PENN VIRGINIA CORP
S-3, 1997-01-10
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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<PAGE>   1
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 10, 1997
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 333-
==============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
                             ----------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                             ----------------------
                           PENN VIRGINIA CORPORATION
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

         VIRGINIA                                            23-1184320
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                            (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                            IDENTIFICATION NO.)

                          ONE RADNOR CORPORATE CENTER
                         100 MATSONFORD ROAD, SUITE 200
                               RADNOR, PA  19087
                                 (610) 687-8900
    (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                  OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
                             ----------------------
                              BEVERLY COLE MCGUIRE
                           PENN VIRGINIA CORPORATION
                          ONE RADNOR CORPORATE CENTER
                         100 MATSONFORD ROAD, SUITE 200
                               RADNOR, PA  19087
                                 (610) 687-8900
      (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
                        AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                             ----------------------
                                   COPIES TO:

 
 THOMAS A. RALPH, ESQ.                          DR. JOHANNES TEYSSEN 
 WILLIAM G. LAWLOR, ESQ.              INTERKOHLE BETEILIGUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
 DECHERT PRICE & RHOADS                          TRESCKOWSTRASSE 5
4000 BELL ATLANTIC TOWER                          30457 HANNOVER
   1717 ARCH STREET                          FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
PHILADELPHIA, PA  19103-2793                      011-49-511-439-2543
   (215) 994-4000



APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:  FROM TIME TO
TIME AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
                             ----------------------

IF THE ONLY SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED ON THIS FORM ARE 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, PLEASE 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 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 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
=============================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                              PROPOSED MAXIMUM      PROPOSED MAXIMUM
            SECURITIES TO BE                AMOUNT TO         OFFERING PRICE          AGGREGATE             AMOUNT OF
               REGISTERED                 BE REGISTERED        PER SHARE(1)       OFFERING PRICE(1)     REGISTRATION FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                          <C>                 <C>                <C>                    <C>
COMMON STOCK, $6.25 PAR VALUE                868,258             $43.625            $37,877,755.25         $13,061.39
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) ESTIMATED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALCULATING THE REGISTRATION FEE.  THIS
AMOUNT WAS CALCULATED PURSUANT TO RULE 457(C) ON THE BASIS OF $43.625 PER
SHARE, WHICH WAS THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGH AND LOW PRICES OF THE REGISTRANT'S
COMMON STOCK ON JANUARY 8, 1997, AS REPORTED ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET.
                             ----------------------
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE
A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
<PAGE>   2
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.  THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH sTATE.


                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 10, 1997
PROSPECTUS
                                 868,258 SHARES

                           PENN VIRGINIA CORPORATION

                                  COMMON STOCK

         The 868,258 shares of Common Stock, par value $6.25 per share (the
"Common Stock"), of Penn Virginia Corporation, a Virginia corporation (the
"Company"), being offered hereby (the "Offering") are being offered by
Interkohle Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, a corporation organized under the laws
of the Federal Republic of Germany (the "Selling Shareholder"), and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of VEBA, AG, a corporation organized under the laws of
the Federal Republic of Germany ("VEBA").  The Company will not receive any of
the proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock offered hereby.  See "Selling
Shareholder."

         The distribution of the Common Stock by the Selling Shareholder may be
effected from time to time (i) in one or more transactions for its own account
(which may include block transactions) on the Nasdaq National Market, or on any
exchange on which the Common Stock may then be listed, (ii) in negotiated
transactions, (iii) through the writing of options on shares (whether such
options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise), (iv) a combination of
such methods of sale, at fixed prices which may be changed, at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices, or (v) by any other legally available means.
The Selling Shareholder may effect such transactions by selling Common Stock to
or through broker-dealers, including broker-dealers who may act as
underwriters, and such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions from the Selling Shareholder and/or the
purchasers of Common Stock for whom such broker-dealers may act as agent or to
whom they sell as principal, or both (which compensation as to a particular
broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions). The Selling
Shareholder may also sell Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or may pledge
Common Stock as collateral for margin accounts and such shares of Common Stock
could be resold pursuant to the terms of such accounts. The Selling Shareholder
and any brokers and dealers participating in the distribution of the Common
Stock may be deemed to be "underwriters" as defined in the Securities Act and
any profit on the sale of the Common Stock by the Selling Shareholder and any
discounts, commissions or concessions received by any such broker or dealer may
be deemed to be underwriting commissions under the Securities Act.  See
"Selling Shareholder" and "Plan of Distribution."

         The Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "PVIR".  On January 9, 1997, the reported last sales price of the Common
Stock on the Nasdaq National Market was $45.50 per share.

 THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
       EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
       PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY
             REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                          ____________________________

                The date of this Prospectus is January ___, 1997
<PAGE>   3
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

         The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").  The reports, proxy
statements and other information filed by the Company with the SEC can be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC
at its principal office at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and
at the regional offices of the SEC located at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor,
New York, New York 10048 and Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite
1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661.  Copies of such material can also be obtained by
mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.  The SEC maintains a site on the
world wide web that contains reports, proxy and information statements and
other information on registrants, such as the Company, who must file such
material with the SEC electronically.  The SEC's internet address on the world
wide web is http:\\www.sec.gov.  The Company has filed with the SEC a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (together with all amendments thereto, the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act, covering the offer and sale
of the securities offered hereby.  This Prospectus does not contain all the
information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are
omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC.  Reference is
hereby made to the Registration Statement and related exhibits for further
information with respect to the Company and the securities offered hereby.

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents filed by the Company with the SEC (File No.
0-753) pursuant to the Exchange Act are hereby incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus:

         (1)     the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
         ended December 31, 1995;

         (2)     the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
         ended March 31, 1996, June 30, 1996, and September 30, 1996; and

         (3)     the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 30,
         1996 (as amended by the Company's Reports on Form 8-K/A filed on
         August 30, 1996 and September 6, 1996).

         All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the
date of this Prospectus and prior to termination of the offers and sales
hereunder are hereby incorporated by reference herein and shall be deemed a
part hereof from the respective dates of filing of such reports and other
documents.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference
herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes of this
Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any other
subsequently filed document that also is incorporated by reference herein,
modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute part of this Prospectus.  Certain information incorporated by
reference herein contains forward-looking statements as such term is defined in
Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.  Certain
factors as discussed in the Company's Exchange Act filings with the SEC,
including the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 1996 under the caption "Forward Looking Statements," could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements.

        THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE WHICH ARE NOT
PRESENTED HEREIN OR DELIVERED HEREWITH.  THESE DOCUMENTS (NOT INCLUDING
EXHIBITS THERETO, UNLESS SUCH EXHIBITS ARE SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE) ARE AVAILABLE, WITHOUT CHARGE, TO ANY PERSON, INCLUDING ANY
BENEFICIAL OWNER, TO WHOM THIS PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED UPON WRITTEN OR ORAL
REQUEST DIRECTED TO: PENN VIRGINIA CORPORATION, ONE RADNOR CORPORATE CENTER,
SUITE 200, 100 MATSONFORD ROAD, RADNOR, PA 19087 (TELEPHONE NUMBER
(610) 687-8900); ATTENTION:  BEVERLY COLE MCGUIRE, SECRETARY.
         



                                      -2-
<PAGE>   4
                                  THE COMPANY

         The Company's principal business is the leasing of mineral rights and
collection of coal royalties, and the exploration, development and production
of oil and natural gas.  The Company explores for, develops and produces crude
oil, condensate and natural gas in the Appalachian Basin.  The Company owns
approximately 106,000 fee acres of coal, timber and natural gas bearing land in
Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.  The Company is also engaged in
management of existing investments in energy-related public and private
companies.

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

         All of the shares of Common Stock offered in the Offering are being
offered by the Selling Shareholder.  The Company will not receive any proceeds
from the sale of such shares.

                              SELLING SHAREHOLDER

         The following description of the Selling Shareholder is a summary and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Exchange Agreement (as defined
below), the Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of May 31, 1989, between the
Selling Shareholder and Mr. E.B. Leisenring, Jr., and the Stock Purchase
Agreement, dated as of December 13, 1989, between the Selling Shareholder and
the Company, which have been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement
and the Selling Shareholder's Statement on Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on
July 17, 1989, as amended by Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2 and Amendment No.
3 filed with the SEC on January 10, 1990, July 9, 1990 and November 15, 1996,
respectively.

         The principal office address and principal business address of the
Selling Shareholder are located at Tresckowstrasse 5, 30457 Hannover, Federal
Republic of Germany.  The principal business activity of the Selling
Shareholder currently consists of the holding of shares of Common Stock.
However, the Selling Shareholder may, from time to time, also hold investments
in other companies.

         The Selling Shareholder has three shareholders:  PreussenElektra AG
("PE"), Veba Kraftwerke Ruhr AG ("VKR") and Stinnes AG ("Stinnes").

         PE owns 75% of the outstanding capital stock of the Selling
Shareholder.  PE is a corporation organized under the laws of the Federal
Republic of Germany whose principal office address and principal business
address are located at Tresckowstrasse 5, 30457 Hannover, Federal Republic of
Germany.  The principal business activities of PE consist of electric power
generation and distribution.  All of the outstanding capital stock of PE is
owned by VEBA.

         VKR owns 12.5% of the outstanding capital stock of the Selling
Shareholder.  VKR is a corporation organized under the laws of the Federal
Republic of Germany whose principal office address and principal business
address are located at Bergmannsgluckstrasse 41-43, 45896 Gelsenkirchen-Buer,
Federal Republic of Germany.  The principal business activity of VKR consists
of the generation of electric power.  All of the outstanding capital stock of
VKR is owned by PE.

         Stinnes owns 12.5% of the outstanding capital stock of the Selling
Shareholder.  Stinnes is a corporation organized under the laws of the Federal
Republic of Germany whose principal office address and principal business
address are located at Humboldtring 15, 45472 Mulheim/Ruhr, Federal Republic
of Germany.  The principal business activities of Stinnes consist of trading
and transportation fields.  One hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding
capital stock of Stinnes is owned by VEBA.
         




                                      -3-
<PAGE>   5
         VEBA is a corporation organized under the laws of the Federal Republic
of Germany whose principal office address and principal business address are
located at Benningsen Platz 1, 40474 Dusseldorf, Federal Republic of Germany.
The principal business activities of VEBA, which are conducted through numerous
subsidiaries and affiliated companies, include electric power generation and
distribution, several ventures in the petroleum and chemical industries and
activities in the trading and transportation fields.  The outstanding capital
stock of VEBA is owned by approximately 405,000 shareholders.

         As of January 9, 1997, the Selling Shareholder beneficially owned
868,258 shares of Common Stock, which constituted 20.0% of the Company's
outstanding Common Stock.  All of the shares of Common Stock owned by the
Selling Shareholder are being offered hereby.

         Exchange Agreement.     Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement between the
Selling Shareholder and the Company (the "Exchange Agreement"), dated May 31,
1989, as amended on December 13, 1989, and May 4, 1990, by which Selling
Shareholder acquired shares of the Common Stock, the Company has agreed to use
its best efforts to cause either one or two Selling Shareholder designees to be
included on the Board of Directors' slate of nominees to be elected to the
Board of Directors of the Company as long as Selling Shareholder holds at least
either a 10% or 20% voting interest in the Company, respectively.  The Company
has also agreed that if, after January 26, 1990, the Selling Shareholder's
voting interest in the Company is less than 20% as a result of one or more
issuances by the Company of its voting shares after December 14, 1989, the
Company shall use its best efforts to enable Selling Shareholder to maintain
its right to designate two individuals on the Company's Board of Directors'
slate of nominees (including increasing the number of directors on the Board). 
The Company's Board of Directors currently consists of eight directors. Two
such directors, Mr. Hans-Albert Oppenborn and Dr. Johannes Teyssen, were
designated by the Selling Shareholder.  The Exchange Agreement also contains
provisions granting Selling Shareholder registration rights (pursuant to which
this Registration Statement is being filed) and preemptive rights, in certain
circumstances, and granting the Company with rights of first refusal with
respect to certain sales of Common Stock by Selling Shareholder.

         Stockholders' Agreement.  Pursuant to a Stockholders' Agreement, dated
as of May 31, 1989, between the Selling Shareholder and Mr. E.B.  Leisenring,
Jr. ("EBL"), EBL agreed to vote his shares of Common Stock in favor of the one
or two Selling Shareholder designees to be included on the Company's Board of
Directors' slate of nominees so long as the Selling Shareholder holds a certain
percentage of voting interest in the Company.  The Selling Shareholder and EBL
also agreed to notify each other and exchange information concerning important
matters to be brought before any Shareholders' meeting and to notify each other
of their intention to sell or otherwise dispose of any of the shares of Common
Stock held by either of them.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   6
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

         The following description of the Company's capital stock is a summary
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Company's Articles of
Incorporation (the "Company Articles") and Bylaws (the "Company Bylaws"), which
have been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement.  The description is
also subject in all respects to the Virginia Stock Corporation Act, as amended
(the "VSCA").

GENERAL

         The Company's authorized capital stock consists of 8,000,000 shares of
Common Stock and 100,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $100 per share
(the "Preferred Stock"), with such voting rights, dividend preferences,
redemption and liquidation rights, sinking fund provisions and conversion
privileges as may be specified, subject to the Company Articles, by the
Company's Board of Directors.  The shares of Preferred Stock are issuable in
one or more series.  As of December 31, 1996, the Company had outstanding
4,341,240 shares of Common Stock and 109,477 shares of Common Stock were held
in the treasury of the Company.  There are currently no outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock.  The Common Stock is currently authorized for quotation on the
Nasdaq National Market System.
         
COMMON STOCK

         Dividends.  Holders of the Common Stock are entitled to receive such
dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors, in its discretion.  The
Company's ability to pay dividends on the Common Stock is subject to the legal
availability of funds therefor as well as restrictions contained in the Company
Articles and Company Bylaws (including prior full payment of dividends as to
any Preferred Stock) and the Company's debt agreements.  Under the terms of the
Company's Credit Agreement with its bank group, under certain circumstances,
the Company may not pay dividends (i) in excess of 55% of the Company's
consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or
(ii) in the event of a default under the Credit Agreement.  The Company is
currently in compliance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.  The foregoing
description of the Credit Agreement is a summary and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the text of the Credit Agreement which has been filed
as Exhibit A(4) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1996 and is incorporated herein by reference.

         Voting Rights.  The holders of the Common Stock have the right to
elect directors of the Company and vote on all other matters.  At every meeting
of shareholders of the Company, the holders of record of shares of the Common
Stock entitled to vote at the meeting are entitled to one vote for each share
of Common Stock held.  Shareholders of the Company are not entitled to
cumulative voting in the election of directors.  Holders of the Common Stock
have certain additional special voting rights under the Company Articles and
the VSCA in the event of certain extraordinary transactions.  See " -
Provisions of the Company Articles and Virginia Law."

         No Preemptive Rights.  Shareholders of the Company are not entitled to
any preemptive rights to purchase or to subscribe to any additional or
increased stock of any class or any obligations convertible into any class or
classes of stock.

         Liquidation Rights.  In the event of voluntary or involuntary
liquidation of the Company, holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to
receive pro rata all of the remaining assets of the Company available for
distribution to its shareholders after all amounts to which the holders of any
Preferred Stock are entitled have been paid or set aside in cash for payment.

         American Stock Transfer and Trust Company acts as transfer agent,
registrar and dividend disbursing agent for the Common Stock.


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   7
PROVISIONS OF THE COMPANY ARTICLES AND VIRGINIA LAW

         Additional Shares.   The Company's Board of Directors is authorized by
the Company Articles, without further shareholder action, to divide the
authorized shares of Preferred Stock of the Company in one or more series and
to fix and determine the voting rights, dividend preferences, redemption and
liquidation rights, sinking fund provisions and conversion privileges, if any,
of such class or series.  Although the Company has no present plans to issue
any shares of Preferred Stock, the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock, or
the issuance of rights to purchase Preferred Stock, may have the effect of
delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company or an
unsolicited acquisition proposal.

         Certain other provisions of the Company Articles and the Company
Bylaws could also have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing any
change of control of the Company or an unsolicited acquisition proposal,
including (a) the absence of authority for shareholder action by written
consent by less than all of the Company's shareholders; (b) directors and
officers indemnification; (c) reserving to the Board of Directors of the
Company the authority to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors; and (d) the
supermajority approval by shareholders of certain transactions.  Under the
Company Articles, subject to several important exceptions discussed below, the
following transactions require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
90% of the voting power of the then outstanding capital stock of the Company
entitled to vote for directors (the "Voting Stock"): (i) any merger or
consolidation of the Company or any subsidiary with a person (or any affiliate
thereof) who or which is the beneficial owner of more than 10% of the voting
power of the Voting Stock or is an affiliate of the Company and was a
beneficial owner of such voting power within two years prior to the date in
question or is the assignee (through a non-public transfer) of shares which
were owned by such beneficial owner within two years prior to the date in
question (a "Related Person"), (ii) any sale, lease or other transfer to any
Related Person (or affiliate thereof) of any assets of the Company or any
subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as defined in the Company
Articles) of $1,000,000 or more, (iii) the issuance or transfer of any
securities of the Company or any subsidiary to any Related Person (or affiliate
thereof) in exchange for cash, securities or other property having an aggregate
Fair Market Value of $1,000,000 or more, (iv) the repurchase of Voting Stock by
the Company or any subsidiary in exchange for cash, securities or other
property having an aggregate Fair Market Value of $1,000,000 or more, (v) the
adoption of any plan for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company proposed
by a Related Person (or affiliate thereof), or (vi) any reclassification of
securities or recapitalization or any other transaction which has the effect of
increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of
equity or convertible securities of the Company or a subsidiary which is owned
by a Related Person (or affiliate thereof).

         The transactions listed in (i) through (vi) above do not, however,
require the affirmative vote of holders of 90% of the voting power as described
above if either (i) the transaction is approved by a majority of the Continuing
Directors or (ii) certain detailed "fair price and procedure" criteria are
satisfied.  For this purpose, the term "Continuing Director" means (i) any
person who was a director of the Company as of May 1, 1984, or (ii) any
director who is not affiliated with the Related Person and was a director
before such Related Person became a Related Person, or (iii) a successor
director who is not affiliated with the Related Person and is recommended to
succeed a Continuing Director by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in
office.  Under the fair price and procedure criteria, (i) the Fair Market Value
of consideration received by the holders of Common Stock in any such
transaction must be at least equal to the highest of (a) the highest per share
price paid by the Related Person for any shares acquired by it in the
transaction in which it became a Related Person or within two years of date of
the first public announcement of the proposal of such transaction (the
"Announcement Date"); (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on
the Announcement Date or on the date on which the Related Person became a
Related Person, whichever is higher; (c) the earnings per share of Common Stock
for the four full consecutive fiscal quarters immediately preceding the
Announcement Date as to which financial results have been published by the
Company, multiplied by the then highest price/earnings multiple (if any) of
such Related Person, or its affiliates, as customarily computed and reported in
the financial community; (d) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the highest per share price
paid by the Related Person for any shares of Common Stock acquired by such
Related Person within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement
Date and the denominator of which is the Fair Market Value per share of




         
                                      -6-
<PAGE>   8
Common Stock on the first day in such two-year period upon which the Related
Person acquired any shares of Common Stock; and (e) the highest Fair Market
Value per share of Common Stock in the one-year period immediately prior to the
Announcement Date; (ii) the consideration received by the holders of Common
Stock in any such transaction shall be either cash or the same type of
consideration used by the Related Person in acquiring the largest portion of
its holdings of Common Stock prior to the Announcement Date; (iii) after such
Related Person has become a Related Person, and prior to the consummation of
such transaction, there shall have been no reduction in the annual rate of
dividends paid on the Common Stock except as approved by a majority of the
Continuing Directors, subject to certain exceptions, and such Related Person
shall not have become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Voting
Stock except as part of the transaction which results in such Related Person
becoming a Related Person; (iv) after such Related Person has become a Related
Person, such Related Person shall not have received the benefit of any loans,
advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits
or other tax advantages provided by the Company disproportionate to its
shareholdings; and (v) a proxy or information statement describing such
transaction and complying with the Exchange Act shall be mailed to the
Company's shareholders at least 30 days prior to the consummation of such
transaction.

         The Continuing Directors have the power and duty to determine for the
purposes of the provisions described in the two preceding paragraphs (i)
whether a person is a Related Person, (ii) the number of shares of Voting Stock
beneficially owned by any person, (iii) whether a person is an affiliate of
another, (iv) whether the assets which are the subject of any such transaction
have, or the consideration to be received or paid for the issuance, transfer or
purchase of any securities in any such transaction has, an aggregate Fair
Market Value of $1,000,000 or more, and (v) any other matter relating to the
applicability or effect of such provisions.

         Virginia Stock Corporation Act.  The VSCA contains provisions
governing "Affiliated Transactions." These provisions, with certain exceptions,
require approval of material acquisition transactions between a Virginia
corporation and any beneficial owner of more than 10% of any class of its
outstanding voting shares (an "Interested Shareholder") by the holders of at
least two-thirds of the remaining voting shares. Affiliated Transactions
subject to this approval requirement include mergers, share exchanges, certain
material dispositions of corporate assets not in the ordinary course of
business, certain sales or issuances to the Interested Shareholder of voting
securities of the corporation or its subsidiaries, any dissolution of the
corporation proposed by or on behalf of an Interested Shareholder or any
reclassification, including reverse stock splits, recapitalization or merger of
the corporation with its subsidiaries, which increases the percentage of voting
shares owned beneficially by an Interested Shareholder by more than 5%.
         
         For three years following the time that an Interested Shareholder
becomes the beneficial owner of 10% of the outstanding voting shares,
subject to certain exceptions, a Virginia corporation cannot engage in an
Affiliated Transaction with such Interested Shareholder without approval of
two-thirds of the voting shares other than those shares beneficially owned by
the Interested Shareholder, and majority approval of the "Disinterested
Directors." A Disinterested Director means, with respect to a particular
Interested Shareholder, a member of the board of directors who was (i) a member
before the later of January 1, 1988 and the date on which an Interested
Shareholder became an Interested Shareholder or (ii) recommended for election
by, or was elected to fill a vacancy and received the affirmative vote of, a
majority of the Disinterested Directors then on the board. At the expiration of
the three-year period, subject to certain exceptions, the statute requires
approval of Affiliated Transactions by two-thirds of the voting shares other
than those beneficially owned by the Interested Shareholder.

         The principal exceptions to the special voting requirement apply to
transactions proposed after the three-year period has expired and require
either that the transaction be approved by a majority of the corporation's
Disinterested Directors or that the transaction satisfy the fair-price
requirements of the statute. In general, the fair-price requirements provide
that in a two-step acquisition transaction, the Interested Shareholder must pay
the shareholders in the second step either the same amount of cash or the same
amount and type of consideration paid to acquire the Virginia corporation's
shares in the first step.


                                      -7-
<PAGE>   9
         None of the foregoing limitations and special voting requirements
applies to a transaction with an Interested Shareholder (i) whose acquisition
of shares making such person an Interested Shareholder was approved in advance
by a majority of the Virginia corporation's Disinterested Directors or (ii) who
was an Interested Shareholder on the date the corporation became subject to
these provisions by virtue of its having 300 shareholders of record.

         In addition, the statute provides that, by affirmative vote of a
majority of the voting shares other than shares owned by any Interested
Shareholder, a corporation can adopt an amendment to its articles of
incorporation or bylaws providing that the Affiliated Transactions provisions
shall not apply to the corporation.  The Company has not adopted any such
amendment.
         
         The VSCA also contains provisions relating to "control share
acquisitions," which are transactions causing the voting strength of any person
acquiring beneficial ownership of shares of a public corporation in Virginia to
meet or exceed certain threshold percentages (20%, 33-1/3% or 50%) of the total
votes entitled to be cast for the election of directors.  The statute provides
certain exceptions to the definition of "control share acquisitions,"
including, among others, the acquisition of shares (i) pursuant to a merger or
share exchange, or a tender or exchange offer, that is made pursuant to an
agreement to which the issuing public corporation is a party, (ii) directly
from the issuing public corporation, from its wholly-owned subsidiary or from a
corporation having beneficial ownership of shares of the issuing public
corporation having at least a majority, before such transaction, of the votes
entitled to be cast for the election of directors and (iii) by or from any
person whose voting rights had previously been authorized by the shareholders
of the Company under this statute or whose previous acquisition of beneficial
ownership would have constituted a control share acquisition but for one of the
other exceptions, subject to the threshold percentage as specified in the
shareholders' authorization.  Shares acquired in a control share acquisition
have no voting rights unless (i) the voting rights are granted by the vote of a
majority of all outstanding shares other than those held by the acquiring
person or any officer or employee director of the corporation or (ii) the
articles of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation provide that the control
share acquisition provisions of the VSCA do not apply to acquisitions of its
shares. The acquiring person may require that a special meeting of the
shareholders be held to consider the grant of voting rights to the shares
acquired in the control share acquisition. The Company Articles and Company
Bylaws do not contain provisions rendering the control share acquisition
provisions of the VSCA inapplicable to acquisitions of shares of Common Stock
of the Company.
         
    Each of the foregoing agreements and provisions, including the existence
under the Company Articles of amounts of authorized but unissued preferred
stock and Common Stock, could have the effect of delaying, deferring or
preventing a change in control of the Company or an unsolicited acquisition
proposal.

         The foregoing description of the Company Articles and the Company
Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the complete text of the Company Articles and the Company Bylaws,
which have been filed as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 to the Registration Statement
and are incorporated herein by reference.



                                      -8-
<PAGE>   10
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The distribution of the Common Stock by the Selling Shareholder may be
effected from time to time (i) in one or more transactions for its own account
(which may include block transactions) on the Nasdaq National Market, or on any
exchange on which the Common Stock may then be listed, (ii) in negotiated
transactions, (iii) through the writing of options on shares (whether such
options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise), (iv) a combination of
such methods of sale, at fixed prices which may be changed, at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices, or (v) by any other legally available means.
The Selling Shareholder may effect such transactions by selling Common Stock to
or through broker-dealers, including broker-dealers who may act as
underwriters, and such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions from the Selling Shareholder and/or the
purchasers of Common Stock for whom such broker-dealers may act as agent or to
whom they sell as principal, or both (which compensation as to a particular
broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commission). The Selling
Shareholder may also sell Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under
the Securities Act, or may pledge Common Stock as collateral for margin
accounts and such shares of Common Stock could be resold pursuant to the terms
of such accounts. The Selling Shareholder and any brokers and dealers
participating in the distribution of the Common Stock may be deemed to be
"underwriters" as defined in the Securities Act and any profit in the sale of
the Common Stock by the Selling Shareholder and any discounts, commissions or
concessions received by any such broker or dealer may be deemed to be
underwriting commissions under the Securities Act.

         At the time a particular offering of shares of Common Stock being
offered hereby is made, to the extent required, a Prospectus Supplement will be
distributed which will set forth the amount of shares of Common Stock being
offered and the terms of the offering, including the purchase price or public
offering price, the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the
purchase price paid by any underwriter for shares of Common Stock purchased
from the Selling Shareholder, any discounts, commissions and other items
constituting compensation from the Selling Shareholder and any discounts,
commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

         In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if
applicable, the shares of Common Stock may be sold by the Selling Shareholder
only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.  In addition, in
certain states, the shares of Common Stock may not be sold unless they have
been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from such
registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

         The Company has agreed to pay all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the shares of
Common Stock being offered hereby, including, without limitation, all
registration and filing fees, all fees and expenses of complying with
securities or blue sky laws, all printing expenses, fees and disbursements of
counsel and accountants for the Company and reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel retained by the Selling Shareholder and the expense of any special
audits required by such registration.  The Selling Shareholder will pay any
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes attributable to the
sale of the shares of Common Stock being offered hereby.  The Company also has
agreed to indemnify the Selling Shareholder and each underwriter of a
distribution of the shares of Common Stock being offered hereby, and each
person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such Selling
Shareholder or such underwriter against certain losses, claims, damages and
liabilities, joint and several, arising under the securities laws in connection
with this Offering.  The Selling Shareholder has agreed to indemnify the
Company, its directors and those officers who have signed the Registration
Statement and each person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities
Act) the Company against other losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint
and several, arising under the securities laws in connection with this Offering
with respect to written information furnished to the Company by such Selling
Shareholder.

         There is no assurance that the Selling Shareholder will sell any or
all of the shares of Common Stock being offered hereby.

         




                                      -9-
<PAGE>   11
                                 LEGAL MATTERS

         The validity of the Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon
for the Company by Dechert Price & Rhoads, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Minturn
T. Wright, III, of counsel to Dechert Price & Rhoads, is a Director of the
Company and, as of December 31, 1996, beneficially owned 7,186 shares of Common
Stock (including options to purchase 5,100 shares).

                                    EXPERTS

         The consolidated financial statements of the Company and its
subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 and 1994 and for each of the years in the
three year period ended December 31, 1995 have been incorporated herein by
reference and in the Registration Statement in reliance on the report of KPMG
Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public accountants, and upon the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The report of
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP covering the 1995 financial statements refers to a change
in the method of accounting for the impairment of long-lived assets and for
long-lived assets to be disposed of.





                                     -10-
<PAGE>   12
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus, and, if given or
made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having
been authorized.  This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to
which it relates or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy
such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is
unlawful.  Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder
shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no
change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof or that the
information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.

                          ___________________________

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Page
                                                                                             ----

<S>                                                                                          <C>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2

THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3

USE OF PROCEEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3

SELLING SHAREHOLDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9

LEGAL MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10

EXPERTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10


</TABLE>

                                 868,258 Shares

                           PENN VIRGINIA CORPORATION

                                  Common Stock

              ___________________________________________________

                                   PROSPECTUS

              ___________________________________________________

                                January __, 1997





<PAGE>   13
                                    PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.   OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

         The expenses payable in connection with the distribution of the
securities being offered hereby are estimated as follows:

<TABLE>
         <S>                                                        <C>
         SEC Filing Fee:  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   $

         Accounting fees and expenses:  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   $

         Legal fees and expenses: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   $

         Miscellaneous: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   $        
                                                                     --------

                 TOTAL                                              $        
                                                                     ========
</TABLE>

         All of the above expenses will be borne by the Company.

ITEM 15.   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         Under the VSCA, corporations are required to indemnify a director or
officer who entirely prevails in the defense of any proceeding to which he or
she was a party because he or she is or was a director or officer of  the
Company against reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding.
In addition, the VSCA permits corporations to further indemnify a director or
officer in civil or criminal actions if such director or officer (i) acted in
good faith, (ii) believed his or her conduct was in or not opposed to the best
interest of the corporation and (iii) in the case of criminal actions, had no
reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful.  This power to
indemnify does not extend, however, to actions wherein the director or officer
was adjudged to be liable to the corporation or to have received improper
personal benefit from his or her conduct, or where the director or officer
engaged in willful misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.  Section
13.1-692.1 of the VSCA also provides for a monetary limitation or elimination
of liability of corporate officers and directors.  In any proceeding brought by
or in the right of a corporation or shareholders, the liability of a
corporation's officers and directors may be limited or eliminated if so
provided in the corporation's articles of incorporation or, if approved by the
shareholders, in the corporation's bylaws.  This limitation or elimination
shall not apply, however, if the director or officer engaged in willful
misconduct or a knowing violation of  the criminal law or any federal or state
securities law, including, without limitation, unlawful insider trading or
manipulation of the market for any security.

         The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company shall indemnify any
person who was or is a party or threatened to be a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that the person is or
was a director or officer of the Company (or a predecessor corporation absorbed
in a merger or other transaction), or while serving as a director or officer,
is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer,
partner, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise,
for expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and settlement amounts incurred by
such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding.  The Company's
Bylaws permit the above indemnification only to the extent that (i) such person
is not otherwise indemnified, (ii) such person has not improperly received a
personal benefit, and (iii) the liability did not result from such person's
gross negligence or willful misconduct.





                                     II-1
<PAGE>   14
ITEM 16.   EXHIBITS

         The Exhibit Index appearing on page II-5 is hereby incorporated by
reference.

ITEM 17.   UNDERTAKINGS

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                 (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
         being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                          (a) To include any prospectus required by Section
                 10(a)(3) of the  Securities Act of 1933;

                          (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 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 Commission 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;

                          (c) To include any material information with respect
                 to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
                 registration statement of any material change to such
                 information in the registration statement;

         Provided, however, that paragraphs (a) and (b) above do not apply if
         the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and
         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 Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13
         or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
         incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

                 (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
         the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall
         be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
         securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at
         that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
         thereof.

                 (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
         amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold
         at the termination of the offering.

                (4) For purposes of determining any liability under the
         Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report
         pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
         Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
         plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
         registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
         statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering
         of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
         fide offering thereof.

                (5) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
         Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
         controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing
         provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the
         opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy
         as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore,
         unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
         such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
         incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
         registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding)
         is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
         connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will,
         unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
         controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
         the question whether such





                                     II-2
<PAGE>   15

         indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
         Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication
         of such issue.


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of  Pennsylvania, on
January 10, 1997.


                                           PENN VIRGINIA CORPORATION

                                           By: /s/ A. James Dearlove
                                               -----------------------
                                               Name: A. James Dearlove

                                               Title: President and 
                                                      Chief Executive Officer



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes A. James
Dearlove, Steven W. Tholen and Beverly Cole McGuire, and each of them, his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents each with full power of
substitution and resubstitution for him or her in any an all capacities to sign
any and all amendments (including pre- or post-effective amendments) to this
registration statement on Form S-3, making such changes in the registration
statement as appropriate, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that each such attorney-in-fact, or his substitute or
substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.  Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities listed below on
January 10, 1997.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signatures                                      Title
- ----------                                      -----
<S>                                             <C>
/s/ A. James Dearlove                           President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
- ------------------------------                  (Principal Executive Officer)                 
A. James Dearlove                                                    



/s/ Steven W. Tholen                            Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
- ------------------------------                  (Principal Financial Officer)                                
Steven W. Tholen                                                    



/s/ Ann N. Horton                               Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
- ------------------------------                                                 
Ann N. Horton



</TABLE>


                                     II-3
<PAGE>   16

<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>
/s/ Lennox K. Black                             Chairman of the Board
- ------------------------------                             
Lennox K. Black


/s/ John D. Cadigan                             Director
- ------------------------------               
John D. Cadigan


/s/ Hans-Albert Oppenborn                       Director
- ------------------------------                
Hans-Albert Oppenborn


/s/ John A.H. Shober                            Director
- ------------------------------                
John A.H. Shober


/s/ Johannes Teyssen                            Director
- ------------------------------                
Johannes Teyssen


/s/ Frederick C. Witsell, Jr.                   Director
- ------------------------------                
Frederick C. Witsell, Jr.



/s/ Minturn T. Wright, III                      Director
- -----------------------------                
Minturn T. Wright, III



</TABLE>


                                      II-4
<PAGE>   17
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO.              DESCRIPTION
<S>                      <C>
4.1                      Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company
                         (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(a) to the Company's
                         Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and
                         Exchange Commission on May 13, 1991 (Registration No. 33-40430))

4.2                      Amended Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to the
                         Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
                         1995 (Commission File No. 0-753))

5.1                      Opinion of Dechert Price & Rhoads*

15.1                     "Awareness Letter" of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

23.1                     Consent of Dechert Price & Rhoads (included in Exhibit 5.1)*

23.2                     Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

24.1                     Powers of Attorney (included on Signature pages)

99.1                     Exchange Agreement dated May 31, 1989, between the Selling Shareholder
                         and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit C to the Selling
                         Shareholder's Statement on Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and
                         Exchange Commission on July 17, 1989 (Commission File No. 5-12730)).

99.1.1                   Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of December 13, 1989, between the
                         Selling Shareholder and the Company, containing also an Amendment to
                         the Exchange Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit F to the
                         Selling Shareholder's Amendment No. 1 to the Statement on Schedule 13D
                         filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 10,
                         1990 (Commission File No. 5-12730)).

99.1.2                   Amendment to the Exchange Agreement dated May 4, 1990, between the
                         Selling Shareholder and the Company (incorporated by reference to
                         Exhibit A to the Selling Shareholder's Amendment No. 2 to the
                         Statement on Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange
                         Commission on July 9, 1990 (Commission File No. 5-12730)).

99.2                     Stockholders' Agreement dated as of May 31, 1989, between the Selling
                         Shareholder and Mr. E.B. Leisenring, Jr. (incorporated by reference to
                         Exhibit D to the Selling Shareholder's Statement on Schedule 13D filed
                         with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 17, 1989
                         (Commission File No. 5-12730)).

- ------------------

*   To be filed by amendment.
</TABLE>



                                     II-5

<PAGE>   1
                                                                Exhibit 15.1

January 10, 1997


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20549


Ladies and Gentlemen:


We acknowledge our awareness of the incorporation by reference and use in this
Registration Statement of our reports dated May 13, 1996 and August 13, 1996
related to our review of unaudited interim financial information.

Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act, such reports are not
considered a part of a registration statement prepared or certified by an
accountant, or a report prepared or certified by an accountant, within the
meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.


                                        Very truly yours,



                                        /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP



<PAGE>   1
                                                                Exhibit 23.2

                      Consent of Independent Accountants



        We consent to the use of our report dated February 21, 1996
incorporated herein by reference to the 1995 annual report on Form 10-K of Penn
Virginia Corporation and to the reference to our firm under the heading
"Experts" in the prospectus.
        

KPMG Peat Marwick LLP




Philadelphia, PA
January 10, 1997


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