon an early conversion may be adjusted if
certain events occur, including:
 
     (1) the payment of a dividend or other distributions on our common shares
in common shares;
 
     (2) the issuance to all holders of our common shares of rights or warrants,
other than any dividend reinvestment or share purchase or similar plans,
entitling them to subscribe for or purchase our common shares at less than the
current market price (as defined below);
 
     (3) subdivisions, splits and combinations of our common shares;
 
     (4) distributions to all holders of our common shares or evidences of our
indebtedness, shares of capital stock, securities, cash or other assets
(excluding any dividend or distribution covered by clause (1) or (2) above and
any dividend or distribution paid exclusively in cash);
                                        12

 
     (5) distributions consisting exclusively of cash to all holders of our
common shares in an aggregate amount that, when combined with certain other cash
distributions and the fair value of tender or exchange offer payments within the
preceding 12 months, exceeds 15% of our aggregate market capitalization (such
aggregate market capitalization being the product of the current market price of
our common shares multiplied by the number of common shares then outstanding) on
the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such
distribution; and
 
     (6) the successful completion of a tender or exchange offer made by us or
any subsidiary of ours for our common shares that involves an aggregate
consideration that, when combined with certain other cash distributions and the
fair value of tender or exchange offer payments within the preceding 12 months,
exceeds 15% of our aggregate market capitalization on the date of expiration of
such tender or exchange offer.
 
     In the case of reclassifications, consolidations, mergers, sales or
transfers of assets or other transactions that cause our common shares to be
converted into the right to receive other securities, cash or property, each
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Share then outstanding would, without the
consent of the holders of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares, become
convertible into such other securities, cash or property instead of our common
shares.
 
     In the case of the payment of a dividend or other distribution on our
common shares or shares of capital stock of any class or series, or similar
equity interests, of or relating to a subsidiary or other business unit, which
we refer to as a "spin-off," the conversion rate in effect immediately before
the close of business on the record date fixed for determination of shareholders
entitled to receive that distribution will be increased according to a specified
formula.
 
     In addition, we may increase the conversion rate if our board of directors
deems it advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of our common
shares resulting from any dividend or distribution of shares (or rights to
acquire shares) or from any event treated as a dividend or distribution for
income tax purposes or for any other reasons.
 
     Each adjustment to the conversion rate will result in a corresponding
adjustment to the number of our common shares issuable upon conversion of our
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares.
 
    Liquidation Rights
 
     In the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of Phelps Dodge, the holders of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Shares will be entitled to receive, out of our assets legally available for
distribution to shareholders -- before any distribution of assets is made on our
common shares or any future class of securities which ranks junior to our
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares -- a liquidating distribution in the
amount of $100, plus an amount equal to the sum of all accrued and unpaid
dividends, whether or nor earned or declared, for the then-current dividend
period and all prior dividend periods.
 
     For the purpose of the preceding paragraph, none of the following will
constitute a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
Phelps Dodge:
 
     - the sale of all or substantially all of the property or business;
 
     - the merger or consolidation of Phelps Dodge into or with any other
       corporation; or
 
     - the merger or consolidation of any other corporation into or with Phelps
       Dodge.
 
     After the payment to the holders of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Shares of the full preferential amounts provided above, the holders of our
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares will have no right or claim to any of our
remaining assets.
 
     In the event our assets available for distribution to the holders of our
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares upon any liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of Phelps Dodge, whether voluntary or involuntary, are insufficient
to pay in full all amounts to which the holders are entitled as provided above,
                                        13

 
no such distribution will be made on account of any other shares ranking equally
with our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares as to the distribution of assets
upon that liquidation, dissolution or winding up unless a pro rata distribution
is made on our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares, with the amount allocable
to each series of parity shares determined on the basis of the aggregate
liquidation preference of the outstanding shares of each series and
distributions to the shares of each series being made on a pro rata basis.
 
    Voting Rights
 
     The holders of the shares of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares are
not entitled to any voting rights, except as required by applicable state law
and as described below.
 
     If the equivalent of six quarterly dividends payable on our Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Shares, or any other class or series of preferred shares
ranking equally with our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares as to the
payment of dividends has not been paid, the number of directors on our board
shall be increased by two, without duplication of any increase made pursuant to
the terms of any other series of our preferred shares. The holders of our
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares -- voting as a single class with the
holders of shares of any other class of preferred shares ranking equally with
our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares either as to dividends or
distributions of assets and upon which like voting rights have been conferred
and are exercisable -- will be entitled to elect two directors at any meeting of
our shareholders at which directors are to be elected during the period their
dividends remain in arrears. This voting right will continue until we have paid,
or declared and set apart for payment, full cumulative dividends for all past
periods on all of that class of preferred shares, and our Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Shares.
 
     We will not, without the approval of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares then outstanding, amend any of the
provisions of our charter so as to affect adversely the powers, preferences,
privileges or rights of the holders of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Shares.
 
     We will not, without the approval of the holders, voting together as a
single class, of at least 66 2/3% of our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares
then outstanding and all shares of any other series of our preferred shares
ranking equally with our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares as to dividends
or upon dissolution:
 
     - issue, authorize or increase the authorized amount of, or issue or
       authorize any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing a
       right to purchase, any share of any class ranking prior to our Mandatory
       Convertible Preferred Shares as to dividends or upon dissolution; or
 
     - reclassify any of our authorized share into any share of any class, or
       any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing a right to
       purchase such share, ranking prior to our Mandatory Convertible Preferred
       Shares,
 
provided that no such vote will be required for us to take any of these actions
to issue, authorize or increase the authorized amount of, or issue or authorize
any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing a right to purchase,
any share ranking equally with or junior to our Mandatory Convertible Preferred
Shares.
 
    Authorized Common Shares
 
     We will at all times reserve and keep available out of our authorized and
unissued common shares, solely for issuance upon the conversion of our Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Shares, that number of our common shares as shall from
time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all our Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Shares then outstanding. Our Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares
converted into our common shares or otherwise reacquired by us shall resume the
status of authorized and unissued preferred shares, undesignated as to series,
and shall be available for subsequent issuance.
 
                                        14

 
JUNIOR PARTICIPATING CUMULATIVE PREFERRED SHARES
 
    General
 
     In connection with the Rights Agreement, 400,000 Junior Participating
Cumulative Preferred Shares have been reserved and authorized for issuance by
our board of directors. No Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares are
outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. We summarize below all of the
material features of our Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares. The
summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by all of the
provisions of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. That
document is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration
statement that includes this prospectus, and we encourage you to read it.
 
    Ranking
 
     The Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares shall rank junior to
all other series of our preferred shares as to the payment of dividends and the
distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide
otherwise.
 
    Dividends and Distributions
 
     Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any share of any
series of preferred shares ranking prior to and superior to the Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares with respect to dividends, the holders
of Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares, in preference to the
holders of common shares and of any other junior shares which may be
outstanding, shall be entitled to receive, if declared by our board of directors
out of funds legally available for that purpose, quarterly dividends payable in
cash, in an amount per share equal to the greater of (1) $2.50 per share ($10.00
per annum) and (2) subject to adjustment upon certain dilutive events, 100 times
the aggregate per share amount of, with certain exceptions, all cash and
non-cash dividends or other distributions, declared on the common shares, since
the immediately preceding quarterly dividend payment date, or, with respect to
the first quarterly dividend payment date, since the first issuance of any
Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Share.
 
     If no dividend or distribution is declared on the common shares during the
period between any quarterly dividend payment date and the next subsequent
quarterly dividend payment date, a dividend of $2.50 per share ($10.00 per
annum) on the Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares will nevertheless
be payable on such subsequent quarterly dividend payment date.
 
    Voting Rights
 
     The holders of Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares will have
the following voting rights:
 
     - subject to adjustment upon certain dilutive events, each Junior
       Participating Cumulative Preferred Share shall entitle the holder to 100
       votes (and each one two-hundredth of a Junior Participating Cumulative
       Preferred Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one-half of one vote)
       on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders; and
 
     - except as otherwise provided by law, the holders of Junior Participating
       Cumulative Preferred Shares and the holders of common shares shall vote
       together as one class.
 
    Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up
 
     Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after distribution of the
liquidation price to the holders of shares ranking senior as to distribution of
assets to the Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares, the holders of
Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive the
greater of (1) $100 per share and (2) an aggregate amount per share, subject to
adjustment upon certain dilutive events, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount
to be distributed per share to holders of common shares; or a pro-rata portion
of such amount if the assets are not sufficient to pay the full amount.
 
                                        15

 
    Consolidation, Merger, Etc.
 
     In the event that we enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or
other transaction in which our common shares are exchanged for or changed into
other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, each Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Share shall at the same time be similarly
exchanged or changed into an amount per share (subject to adjustment upon
certain dilutive events) equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of the
instrument into which or for which each common share is changed or exchanged.
 
    Certain Restrictions
 
     Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on
the Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares are in arrears, we will
not:
 
     - declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, other than in
       common shares, on our common shares;
 
     - purchase any Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares, unless
       paid for with our common shares; or
 
     - permit any entity controlled by us to purchase any of our common shares
       or Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares;
 
until such accrued dividends and distributions are paid in full or an amount
sufficient for such payment has been set aside.
 
    Redemption
 
     The Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Shares are not redeemable.
 
                                        16

 
        DESCRIPTION OF SHARE PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND SHARE PURCHASE UNITS
 
     We summarize below the general terms and provisions of our share purchase
contracts and share purchase units that may be offered by this prospectus. When
we offer to sell a particular series of the share purchase contracts or share
purchase units, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a
supplement to this prospectus. The description in the applicable supplement to
this prospectus will be a summary of all the material features of the share
purchase contracts or share purchase units. Reference will be made to the share
purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary
arrangements, relating to the share purchase contracts or share purchase units,
which will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration
statement that includes this prospectus, and we encourage you to read them.
 
     We may issue and sell, from time to time, share purchase contracts,
representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and for us to
sell to the holders, a specified number of our common shares and/or preferred
shares at a future date or dates. The price per share of our common shares or
preferred shares may be fixed at the time the share purchase contracts are
issued or may be determined by reference to a specified formula set forth in the
share purchase contracts. The share purchase contracts may be issued separately
or as parts of units. The share purchase units will consist of the following:
 
     - share purchase contract; and
 
     - one or more of the following, each of which secures the holders'
       obligations to purchase the common shares and/or preferred shares under
       the share purchase contracts:
 
       - senior notes;
 
       - junior subordinated notes;
 
       - trust preferred securities; or
 
       - debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities.
 
     The share purchase contracts may require (1) us to make periodic payments
to holders of the share purchase units or (2) the holders of the share purchase
units to make periodic payments to us. The share purchase contracts may require
holders to secure their obligations under the stock purchase contracts in a
specified manner.
 
                                        17

 
                        DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
 
     We summarize below the general terms and provisions of the depositary
shares that may be offered by this prospectus. When we offer to sell depositary
shares, we will describe the particular terms of the depositary shares in a
supplement to this prospectus. The description in the applicable supplement to
this prospectus will be a summary of all the material features of the depositary
shares. Reference will be made to the deposit agreement relating to such
depositary shares. A copy of the form of deposit agreement will be filed with
the SEC as an exhibit to a report on Form 8-K or by a post-effective amendment
to the registration statement that includes this prospectus, and we encourage
you to read them.
 
     We may offer depositary shares representing receipts for fractional
interests in senior debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities or
preferred shares. In this case, we will issue receipts for depositary shares,
each of which will represent a fraction of a senior debt security, junior
subordinated debt security or share of a particular series of preferred shares,
as the case may be.
 
     We will deposit the senior debt securities, junior subordinated debt
securities or shares of any series of preferred shares represented by depositary
shares under a deposit agreement between us and a depositary which we will name
in the applicable prospectus supplement. Subject to the terms of the deposit
agreement, as an owner of a depositary share you will be entitled, in proportion
to the applicable fraction of a senior debt security, junior subordinated debt
security or preferred share represented by the depositary share, to all the
rights and preferences of the senior debt security, junior subordinated debt
security or preferred share, as the case may be, represented by the depositary
share, including, as the case may be, interest, dividend, voting, redemption,
sinking fund, repayment at maturity, subscription and liquidation rights.
 
INTEREST, DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
 
     The depositary will distribute all payments of interest, cash dividends or
other cash distributions received on the senior debt securities, junior
subordinated debt securities or preferred shares, as the case may be, to you in
proportion to the number of depositary shares that you own.
 
     In the event of a payment of interest or distribution other than in cash,
the depositary will distribute property received by it to you in an equitable
manner, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make a
distribution. In that case the depositary may sell the property and distribute
the net proceeds from the sale to you.
 
REDEMPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
 
     If we redeem a series of senior debt securities, junior subordinated debt
securities or preferred shares represented by depositary shares, the depositary
will redeem your depositary shares from the proceeds received by the depositary
resulting from the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will be
equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per senior debt
security, junior subordinated debt security or preferred share, as the case may
be, payable in relation to the redeemed series of senior debt securities, junior
subordinated debt securities or preferred shares. Whenever we redeem senior debt
securities, junior subordinated debt securities or preferred shares held by the
depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number
of depositary shares representing, as the case may be, the senior debt
securities, junior subordinated debt securities or preferred shares redeemed. If
fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares
to be redeemed will be selected by lot, proportionately or by any other
equitable method as the depositary may determine.
 
VOTING THE PREFERRED SHARES OR EXERCISE OF RIGHTS UNDER THE SENIOR INDENTURE OR
THE SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
 
     Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which you are entitled to vote, or
of any request for instructions or directions from you as holder of senior debt
securities or junior subordinated debt securities, the depositary will mail to
you the information contained in that notice. Each record holder of the
depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary
how to vote the amount of the preferred shares represented by that holder's
depositary shares or how to give instructions or directions with respect to the
senior debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, as the case may
be, represented by that holder's depositary shares. The record date for the
depositary shares will be the same
 
                                        18

 
date as the record date for the preferred shares, senior debt securities or
junior subordinated debt securities, as the case may be. The depositary will
endeavor, to the extent practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred shares,
or to give instructions or directions with respect to the senior debt securities
or junior subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, represented by the
depositary shares in accordance with those instructions. We will agree to take
all reasonable action which the depositary may deem necessary to enable the
depositary to do so. The depositary will abstain from voting the preferred
shares or giving instructions or directions with respect to the senior debt
securities or junior subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, if it
does not receive specific instructions from you.
 
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
 
     We and the depositary may amend the form of depositary receipt evidencing
the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement at any time.
However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the
holders of the depositary shares will not be effective unless the amendment has
been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares
then outstanding.
 
     The deposit agreement will terminate if:
 
     - all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or
 
     - there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred shares,
       including in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up,
       or a complete repayment or redemption of the senior debt securities or
       junior subordinated debt securities and the distribution, repayment or
       redemption proceeds, as the case may be, have been distributed to you.
 
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DEPOSITARY
 
     The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its
election to do so. We also may, at any time, remove the depositary. Any
resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor
depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. We must appoint the successor
depositary within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or
removal. The successor depositary must be a bank or trust company having its
principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus
of at least $50,000,000.
 
CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY
 
     We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising
solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of
the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred shares,
senior debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, as the case may
be, and issuance of depositary receipts, all withdrawals of preferred shares,
senior debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, as the case may
be, by you and any repayment or redemption of the preferred shares, senior debt
securities or junior subordinated debt securities, as the case may be. You will
pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges, as well as the
other charges that are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for
your account.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
     The depositary will forward all reports and communications from us which
are delivered to the depositary and which we are required or otherwise determine
to furnish to holders of senior debt securities, junior subordinated debt
securities or preferred shares, as the case may be.
 
     Neither we nor the depositary will be liable under the deposit agreement to
you other than for the depositary's gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad
faith. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend
any legal proceedings relating to any depositary shares, senior debt securities,
junior subordinated debt securities or preferred shares unless satisfactory
indemnity is furnished.
 
                                        19

 
                            DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
 
     We summarize below the general terms and provisions of the warrants that
may be offered by this prospectus. When we offer to sell warrants, we will
describe the particular terms of the warrants in a supplement to this
prospectus. The description in the applicable supplement to this prospectus will
be a summary of all of the material features of the warrants. Reference will be
made to the warrant agreement and warrant certificate relating to such warrants.
A copy of the form of warrant agreement will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit
to a report on Form 8-K or by a post-effective amendment to the registration
statement that includes this prospectus, and we encourage you to read them.
 
     We may offer warrants, including warrants to purchase common shares, and
warrants to purchase debt securities, as well as other types of warrants. We may
issue the warrants independently or together with any other securities and the
warrants may be attached to or separate from the other securities. The warrants
are to be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a
warrant agent, as shall be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to
the warrants being offered pursuant thereto.
 
     The warrant agreement relating to any series of warrants will include the
specific terms of the warrants. We will describe in a prospectus supplement some
or all of the following terms of the warrants being offered:
 
     - the title and aggregate number of warrants;
 
     - the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
 
     - the currency or currency units or composite currencies in which the price
       for the warrants may be payable;
 
     - the designation and terms of the securities for which the warrants can be
       exercised and the price or the manner of determining the price and
       currency or other consideration to purchase the securities;
 
     - the date on which the right to exercise the warrants begins and the date
       on which the right expires;
 
     - if applicable, the maximum or minimum amount of warrants that may be
       exercised at any one time;
 
     - if applicable, the date on which the warrants and the related securities
       will be separately transferable;
 
     - any mandatory or optional redemption provision;
 
     - the identity of the warrant agent;
 
     - information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and
 
     - any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and
       limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.
 
     The warrants will be represented by certificates. The warrants may be
exchanged under the terms outlined in the warrant agreement. We will not charge
any service charges for any transfer or exchange of warrant certificates, but we
may require payment for tax or other governmental charges in connection with the
exchange or transfer. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, until a
warrant is exercised, a holder will not be entitled to any payments on or have
any rights with respect to the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrant.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe all of the material United
States federal income tax considerations applicable to the particular series of
warrants being offered.
 
                                        20

 
                       DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
 
     We may offer unsecured general obligations, which may be senior debt
securities or junior subordinated debt securities. The senior debt securities
and the junior subordinated debt securities are together referred to in this
prospectus as the "debt securities." The senior debt securities will have the
same rank as all of our other unsecured, unsubordinated obligations. The junior
subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment
to the extent and in the manner set forth in the subordinated indenture to all
of our senior debt as defined below under "Description of the Debt
Securities -- Provisions Applicable Only to Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities -- Subordination."
 
     We will issue senior debt securities in one or more series under an
indenture, sometimes referred to as the senior indenture, dated as of September
22, 1997 between us and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee. Pursuant to the
Tripartite/Conversion Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2000, Wachovia Bank,
National Association (formerly known as First Union National Bank) succeeded The
Chase Manhattan Bank as trustee under the senior indenture. The junior
subordinated debt securities will be issued under an indenture, sometimes
referred to as the subordinated indenture, dated as of August 11, 2000 between
us and Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First Union
National Bank), as trustee.
 
     We summarize below all of the material features of the debt securities. The
summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by all of the
provisions of the indentures and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of
1939. The indentures are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the
registration statement that includes this prospectus, and we encourage you to
read them. You should also read the applicable prospectus supplement, which will
contain additional information and may update or change some of the information
below. References in parentheses below to sections or articles are to sections
or articles of the indentures.
 
     The debt securities will be issuable in one or more series pursuant to one
or more indentures supplemental to the original indentures, or a resolution of
our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors.
(Section 3.1 of each indenture.)
 
     The indentures do not contain any covenants or provisions which may afford
holders of debt securities protection in the event that we engage in a highly
leveraged transaction or other transaction that may adversely affect the holders
of the debt securities, including the incurrence or issuance of other secured or
unsecured debt.
 
     Most of our assets are owned by our subsidiaries and, accordingly, the debt
securities are effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities
of our subsidiaries. Our rights and the rights of our creditors, including
holders of debt securities, to participate in any distribution of the assets of
any subsidiary upon its liquidation, recapitalization or insolvency would be
subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent
that we might ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the
subsidiary.
 
GENERAL TERMS OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
 
     The aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue under
the indentures is unlimited. The debt securities may be issued in one or more
series. You should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement for the
specific terms of the debt securities, including the following:
 
     - title and aggregate principal amount;
 
     - indenture under which the debt securities are issued;
 
     - any applicable subordination provisions;
 
     - percentage or percentages of principal amount at which the debt
       securities will be issued and percentage or percentages of principal
       amount payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the
       debt securities;
 
     - maturity date(s);
                                        21

 
     - interest rate(s) or the method for determining the interest rate(s);
 
     - dates on which interest will accrue or the method for determining dates
       on which interest will accrue and dates on which interest will be
       payable;
 
     - interest deferral provisions, if any;
 
     - conversion or exchange provisions, if any;
 
     - place or places where principal, premium and interest will be payable;
 
     - redemption or early repayment provisions;
 
     - authorized denominations;
 
     - amount of discount with which such debt securities will be issued;
 
     - whether the debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the
       form of one or more global securities;
 
     - identity of the depositary for global securities;
 
     - whether a temporary security is to be issued with respect to the debt
       securities and whether any interest payable prior to the issuance of
       definitive debt securities of the series will be credited to the account
       of the persons entitled thereto;
 
     - the terms upon which beneficial interests in a temporary global debt
       security may be exchanged in whole or in part for beneficial interests in
       a definitive global debt security or for individual definitive debt
       securities and the terms upon which such exchanges may be made;
 
     - currency, currencies or currency units in which the purchase price for,
       the principal of and any premium and any interest on, the debt securities
       will be payable;
 
     - time period within which, the manner in which and the terms and
       conditions upon which the purchaser of the debt securities can select the
       payment currency;
 
     - securities exchange(s) on which the debt securities will be listed, if
       any;
 
     - additions to or changes in the events of default with respect to the debt
       securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to
       declare the principal, premium and interest with respect to such debt
       securities to be due and payable; and
 
     - additional terms not inconsistent with the provisions of the indentures.
 
     One or more series of debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount
below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate
which at the time of issuance is below market rates. One or more series of debt
securities may be variable rate debt securities that may be exchanged for fixed
rate debt securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe all of
the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the
particular series of debt securities being offered.
 
     Debt securities may be issued where the amount of principal and/or interest
payable is determined by reference to:
 
     - the price of one or more commodities, derivatives or securities;
 
     - one or more securities, derivatives or commodities exchange indices or
       other indices;
 
     - a currency, currencies or any currency units other than the currency in
       which such debt securities are issued or other factors; or
 
     - any other variable or the relationship between any variables or
       combination of variables.
 
     Holders of debt securities may receive a principal amount or a payment of
interest that is greater than or less than the amount of principal or interest
otherwise payable on such dates, depending upon the value
 
                                        22

 
of the applicable currencies, commodities, securities, derivatives, indices or
other factors. Information as to the methods for determining the amount of
principal or interest, if any, payable on any date, and the currencies,
commodities, securities, derivatives, indices or other factors to which the
amount payable on such date is linked will be described in the applicable
prospectus supplement.
 
     The term "debt securities" includes debt securities denominated in U.S.
dollars or, if specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, in any other
freely transferable currency or units based on or relating to foreign
currencies.
 
     We expect most debt securities to be issued in fully registered form
without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of
$1,000. (Section 3.2 of each indenture.) Subject to the limitations provided in
the indentures and in the prospectus supplement, debt securities which are
issued in registered form may be registered, transferred or exchanged at the
principal corporate trust office of the trustee or at the office or agency that
we will maintain for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New
York, without the payment of any service charge, other than any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection with the registration or transfer or
exchange. (Sections 3.5 and 9.2 of each indenture.)
 
     We may issue debt securities of any series in whole or in part in
definitive form or in the form of one or more global debt securities as
described below under "Global Securities." We may issue debt securities of a
series at different times. In addition, we may issue debt securities within a
series with terms different from the terms of other debt securities of that
series. (Section 3.1(c) of each indenture.)
 
     Subject to applicable law, we or any of our affiliates may at any time
purchase or repurchase debt securities of any series in any manner and at any
price. Debt securities of any series purchased by us or any of our affiliates
may be held or surrendered by the purchaser of the debt securities for
cancellation.
 
GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
     We expect the following provisions to apply to all debt securities.
 
     We may issue the debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the
form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf
of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will
issue global securities in registered form and in either temporary or definitive
form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual
debt securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by
the depositary for such global security to a nominee of such depositary or by a
nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such
depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such
depositary or a nominee of such successor. (Section 2.4 of each indenture.)
 
     The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt
securities of a series and the rights of and limitations upon owners of
beneficial interests in a global security will be described in the prospectus
supplement. We expect that the provisions set forth below will generally apply
to depositary arrangements.
 
     Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary for such global
security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer
system, the respective principal amounts of the individual debt securities
represented by such global security to the accounts of persons that have
accounts with such depositary or its nominee. Such accounts shall be designated
by the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to the debt securities or by
us if such debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to persons that have
accounts with the applicable depositary, who are referred to in this prospectus
as participants, or persons that may hold interests through participants.
Ownership of beneficial interests in such global security will be shown on, and
the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained
by the applicable depositary or its nominee with respect to interests of
participants and the records of participants with respect to interests of
persons other than participants. The laws of some states require that certain
purchasers of securities
 
                                        23

 
take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and
such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global
security.
 
     So long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the
registered owner of a global security, such depositary or such nominee, as the
case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities
represented by that global security for all purposes under the indenture
governing those debt securities. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial
interests in a global security will not be entitled to have any of the
individual debt securities of the series represented by that global security
registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical
delivery of any debt securities of such series in definitive form and will not
be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture governing such
debt securities.
 
     Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on individual
debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a
depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the
case may be, as the registered owner of the global security representing the
debt securities. Neither we, the trustee for the debt securities, any paying
agent, nor the registrar for the debt securities will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made by the
depositary or any participants on account of beneficial ownership interests in
the global security for the debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
     We expect that the depositary for a series of debt securities or its
nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest in
respect of a permanent global security representing the debt securities, will
immediately credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate
to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such global
security for the debt securities as shown on the records of the depositary or
its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of
beneficial interests in a global security held through such participants will be
governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case
with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered
in "street name." Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.
 
     If the depositary for a series of debt securities notifies us at any time
that it is unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and a
successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue
definitive debt securities of that series in exchange for the global security or
securities representing that series of debt securities. In addition, we may at
any time and in our sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the
prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities, determine not to have any
debt securities of a series represented by one or more global securities, and,
in such event, will issue definitive debt securities of that series in exchange
for the global security or securities representing that series of debt
securities. If definitive debt securities are issued, an owner of a beneficial
interest in a global security will be entitled to physical delivery of
definitive debt securities of the series represented by that global security
equal in principal amount to that beneficial interest and to have the debt
securities registered in its name. Definitive debt securities of any series so
issued will be issued in denominations, unless otherwise specified by us, of
$1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. (Section 3.5 of each indenture.)
 
REDEMPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
     If the debt securities of a series provide for redemption at our election,
unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, such
redemption shall be on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice and, in
the event of redemption in part, the debt securities to be redeemed will be
selected by the trustee by such method as it shall deem fair and appropriate.
Notice of such redemption will be mailed to holders of debt securities of such
series to their last addresses as they appear on the register of the debt
securities of such series. (Sections 1.6, 10.3 and 10.4 of each indenture.)
 
                                        24

 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT, NOTICE AND WAIVER
 
     Each indenture provides that, if an event of default in respect of any
series of debt securities shall have occurred and be continuing, either the
trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal (or a
portion thereof in the case of certain debt securities issued with original
issue discount or indexed debt securities) and accrued interest of all the debt
securities of that series to be due and payable, by written notice to us (and by
written notice to the trustee if given by the holders). The consequence of this
action is that the principal and accrued interest of the debt securities shall
be immediately due and payable by us. (Section 5.2 of each indenture.)
 
     Each indenture defines events of default in respect of any series of debt
securities as:
 
     - default for 30 days in payment of any interest installment or additional
       amount when due;
 
     - default in payment of the principal of or any premium on or any mandatory
       sinking fund payment with respect to debt securities of such series when
       due;
 
     - failure to comply with certain obligations for 60 days after written
       notice of non-compliance to us by the trustee or the holders of at least
       25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such
       series;
 
     - our commencement of a voluntary case under Title 11 of the U.S. Code or
       any similar federal or state bankruptcy law;
 
     - our consent to the entry of an order for relief against us in an
       involuntary case under any such law or to the appointment of a receiver,
       trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any such law;
 
     - a general assignment by us for the benefit of our creditors under any
       such law;
 
     - the entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of an order or decree
       granting relief against us in an involuntary case under any such law
       where such order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;
 
     - the entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of an order or decree
       appointing a receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official
       for us or for substantially all of our property where such order or
       decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; and
 
     - any other event of default provided for in the indenture with respect to
       the debt securities of such series.
 
(Section 5.1 of each indenture.)
 
     The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Section 6.6 of each indenture provide
that the trustee will, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default in
respect of any series of debt securities, give to the holders of that series
written notice of all uncured and unwaived defaults known to it; provided that,
except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of, premium on, if
any, or interest on, if any, or any sinking fund installment or analogous
obligation with respect to, any of the debt securities of that series, the
trustee will be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith
determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders
of that series. "Default" means any event which is, or after notice or passage
of time or both would be, an event of default with respect to debt securities of
such series.
 
     Each indenture provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, subject
to limitations, direct the time, method and place of conducting proceedings for
any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
on the trustee, in respect of the debt securities of that series. (Section 5.8
of each indenture.)
 
                                        25

 
     Each indenture includes a covenant that we will file annually with the
trustee a certificate of compliance with all conditions and covenants under each
indenture. (Section 9.7 of each indenture.)
 
     In certain cases, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the outstanding debt securities of a series may, by providing written notice
to the trustee on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series,
waive any past default or event of default, except for defaults or events of
default not already cured in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if
any, or interest on any of the debt securities of that series or any coupon
related to such debt securities or compliance with certain covenants or
provisions. (Section 5.7 of each indenture.)
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS OF PHELPS DODGE
 
 Limitation on Liens
 
     Each indenture provides that we will not, and will not permit certain of
our subsidiaries to, (a) issue, assume or guarantee any debt for money borrowed
if such debt is secured by a mortgage upon, or (b) secure any outstanding debt
by a mortgage upon, certain of the principal properties that we now or may own
without providing that the debt securities offered under this prospectus are
secured equally with such debt, except that these restrictions shall not apply
to:
 
     - mortgages on any principal property acquired, constructed or improved
       after the date of the indenture to secure or provide for the payment of
       the related purchase price or cost;
 
     - mortgages on any principal property acquired in connection with a merger;
 
     - mortgages to secure debt of a restricted subsidiary owed to us or another
       restricted subsidiary;
 
     - any extension, renewal or replacement of any mortgage referred to above;
 
     - the sale or other transfer of any interest in property commonly referred
       to as a "production payment"; and
 
     - mortgages in favor of governmental bodies to secure advance or progress
       payments under any contract or statute or debt incurred for the purpose
       of financing the purchase price or cost of constructing or improving the
       related property subject.
 
(Section 9.9 of each indenture.)
 
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, we and our subsidiaries may, without
securing the debt securities, issue, assume or guarantee secured debt which
would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions in an aggregate amount
which, together with all other such debt of ours and our subsidiaries and the
rental payments related to sale and lease-back transactions (other than sale and
lease-back transactions in which the property involved would have been permitted
to be mortgaged under the preceding paragraph or the proceeds of which have been
applied to the retirement of long-term debt), does not at the time exceed 15% of
our consolidated shareholders' equity. (Section 9.9 of each indenture.)
 
 Sale and Lease-Back Transactions
 
     Sale and lease-back transactions by us or certain of our subsidiaries are
prohibited unless the proceeds of such transaction are at least equal to the
fair value of the property leased and either (i) we or the restricted subsidiary
would be entitled to incur debt secured by a mortgage on the property to be
leased without equally securing the debt securities or (ii) we apply an amount
equal to the fair value of the property leased to the retirement of our
long-term debt. Sale and lease-back transactions do not include arrangements
with governmental bodies entered into for the purpose of financing the purchase
price or the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such
arrangements. (Section 9.10 of each indenture.)
 
     Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, we and our subsidiaries may enter
into any sale and lease-back transaction which would otherwise be subject to the
foregoing restrictions if the amount of the rental
 
                                        26

 
payments related to such transaction, together with all secured debt of ours and
our restricted subsidiaries and all other rental payments related to sale and
lease-back transactions (other than sale and lease-back transactions permitted
because we would be entitled to incur debt secured by a mortgage on the property
to be leased without equally securing the debt securities, and other than sale
and lease-back transactions the proceeds of which have been applied in
accordance with clause (ii) of the preceding paragraph), does not at the time
exceed 15% of our consolidated shareholders' equity. (Section 9.10 of each
indenture.)
 
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURES
 
     Each indenture contains provisions permitting us and the trustee to enter
into one or more supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of
any of the debt securities in order to:
 
     - evidence the succession of another corporation to us and the assumption
       of our covenants and obligations by our successor;
 
     - add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of debt securities or
       surrender any of our rights or powers;
 
     - add additional events of default with respect to any series of debt
       securities;
 
     - add to or change any provisions of the indenture to such extent as
       necessary to facilitate the issuance of debt securities in bearer form or
       to facilitate the issuance of debt securities in global form;
 
     - change or eliminate any provision of the indenture if such change or
       elimination does not affect any series of debt securities created prior
       to the execution of any such supplemental indenture that is entitled to
       the benefit of such provision;
 
     - secure the debt securities;
 
     - establish the form or terms of debt securities;
 
     - evidence and provide for successor trustees and/or to add to or change
       any provisions of the indenture to such extent as necessary to provide
       for or facilitate the appointment of a separate trustee or trustees for
       specific series of debt securities;
 
     - permit payment of principal, premium or interest in respect of debt
       securities in bearer form or coupons, if any, in the United States and
       other areas subject to its jurisdiction; or
 
     - correct or supplement any inconsistent provisions or make any other
       provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the
       indenture, provided that any such action does not adversely affect the
       interests of any holder of debt securities of any series. (Section 8.1 of
       each indenture.)
 
     Each indenture also contains provisions permitting us and the trustee, with
the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series, to
execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing or
eliminating any of the provisions of the indenture or modifying the rights of
the holders of debt securities of that series. No supplemental indenture may,
without the consent of the holders of all of the affected debt securities, among
other things:
 
     - change the maturity of any debt securities;
 
     - change the currency in which such debt securities are payable;
 
     - reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or
       any premium payable upon the redemption thereof;
 
     - change the manner in which the amount of any principal thereof or
       premium, if any, or interest thereon is determined;
 
                                        27

 
     - impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on
       such debt securities at maturity or upon redemption;
 
     - reduce the percentage of the outstanding principal amount of debt
       securities the holders of which must consent to any such supplemental
       indenture;
 
     - modify the indenture provisions concerning modification of the indenture
       or the waiver of past defaults or specified covenants other than to
       increase the required percentage to effect a modification or provide that
       additional provisions may not be waived without the consent of each
       holder of that series of debt securities; or
 
     - in the case of the subordinated indenture, modify the subordination
       provisions thereof in a manner adverse to the holders of junior
       subordinated debt securities then outstanding. (Section 8.2 of each
       indenture.)
 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF THE INDENTURES; DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
 
     Each indenture shall generally cease to be of any further effect with
respect to a series of debt securities when:
 
     - we have delivered to the trustee for cancellation all debt securities of
       that series; or
 
     - all debt securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the
       trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by
       their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called
       for redemption within one year, and we shall have deposited with the
       trustee as trust funds the entire amount sufficient to pay at maturity or
       upon redemption all debt securities of that series (and if, in either
       case, we shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable under
       the indenture by us in respect of all debt securities of that series and
       deliver to the trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of
       counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent in the indenture have
       been complied with) and we shall have made any other payments due under
       the indenture and delivered to the trustee an officer's certificate and
       opinion of counsel saying that we have fulfilled each of the conditions
       mentioned above. (Section 4.1 of each indenture.)
 
     The trustee shall hold in trust all money deposited with it as described
above and shall apply the deposited money, in accordance with the provisions of
the debt securities of the defeased series and the indenture, to the payment,
either directly or through any paying agent, as the trustee may determine, to
the persons entitled thereto, of principal, premium, if any and any interest for
whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the trustee.
(Section 4.2 of each indenture.)
 
     The indenture provides, unless the terms of the particular series of debt
securities provide otherwise, that:
 
     - we may elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to any
       debt securities or series of debt securities, which we refer to as
       "defeasance;" and/or
 
     - we may elect to be released from our obligations under any covenants
       described in any prospectus supplement or included in any supplemental
       indenture with respect to any debt securities or series of debt
       securities, which we refer to as "covenant defeasance."
 
     In connection with any defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must
irrevocably deposit with the trustee of the indenture, in trust, money and/or
government obligations which, through the scheduled payment of principal and
interest on those obligations, would provide sufficient moneys to pay all
amounts due on the debt securities on the maturity dates or upon redemption and
by any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon. In connection with
any defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must also deliver to the trustee an
opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities will
not recognize income gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes
as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to
United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at
the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance or covenant
 
                                        28

 
defeasance had not occurred. In the case of defeasance, the opinion of counsel
must refer to and be based upon a letter ruling of the Internal Revenue Service
received by the issuing company or published by the Internal Revenue Service or
a change in applicable United States federal income tax law occurring after the
date of the indenture. In addition, defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not
result in a breach or default or event of default under the indenture or a
default under any other material agreement or instrument to which we are a party
or by which we are bound.
 
     Upon a defeasance, the following rights and obligations will continue: (1)
the rights of the holders of debt securities of any series to receive from the
defeasance trust any amounts due on the debt securities when payments are due;
(2) our obligations regarding the registration, transfer and exchange of debt
securities of any series; (3) our obligation to maintain an office or agency in
each place of payment; and (4) the survival of the indenture trustee's rights,
powers, trusts, duties and immunities under the indenture.
 
     The indenture permits defeasance with respect to any debt securities of a
series even if a prior covenant defeasance has occurred with respect to the debt
securities of that series. If we exercise our defeasance option, payment of such
debt securities may not be accelerated because of an event of default. If we
exercise our covenant defeasance option, payment of the debt securities may not
be accelerated because of an event of default with respect to the covenants
affected by the covenant defeasance. However, if an acceleration were to occur
by reason of another event of default, the realizable value at the acceleration
date of the money and government obligations in the defeasance trust could be
less than the amounts then due on the debt securities, since the required
deposit in the defeasance trust would be based upon scheduled cash flows rather
than market value, which would vary depending upon interest rates and other
factors. (Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6 of each indenture.)
 
RECORD DATES
 
     We will generally be entitled to set any date as the record date for the
purpose of determining the holders of debt securities entitled to give or take
any action under either indenture in the manner specified in such indenture. If
a record date is set, action may only be taken by persons who are holders of
debt securities on the record date. Also, unless otherwise specified in the
prospectus supplement applicable to a series of debt securities, to be
effective, any action must become effective under the applicable indenture
within six months of the record date. (Section 1.4(f) of each indenture.)
 
NOTICE
 
     Notices to holders of debt securities will be given by mail to the
addresses of holders appearing in the applicable securities register. We and the
trustee may treat the person in whose name a debt security is registered as the
owner thereof for all purposes. (Sections 1.6 and 3.8 of each indenture.)
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
     Each indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. (Section 1.11 of each
indenture.)
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS
 
     Each indenture provides that we may not merge or consolidate with or into
any other corporation or other entity or lease or transfer all or substantially
all of our assets, unless:
 
     - the entity formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger or to
       which the lease or transfer is made is a corporation organized under the
       laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
       and
 
     - immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or event
       of default exists.
 
     We must deliver to the trustee prior to such transaction an officer's
certificate to the foregoing effect and an opinion of counsel stating that such
transaction and supplemental indenture complies with the
 
                                        29

 
indenture and that all conditions precedent under the indenture to the
consummation of such transaction have been met.
 
     Upon any such consolidation, merger or transfer, the successor corporation
formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or to which such
transfer is made shall succeed to and be substituted for us under the indenture.
(Section 7.1 of each indenture.)
 
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEES
 
     Wachovia Bank, National Association, which is the senior indenture trustee
under the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture trustee under the
subordinated indenture, also serves as the property trustee for each trust and
the guarantee trustee under each preferred securities guarantee described below.
It is an affiliate of Delaware Trust Company, National Association, which serves
as the Delaware trustee for each trust.
 
     We may from time to time maintain credit facilities and have other
customary banking relationships with Wachovia Bank, National Association.
 
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE ONLY TO SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
 
  Ranking
 
     Senior debt securities will be direct, unconditional and unsecured
obligations of our company and, except for certain debts required to be
preferred by law will rank equal among themselves and equally with all of our
other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The senior debt securities will
rank senior to our subordinated obligations, including any subordinated debt
securities.
 
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE ONLY TO JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
 
  Subordination
 
     In the subordinated indenture, we have agreed that any junior subordinated
debt securities issued thereunder are subordinated in right of payment to all
senior indebtedness, as defined below, to the extent provided in the
subordinated indenture.
 
     In the event of any:
 
     - insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization,
       readjustment, composition or other similar proceeding relating to us, our
       creditors or our property;
 
     - any proceeding for our liquidation, dissolution or other winding up,
       voluntary or involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or
       bankruptcy proceedings;
 
     - any assignment by us for the benefit of creditors; or
 
     - any other marshalling of our assets.
 
     The holders of senior indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment in
full on such senior indebtedness before the holders of junior subordinated debt
securities will be entitled to receive or retain any payment on the junior
subordinated debt securities. (Section 12.3 and 12.5 of the subordinated
indenture.)
 
     No payments on account of the junior subordinated debt securities or
interest thereon may be made if:
 
     - we default in any payment with respect to senior indebtedness; or
 
     - an event of default occurs with respect to any senior indebtedness
       resulting in the acceleration of the maturity of the senior indebtedness.
 
     For purposes of the subordination provisions, the payment, issuance and
delivery of cash, property or securities, other than shares and certain of our
subordinated securities, upon conversion of any junior
                                        30

 
subordinated debt security will be deemed to constitute payment on account of
the principal of such junior subordinated debt security. (Section 12.13 of the
subordinated indenture.)
 
     When we use the term "senior indebtedness" we mean the principal, premium,
if any, and interest on:
 
     - all of our indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of the
       subordinated indenture or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, that
       is for borrowed money, or evidenced by a note or similar instrument given
       in connection with the acquisition of any business, properties or assets,
       including securities;
 
     - any indebtedness of any other person of the kind described in the
       preceding bullet for the payment of which we are responsible or liable as
       guarantor or otherwise; and
 
     - amendments, renewals, extensions and refundings of any such indebtedness;
 
provided, however, that senior indebtedness does not include indebtedness
incurred for the purchase of goods or materials or for services obtained in the
ordinary course of business or any indebtedness which by its express terms is
equal with or subordinated to the junior subordinated debt securities. (Section
12.2 of the subordinated indenture.)
 
     The subordinated indenture provides that the foregoing subordination
provisions, insofar as they relate to any particular issue of junior
subordinated debt securities, may be changed prior to such issuance. Any such
change would be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such junior
subordinated debt securities. (Section 3.1 of the subordinated indenture.)
 
                                        31

 
                    DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
     The preferred securities of each trust will be issued pursuant to a trust
agreement for that trust, as subsequently amended and restated, among us, the
issuer of the related junior subordinated debt securities, Wachovia Bank,
National Association, as the property trustee, and Delaware Trust Company,
National Association, as the Delaware trustee, the three administrative trustees
and the holders from time to time of the applicable trust's preferred and common
securities. We summarize below all of the material features of the preferred
securities. The summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by all
of the provisions of the applicable trust agreements and forms of each amended
and restated trust agreement. Those documents are filed or incorporated by
reference as exhibits to the registration statement that includes this
prospectus, and we encourage you to read them. You also may request a copy of
the trust agreements from the property trustee at its corporate trust office in
New York, New York. Each trust agreement will be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939. The terms of the preferred securities of each trust will
include those stated in the applicable trust agreement and those made part of
the trust agreement by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The amended and
restated trust agreement for each trust will be executed at the time the trust
issues any preferred securities and will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to
a report on Form 8-K or by a post-effective amendment to the registration
statement that includes this prospectus. You should also read the applicable
prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and may update
or change some of the information below.
 
GENERAL
 
     The trust agreement for each trust authorizes the administrative trustees
to issue on behalf of the trust preferred securities that have the terms
described in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement. The
preferred securities will represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of the applicable trust. The proceeds from the sale of each trust's preferred
and common securities will be used by the trust to purchase a series of junior
subordinated debt securities that we issue. The junior subordinated debt
securities will be held in trust by the property trustee for the benefit of the
holders of the preferred and common securities of the applicable trust.
 
     The terms of the preferred securities of each trust will mirror the terms
of the junior subordinated debt securities held by the applicable trust. If
interest payments on the junior subordinated debt securities held by the
applicable trust are deferred as described below, distributions on the preferred
securities will also be deferred. The assets of the trust available for
distribution to the holders of its preferred securities generally will be
limited to payments under the series of junior subordinated debt securities held
by the trust.
 
     Under the preferred securities guarantee for each trust, we will agree to
make payments of distributions and payments on redemption or liquidation with
respect to the trust's preferred securities, but only to the extent the trust
has funds available to make those payments and has not made the payments. Our
obligations under the applicable preferred securities guarantee, trust
agreement, subordinated indenture and related junior subordinated debt
securities will provide a full, irrevocable and unconditional commitment by us
regarding amounts due on the preferred securities issued by each trust.
 
     The prospectus supplement relating to the preferred securities of each
trust will describe some or all of the following terms of the preferred
securities:
 
     - the name of the preferred securities;
 
     - the dollar amount and number of preferred securities issued;
 
     - the annual distribution rate, or method of determining the rate, of
       distributions on the preferred securities, and date or dates from which
       any distributions will accrue;
 
     - the payment date and the record date used to determine the holders who
       are to receive distributions on the preferred securities;
 
                                        32

 
     - the right, if any, to defer distributions on the preferred securities
       upon extension of the interest payment periods of the related junior
       subordinated debt securities;
 
     - the applicable trust's obligation, if any, to redeem or purchase the
       preferred securities and the terms and conditions on which the preferred
       securities may be redeemed or purchased pursuant to any obligation;
 
     - the terms and conditions, if any, on which the preferred securities may
       be redeemed at the applicable trust's option or at the option of the
       holders;
 
     - the terms and conditions, if any, on which preferred securities may be
       converted or exchanged;
 
     - the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the related junior
       subordinated debt securities may be distributed to holders of the
       preferred securities;
 
     - the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the preferred securities;
 
     - whether the preferred securities are to be issued in book-entry form and
       represented by one or more global securities and, if so, the depositary
       and any provisions for the transfer or exchange of the global securities,
       if different from those described below under "-- Global Securities"; and
 
     - any other relevant rights, preferences, privileges, limitations or
       restrictions of the preferred securities.
 
     The applicable prospectus supplement will describe all of the material
United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the particular
series of preferred securities being offered.
 
GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
     We may issue the preferred securities of a series in whole or in part in
the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on
behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We
will issue global securities in registered form and in either temporary or
definitive form.
 
     The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any
preferred securities of a series and the rights and limitations upon owners of
beneficial interest in a global security will be described in the prospectus
supplement. We expect that the provisions set forth below will generally apply
to depositary arrangements.
 
     Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary for such global
security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the
respective principal amounts of the individual preferred securities represented
by the global security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with such
depositary or its nominee. Such accounts shall be designated by the dealers,
underwriters or agents with respect to the preferred securities or by the
applicable trust, if the preferred securities are offered and sold directly by
the trust. Ownership of beneficial interests in such global security will be
limited to persons that may hold interests through participants.
 
     Ownership of beneficial interests by participants in such global security
will be shown on, and the transfer of any ownership interest will be effected
only through, records maintained by the applicable depositary or its nominee
with respect to interests of participants and the records of participants with
respect to interests of persons other than participants. The laws of some states
require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such
securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability
to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.
 
     So long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the
registered owner of a global security, such depositary or such nominee, as the
case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the preferred
securities represented by a global security for all purposes under the
applicable trust agreement. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial
interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the individual
preferred securities represented by that global security registered in their
names, will
 
                                        33

 
not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the preferred
securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders
of the preferred securities under the applicable trust agreement.
 
     Payments on individual preferred securities represented by a global
security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to
the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of
the global security representing the preferred securities. None of us, the
trusts, the property trustee, the Delaware trustee, any administrative trustee,
any paying agent or the registrar and transfer agent for the preferred
securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to, or payments made by the depositary or any participants on
account of, such beneficial ownership interests in the global security for the
preferred securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records
relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
     We expect that a depositary for the preferred securities of a series or its
nominee, upon receipt of any payments in respect of a permanent global security
representing the preferred securities, will immediately credit participants'
accounts with payment in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial
interests in the principal amount of such global security for the preferred
securities as shown on the records of the depositary or its nominee. We also
expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a
global security held through such participants will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held
for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name."
Such payment will be the responsibility of such participants.
 
     If a depositary for the preferred securities of a series notifies us at any
time that it is unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and a
qualified successor depositary is not appointed by the administrative trustees
within 90 days, the applicable trust will issue definitive preferred securities
in exchange for the global security or securities representing the preferred
securities. In addition, the administrative trustees may, at any time, and in
their sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the prospectus
supplement relating to the preferred securities, determine not to have any
preferred securities represented by one or more global securities and, in such
event, the applicable trust will issue definitive preferred securities in
exchange for the global security or securities representing the preferred
securities. If definitive preferred securities are issued, an owner of a
beneficial interest in a global security will be entitled to physical delivery
of definitive preferred securities represented by the global security equal in
principal amount to that beneficial interest and to have the preferred
securities registered in its name.
 
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON DISSOLUTION
 
     Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, each
trust agreement will provide that the trust will be dissolved:
 
     - upon the expiration of the term of the trust;
 
     - upon our bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation;
 
     - upon our direction to the property trustee to dissolve the trust and
       distribute the related junior subordinated debt securities directly to
       the holders of the preferred and common securities of the trust;
 
     - upon the redemption of all of the common and preferred securities of the
       trust in connection with the redemption of all of the related junior
       subordinated debt securities; or
 
     - upon entry of a court order for the dissolution of the trust.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, in the
event of a dissolution as described above other than in connection with
redemption, after the trust satisfies all liabilities to its
 
                                        34

 
creditors as provided by applicable law, each holder of the preferred or common
securities of a trust will be entitled to receive:
 
     - the related junior subordinated debt securities in an aggregate principal
       amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred or
       common securities held by the holder; or
 
     - if any distribution of the related junior subordinated debt securities is
       determined by the property trustee not to be practical, cash equal to the
       aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred or common securities held
       by the holder, plus accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of
       payment.
 
     If a trust cannot pay the full amount due on its preferred and common
securities because insufficient assets are available for payment, then the
amounts payable by the trust on its preferred and common securities will be paid
on a pro rata basis. However, if an event of default under the subordinated
indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to any related junior
subordinated debt securities, the total amounts due on the preferred securities
of the trust will be paid before any distribution on the common securities of
the trust is made.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     The following will be events of default under each trust agreement:
 
     - an event of default under the subordinated indenture occurs with respect
       to any related junior subordinated debt securities;
 
     - the trust fails to pay any redemption price on any preferred securities
       on its due date;
 
     - the trust fails to pay any distribution on the preferred securities
       within 30 days from its due date;
 
     - the trustees fail to perform any of the covenants in the trust agreement,
       other than the covenants in the two prior bullet points, for 30 days
       after the holders of at least 25% of the aggregate liquidation amount of
       the outstanding preferred securities give us and the trustees written
       notice of the default and require that they remedy the breach (however,
       the 30-day period may be extended by the holders of at least the same
       aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities that
       had initially given notice of the default); or
 
     - the property trustee files for bankruptcy or other events of bankruptcy,
       insolvency or reorganization occur with respect to the property trustee
       and a successor property trustee is not appointed within 90 days.
 
     If an event of default with respect to related junior subordinated debt
securities occurs and is continuing under the subordinated indenture, and the
subordinated indenture trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal
amount of the related junior subordinated debt securities outstanding fail to
declare the unpaid principal of and all other amounts with respect to all of the
related junior subordinated debt securities to be immediately due and payable,
the holders of at least 25% in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding
preferred securities will have the right to declare the unpaid principal of and
all other amounts with respect to the related junior subordinated debt
securities immediately due and payable by providing notice to Phelps Dodge, the
property trustee and the subordinated indenture trustee.
 
     At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made with respect
to a series of related junior subordinated debt securities and before a judgment
or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders of a
majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities may rescind
 
                                        35

 
any declaration of acceleration with respect to the related junior subordinated
debt securities and its consequences:
 
     - if we deposit with the subordinated indenture trustee funds sufficient to
       pay all overdue principal of and premium, interest and additional amounts
       on the related junior subordinated debt securities and any other amounts
       due to the subordinated indenture trustee and the property trustee; and
 
     - if all existing events of default with respect to the related junior
       subordinated debt securities have been cured or waived except non-payment
       of principal on the related junior subordinated debt securities that has
       become due solely because of the acceleration.
 
     The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the preferred securities
of a trust may waive any past default under the subordinated indenture with
respect to the related junior subordinated debt securities, other than a default
in any payment on any related junior subordinated debt securities or a default
with respect to a covenant or provision that cannot be amended or modified
without the consent of the holder of each outstanding related junior
subordinated debt security affected. In addition, the holders of at least a
majority in liquidation amount of the preferred securities of a trust may waive
any past default under the trust agreement.
 
     The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the preferred securities
of a trust shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the property trustee or
to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred on the property trustee
under the applicable trust agreement.
 
     A holder of preferred securities of a trust may institute a legal
proceeding directly against us without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the property trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of
payment to the holder of the principal of and any premium, interest or
additional amounts on related junior subordinated debt securities having a
principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred
securities of the holder if we fail to pay any amounts on the related junior
subordinated debt securities when payable. We and the subordinated indenture
trustee may not amend or modify the subordinated indenture to eliminate the
preferred securities holders' right to institute a direct legal action without
the consent of the holders of each outstanding preferred security.
 
NOTICE OF DEFAULT
 
     If an event occurs which is or would become an event of default with
respect to any preferred securities, and the property trustee knows of the
event, the property trustee shall mail to the holders of the affected preferred
securities a notice of the default within 90 days, unless the default has been
cured or waived by the holders of the affected preferred securities. However,
except in the case of a default in the payment of any amounts due on preferred
securities, the property trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the
directors and/or responsible officers of the property trustee determine in good
faith that withholding the notice is in the interest of the holders of the
affected preferred securities.
 
     We and the administrative trustees of each trust are required to furnish
annually to the property trustee an officers' certificate to the effect that, to
the best knowledge of the officers providing the certificate, it is not in
default under the applicable trust agreement or, if there has been a default,
specifying the default and its status.
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR AMALGAMATION OF THE TRUST
 
     None of the trusts may consolidate or merge with or into, or be replaced by
or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any entity, except as described below. A trust may, without the
consent of the holders of the outstanding preferred securities, consolidate or
merge with
 
                                        36

 
or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized under the laws of any
state if:
 
     - the successor entity either:
 
       - expressly assumes all of the obligations of the trust relating to its
         preferred securities; or
 
       - substitutes for the trust's preferred securities other securities
         having substantially the same terms as the preferred securities, so
         long as the substituted successor securities rank the same as the
         preferred securities for distributions and payments upon liquidation,
         redemption and otherwise;
 
     - a trustee of the successor entity who has substantially the same powers
       and duties as the property trustee of the trust is appointed;
 
     - the preferred securities are listed or traded, or any substituted
       successor securities will be listed upon notice of issuance, on the same
       national securities exchange or other organization on which the preferred
       securities are then listed or traded;
 
     - the event does not cause the preferred securities or any substituted
       successor securities to be downgraded by any national rating agency;
 
     - the event does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and
       privileges of the holders of the preferred securities or any substituted
       successor securities in any material respect;
 
     - the successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the
       trust;
 
     - prior to the merger event, we have received an opinion of counsel from a
       nationally recognized law firm stating that:
 
       - the event does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and
         privileges of the holders of the trust's preferred securities or any
         successor securities in any material respect;
 
       - following the event, neither the trust nor the successor entity will be
         required to register as an investment company under the Investment
         Company Act of 1940; and
 
       - neither the trust nor the successor entity will be taxable as a
         corporation or classified other than as a grantor trust for United
         States federal income tax purposes; and
 
     - we or our permitted transferee own all of the common securities of the
       successor entity and the substituted successor securities are guaranteed
       at least to the extent provided under the preferred securities guarantee.
 
     In addition, unless all of the holders of the preferred securities of a
trust approve otherwise, the trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with
or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any other entity or permit any other
entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into or replace it if the
transaction would cause the trust or the successor entity to be taxable as a
corporation or classified other than as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the holders of the
preferred securities of a trust will have no voting rights except as discussed
below and under "-- Events of Default," "-- Amendment of the Trust Agreement,"
"-- Removal and Replacement of Trustees" and "Description of the Preferred
Securities Guarantees -- Amendments and Assignment," and as otherwise required
by law.
 
                                        37

 
     If any proposed amendment to a trust agreement provides for, or the
administrative trustees of a trust otherwise propose to effect:
 
     - any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special
       rights of the preferred securities of the trust in any material respect,
       whether by way of amendment to the applicable trust agreement or
       otherwise; or
 
     - the dissolution, winding up or termination of the trust other than
       pursuant to the terms of the applicable trust agreement,
 
then the holders of the preferred securities of the trust as a class will be
entitled to vote on the amendment or proposal. In that case, the amendment or
proposal will be effective only if approved by the holders of at least a
majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities of the
trust.
 
     Without obtaining the prior approval of the holders of at least a majority
in aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities of a trust, the
trustees of a trust may not:
 
     - direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
       remedy available to the subordinated indenture trustee for any related
       junior subordinated debt securities or direct the exercise of any trust
       or power conferred on the property trustee with respect to the preferred
       securities of the trust;
 
     - waive any default that is waivable under the subordinated indenture with
       respect to any related junior subordinated debt securities;
 
     - cancel an acceleration of the principal of any related junior
       subordinated debt securities; or
 
     - consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the subordinated
       indenture or any related junior subordinated debt securities where
       consent is required.
 
However, if a consent under the subordinated indenture requires the consent of
each affected holder of the related junior subordinated debt securities, then
the property trustee must obtain the prior consent of each holder of the
preferred securities of the trust. In addition, before taking any of the
foregoing actions, the property trustee shall obtain an opinion of counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of such actions, the
trust will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor
trust for United States federal income tax purposes. The property trustee will
notify all preferred securities holders of the trust of any notice of default
received from the subordinated indenture trustee with respect to the junior
subordinated debt securities held by the trust. Any required approval of the
holders of the preferred securities of a trust may be given at a meeting of the
holders of the preferred securities convened for the purpose or pursuant to
written consent.
 
     The property trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which holders of
securities are entitled to vote to be given to each holder of record of the
preferred securities at the holder's registered address, or to any other address
which has been specified in writing, at least 15 days and not more than 90 days
before the meeting.
 
     Notwithstanding that the holders of the preferred securities of a trust are
entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any
of the preferred securities that are owned by us, the trustees of the trust or
any of our affiliates or any affiliate of the trustees of the trust, shall, for
purposes of any vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
 
                                        38

 
AMENDMENT OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT
 
     Each trust agreement may be amended from time to time by us, the property
trustee and the administrative trustees of the trust without the consent of the
holders of the preferred securities of the trust to:
 
     - cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision which may be
       inconsistent with any other provision or make provisions not inconsistent
       with any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising
       under the applicable trust agreement;
 
     - modify, eliminate or add to any provisions to the extent necessary to
       ensure that the trust will not be taxable as a corporation or classified
       as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
       purposes, to ensure that the junior subordinated debt securities held by
       the trust are treated as indebtedness for United States federal income
       tax purposes or to ensure that the trust will not be required to register
       as an investment company under the Investment Company Act; or
 
     - add to our covenants, restrictions or obligations, in each case to the
       extent that the amendment does not adversely affect the interests of any
       holder of the preferred securities of the trust in any material respect.
 
     Other amendments to a trust agreement may be made by us, the property
trustee and the administrative trustees of a trust upon approval of the holders
of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding
preferred securities of the trust and receipt by the trustees of an opinion of
counsel to the effect that the amendment will not cause the trust to be taxable
as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes, affect the treatment of the junior subordinated
debt securities held by the trust as indebtedness for United States federal
income tax purposes or affect the trust's exemption from the Investment Company
Act.
 
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each affected holder
of common or preferred securities of a trust, the applicable trust agreement may
not be amended to:
 
     - change the amount or timing of any distribution on the common or
       preferred securities of the trust or otherwise adversely affect the
       amount of any distribution required to be made in respect of the
       securities as of a specified date;
 
     - restrict the right of a holder of any securities to institute suit for
       the enforcement of any payment on or after the distribution date; or
 
     - reduce the percentage of preferred securities required to waive
       compliance with provisions of or defaults under the trust agreement.
 
     In addition, no amendment may be made to a trust agreement if the amendment
would:
 
     - cause the applicable trust to be taxable as a corporation or
       characterized as other than a grantor trust for United States federal
       income tax purposes;
 
     - cause the junior subordinated debt securities held by the applicable
       trust to not be treated as indebtedness for United States federal income
       tax purposes;
 
     - cause the applicable trust to be deemed to be an investment company
       required to be registered under the Investment Company Act; or
 
     - impose any additional obligation on any trustee of the applicable trust
       without its consent.
 
REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
 
     If the preferred securities of a series are to be redeemed, the applicable
trust will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any preferred
security selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except for the unredeemed
portion of a preferred security being redeemed in part.
 
                                        39

 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENT
 
     Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, distributions
on the preferred securities will be payable, at the applicable trust's option,
(1) by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the distribution as
the address appears in the security register for the preferred securities or (2)
by wire transfer to an account specified by the holder in accordance with
procedures established by the administrative trustees and acceptable to the
paying agent. Payments upon the redemption of the preferred securities will be
paid only against surrender of the preferred securities.
 
     Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the property
trustee will act as paying agent for the preferred securities, and the principal
corporate trust office of the property trustee will serve as the office through
which the paying agent acts. The applicable trust may designate additional
paying agents, rescind the designation of any paying agents and/or approve a
change in the office through which any paying agent acts.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
 
     For matters relating to compliance with the Trust Indenture Act, the
property trustee will have all of the duties and responsibilities of an
indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act.
 
     Wachovia Bank, National Association, which is the property trustee for each
trust, also serves as the guarantee trustee under each preferred securities
guarantee described below, the senior indenture trustee under the senior
indenture and the subordinated indenture trustee under the subordinated
indenture. It is an affiliate of Delaware Trust Company, National Association,
which serves as the Delaware trustee for each trust.
 
     We may from time to time maintain credit facilities and have other
customary banking relationships with First Union National Bank.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
     The administrative trustees of each trust are authorized and directed to
conduct the affairs of and to operate the trust in such a way that:
 
     - it will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a
       grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes;
 
     - the junior subordinated debt securities held by it will be treated as our
       indebtedness for United States federal income tax purposes; and
 
     - it will not be deemed to be an investment company required to be
       registered under the Investment Company Act.
 
     We and the trustees of each trust are authorized to take any action, so
long as it is consistent with applicable law, the applicable certificate of
trust or trust agreement, that we and the trustees of the trust determine to be
necessary or desirable for the above purposes.
 
     Holders of the preferred securities of the trusts have no preemptive or
similar rights.
 
     None of the trusts may incur indebtedness or place a lien on any of its
assets.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
     Each trust agreement and the preferred securities of each trust will be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware,
without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.
 
                                        40

 
               DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEES
 
     The preferred securities guarantee for each trust will be issued pursuant
to a guarantee between us and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as the
guarantee trustee. We summarize below all of the material features of the
preferred securities guarantees. The summary is not complete and is qualified in
its entirety by all of the provisions of the form of the applicable guarantees.
That document is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration
statement that includes this prospectus, and we encourage you to read it. Each
guarantee will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The terms of
each preferred securities guarantee will include those stated in the applicable
guarantee and those made part of the guarantee by reference to the Trust
Indenture Act. Each guarantee will be executed at the time any trust issues any
preferred securities and will be filed with the SEC on a Form 8-K or by a
post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this
prospectus.
 
     Each guarantee will be held by the guarantee trustee for the benefit of the
holders of the preferred securities of the applicable trust.
 
GENERAL
 
     We will irrevocably and unconditionally agree to pay in full to the holders
of the preferred securities of each trust the guarantee payments described
below, except to the extent previously paid. We will pay the guarantee payments
when and as due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim
that the applicable trust may have or assert. The following payments, to the
extent not paid by a trust, will be covered by the applicable preferred
securities guarantee:
 
     - any accumulated and unpaid distributions required to be paid on the
       preferred securities of the trust, to the extent that the trust has funds
       available to make the payment;
 
     - the redemption price, including all accumulated and unpaid distributions,
       to the extent that the trust has funds available to make the payment; and
 
     - upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, termination, winding up or
       liquidation of the trust, other than in connection with a distribution of
       related junior subordinated debt securities to holders of the preferred
       securities, the lesser of:
 
      - the aggregate of the liquidation amounts specified in the prospectus
        supplement for each preferred security of the trust plus all accumulated
        and unpaid distributions on the preferred security of the trust to the
        date of payment, to the extent the trust has funds available to make the
        payment; and
 
      - the amount of assets of the trust remaining available for distribution
        to holders of its preferred securities upon liquidation of the trust.
 
     Our obligation to make a guarantee payment with respect to the preferred
securities of a trust may be satisfied by directly paying the required amounts
to the holders of the preferred securities of the trust or by causing the trust
to pay the amounts to the holders.
 
     Each preferred securities guarantee will be subject to the subordination
provisions described below and will not apply to the payment of distributions
and other payments on the preferred securities of a trust when the trust does
not have sufficient funds legally and immediately available to make the
distributions or other payments.
 
ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS
 
     We will make all payments under each of our preferred securities guarantees
without withholding or deduction for any taxes, fees, duties, assessments or
governmental charges imposed or levied by New York or any other jurisdiction in
which we or any of our successors is organized or resident for tax purposes or
any political subdivision or taxing authority of New York or any of those other
jurisdictions. If any withholding or deduction is required by law, we will pay
to the holder of the preferred securities additional
 
                                        41

 
amounts as may be necessary so that every net payment made to the holder after
the withholding or deduction will not be less than the amount provided for in
the applicable preferred securities guarantee. We will not be required to pay
any additional amounts as a result of:
 
     - the imposition of any tax, fee, duty, assessment or governmental charge
       that would not have been imposed but for the fact that the holder or
       beneficial owner of the preferred securities was a resident or national
       of or had other specified connections with the relevant taxing authority
       or presented the preferred securities for payment in the relevant taxing
       jurisdiction unless it could not have been presented elsewhere;
 
     - the imposition of any tax, fee, duty, assessment or governmental charge
       that would not have been imposed but for the fact that the holder or
       beneficial owner of the preferred securities presented the preferred
       security for payment more than 30 days after it was due and payable;
 
     - any estate, inheritance, gift, sale or other similar tax, assessment or
       governmental charge; or
 
     - the imposition of any tax, fee, duty, assessment or governmental charge
       that would not have been imposed but for the fact that the holder or
       beneficial owner of the preferred securities failed to comply, within 90
       days, with any reasonable request by Phelps Dodge addressed to the holder
       or beneficial owner relating to the provision of information or the
       making of a declaration required by the taxing jurisdiction as a
       precondition to exemption from all or part of the tax, fee, duty,
       assessment or governmental charge.
 
SUBORDINATION
 
     Each preferred securities guarantee will be unsecured indebtedness of our
company and will be subordinated in right of payment to all of our existing and
future senior indebtedness. Each preferred securities guarantee will be
effectively subordinated to any of our secured indebtedness to the extent of the
value of the assets securing the secured indebtedness. Each preferred securities
guarantee will also rank equally with any other preferred securities guarantee
issued by us. As a result, in the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation or
reorganization or upon an event of default under any of its preferred securities
guarantees, our assets will be available to pay our obligations on the preferred
securities guarantee only after all of our secured and senior indebtedness has
been paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of the
secured and senior indebtedness has been made. There may not be sufficient
assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all of its the preferred
securities guarantees. Each preferred securities guarantee will also be
effectively subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of us and our
subsidiaries. The incurrence of additional secured and senior indebtedness and
other liabilities by us or our subsidiaries could adversely affect our ability
to pay our obligations on the preferred securities guarantees.
 
     Each preferred securities guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment
and not of collection. This means that the holder of the guaranteed security may
sue us to enforce its rights under the preferred securities guarantee without
first suing any other person or entity.
 
AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT
 
     No consent of the holders of the preferred securities of a trust will be
required with respect to any changes to the preferred securities guarantee that
do not adversely affect the rights of the holders of the preferred securities of
the applicable trust in any material respect. Other amendments to the preferred
securities guarantee may be made only with the prior approval of the holders of
at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities
of the applicable trust. All guarantees and agreements contained in the
preferred securities guarantee will be binding on our successors, assigns,
receivers, trustees and representatives and are for the benefit of the holders
of the preferred securities of the applicable trust.
 
                                        42

 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     An event of default under a preferred securities guarantee occurs if we:
 
     - fail to make any required payments; or
 
     - fail to perform any of our other obligations under the preferred
       securities guarantee and such failure continues for 30 days.
 
     The holders of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the
preferred securities of a trust will have the right to direct the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the guarantee
trustee relating to the preferred securities guarantee of the trust or to direct
the exercise of any trust or power given to the guarantee trustee under the
preferred securities guarantee of the trust.
 
     If and to the extent that we do not make payments on the related junior
subordinated debt securities the trust will not have funds available to make
payments of distributions or other amounts due on its preferred securities. In
those circumstances, a holder of the preferred securities of the trust will not
be able to rely upon the applicable preferred securities guarantee for payment
of these amounts. Instead, the holder may directly sue us under the junior
subordinated debt securities to collect its pro rata share of payments owed. If
a holder so sues us to collect payment, then we will assume the holder's rights
as a holder of preferred securities under the applicable trust agreement to the
extent we make a payment to the holder in any legal action.
 
     The holders of at least a majority in liquidation amount of preferred
securities of a trust may waive any past event of default and its consequences.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
 
     For matters relating to compliance with the Trust Indenture Act, the
guarantee trustee will have all of the duties and responsibilities of an
indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. In case an event of default
shall occur and be continuing, the guarantee trustee must exercise the same
degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the
conduct of his or her own affairs. Before proceeding to exercise any right or
power under any guarantee agreement at the direction of the holders of preferred
securities, the guarantee trustee will be entitled to receive from the holders
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
that it might incur.
 
     Wachovia Bank, National Association, which is the guarantee trustee, also
serves as the property trustee for each trust, the senior indenture trustee
under the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture trustee under the
subordinated indenture. It is an affiliate of Delaware Trust Company, National
Association, which serves as the Delaware trustee for each trust.
 
     We may from time to time maintain credit facilities and have other
customary banking relationships with Wachovia Bank, National Association.
 
TERMINATION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEES
 
     Each preferred securities guarantee will terminate once the preferred
securities of the applicable trust are paid in full or redeemed in full or upon
distribution of the related junior subordinated debt securities to the holders
of the preferred securities of the trust in accordance with the applicable trust
agreement. Each preferred securities guarantee will continue to be effective or
will be reinstated if at any time any holder of preferred securities of the
applicable trust must restore payment of any sums paid under the preferred
securities or the preferred securities guarantee for the applicable trust.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
     Each preferred securities guarantee will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the
conflict of laws provisions thereof.
 
                                        43

 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     We may sell our common or preferred shares, senior or junior subordinated
debt securities or our warrants, depositary shares, stock purchase contracts or
stock purchase units and each trust may sell its preferred securities in one or
more of the following ways from time to time:
 
     - through agents;
 
     - to or through underwriters;
 
     - through dealers; and
 
     - directly to purchasers.
 
     The applicable prospectus supplement for each series of securities will set
forth the terms of the offering of those securities, including the name or names
of any underwriters or agents. The prospectus supplement for each series of
securities will also set forth the purchase price of the securities, the
proceeds to us or the applicable trust from the sale, any underwriting discounts
or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters' or agents'
compensation, the initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and the securities exchange, if any, on
which the securities may be listed.
 
     If underwriters participate in selling the securities, the securities will
be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from
time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at
a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of
sale.
 
     Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the
obligations of the underwriters to purchase any series of securities will be
subject to conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to
purchase all of the series of securities if any are purchased.
 
     We may also offer and sell securities, if so indicated in the applicable
prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in
accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise,
by one or more firms referred to as remarketing firms, acting as principals for
their own accounts or as our agents. Any remarketing firm will be identified and
the terms of its agreement, if any, with us, and its compensation will be
described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be
deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act in connection with the
securities they remarket.
 
     Underwriters, agents, dealers and remarketing firms may be entitled to
indemnification against specific civil liabilities under agreements entered into
with us and/or a trust, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Underwriters and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services
for, us in the ordinary course of business.
 
     Each series of securities other than common stock will be a new issue of
securities and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom
the securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in those
securities. However, those underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may
discontinue any market making at any time without notice.
 
     We may authorize our agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain
institutions to purchase the securities at the public offering price under
delayed delivery contracts.
 
     - If we use delayed delivery contracts, we will disclose that we are using
       them in the applicable prospectus supplement and will tell you when we
       will demand payment and delivery of the securities under the delayed
       delivery contracts.
 
     - These delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to the conditions
       that we described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
 
     We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the commission
that underwriters and agents soliciting purchases of the securities under
delayed contracts will be entitled to receive.
 
                                        44

 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The financial statements and management's assessment of the effectiveness
of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in the Report of
Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2004, have been so incorporated in reliance on the
report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting
firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
 
                           VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
 
     Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware, will pass upon the
validity of the preferred securities for us and each trust. Debevoise & Plimpton
LLP, New York, New York, will pass upon the validity of the common shares,
preferred shares, warrants, depositary shares, share purchase contracts or share
purchase units, senior debt securities, the junior subordinated debt securities
and the preferred securities guarantees for us.
 
                                        45

 
                      WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
 
     This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the
SEC. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains
additional relevant information about us and the trusts. The rules and
regulations of the SEC allow us to omit some of the information included in the
registration statement from this prospectus. In addition, we file annual,
quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the
SEC under the Exchange Act. You can read and copy any of this information at the
SEC's Public Reference Room at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549.
 
     You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public
Reference Section of the SEC, Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You may obtain information on the operation of
the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.
 
     The SEC also maintains an Internet web site that contains annual, quarterly
and current reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like
Phelps Dodge, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is
http://www.sec.gov. The SEC file number for documents filed by us under the
Exchange Act is 1-82.
 
     Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, under the
symbol "PD." Our 6.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PD PrA." You can inspect
annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information
concerning Phelps Dodge at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange at 20
Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
 
                           INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
 
     The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information into
this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a
part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will
automatically update and supersede this information. This prospectus
incorporates by reference the documents listed below:
 
          (a) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
     2004;
 
          (b) Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 7,
     2005, February 22, 2005, March 22, 2005 and April 8, 2005; and
 
          (c) all documents filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
     15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus.
 
     You may request a copy of any filings referred to above (excluding
exhibits), at no cost, by contacting us at the following address: One North
Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4414, Attention: Assistant General
Counsel and Secretary. Telephone requests may be directed to such person at
(602) 366-8100. Some of these filings are also available on our Internet web
site. The address of that site is http://www.phelpsdodge.com.
 
                                        46

 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
     The estimated expenses of issuance and distribution, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions, to be borne by us are as follows:
 

                                                           
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.........  $ 47,000
Rating agency fees..........................................   160,000
Printing expenses...........................................    12,000
Legal fees and expenses.....................................   100,000
Accounting fees and expenses................................    10,000
Miscellaneous...............................................        --
                                                              --------
  Total.....................................................  $329,000
                                                              ========

 
ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
 
     With certain limitations, Sections 721 through 726 of the Business
Corporation Law of the State of New York permit a corporation to indemnify any
of its directors or officers made, or threatened to be made, a party to an
action or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person was a director or
officer of such corporation unless a judgment or other final adjudication
adverse to the director or officer establishes that his or her acts were
committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty
and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he or she
personally gained in fact financial profit or other advantage to which he or she
was not legally entitled.
 
     Our By-Laws provide that we shall indemnify any person made, or threatened
to be made, a party to an action or proceeding other than one by or in our right
to procure a judgment in our favor, whether civil or criminal, including an
action by or in the right of any other corporation, or any partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, which any of our
directors or officers served in any capacity at our request, by reason of the
fact that he, his testator or intestate, is or was one of our directors or
officers, or is or was serving such other corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in any capacity,
against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and expenses (including
attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with such action or proceeding, or any
appeal therein, provided that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf of
such person if (i) his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of
his active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to such action or
proceeding or (ii) he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other
advantage to which he was not legally entitled.
 
     Our By-Laws also provide that we shall indemnify any person made, or
threatened to be made, a party to an action by or in our right to procure a
judgment in our favor by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate,
is or was one of our directors or officers, or is or was serving at our request
as a director or officer of any other corporation, or of any partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against judgments,
amounts paid in settlement and expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in
connection with such action, or any appeal therein, provided that no
indemnification may be made to or on behalf of such person if (i) his acts were
committed in bad faith or were the result of his active and deliberate
dishonesty and were material to such action or (ii) he personally gained in fact
a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled.
 
     We maintain, at our expense, insurance policies insuring our directors and
officers against certain liabilities which might be incurred by them in their
capacities as directors and officers including liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933.
 
                                       II-1

 
     Article SEVENTH of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation eliminates and
limits the personal liability of our directors for any breach of duty in their
capacity as directors to the fullest extent permitted by Section 402(b) of the
New York Business Corporation Law. Section 402(b) of the Business Corporation
Law referred to in Article SEVENTH permits New York corporations to eliminate or
limit the personal liability of directors to the corporation or its shareholders
for damages for any breach of duty in their capacity as such except liability
(i) of a director (a) whose acts or omissions were in bad faith, involved
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (b) who personally gained
a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally
entitled or (c) whose acts violated certain other provisions of New York law or
(ii) for acts or omissions prior to July 23, 1987.
 
     The underwriters or agents on whose behalf the agreements listed as
Exhibits 1.1-1.6 to this Registration Statement will be executed will agree in
those agreements to indemnify our directors, officers and controlling persons
against certain liabilities that might arise under the Securities Act of 1933
from information furnished to us by or on behalf of the underwriters or agents
for use in this Registration Statement.
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS.
 

    
1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement (Common Shares and Preferred Shares of
       Phelps Dodge) (incorporated by reference to Exhibits 1.1 and 1.2,
       respectively, to Phelps Dodge's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with
       the SEC on June 13, 2002).
1.2    Form of Underwriting Agreement (Senior Debt Securities and Junior
       Subordinated Debt Securities of Phelps Dodge) (incorporated by
       reference to Exhibit 1.1 to Phelps Dodge's Current Report on Form 8-K
       filed with the SEC on March 4, 2004).
*1.3   Form of Underwriting Agreement (Preferred Securities).
*1.4   Form of Underwriting Agreement (Share Purchase Contracts of Phelps
       Dodge).
*1.5   Form of Underwriting Agreement (Share Purchase Units of Phelps Dodge).
*1.6   Form of Underwriting Agreement (Warrants of Phelps Dodge).
3.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Phelps Dodge (incorporated by
       reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Phelps Dodge's Quarterly Report on Form
       10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999, filed with the SEC on August
       13, 1999) as amended by the Certificate of Amendment to the Restated
       Certificate of Incorporation of Phelps Dodge (incorporated by
       reference to Exhibit 2.3 of Phelps Dodge's Registration Statement on
       Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2002).
3.2    By-Laws of Phelps Dodge, as amended effective September 5, 2001
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Phelps Dodge's Quarterly
       Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000, filed
       with the SEC on November 14, 2001).
3.3    Certificate of Trust of PD Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference
       to Exhibit 3.3 to Phelps Dodge's Registration Statement on Form S-3
       No. 333-43980, filed with the SEC on August 16, 2000).
3.4    Certificate of Trust of PD Capital Trust II (incorporated by reference
       to Exhibit 3.4 to Phelps Dodge's Registration Statement on Form S-3
       No. 333-43980, filed with the SEC on August 16, 2000).
4.1    Indenture for Senior Debt Securities issued by Phelps Dodge
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Phelps Dodge's
       Registration Statement and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3,
       Registration Nos. 33-44380 and 333-36415, filed with the SEC on
       September 25, 1997).
4.2    Subordinated Indenture for Junior Subordinated Debt Securities issued
       by Phelps Dodge (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Phelps
       Dodge's Registration Statement on Form S-3 No. 333-43980, filed with
       the SEC on August 16, 2000).
4.3    Form of Senior Debt Security issued by Phelps Dodge (incorporated by
       reference to Exhibit 4 to Phelps Dodge's Current Report on Form 8-K
       filed with the SEC on May 30, 2001).

 
                                       II-2


    
4.4    Form of Junior Subordinated Debt Security issued by Phelps Dodge
       (included in Exhibit 4.2).
4.5    Rights Agreement between Phelps Dodge and The Chase Manhattan Bank
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to Phelps Dodge's Current
       Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 6, 1998).
4.6    Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of PD Capital Trust I
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Phelps Dodge's
       Registration Statement on Form S-3 No. 333-104627, filed with the SEC
       on April 18, 2003).
4.7    Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of PD Capital Trust II
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Phelps Dodge's
       Registration Statement on Form S-3 No. 333-104627, filed with the SEC
       on April 18, 2003).
4.8    Tripartite/Conversion Agreement (resignation and appointment of
       Indenture Trustee of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities)
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to Phelps Dodge's
       Registration Statement on Form S-3 No. 333-43980, filed with the SEC
       on August 16, 2000).
4.9    Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of PD Capital Trust I and
       PD Capital Trust II (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to
       Phelps Dodge's Registration Statement on Form S-3 No. 333-43980, filed
       with the SEC on August 16, 2000).
4.10   Form of Preferred Security (included in Exhibit 4.9).
4.11   Form of Preferred Securities Guarantee of Phelps Dodge with respect to
       the preferred securities issued by PD Capital Trust I and PD Capital
       Trust II (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to Phelps Dodge's
       Registration Statement on Form S-3 No. 333-43980, filed with the SEC
       on August 16, 2000).
*4.12  Form of Share Purchase Contract issued by Phelps Dodge.
*4.13  Form of Warrant issued by Phelps Dodge.
*4.14  Form of Warrant Agreement.
*4.15  Form of Deposit Agreement.
*4.16  Form of Depositary Receipt for Phelps Dodge Corporation Depositary
       Shares.
4.17   Form of specimen Common Stock certificate (incorporated by reference
       to Exhibit 4.9 to Phelps Dodge's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
       quarter ended June 30, 2002).
4.18   Form of specimen 6.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Share
       Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to Phelps
       Dodge's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
       2002).
*5.1   Opinion of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.
*5.2   Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. relating to PD Capital
       Trust I.
*5.3   Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. relating to PD Capital
       Trust II.
12.1   Statement of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by
       reference to Exhibit 12.1 to Phelps Dodge's Annual Report on Form 10-K
       filed with the SEC on March 7, 2005).
23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
*23.2  Consent of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
*23.3  Consents of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (included in Exhibits 5.2
       and 5.3).
24.1   Powers of Attorney.
25.1   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
       1939 of Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First
       Union National Bank), as Trustee under the Indenture (Senior Debt
       Securities issued by Phelps Dodge).
25.2   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
       1939 of Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First
       Union National Bank), as Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture
       (Junior Subordinated Debt Securities issued by Phelps Dodge).

 
                                       II-3


    
25.3   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
       1939 of Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First
       Union National Bank), as Property Trustee for the Amended and Restated
       Trust Agreement of PD Capital Trust I.
25.4   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
       1939 of Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First
       Union National Bank), as Property Trustee for the Amended and Restated
       Trust Agreement of PD Capital Trust II.
25.5   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
       1939 of Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First
       Union National Bank), as Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee of
       Phelps Dodge for the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of
       PD Capital Trust I.
25.6   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
       1939 of Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First
       Union National Bank), as Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee of
       Phelps Dodge for the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of
       PD Capital Trust II.

 
---------------
 *  To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report on Form 8-K pursuant
    to Item 601 of Regulation S-K.
 
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:
 
          (1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
             (a) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
        Securities Act;
 
             (b) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
        post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
        in the registration statement; notwithstanding the foregoing, any
        increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total
        dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
        registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
        maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
        with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes
        in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
        aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration
        Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
 
             (c) 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;
        provided, however, that (a) and (b) do not apply if the information
        required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
        paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to
        the SEC by the registrants pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
        the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration
        statement;
 
          (2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, 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;
 
          (4) that, for purposes of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each filing of our annual report pursuant to Section 13(a)
     or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated
 
                                       II-4

 
     by reference in this 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;
 
          (5) to file an application for the purpose of determining the
     eligibility of the trustees to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of
     the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations
     prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act;
     and
 
          (6) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
     prospectus 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.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrants pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrants
have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by a registrant of expenses incurred or paid
by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrants 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
 
                                       II-5

 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Phelps Dodge
Corporation 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 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized in Phoenix, Arizona, on the 15th day of April 2005.
 
                                          PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION
 
                                          By: /s/   J. STEVEN WHISLER
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                     J. Steven Whisler
                                                 Chairman, Chief Executive
                                                    Officer and Director
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf
of the Registrant in the capacities indicated and on the 15th day of April 2005.
 


               SIGNATURE                                   TITLE
               ---------                                   -----
                                       
 
         /s/ J. STEVEN WHISLER            Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
----------------------------------------    Director
           J. Steven Whisler                (Principal Executive Officer)
 
           /s/ RAMIRO G. PERU             Executive Vice President and Chief
----------------------------------------    Financial Officer (Principal Financial
             Ramiro G. Peru                 Officer)
 
          /s/ DENISE R. DANNER            Vice President and Controller
----------------------------------------    (Principal Accounting Officer)
            Denise R. Danner

 
Robert N. Burt, Archie W. Dunham, William A. Franke, Robert D. Johnson, Marie L.
Knowles, Robert D. Krebs, Jon C. Madonna, Gordon R. Parker, Jack E. Thompson,
Directors
 
By: /s/  RAMIRO G. PERU
    ----------------------------
           Ramiro G. Peru
          Attorney-in-Fact
 
                                       II-6

 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, each of PD
Capital Trust I and PD Capital Trust II 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 to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Phoenix, Arizona, on the 15th day of
April 2005.
 
                                          PD CAPITAL TRUST I
                                          By: Phelps Dodge Corporation as
                                          Depositor
 
                                          By: /s/  STANTON K. RIDEOUT
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Stanton K. Rideout
                                              Vice President and Treasurer
 
                                          PD CAPITAL TRUST II
                                          By: Phelps Dodge Corporation as
                                          Depositor
 
                                          By: /s/  STANTON K. RIDEOUT
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Stanton K. Rideout
                                              Vice President and Treasurer
 
                                       II-7

 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 

    
1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement (Common Shares and Preferred Shares of
       Phelps Dodge) (incorporated by reference to Exhibits 1.1 and 1.2,
       respectively, to Phelps Dodge's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with
       the SEC on June 13, 2002).
1.2    Form of Underwriting Agreement (Senior Debt Securities and Junior
       Subordinated Debt Securities of Phelps Dodge) (incorporated by
       reference to Exhibit 1.1 to Phelps Dodge's Current Report on Form 8-K
       filed with the SEC on March 4, 2004).
*1.3   Form of Underwriting Agreement (Preferred Securities).
*1.4   Form of Underwriting Agreement (Share Purchase Contracts of Phelps
       Dodge).
*1.5   Form of Underwriting Agreement (Share Purchase Units of Phelps Dodge).
*1.6   Form of Underwriting Agreement (Warrants of Phelps Dodge).
3.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Phelps Dodge (incorporated by
       reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Phelps Dodge's Quarterly Report on Form
       10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999, filed with the SEC on August
       13, 1999) as amended by the Certificate of Amendment to the Restated
       Certificate of Incorporation of Phelps Dodge (incorporated by
       reference to Exhibit 2.3 of Phelps Dodge's Registration Statement on
       Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2002).
3.2    By-Laws of Phelps Dodge, as amended effective September 5, 2001
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Phelps Dodge's Quarterly
       Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000, filed
       with the SEC on November 14, 2001).
3.3    Certificate of Trust of PD Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference
       to Exhibit 3.3 to Phelps Dodge's Registration Statement on Form S-3
       No. 333-43980, filed with the SEC on August 16, 2000).
3.4    Certificate of Trust of PD Capital Trust II (incorporated by reference
       to Exhibit 3.4 to Phelps Dodge's Registration Statement on Form S-3
       No. 333-43980, filed with the SEC on August 16, 2000).
4.1    Indenture for Senior Debt Securities issued by Phelps Dodge
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Phelps Dodge's
       Registration Statement and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3,
       Registration Nos. 33-44380 and 333-36415, filed with the SEC on
       September 25, 1997).
4.2    Subordinated Indenture for Junior Subordinated Debt Securities issued
       by Phelps Dodge (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Phelps
       Dodge's Registration Statement on Form S-3 No. 333-43980, filed with
       the SEC on August 16, 2000).
4.3    Form of Senior Debt Security issued by Phelps Dodge (incorporated by
       reference to Exhibit 4 to Phelps Dodge's Current Report on Form 8-K
       filed with the SEC on May 30, 2001).
4.4    Form of Junior Subordinated Debt Security issued by Phelps Dodge
       (included in Exhibit 4.2).
4.5    Rights Agreement between Phelps Dodge and The Chase Manhattan Bank
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to Phelps Dodge's Current
       Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 6, 1998).
4.6    Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of PD Capital Trust I
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Phelps Dodge's
       Registration Statement on Form S-3 No. 333-104627, filed with the SEC
       on April 18, 2003).
4.7    Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of PD Capital Trust II
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Phelps Dodge's
       Registration Statement on Form S-3 No. 333-104627, filed with the SEC
       on April 18, 2003).



    
4.8    Tripartite/Conversion Agreement (resignation and appointment of
       Indenture Trustee of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities)
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to Phelps Dodge's
       Registration Statement on Form S-3 No. 333-43980, filed with the SEC
       on August 16, 2000).
4.9    Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of PD Capital Trust I and
       PD Capital Trust II (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to
       Phelps Dodge's Registration Statement on Form S-3 No. 333-43980, filed
       with the SEC on August 16, 2000).
4.10   Form of Preferred Security (included in Exhibit 4.9).
4.11   Form of Preferred Securities Guarantee of Phelps Dodge with respect to
       the preferred securities issued by PD Capital Trust I and PD Capital
       Trust II (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to Phelps Dodge's
       Registration Statement on Form S-3 No. 333-43980, filed with the SEC
       on August 16, 2000).
*4.12  Form of Share Purchase Contract issued by Phelps Dodge.
*4.13  Form of Warrant issued by Phelps Dodge.
*4.14  Form of Warrant Agreement.
*4.15  Form of Deposit Agreement.
*4.16  Form of Depositary Receipt for Phelps Dodge Corporation Depositary
       Shares.
4.17   Form of specimen Common Stock certificate (incorporated by reference
       to Exhibit 4.9 to Phelps Dodge's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
       quarter ended June 30, 2002).
4.18   Form of specimen 6.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Share
       Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to Phelps
       Dodge's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
       2002).
*5.1   Opinion of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.
*5.2   Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. relating to PD Capital
       Trust I.
*5.3   Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. relating to PD Capital
       Trust II.
12.1   Statement of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by
       reference to Exhibit 12.1 to Phelps Dodge's Annual Report on Form 10-K
       filed with the SEC on March 7, 2005).
23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
*23.2  Consent of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
*23.3  Consents of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (included in Exhibits 5.2
       and 5.3).
24.1   Powers of Attorney.
25.1   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
       1939 of Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First
       Union National Bank), as Trustee under the Indenture (Senior Debt
       Securities issued by Phelps Dodge).
25.2   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
       1939 of Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First
       Union National Bank), as Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture
       (Junior Subordinated Debt Securities issued by Phelps Dodge).
25.3   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
       1939 of Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First
       Union National Bank), as Property Trustee for the Amended and Restated
       Trust Agreement of PD Capital Trust I.
25.4   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
       1939 of Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First
       Union National Bank), as Property Trustee for the Amended and Restated
       Trust Agreement of PD Capital Trust II.
25.5   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
       1939 of Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First
       Union National Bank), as Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee of
       Phelps Dodge for the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of
       PD Capital Trust I.



    
25.6   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
       1939 of Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First
       Union National Bank), as Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee of
       Phelps Dodge for the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of
       PD Capital Trust II.

 
---------------
 *  To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report on Form 8-K pursuant
    to Item 601 of Regulation S-K.