CERES GROUP INC, S-8, 2000-04-14

CERES GROUP INC
S-8, 2000-04-14
LIFE INSURANCE

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<PAGE> 1
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

CERES GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE 34-1017531

(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

17800 ROYALTON ROAD, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

CERES GROUP, INC. 2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
CERES GROUP, INC. 2000 AGENT STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(Full Title of the Plan)

Peter W. Nauert
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Ceres Group, Inc.
17800 Royalton Road
Cleveland, OH 44136
440/572-2400
(Name, address, telephone number,
including area code of agent for service)

Calculation of Registration Fee
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
============================================================================================================================
Title of securities to Amount to be Proposed maximum Proposed maximum Amount of
be registered registered offering price per aggregate offering registration fee
share(1) price(1)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, 1,000,000 shares $5.98 $5,984,350 $1,579.87
$.001 par value

Plan Interests Indeterminate (2)
===========================================================================================================================
<FN>

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457 (h) on the basis of the
average of the high and low market price for the Common Stock on April 13, 2000 with respect to 1,000,000
shares of Common Stock for which options have not yet been granted.

(2) In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 (c) under the Securities Act
of 1933, this registration statement also covers an
indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold
pursuant to the employee benefit plans described herein.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

<PAGE> 2

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The information required by Part I is included in documents
sent or given to participants in the Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan and the Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Agent Stock Purchase Plan, pursuant
to Rule 428(b)(1) issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act").

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents previously filed by Ceres Group, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with the Commission are hereby
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

(a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999; and

(b) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in its
Registration Statement on Form 10 dated May 6, 1977 (File No.
0-8483) filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"). The updating of the description of the Company's Common
Stock following the change of its state of incorporation from
Ohio to Delaware as set forth in the Company's Form 8-K
(Reg. No. 0-8483), filed with the Commission on December
9, 1998.

All documents hereafter filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective Amendment hereto that indicates all securities offered have been
sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

Not applicable.

II-1

<PAGE> 3

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation and contracts provide that in certain
cases, officers and directors of the Company will be indemnified by the Company
against certain costs, expenses and liabilities which such officer or director
may incur in his or her capacity as such. The Company maintains an insurance
policy that provides protection, within the maximum liability limits of the
policy and subject to a deductible amount for each claim, to the Company under
its indemnification obligations and to the directors and officers of the Company
with respect to certain matters that are not covered by the Company's
indemnification obligations. Accordingly, the liability of such persons may be
affected as a result thereof.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

4.1 Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

4.2 Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Agent Stock Purchase Plan

4.3 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company(1)

5.1 Opinion of Kohrman Jackson & Krantz P.L.L.

23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

23.2 Consent of KPMG LLP

23.3 Consent of Kohrman Jackson & Krantz P.L.L. (contained in its opinion
filed as Exhibit 5.1)

24.1 Reference is made to the Signatures section of this Registration
Statement for the Power of Attorney contained therein

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS

(a) The Company hereby undertakes:

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

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

(1) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K (Reg. No.
0-8483), as filed with the Commission on December 9, 1998.

II-2

<PAGE> 4

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

(ii) 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; and

(iii) 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 paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (ii) above 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 Commission by
the Company pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement.

(2) That for the purpose of determining liability under the
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.

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

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised
that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Company 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 Company will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of

II-3

<PAGE> 5

appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause
to be delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is
sent or given, the latest annual report to security holders that is
incorporated by reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and
meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Exchange Act;
and, where interim financial information required to be presented by Article 3
of Regulation S-X are not set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or cause to
be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest
quarterly report that is specifically incorporated by reference in the
prospectus to provide such interim financial information.

II-4

<PAGE> 6

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Cleveland, State of Ohio, on April 13, 2000 .

CERES GROUP, INC.

By: /s/ Peter W. Nauert
------------------------------------
Peter W. Nauert, Chairman, President
and CEO

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Linda S. Standish his or
her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, each acting alone, with full powers of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments, including
any post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, and to file the
same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes, each acting alone, may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NAME TITLE DATE

<S> <C> <C>
Chairman, President and
/s/ Peter W. Nauert Chief Executive Officer April 13, 2000
- ----------------------------------- (Principal Executive Officer)
Peter W. Nauert
Executive Vice President,
/s/ Charles E. Miller, Jr. Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer April 13, 2000
- ----------------------------------- (Principal Financial and Accounting
Charles E. Miller, Jr. Officer)

/s/ Andrew A. Boemi Director April 13, 2000
- -----------------------------------
Andrew A. Boemi

Director
- ----------------------------------
Michael A. Cavataio

/s/ Bradley E. Cooper Director April 13, 2000
- ----------------------------------
Bradley E. Cooper
</TABLE>

II-5

<PAGE> 7

<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Susan S. Fleming Director April 13, 2000
- -------------------------------------
Susan S. Fleming

Director
- -------------------------------------
Rodney L. Hale

/s/ Robert A. Spass Director April 13, 2000
- -------------------------------------
Robert A. Spass

/s/ Mark H. Tabak Director April 13, 2000
- -------------------------------------
Mark H. Tabak

</TABLE>

II-6

<PAGE> 8

EXHIBIT INDEX

4.1 Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

4.2 Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Agent Stock Purchase Plan

4.3 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company(1)

5.1 Opinion of Kohrman Jackson & Krantz P.L.L.

23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

23.2 Consent of KPMG LLP

23.3 Consent of Kohrman Jackson & Krantz P.L.L. (contained in its opinion
filed as Exhibit 5.1)

24.1 Reference is made to the Signatures section of this Registration
Statement for the Power of Attorney contained therein

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

(1) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K (Reg. No.
0-8483), as filed with the Commission in December 9, 1998.

II-7

<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4.1

CERES GROUP, INC.

2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

(ADOPTED FEBRUARY 4, 2000)

1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Plan is to advance the interests of
CERES GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and its affiliated
companies by providing their employees with an opportunity to acquire a
proprietary interest in the Company through the purchase of stock of the
Company. It is the intention of the Company to have this Plan qualify as an
"employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended. The provisions of this Plan will, accordingly, be
construed so as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with
the requirements of that Section of the Code.

2. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following terms will have the
meaning indicated:

(a) "Account" will mean the funds accumulated with respect to an
individual Employee as a result of deductions from his or her Compensation as
provided under and for purposes of this Plan. The funds allocated to an
Employee's Account will remain the property of the Employee at all times but
may be commingled with the general funds of the Company.

(b) "Affiliated Company" will mean any parent or subsidiary
corporation of the Company, as defined in Code Sections 424(e) and (f). For the
purposes of this Plan, an "Affiliated Company" will include any limited
liability company of which the Company or another Affiliated Company is the
sole member.

(d) "Code" will mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

(e) "Compensation" will mean the total cash remuneration (before
taxes) which a Participant receives during an Offering as salary or wages,
including overtime pay, bonuses, holiday pay, vacation pay, sickpay and
short-term disability payments (and grossed up to reflect salary deferrals
under any Code Section 401(k) retirement plan or Code Section 125 cafeteria
plan) and excluding all other forms of non-cash remuneration such as payments
under this or any other form of equity or fringe benefit programs and
compensation attributable to the vesting of any restricted stock or exercise of
a stock option.

(f) "Commencement Date" will have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 4 of this Plan.

(g) "Committee" will mean any compensation committee appointed by
the Board pursuant to Section 17 hereof or, if not appointed, the full Board.

(h) "Common Stock" will mean the Company's shares of common stock,
par value $0.001 per share.

<PAGE> 2

(i) "Director" will mean a member of the Board.

(j) "Disability" will mean permanent and total disability as
defined in Code Section 22(e)(3).

(k) "Disposition" will have the meaning assigned to it in Section
10(c) of this Plan.

(l) "Effective Date" will mean May 1, 2000.

(m) "Employee" will mean any person, including, but not limited
to, an officer, who is customarily employed by the Company or any Affiliated
Company for more than 20 hours per week but shall not include temporary
employees.

(n) "Enrollment Agreement" will have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 5 of this Plan.

(o) "Enrollment Date" will mean the last business day prior to 15
days before the Commencement Date of each Offering.

(p) "Exercise Date" will mean the last business day of a
particular Offering.

(q) "Fair Market Value" of a Share on any date of reference will
be the "Closing Price" (as defined below) of the Common Stock on the business
day immediately preceding such date. For the purpose of determining Fair Market
Value, the "Closing Price" of the Common Stock on any business day will be (i)
if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading on any United States
national securities exchange, or if actual transactions are otherwise reported
on a consolidated transaction reporting system, the last reported sale price of
Common Stock on such exchange or reporting system, as reported in any newspaper
of general circulation, (ii) if the Common Stock is quoted on the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System ("NASDAQ"), or
any similar system of automated dissemination of quotations of securities
prices in common use, the mean between the closing high bid and low asked
quotations for such day of Common Stock on such system, or (iii) if neither
clause (i) or (ii) is applicable, the mean between the high bid and low asked
quotations for the Common Stock as reported by the National Quotation Bureau,
Incorporated if at least two securities dealers have inserted both bid and
asked quotations for Common Stock on at least five of the ten preceding days.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, no determination
made with respect to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to an
Option shall be inconsistent with Code Section 423.

(r) "Holding Period" will mean, with respect to Shares purchased
by a Participant under this Plan, the period commencing on the date of the
purchase of such Shares and ending on the latter of (i) the date two years
after the date of the grant of the Option under which such Shares were
purchased by the Participant, or (ii) the date one year after the date such
Shares were purchased by the Participant.

-2-
<PAGE> 3

(s) "Offering" will have the meaning assigned to it in Section 4
of this Plan.

(t) "Offering Date" will mean the Commencement Date of a
particular Offering, if such date is a regular business day, or if not a
regular business day, the first regular business day following such
Commencement Date; provided however, that a different Offering Date may be set
by the Committee.

(u) "Option" (when capitalized) will have the same meaning
assigned to it in Section 7 of this Plan.

(v) "Participant" will have the meaning assigned to it in Section
5 of this Plan.

(w) "Plan" will mean this 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan of the
Company.

(x) "Retirement" is a termination of Participant's employment on
or after the first day of the month of Participant's 55th birthday.

(y) "Rule 16b-3" will mean Rule 16b-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or any successor rule to the same effect.

(z) "Share(s)" will mean a share or shares of the Common Stock.

3. ELIGIBILITY.

(a) Any Employee who will be employed by the Company or any
Affiliated Company on the Enrollment Date of an Offering will be eligible to
participate in such Offering under this Plan, subject to the limitations
imposed by Section 3(b) hereunder.

(b) Any provision of this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no
Employee will be granted an Option if, immediately after the grant:

(i) such Employee would own Shares, and/or hold outstanding
Options to purchase Shares, possessing five percent or more of the total
combined voting power or value of all classes of Shares of the Company or of
any Affiliated Company (for purposes of determining Share ownership under this
paragraph, the constructive ownership rules of Section 424(b) of the Code will
apply); or

(ii) such Option would permit his or her rights to purchase
Shares under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and any
Affiliated Company to accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 (determined by the
Fair Market Value of the Shares at the time such Option is granted) for each
calendar year in which such Option is outstanding at any time, in accordance
with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code.

(c) All eligible Employees shall have the same rights and
privileges under the Plan, except that the amount of Shares which may be
purchased under Options granted under this

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<PAGE> 4

Plan shall bear a uniform relationship to the Compensation of eligible
Employees. All rules and determinations of the Committee in the administration
of the Plan shall be uniformly and consistently applied to all persons in
similar circumstances.

4. OFFERING. There will be separate consecutive six month
offerings pursuant to this Plan (each, an "Offering") each commencing on May 1
or November 1, as applicable (each, a "Commencement Date"). (The first Offering
commences on May 1, 2000 and ends on October 31, 2000.) If the Plan is
terminated, then the Offering in which it is terminated will end on the date
immediately preceding the effective date of such termination.

5. PARTICIPATION. In order to become eligible to purchase Shares
under this Plan, an Employee must sign an enrollment agreement (an "Enrollment
Agreement"), and any other necessary papers required by the Committee by the
Enrollment Date of the particular Offering in which he or she wishes to
participate. Upon delivering the Enrollment Agreement to the Company, an
Employee will become a participant (a "Participant") with respect to that
Offering and each subsequent Offering, unless the Employee delivers a
withdrawal notice to the Company pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan. The
Enrollment Agreement will permit the Employee to elect to have deductions made
from his or her pay to purchase Shares under this Plan. Participation in one
Offering under this Plan will neither limit, nor require, participation in any
other Offering. Payroll deductions for a Participant will commence on the
Offering Date of the particular Offering and will end on the Exercise Date of
the Offering. At the termination of each Offering, the Company will
automatically re-enroll the Employee in the next Offering, and the balance in
the Employee's Account will be used for Option exercises in the new Offering,
unless the Employee has advised the Company otherwise or Participant has
exceeded the withholding rate specified in Section 3(b)(ii), in which case the
balance will be refunded to the Employee. Upon termination of this Plan, the
balance of each Employee's Account will be returned to him or her.

6. PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. As set forth on the Enrollment Agreement,
the Participant will elect to have deductions made from his or her pay on each
payday during the Offering at the rate in whole percentages from 1% to 15% of
such Participant's Compensation. All payroll deductions made for a Participant
will be credited to his or her Account. A Participant may not make any separate
cash payments into his or her Account. A Participant may discontinue his or her
participation by withdrawing from an Offering as provided in Section 11.
Payroll deductions may be increased by a Participant only for a subsequent
Offering by providing written notice to the Company in the manner specified by
the Committee by the Enrollment Date for such Offering. Payroll deductions may
be decreased upon the Participant's written notice to the Company in the manner
specified by the Company and will be effective as of the first payroll period
for which it is administratively practical to put the decrease into effect.

7. GRANTING OF OPTION. On the Offering Date of each Offering, a
Participant will be granted an Option for as many full Shares as he or she will
be able to purchase with the payroll deductions credited to his or her Account
during that particular Offering (an "Option"). The purchase price per Share
will be the lesser of (i) 85% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the
Offering Date, or (ii) 85% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Exercise
Date of the Offering (the "Option Price").

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<PAGE> 5

8. EXERCISE OF OPTION. Unless a Participant withdraws from an
Offering pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan, the Option granted to the
Participant on the Offering Date will be deemed to be exercised on the Exercise
Date of that Offering and he or she will be deemed to have purchased from the
Company such number of whole Shares (plus any fractional interest in a Share)
reserved for the purpose of this Plan as the accumulated payroll deductions
credited to his or her Account on such date will pay for at the applicable
Option Price. Fractional Shares will be carried forward in a Participant's ESPP
Broker Account until they equal a whole Share or until termination of such
Participant's participation in the Plan, in which event an amount in cash equal
to the value of such fractional interest will be paid to the Participant in
cash.

9. EMPLOYEE'S RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER AND EMPLOYEE. No Employee
will have any rights as a stockholder of the Company until Shares have been
purchased in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Plan and it is
agreed and understood that nothing in this Plan is intended to grant to any
Employee any right to continued employment by the Company.

10. EVIDENCE OF STOCK OWNERSHIP.

(a) Promptly following the end of each Offering, the number
of Shares purchased by each Participant will be deposited into an account
established in the Participant's name at a stock brokerage or other financial
services firm designated by the Company in its sole discretion (the "ESPP
Broker Account"). The monthly fees for the ESPP Broker Account will be paid by
the Company. Any broker fees relating to the sale of Shares by a Participant or
transfer fees relating to the transfer of the Shares to a brokerage account by
a Participant shall be the responsibility of the Participant.

(b) The Participant may direct, by written notice to the
Company at any time, that his or her ESPP Broker Account be established in the
names of the Participant and one other person designated by the Participant, as
joint tenants with right of survivorship, tenants in common, or community
property, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law.

(c) A Participant may undertake the disposition, as that term
is defined in Section 424(c) of the Code (a "Disposition"), of the Shares in
his or her ESPP Broker Account at any time, whether by sale, exchange, gift, or
other transfer of legal title, but in the absence of a Disposition of the
Shares, the Shares must remain in the Participant's ESPP Broker Account until
the Holding Period has been satisfied. With respect to Shares for which the
Holding Period has been satisfied, the Participant may move those Shares to
another brokerage account of the Participant's choosing or request that a stock
certificate be issued and delivered to him or her. If a stock certificate is
issued, an amount in cash equal to the value of a fractional Share in such
Participant's account will be paid to such Participant in cash.

(d) A Participant who is not subject to payment of U.S.
income taxes may move his or her Shares to another brokerage account of his or
her choosing or request that a stock certificate be issued and delivered to him
at any time, without regard to the satisfaction of the Holding Period. If a
stock certificate is issued, an amount in cash equal to the value of a
fractional Share in such Participant's account will be paid to such Participant
in cash.

- 5 -

<PAGE> 6

11. WITHDRAWAL.

(a) An Employee may withdraw from an Offering, in whole but not
in part, at any time at least 10 days prior to the Exercise Date of such
Offering by delivering a written withdrawal notice to the Company, in which
event the Company will refund the entire balance of his accumulated payroll
deductions credited to his or her Account and no further payroll deductions
will be made from his or her pay, except in accordance with the terms and
conditions of a new Enrollment Agreement subsequently executed by the Employee
(each, a "Withdrawal").

(b) To re-enter this Plan, an Employee who has previously
withdrawn must file a new Enrollment Agreement in accordance with Section 5.
The Employee's re-entry into this Plan will not become effective before the
beginning of the next Offering following the Withdrawal, and if the withdrawing
Employee is an "officer" of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 he or she may not re-enter this Plan before the
beginning of the second Offering following his or her Withdrawal.

(c) A Participant's Withdrawal will not have any effect upon his
or her eligibility to participate in a succeeding Offering or in any similar
plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company.

(d) Withdrawal shall be deemed to occur with respect to a
Participant upon the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) VOLUNTARY DISCONTINUANCE WHILE EMPLOYED. A
Participant's withdrawal pursuant to Section 11(a).

(ii) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Unless employment has
terminated due to Retirement, Disability or death, a Participant will be deemed
to have discontinued participation on the first day of the Offering in which
termination of employment occurs and amounts withheld from compensation during
the Offering will be refunded without election by the Participant.

(iii) RETIREMENT OR DISABILITY. In the event a
Participant's employment terminates as a result of Retirement or Participant's
Disability during the first three months of an Offering, the Participant will
be deemed to have discontinued participation on the first day of the Offering
in which Retirement or Participant's Disability occurs and amounts withheld
from Compensation during the Offering will be refunded. If Retirement or
Participant's Disability occurs during the last three months of the Offering,
the Participant will continue to participate through the balance of the
Offering in which Retirement or Participant's Disability occurs (without
further withholding) unless he or she elects otherwise by providing written
notice to the Company in the manner specified by the Committee prior to the
Exercise Date in that Offering.

(iv) DEATH. In the event the employment of the Participant
by the Company or an Affiliated Company terminates as a result of the
Participant's death, the Participant will be deemed to participate (without
further withholding) through the balance of the Offering in

- 6 -

<PAGE> 7

which death occurs, unless the executor elects a voluntary discontinuance at
least 10 days prior to the Exercise Date in that Offering.

(v) LEVY OR ATTACHMENT. The filing with or levying upon the
Company or the custodian of any judgment, attachment, garnishee, or other Court
order affecting the Participant's Account under this Plan will terminate his or
her participation during the time such order remains in effect, with respect to
the account.

(vi) PLAN TERMINATION/ EXPIRATION. The termination of this
Plan by the Company prior to its expiration or its expiration upon allocation
of all available shares will terminate his or her participation.

(e) A Participant's employment shall not be deemed terminated by
reason of a transfer to another employer which is the Company or an Affiliated
Company. A Participant who has elected participation under the Plan who is
absent from work with the Company or with an Affiliated Company because of
temporary disability (any disability other than a permanent and total
Disability) or who is on leave of absence for a period of less than 90 days
shall not, during the period of any such absence, be deemed, by virtue of such
absence alone, to have terminated employment with the Company or with an
Affiliated Company. In the case of a leave of absence which is longer than 90
days, a Participant will not be deemed to have terminated employment until the
later of the 91st day of such leave or, if later, such date as the
Participant's reemployment rights are not protected by contract or law.

(f) Upon a Withdrawal from this Plan by a Participant, all
withheld amounts in the Account which are attributable to such Participant
shall be transferred to such Participant within thirty (30) days of such
Withdrawal, except to the extent such withheld amounts are applied to the
exercise of an Option as provided above. In no event shall any amounts be
withheld from a Participant's Compensation for allocation to such Participant's
Account after the date such Participant's employment by the Company or an
Affiliated Company shall cease.

(g) In no event may any Participant's Withdrawal from this Plan
be in respect to a portion rather than all of such Participant's Account on
such date.

12. INTEREST. No interest will be paid or allowed on any moneys
credited to a Participant's Account.

13. NUMBER OF SHARES OFFERED. The aggregate number of Shares available
for grant as Options pursuant to this Plan and the Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Agent
Stock Purchase Plan is 1,000,000, subject to adjustment as set forth in Section
14. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, specify and limit the total
number of Shares offered to all Participants in any specific Offering. Shares
granted pursuant to this Plan may either be authorized but unissued Shares,
Shares now or hereafter held in the treasury of the Company or Shares purchased
on the open market. If the total number of Shares for which Options are to be
granted on any date in accordance with Section 7 exceeds the number of Shares
then available under this Plan, the Company will make a pro rata allocation of
the Shares remaining available in as nearly a uniform manner as will be
practicable

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<PAGE> 8

and as it will determine to be equitable. In such event, the payroll deductions
to be made pursuant to the authorizations therefor will be reduced accordingly
and the Company will give written notice of such reduction to each Participant
affected thereby.

14. ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.

(a) If at any time while this Plan is in effect, there shall be
any increase or decrease in the number of issued and outstanding Shares through
the declaration of a stock dividend or through any recapitalization resulting
in a stock split-up, combination or exchange of Shares, then and in such event
appropriate adjustment will be made in the maximum number of Shares available
for grant under this Plan, so that the same percentage of the Company's issued
and outstanding Shares will continue to be subject to this Plan.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the issuance
by the Company of shares of its capital stock of any class, or securities
convertible into shares of capital stock of any class, either in connection
with direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe
therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company
convertible into such shares or other securities, will not affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof will be made with respect to the number of or
exercise price of Shares then subject to outstanding Options granted under this
Plan.

(c) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
existence of outstanding Options granted under this Plan will not affect in any
manner the right or power of the Company to make, authorize or consummate: (i)
any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in
the Company's capital structure or its business; (ii) any merger or
consolidation of the Company; (iii) any issue by the Company of debt
securities, or preferred or preference stock that would rank above the Shares
subject to outstanding Options; (iv) the dissolution or liquidation of the
Company; (v) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer, assignment or other
disposition of all or any part of the assets or business of the Company; or
(vi) any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or
otherwise.

15. TRANSFERABILITY OF RIGHTS UNDER PLAN.

(a) Neither payroll deductions credited to a Participant's
Account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an Option or the receipt
of Shares or other "derivative security" (as that term is used in Rule 16b-3)
under this Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise disposed of
in any way by the Participant, other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. Any such attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, or other
disposition will be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act
as an election to withdraw funds in accordance with Section 11. An Option may
not be exercised during a Participant's lifetime except by the Participant or,
in the event of the Participant's legal incapacity, by his guardian or legal
representative acting in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the Participant
under state law and court supervision.

(b) Participants in the Plan who wish to avail themselves of the
favorable tax benefits of Code Section 423 may not transfer or otherwise
dispose of Shares acquired by them or

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<PAGE> 9

on their behalf under this Plan (other than in the case of Participant's death)
until the Holding Period has been satisfied. In the case of any person subject
to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Shares purchased under
this Plan must be held for six months from the Exercise Date in order for the
Participant to obtain the benefit of Rule 16b-3.

(c) Each Employee who receives Shares pursuant to this Plan
agrees, by electing to participate, to notify the Company, in writing,
immediately before such Participant makes a Disqualifying Disposition of any
Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option under this Plan. A
"Disqualifying Disposition" is any disposition (including any sale) of such
Shares before the Holding Period has been satisfied. If the Participant has
died before such Shares are sold, the Holding Period requirements do not apply
and no Disqualifying Disposition can occur thereafter.

16. ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Plan, the Company's obligation to sell and deliver Shares under this Plan is
subject to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection
with the authorization, issuance, or sale of such Shares. As a condition of any
sale or issuance of Shares upon exercise of any Option, the Committee may
require such agreements or undertakings, if any, as the Committee may deem
necessary or advisable to assure compliance with any such federal or state
securities or other law or regulation including, but not limited to, the
following:

(a) a representation and warranty by the Participant to the
Company, at the time any Option is exercised, that he or she is acquiring the
Shares to be issued to him or her for investment and not with a view to, or for
sale in connection with, the distribution of any such Shares; and

(b) a representation, warranty and/or agreement to be bound by
any legends that are, in the opinion of the Committee, necessary or appropriate
to comply with the provisions of any securities law deemed by the Committee to
be applicable to the issuance of the Shares and are endorsed upon the Share
certificates.

17. ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PLAN.

(a) This Plan will be administered by the Committee, which will
consist of not less than two Directors, each of whom will be a "disinterested
person" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3. The Committee will have all of the
powers of the Board with respect to this Plan. The Board may change the
membership of the Committee at any time and fill any vacancy occurring in the
membership of the Committee by appointment.

(b) The Committee, from time to time, may adopt rules and
regulations for carrying out the purposes of this Plan. The Committee's
determinations and its interpretation and construction of any provision of this
Plan will be final and conclusive.

(c) Any and all decisions or determinations of the Committee will
be made either (i) by a majority vote of the members of the Committee at a
meeting or (ii) without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of the
members of the Committee.

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<PAGE> 10

18. INTERPRETATION.

(a) This Plan will be administered and interpreted so that this
Plan will qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the
Code. If any pirovision of this Plan should be held invalid for purposes of an
"employee stock purchase plan"or illegal for any reason, such determination
will not affect the remaining provisions hereof, but instead this Plan will be
construed and enforced as if such provision had never been included in this
Plan.

(b) This Plan will be governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware.

(d) Any reference to the masculine, feminine, or neuter gender
will be a reference to such other gender as is appropriate.

19. AMENDMENT AND DISCONTINUATION OF THIS PLAN. Either the Board or
the Committee may from time to time amend or terminate this Plan or any Option;
provided, however, that no such amendment may, without approval by the
stockholders of the Company, (i) materially increase the benefits accruing to
Participants under this Plan, (ii) materially increase the number of securities
which may be issued under this Plan, or (iii) materially modify the
requirements as to eligibility for participation in this Plan; and provided
further, that no amendment or suspension of this Plan or any Option issued
hereunder will substantially impair any Option previously granted to any
Participant without the consent of such Participant.

20. NOTICES. All notices or other communications by a Participant to
the Company under or in connection with this Plan will be deemed to have been
duly given when received by the Committee or when received in the form
specified by the Committee at the location, or by the person designated by the
Company for receipt thereof.

21. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION DATE. This Plan will be effective
upon the Effective Date and will terminate on the earliest of the following
dates:

(a) the date the Board terminates this Plan;

(b) the date when all Shares reserved for issuance under this
Plan have been purchased; or

(i) any transaction (which will include a series of
transactions occurring within sixty days or occurring pursuant to a plan), that
has the result that stockholders of the Company immediately before such
transaction cease to own at least 51% of the voting stock of the Company or of
any entity that results from the participation of the Company in a
reorganization, consolidation, merger, liquidation or any other form of
corporate transaction;

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<PAGE> 11

(ii) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a plan
of merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution in which
the Company will not survive and, if any entity will result from the
participation of the Company in such merger, consolidation, reorganization,
liquidation or dissolution, the stockholders of the Company immediately before
approval of such plan will not own at least 51% of the voting stock of the
entity or entities that result immediately following such transaction(unless
the approved merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution
is subsequently abandoned); or

(iii) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a plan
for the sale, lease, exchange, transfer, assignment or other disposition of all
or substantially all the property and assets of the Company to an entity or
entities in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before approval
of such sale, lease, exchange, transfer, assignment or other disposition will
not own at least 51% of the voting stock of such entity or entities immediately
following such transaction (unless such plan is subsequently abandoned).

Prior to the termination of this Plan, the Company may permit a Participant to
exercise the Option to purchase Shares for as many full Shares as the balance
of his or her Account will allow at the Option Price. If the Participant elects
to purchase Shares, the remaining balance of his or her Account will be
refunded to him or her after such purchase. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon
the occurrence of an event described under Section 21(c) hereof, the holder of
each Option then outstanding under the Plan will thereafter be entitled to
receive on the Exercise Date upon exercise of such Option for each share as to
which such Option would otherwise be exercised if this Plan was not terminated,
as nearly as reasonably as determined, the cash, securities and/or property
which a holder of one Share was entitled to receive upon and at the time of
such transaction. The Board shall take such steps in connection with such
transactions as the Board shall deem necessary to assure that the provisions of
this Section 21 shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be
determined, in relation to the said cash, securities and/or property as to
which such holder of such Option might thereafter be entitled to receive.

22. STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.

This Plan is subject to approval by the holders of Shares (and the
holders of any other class of stock to the extent required by agreement or Code
Section 423) within 12 months before or after the date of adoption of this Plan
by the Board. This Plan shall be null and void and of no effect if the
foregoing condition is not fulfilled.

23. MISCELLANEOUS.

(a) LEGAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS. The obligations of the
Company to sell and deliver the Shares under this Plan shall be subject to all
applicable laws, regulations, rules and approvals, including, but not limited
to, the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933 if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company. In addition, no federal
or state agency has made any finding or determination as to the fairness for
public or private investment in, nor any recommendation or endorsement of, the
Options or the Shares. Certificates for Shares issued hereunder may be legended
as the Board shall deem appropriate.

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<PAGE> 12

(b) APPLICATION OF FUNDS. The proceeds received by the
Company from the sale of Shares pursuant to the Options will be used for
general corporate purposes.

(c) WITHHOLDING TAXES. Upon a Disqualifying Disposition,
within the meaning of Section 15(c), of any Shares received pursuant to the
exercise of any Option under this Plan, the Company shall have the right to
require the Participant to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy
all federal, state and local requirements as to the income tax withholding and
employee contributions to employment taxes or, alternatively, in the Board's
sole discretion, the Company may withhold all such amounts from other cash
compensation then being paid to the Participant by the Company.

(d) RIGHT TO TERMINATE EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in this Plan or
any agreement entered into pursuant to this Plan shall confer upon any Employee
or other optionee the right to continue in the employment of the Company or any
Affiliated Company or affect any right which the Company or any Affiliated
Company may have to terminate the employment of such Employee or other
optionee.

<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4.2

CERES GROUP, INC.

2000 AGENT STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

(ADOPTED FEBRUARY 4, 2000)

1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Plan is to advance the interests of
CERES GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and its affiliated
companies by providing their licensed, independent, producing agents with an
opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company through the
purchase of stock of the Company.

2. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following terms will have the
meaning indicated:

(a) "Account" will mean the funds accumulated with respect to an
individual Agent as a result of deductions from his or her Compensation as
provided under and for purposes of this Plan. The funds allocated to an Agent's
Account will remain the property of the Agent at all times but may be
commingled with the general funds of the Company.

(c) "Agent" will mean any person who has a contract with the
Company or any Affiliated Company to sell products of the Company or any
Affiliated Company and either sells exclusively for the Company or any
Affiliated Company or derived last year, or reasonably expects to derive this
year, at least 50% of such person's annual income from the Company or any
Affiliated Company. An Agent is not an employee of the Company or any
Affiliated Company but is an independent contractor.

(d) "Board" will mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

(e) "Code" will mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

(f) "Compensation" will mean the total cash remuneration (before
taxes) which a Participant receives during an Offering as commissions from the
Company or an Affiliated Company in his or her capacity as an Agent.

(g) "Commencement Date" will have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 4 of this Plan.

(h) "Committee" will mean any compensation committee appointed by
the Board pursuant to Section 17 hereof or, if not appointed, the full Board.

(i) "Common Stock" will mean the Company's shares of common
stock, par value $0.001 per share.

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<PAGE> 2

(j) "Director" will mean a member of the Board.

(k) "Effective Date" will mean May 1, 2000.

(l) "Enrollment Agreement" will have the meaning assigned to it
in Section 5 of this Plan.

(m) "Enrollment Date" will mean the last business day prior to 15
days before the Commencement Date of each Offering.

(n) "Exercise Date" will mean the last business day of a
particular Offering.

(o) "Fair Market Value" of a Share on any date of reference will
be the "Closing Price" (as defined below) of the Common Stock on the business
day immediately preceding such date. For the purpose of determining Fair Market
Value, the "Closing Price" of the Common Stock on any business day will be (i)
if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading on any United States
national securities exchange, or if actual transactions are otherwise reported
on a consolidated transaction reporting system, the last reported sale price of
Common Stock on such exchange or reporting system, as reported in any newspaper
of general circulation, (ii) if the Common Stock is quoted on the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System ("NASDAQ"), or
any similar system of automated dissemination of quotations of securities
prices in common use, the mean between the closing high bid and low asked
quotations for such day of Common Stock on such system, or (iii) if neither
clause (i) or (ii) is applicable, the mean between the high bid and low asked
quotations for the Common Stock as reported by the National Quotation Bureau,
Incorporated if at least two securities dealers have inserted both bid and
asked quotations for Common Stock on at least five of the ten preceding days.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, no determination
made with respect to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to an
Option shall be inconsistent with Code Section 423.

(p) "Offering" will have the meaning assigned to it in Section 4
of this Plan.

(q) "Offering Date" will mean the Commencement Date of a
particular Offering, if such date is a regular business day, or if not a
regular business day, the first regular business day following such
Commencement Date; provided however, that a different Offering Date may be set
by the Committee.

(r) "Option" (when capitalized) will have the same meaning
assigned to it in Section 7 of this Plan.

(s) "Participant" will have the meaning assigned to it in Section
5 of this Plan.

(t) "Plan" will mean this 2000 Agent Stock Purchase Plan of the
Company.

(u) "Share(s)" will mean a share or shares of the Common Stock.

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<PAGE> 3

3. ELIGIBILITY.

(a) Any Agent who is an Agent on the Enrollment Date of an
Offering will be eligible to participate in such Offering under this Plan.

(b) All eligible Agents shall have the same rights and privileges
under the Plan, except that the amount of Shares which may be purchased under
Options granted under this Plan shall depend on the amount of Compensation that
is withheld as elected by each Agent. All rules and determinations of the
Committee in the administration of the Plan shall be uniformly and consistently
applied to all persons in similar circumstances.

4. OFFERING. There will be separate consecutive six month offerings
pursuant to this Plan (each, an "Offering") each commencing on May 1 or
November 1, as applicable (each, a "Commencement Date"). (The first Offering
commences on May 1, 2000 and ends on October 31, 2000.) If the Plan is
terminated, then the Offering in which it is terminated will end on the date
immediately preceding the effective date of such termination.

5. PARTICIPATION. In order to become eligible to purchase Shares under
this Plan, an Agent must sign an enrollment agreement (an "Enrollment
Agreement"), and any other necessary papers required by the Committee by the
Enrollment Date of the particular Offering in which he or she wishes to
participate. Upon delivering the Enrollment Agreement to the Company, an Agent
will become a participant (a "Participant") with respect to that Offering and
each subsequent Offering, unless the Agent delivers a withdrawal notice to the
Company pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan. The Enrollment Agreement will
permit the Agent to elect to have deductions made from his or her Compensation
to purchase Shares under this Plan. Participation in one Offering under this
Plan will neither limit, nor require, participation in any other Offering.
Compensation deductions for a Participant will commence on the Offering Date of
the particular Offering and will end on the Exercise Date of the Offering. At
the termination of each Offering, the Company will automatically re-enroll the
Agent in the next Offering, and the balance in the Agent's Account will be used
for Option exercises in the new Offering, unless the Agent has advised the
Company otherwise. Upon termination of this Plan, the balance of each Agent's
Account will be returned to him or her.

6. COMPENSATION DEDUCTIONS. As set forth on the Enrollment Agreement,
the Participant will elect to have deductions made from his or her Compensation
during the Offering in an amount between $50.00 and $500.00 per month, not to
exceed $2,500.00 per Offering. All Compensation deductions made for a
Participant will be credited to his or her Account. Compensation deductions
shall be made from a Participant's Compensation in a manner determined by the
Committee. A Participant may not make any separate cash payments into his or
her Account. A Participant may discontinue his or her participation by
withdrawing from an Offering as provided in Section 11. Compensation deductions
may be increased by a Participant only for a subsequent Offering by providing
written notice to the Company in the manner specified by the Committee by the
Enrollment Date for such Offering. Compensation deductions may be decreased
upon the Participant's written notice to the Company in the manner specified by
the Company and will be effective as of the next payment of Compensation for
which it is administratively practical to put the decrease into effect.

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<PAGE> 4

7. GRANTING OF OPTION. On the Offering Date of each Offering, a
Participant will be granted an Option for as many full Shares as he or she will
be able to purchase with the Compensation deductions credited to his or her
Account during that particular Offering, but in no event greater than $2,500.00
per Offering (an "Option"). The purchase price per Share will be the lesser of
(i) 85% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Offering Date, or (ii) 85%
of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Exercise Date of the Offering (the
"Option Price").

8. EXERCISE OF OPTION. Unless a Participant withdraws from an Offering
pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan, the Option granted to the Participant on
the Offering Date will be deemed to be exercised on the Exercise Date of that
Offering and he or she will be deemed to have purchased from the Company such
number of whole Shares (plus any fractional interest in a Share) reserved for
the purpose of this Plan as the accumulated Compensation deductions credited to
his or her Account on such date will pay for at the applicable Option Price.
Fractional Shares will be carried forward in a Participant's ASPP Broker
Account until they equal a whole Share or until termination of such
Participant's participation in the Plan, in which event an amount in cash equal
to the value of such fractional interest will be paid to the Participant in
cash.

9. AGENT'S RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER AND AGENT. No Agent will have any
rights as a stockholder of the Company until Shares have been purchased in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Plan and it is agreed and
understood that nothing in this Plan is intended to grant to any Agent any
right to employment or continued licensing as an Agent, service provider or
otherwise.

10. EVIDENCE OF STOCK OWNERSHIP. Promptly following the end of each
Offering, the number of Shares purchased by each Participant will be deposited
into an account established in the Participant's name at a stock brokerage or
other financial services firm designated by the Company in its sole discretion
(the "ASPP Broker Account"). The monthly fees for the ASPP Account will be paid
by the Company. A Participant may move his or her Shares to another brokerage
account of his or her choosing or request that a stock certificate be issued
and delivered to him at any time. Any broker fees relating to the sale of
Shares by a Participant or transfer fees relating to the transfer of Shares to
another brokerage account by a Participant shall be the responsibility of the
Participant. If a stock certificate is issued, an amount in cash equal to the
value of a fractional Share in such Participant's account will be paid to such
Participant in cash.

11. WITHDRAWAL.

(a) An Agent may withdraw from an Offering, in whole but not in
part, at any time at least 10 days prior to the Exercise Date of such Offering
by delivering a written withdrawal notice to the Company, in which event the
Company will refund the entire balance of his accumulated Compensation
deductions credited to his or her Account and no further Compensation
deductions will be made from his or her Compensation, except in accordance with
the terms and conditions of a new Enrollment Agreement subsequently executed by
the Agent (each, a "Withdrawal").

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<PAGE> 5

(b) To re-enter this Plan, an Agent who has previously withdrawn
must file a new Enrollment Agreement in accordance with Section 5. The Agent's
re-entry into this Plan will not become effective before the beginning of the
next Offering following the Withdrawal.

(c) A Participant's Withdrawal will not have any effect upon his
or her eligibility to participate in a succeeding Offering or in any similar
plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or an Affiliated Company.

(d) Withdrawal shall be deemed to occur with respect to a
Participant upon the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) VOLUNTARY DISCONTINUANCE.. A Participant's withdrawal
pursuant to Section 11(a).

(ii) TERMINATION OF AGENCY RELATIONSHIP. A Participant will
be deemed to have discontinued participation on the first day of the Offering
in which Participant ceases to be an Agent (including cessation due to death)
and amounts withheld from Compensation during the Offering will be refunded
without election by the Participant.

(iii) LEVY OR ATTACHMENT. The filing with or levying upon
the Company or the custodian of any judgment, attachment, garnishee, or other
Court order affecting the Participant's Account under this Plan will terminate
his or her participation during the time such order remains in effect, with
respect to the account.

(iv) PLAN TERMINATION/ EXPIRATION. The termination of this
Plan by the Company prior to its expiration or its expiration upon allocation
of all available shares will terminate his or her participation.

(e) A Participant will not cease to be an Agent by reason of
ceasing to be an Agent for the Company or an Affiliated Company as long as the
Participant remains an Agent for another company that is the Company or an
Affiliated Company.

(f) Upon a Withdrawal from this Plan by a Participant, all
withheld amounts in the Account which are attributable to such Participant
shall be transferred to such Participant within thirty (30) days of such
Withdrawal, except to the extent such withheld amounts are applied to the
exercise of an Option as provided above and subject to right of the Company or
Affiliated Company to offset such amount against any claim of the Company or
Affiliated Company against the Participant. In no event shall any amounts be
withheld from a Participant's Compensation for allocation to such Participant's
Account after the date such Participant ceases to be an Agent.

(g) In no event may any Participant's Withdrawal from this Plan
be in respect to a portion rather than all of such Participant's Account on
such date.

12. INTEREST. No interest will be paid or allowed on any moneys
credited to a Participant's Account.

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<PAGE> 6

13. NUMBER OF SHARES OFFERED. The aggregate number of Shares available
for grant as Options pursuant to this Plan and the Ceres Group, Inc. 2000
Employee Stock Purchase Plan is 1,000,000, subject to adjustment as set forth
in Section 14. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, specify and limit the
total number of Shares offered to all Participants in any specific Offering.
Shares granted pursuant to this Plan may either be authorized but unissued
Shares, Shares now or hereafter held in the treasury of the Company or Shares
purchased in the open market. If the total number of Shares for which Options
are to be granted on any date in accordance with Section 7 exceeds the number
of Shares then available under that Offering, the Company will make a pro rata
allocation of the Shares remaining available in as nearly a uniform manner as
will be practicable and as it will determine to be equitable. In such event,
the Compensation deductions to be made pursuant to the authorizations therefor
will be reduced accordingly and the Company will give written notice of such
reduction to each Participant affected thereby.

14. ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the issuance
by the Company of shares of its capital stock of any class, or securities
convertible into shares of capital stock of any class, either in connection
with a direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe
therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company
convertible into such shares or other securities, will not affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof will be made with respect to the number of or
exercise price of Shares then subject to outstanding Options granted under this
Plan.

15. TRANSFERABILITY OF RIGHTS UNDER PLAN. Neither Compensation
deductions credited to a Participant's Account nor any rights with regard to
the exercise of an Option or the receipt of Shares or other "derivative
security" (as that term is used in Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) under this Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged, or
otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant, other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution.

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<PAGE> 7

Any such attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, or other disposition will be
without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to
withdraw funds in accordance with Section 11. An Option may not be exercised
during a Participant's lifetime except by the Participant.

17. ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PLAN.

(a) This Plan will be administered by the Committee. The
Committee will have all of the powers of the Board with respect to this Plan.
The Board may change the membership of the Committee at any time and fill any
vacancy occurring in the membership of the Committee by appointment.

18. INTERPRETATION.

(a) This Plan will be governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware.

(b) Headings contained in this Plan are for convenience only and
will in no manner be construed as part of this Plan.

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<PAGE> 8

(c) Any reference to the masculine, feminine, or neuter gender
will be a reference to such other gender as is appropriate.

19. AMENDMENT AND DISCONTINUATION OF THIS PLAN. Either the Board or
the Committee may from time to time amend this Plan or any Option; provided,
however, that no amendment or suspension of this Plan or any Option issued
hereunder will substantially impair any Option previously granted to any
Participant without the consent of such Participant.

21. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION DATE. This Plan will be effective
upon the Effective Date and will terminate on the earliest of the following
dates:

(a) the date the Board terminates this Plan;

(b) the date when all Shares reserved for issuance under this
Plan have been purchased; or

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<PAGE> 9

Prior to the termination of this Plan, the Company may permit a Participant to
exercise the Option to purchase Shares for as many full Shares as the balance
of his or her Account will allow at the Option Price. If the Participant elects
to purchase Shares, the remaining balance of his or her Account will be
refunded to him or her after such purchase. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon
the occurrence of an event described under Section 21(c) hereof, the holder of
each Option then outstanding under the Plan will thereafter be entitled to
receive on the Exercise Date upon exercise of such Option for each Share as to
which such Option would otherwise be exercised if this Plan was not terminated,
as nearly as reasonably as determined, the cash, securities and/or property
which a holder of one Share was entitled to receive upon and at the time of
such transaction. The Board shall take such steps in connection with such
transactions as the Board shall deem necessary to assure that the provisions of
this Section 21 shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be
determined, in relation to the said cash, securities and/or property as to
which such holder of such Option might thereafter be entitled to receive.

22. MISCELLANEOUS.

(a) LEGAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS. The obligations of the Company
to sell and deliver the Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all
applicable laws, regulations, rules and approvals, including, but not limited
to, the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933 if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company. In addition, no federal
or state agency has made any finding or determination as to the fairness for
public or private investment in, nor any recommendation or endorsement of, the
Options or the Shares. Certificates for Shares issued hereunder may be legended
as the Board shall deem appropriate.

(b) APPLICATION OF FUNDS. The proceeds received by the Company
from the sale of Shares pursuant to the Options will be used for general
corporate purposes.

(c) RIGHT TO TERMINATE AGENCY RELATIONSHIP. Nothing in this Plan
or any agreement entered into pursuant to this Plan shall confer upon any Agent
or other optionee the right to provide services on a continuing basis as an
agent, independent contractor or otherwise to the Company or any Affiliated
Company or affect any right which the Company or any Affiliated Company may
have to terminate any such relationship with such Agent or other optionee.

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<PAGE> 1
[KOHRMAN JACKSON & KRANTZ P.L.L. LETTERHEAD]
ATTORNEYS AT LAW

[CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF EXPERTISE INNOVATION EXCELLENCE]

April 13, 2000

Ceres Group, Inc.
17800 Royalton Road
Cleveland, OH 44136

RE: REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 OF CERES GROUP, INC.

Gentlemen:

Ceres Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-8
(the "Registration Statement"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"). The Registration Statement relates to the offering and sale by the
Company of up to 1,000,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock,
par value of $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), pursuant to stock options
("Options") granted or to be granted under the Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Agent
Stock Purchase Plan and Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
(the "2000 Plans"). We have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with
the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement. Capitalized terms
used in this opinion letter and not otherwise defined have the meanings
attributed to them in the Registration Statement.

In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined and relied upon
the original or a copy, certified to our satisfaction, of: (i) the Certificate
of Incorporation and the By-laws of the Company; (ii) resolutions of the Board
of Directors of the Company authorizing the 2000 Plans and related matters;
(iii) the 2000 Plans; and (iv) such other documents and instruments as we have
deemed necessary for providing this opinion letter.

We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents
of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies. We have
made such investigations of law as we deem appropriate as a basis for rendering
the opinions expressed below, and as to various questions of fact material to
the opinions, we have relied, to the extent we deem appropriate, upon
representations or certificates of officers or directors of the Company and
upon documents, records and instruments furnished to us by the Company, without
independently verifying the accuracy of such documents, records and
instruments.

Based upon the foregoing examination, we are of the opinion that (i) the
Company presently has at least 1,000,000 authorized and unissued shares of
Common Stock from which the 1,000,000

1375 EAST NINTH STREET - ONE CLEVELAND CENTER, 20TH FLOOR - CLEVELAND, OHIO
44114-1793 - VOICE 216-696-8700 - FAX 216-621-6536

<PAGE> 2

KOHRMAN JACKSON & KRANTZ P.L.L.

Page 3
April 13, 2000

Shares proposed to be sold pursuant to the exercise of Options granted under
the 2000 Plans may be issued, and (ii) assuming (a) the Company maintains an
adequate number of authorized but unissued Shares available for issuance to
those persons who exercise Options granted in accordance with the 2000 Plans
and (b) the Shares are duly delivered against payment therefor in accordance
with the terms of the 2000 Plans, the Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of
Options granted in accordance with the 2000 Plans will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.

We express no opinion other than as to the Federal law of the United
States and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we come
within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the
Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.

KOHRMAN JACKSON & KRANTZ P.L.L.
/s/ Kohrman Jackson & Krantz

<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement
(Form S-8) pertaining to the Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan and the Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Agent Stock Purchase Plan of our report
dated March 27, 2000, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and
schedules of Ceres Group, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for
the year ended December 31, 1999, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Cleveland, Ohio
April 12, 2000

<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23.2

Independent Auditors' Consent
-----------------------------

The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Ceres Group, Inc. (formerly, Central Reserve Life Corporation):

We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement on Form
S-8 of Ceres Group, Inc. for the Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan and the Ceres Group, Inc. 2000 Agent Stock Purchase Plan of our report
dated February 20, 1998, except for Notes B and C, as to which the date is March
30, 1998, relating to the consolidated statement of operations, retained
earnings, and cash flows of Central Reserve Life Corporation and subsidiaries
for the year ended December 31, 1997, and all related schedules, which report
appears in the December 31, 1999 annual report on Form 10-K of Ceres Group, Inc.

Our report dated February 20, 1998, except for Notes B and C, as to which the
date is March 30, 1998, contains an explanatory paragraph that states that the
Company has suffered substantial losses from operations in 1997 that resulted in
a significantly reduced net capital position and that in December 1997, the
Company obtained an interim loan of $20 million that absent some future event
the Company would not have the ability to repay, which matters raise substantial
doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern. The
consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules do not
include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Columbus, Ohio
April 14, 2000