HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORP /DE/
S-8, 1996-11-20
FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE
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<PAGE>
 
   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 20, 1996
                                                      Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549
                           _________________________
                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           _________________________
                       HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
                              1 HORACE MANN PLAZA
                       SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS  62715-0001
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

       DELAWARE                                        37-0911756
(State or other jurisdiction of           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)
                           _________________________
    HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION DEFERRED EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN FOR
                                   DIRECTORS

                            (Full title of the plan)
                           _________________________
                                 PAUL J. KARDOS
                              1 HORACE MANN PLAZA
                          SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 62715
                                 (217) 789-2500
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                           _________________________
                                   COPIES TO:
                             CONOR D. REILLY, ESQ.
                          GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
                                200 PARK AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10166
                                 (212) 351-4000
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===================================================================================================================================
                                  AMOUNT        PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE       PROPOSED MAXIMUM AGGREGATE        AMOUNT OF
    TITLE OF SECURITIES            TO BE                  PER SHARE(2)                    OFFERING PRICE(2)           REGISTRATION
     TO BE REGISTERED          REGISTERED(1)                                                                               FEE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>                <C>                               <C>                                 <C>
COMMON STOCK,
$0.01 PAR VALUE              300,000 SHARES                N/A                               $11,156,250                $3,846.98
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS
 (3)                             (3)                       (3)                                   (3)                       (3)
 
==================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Pursuant to Rule 416, there also is being registered such number of
     additional shares of Common Stock which may become available for issuance
     pursuant to the foregoing plan in the event of certain changes in
     outstanding shares, including reorganizations, recapitalizations, stock
     splits, stock dividends and reverse stock splits.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.  The
     registration fee has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under
     the Securities Act of 1933 in the case of 300,000 shares of Common Stock
     registered with respect to the Horace Mann Educators Corporation Deferred
     Equity Compensation Plan for Directors, based upon the average price of the
     Common Stock on November 15, 1996, which was $37.19.

(3)  Common Stock Equivalents represent the right to receive shares of Common
     Stock pursuant to the Horace Mann Educators Corporation Deferred Equity
     Compensation Plan for Directors.  The required information regarding the
     Common Stock Equivalents is subsumed in the information above regarding the
     Common Stock.  Pursuant to Instruction F to Form S-8 and Rule 416(c) no
     filing fee is due with respect to the Common Stock Equivalents.
================================================================================
<PAGE>
 
                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS
              ----------------------------------------------------

ITEM 1.  PLAN INFORMATION.

     Omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the Note to
Part I of Form S-8.

ITEM 2.  REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

     Omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under
the Securities Act and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.

                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
               --------------------------------------------------

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents, which previously have been filed by the Registrant
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), are incorporated
herein by reference and made a part hereof:

          (a)  The Registrant's latest annual report filed pursuant to Section
               13(a)  or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
               amended (the "Exchange Act");

          (b)  All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section
               13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal
               year covered by Registrant's latest annual report referred to in
               (a) above;

          (c)  The description of the Common Stock contained in the Registrant's
               effective registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 1-10890),
               including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
               updating such description.

          All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a) and (c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to
the filing of a post-effective amendment hereto that indicates that all
securities offered hereunder have been sold or that deregisters all such
securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and
documents.

     Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
earlier statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration
Statement.
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     The Common Stock of the Registrant is registered under Section 12(b) of the
Exchange Act.

     The Common Stock Equivalents are being registered under this Registration
Statement to be offered to non-employee Directors of the Registrant pursuant to
the Registrant's Deferred Equity Compensation Plan (the "Plan").  The Common
Stock Equivalents represent the right to receive shares of Common Stock and are
issuable to non-employee directors of the Registrant (the "Directors") as
deferred compensation under the Plan.

     A Director may elect to defer receipt of all or a specified portion of the
annual director's fee, the annual committee chair's fee, the annual chairman of
the board's fee and meeting or other fees payable in cash to the Director for
serving on the Board of Directors (the "Board") or any committee thereof.  Fees
deferred by a Director will be credited to his or her deferred stock equivalent
account (the "Account") as of the date such amounts otherwise would have been
paid in cash to the Director and will be converted into Common Stock Equivalents
based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on such date.  At such time
as a Director's fees are deferred and credited to his or her Account, the
Registrant will match 25% of such deferred fees by crediting the Account with
additional Common Stock Equivalents equal to 25% of the number of Common Stock
Equivalents attributable to the Director's deferred fees.

     Dividends or other distributions with respect to Common Stock Equivalents
will be deemed to have been paid as if such Common Stock Equivalents were actual
shares of Common stock issued and outstanding on the respective record or
distribution dates.  Common Stock Equivalents will be credited to a Director's
Account in respect of cash dividends and any other securities or property
distributed with respect to the Common Stock in connection with
reclassifications, spin-offs and the like on the basis of the value of the
dividend or other asset distributed and the fair market value of the Common
Stock Equivalents on the date of the announcement of the dividend or asset
distribution in the same amount as dividends or other distributions are paid or
distributed with respect to the Common Stock.  Fractional Common Stock
Equivalents will be credited to a Director's Account cumulatively, but the
balance of Common Stock Equivalents in a Director's Account will be rounded to
the next highest whole Common Stock Equivalent for any distribution to such
Director.

     As soon as practicable following termination of service as a Director, a
Director's Account will be distributed as directed by the Director in his or her
most recent election deferral notice.  However, any such notice, other than a
Director's initial notice, will not be effective to direct the time and manner
of distribution of the Director's Account unless received by the Committee at
least two years prior to the effective date of the Director's termination of
service.  Either a lump sum or the first of a stated number of equal annual
installments will be distributed in the year of a Director's termination.
Succeeding installments of Common Stock will be distributed on January 31 of
each calendar year following the year in which the first distribution was made.
Distributions will consist of one share of Common Stock for each Common Stock
Equivalent credited to a Director's Account.

     In the event of a Director's death before the balance of his or her Account
is fully distributed, distribution of the balance of the Director's Account will
be made to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, at such time or times
and in such manner as designated by the Director or, in the absence of a
designation as to the time and manner of distribution, in the time and manner
selected by the Committee.  The Committee may, in its discretion, take into
account the application of any designated beneficiary and direct that the
balance of the Director's Account be distributed to such beneficiary in the
manner requested by such application.

     In the event of a Change in Control (as defined below), each Director will
receive, within ten days of the date of such Change in Control, a lump sum
distribution of the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
Common Stock Equivalents credited to the Director's Account as of the date of
the Change in Control.  A "Change in Control" is defined in the Plan as either
of the following events: (i) any person, (as defined in Sections 3(a)(9) and
13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Registrant having 25% or more of the voting power in the election of directors
of the Registrant; or (ii) the occurrence within any twelve-month period during
the term of the Plan of a change in the Board with the result that the Incumbent
Members (as defined below) do not constitute a majority of the Registrant's
Board.  "Incumbent Members" means members of the Board on the date immediately
preceding the commencement of a twelve-month period, provided that any person
becoming a director during such twelve-month period whose election or nomination
for election was approved by a majority of the directors who, on the date of
such election or nomination for election, comprised the Incumbent Members will
be considered one of the Incumbent Members in respect of such twelve-month
period.

     In the event of an "unforeseeable emergency", the Committee may determine
the amounts distributable to a Director under the Plan and distribute such
amounts in shares of Common Stock without regard to the distribution dates
otherwise determined by the Committee to the extent the Committee determines
that such action is necessary in light of immediate and substantial needs of the
Director (or his beneficiary).  An "unforseeable emergency" is a severe
financial hardship to the Director resulting from a sudden and unexpected
illness or accident of the Director or beneficiary, or of a dependent (as
defined in Section 152(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) of the Director or
beneficiary, loss of the Director's or beneficiary's property due to casualty,
or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a
result of events beyond the control of the Director or beneficiary.

     Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan regarding distributions, if
the Internal Revenue Service (the "Service") should finally determine that part
or all of the value of a Director's Account which has not actually been
distributed to the Director is nevertheless required to be included in the
Director's gross income for federal income tax purposes, then the balance of the
Account or the part thereof that was determined to be includable in gross income
will be distributed in shares of Common Stock to the Director, in a lump sum as
soon as practicable after such determination, without any action or approval by
the Committee.

     The right of a Director and his beneficiary to receive distributions
pursuant to the Plan is not subject to sale, transfer (other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution), assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment
or garnishment by creditors of a participating Director or his beneficiary.

     The Registrant reserves the right to amend, modify or terminate the Plan at
any time except that no such amendment, modification or termination shall reduce
the then existing balance of any Director's Account or otherwise adversely
change the terms and conditions thereof without the Director's consent.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") makes
provision for the indemnification of officers and directors of corporations in
terms sufficiently broad to indemnify the officers and directors of the
Registrant under certain circumstances from liabilities (including reimbursement
of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     As permitted by the DGCL, the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation
(the "Charter") provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, no
director shall be liable to the Registrant or to its shareholders for monetary
damages for breach of his fiduciary duty as a director.  Delaware law does not
permit the elimination of liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of
loyalty to the Registrant or its shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in
good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (iii) in respect of certain unlawful dividend payments or stock redemptions
or repurchases or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derives an
improper personal benefit.  The effect of this provision in the Charter is to
eliminate the rights of the Registrant and its shareholders (through
shareholders' derivative suits on behalf of the Registrant) to recover monetary
damages against a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director thereof
(including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior)
except in the situations described in clauses (i)-(iv), inclusive, above.  These
provisions will not alter the liability of directors under federal securities
laws.

     The Registrant's Bylaws (the "Bylaws") provide that the Registrant may
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in
the right of the Registrant) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Registrant or is or was serving at the request
of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation or enterprise, against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with
such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was unlawful.

     The Bylaws also provide that the Registrant may indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending
or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Registrant to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the
capacities set forth above, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by
such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit
if such person acted under similar standards, except that no indemnification may
be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall
have been adjudged to be liable to the Registrant unless and only to the extent
that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such
action or suit was brought shall determine that despite the adjudication of
liability, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to be indemnified for
such expenses which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court
in which such action was brought shall deem proper.

     The Bylaws also provide that to the extent a director or officer of the
Registrant has been successful in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding
referred to in the previous paragraphs or in the defense of any claim, issue, or
matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection therewith; that indemnification provided for in
the Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the
indemnified party may be entitled; and that the Registrant may purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer of the Registrant against
any liability asserted against him or incurred by him in any such capacity or
arising out of his status as such whether or not the Registrant would have the
power to indemnify him against such liabilities under such Bylaws.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

EXHIBIT 
NUMBER                      DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
- -------                     ----------------------
4.01  Horace Mann Educators Corporation Deferred Equity Compensation Plan for
      Directors, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996,
      filed with the Commission on November 14, 1996.

4.02  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, filed with the
      Delaware Secretary of State on October 6, 1989, incorporated by reference
      to Exhibit 4.1(a) to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
      the quarter ended September 30, 1989, filed with the Commission on
      November 14, 1989.

4.03  Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
      Registrant, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on October 8, 1991,
      incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5.4 to Amendment No. 1 to the
      Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-
      42779) filed with the Commission on October 21, 1991.

4.04  Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
      Registrant, as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on August 23,
      1995, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registrant's
      Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-80059) filed with
      the Commission on December 6, 1995.

4.05  Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
      Registrant, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on September 23,
      1996, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996,
      filed with the Commission on November 14, 1996.

4.06  Bylaws of the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the
      Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-
      80059) filed with the Commission on December 6, 1995.

4.07  Form of Certificate for shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per
      share, of the Registrant incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the
      Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-
      53118) filed with the Commission on October 9, 1992.

5.01  Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

23.01 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

23.02 Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.01).

24.01 Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration
      Statement).

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.


     (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
          after the effective date of this 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 this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
          increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total
          dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
          registered and any deviation from the low or high and 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
          percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in
          the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
          registration statement;

               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
         plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration
         Statement or any material change to such information in this
         Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) 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 Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

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

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

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

     (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing 

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
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 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant
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 Springfield, State of Illinois, on November 20, 1996.

                             HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

                             By:  /s/ Paul J. Kardos
                                -------------------------------
                                   Paul J. Kardos
                                   President and
                                   Chief Executive Officer

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on November 20, 1996.  Each of the directors and/or
officers of the Registrant whose signature appears below hereby appoints Larry
K. Becker and Ann Caparros, and each of them severally as his or her attorney-
in-fact to sign his or her name and on his or her behalf, in any and all
capacities stated below, and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments to this Registration
Statement as appropriate, and generally to do all such things in their behalf in
their capacities as officers and directors to enable Registrant to comply with
the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, and all requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
 
         SIGNATURE                                  TITLE
- ---------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------

     /s/   Paul J. Kardos       Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer
- ---------------------------             (Principal Executive Officer)
         Paul J. Kardos

     /s/   Larry K. Becker      Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial
- ---------------------------                        Officer
    Larry K. Becker                    (Principal Financial Officer)

     /s/    Roger W. Fisher             Vice President and Controller
- ---------------------------            (Principal Accounting Officer)
     Roger W. Fisher
 
     /s/   William W. Abbott                      Director
      
- ---------------------------
     William W. Abbott

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     /s/   Leonard I. Green                       Director
- ---------------------------
    Leonard I. Green


     /s/   Donald G. Heth                         Director
- ---------------------------
       Donald G. Heth

     /s/   Emita B. Hill                          Director
- ---------------------------
       Emita B. Hill

     /s/   Jeffrey L. Morby                       Director
- ---------------------------
     Jeffrey L. Morby

     /s/   Shaun F. O'Malley                       Director
- ---------------------------
     Shaun F. O'Malley

     /s/   Ralph S. Saul                          Director
- ---------------------------
      Ralph S. Saul

     /s/ William  J.Schoen                        Director
- ---------------------------
     William J. Schoen

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT 
NUMBER                   DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT           PAGE
- -------                  ----------------------           ----

4.01            Horace Mann Educators Corporation Deferred Equity Compensation
                Plan for Directors, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
                the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                ended September 30, 1996, filed with the Commission on November
                14, 1996

4.02            Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, filed
                with the Delaware Secretary of State on October 6, 1989,
                incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(a) to the Registrant's
                Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
                30, 1989, filed with the Commission on November 14, 1989.

4.03            Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of
                Incorporation of the Registrant filed with the Delaware
                Secretary of State on October 8, 1991, incorporated by reference
                to Exhibit 5.4 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's
                Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-42779)
                filed with the Commission on October 21, 1991.

4.04            Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of
                Incorporation of the Registrant, as filed with the Delaware
                Secretary of State on August 23, 1995, incorporated by reference
                to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-80059) filed with the Commission
                on December 6, 1995.

4.05            Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of
                Incorporation of the Registrant, filed with the Delaware
                Secretary of State on September 23, 1996, incorporated by
                reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on
                Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996, filed with
                the Commission on November 14, 1996.

4.06            Bylaws of the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                4.6 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3
                (Registration No. 33-80059) filed with the Commission on
                December 6, 1995.

4.07            Form of Certificate for shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value
                per share, of the Registrant incorporated by reference to
                Exhibit 4.5 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on 
                Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-53118) filed with the Securities
                and Exchange Commission on October 9, 1992.

5.01            Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

23.01           Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

23.02           Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit
                5.01).

24.01           Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this
                Registration Statement).
 

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 5.01

                  [LETTERHEAD OF GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP]




                               November 20, 1996


Horace Mann Educators Corporation
1 Horace Mann Plaza
Springfield, Illinois 62715-00001

     Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8
          ----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration 
Statement") of Horace Mann Educators Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the 
"Company"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), in 
connection with the issuance of up to 300,000 shares (the "Shares") of Common 
Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company and 
certain Common Stock Equivalents (the "Common Stock Equivalents") pursuant to 
the Company's Deferred Equity Compensation Plan for Directors (the "Plan"). 
Pursuant to the Plan, non-employee directors of the Company can elect to receive
on a deferred basis all or a portion of the fees payable in cash to them as 
directors of the Company in the form of Common Stock.  The Common Stock 
Equivalents represent the right to receive the Shares of Common Stock issuable 
as deferred compensation under the Plan.

     For the purposes of the opinion set forth below, we have examined and are 
familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Company in 
connection with the issuance of the Common Stock Equivalents and the Shares, 
including, among other things, such corporate records of the Company and
certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials and such other 
documents as we have deemed relevant and necessary as the bases for the opinion 
set forth below.  In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all 
signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the 
conformity to original documents of
<PAGE>
 
GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP

Horace Mann Educators Corporation
November 20, 1996
Page 2



all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the 
authenticity of the originals of such copies.

    Based upon the foregoing examination and in reliance thereon, and subject to
the assumptions stated and relying on statements of fact contained in the 
documents that we have examined, it is our opinion that when (i) the 
Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, (ii) the 
Common Stock Equivalents and the Shares have been issued as contemplated in the 
Registration Statement and in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and 
(iii) the Common Stock Equivalents and the Shares have been duly delivered, the 
Common Stock Equivalents and the Shares will be legally issued, fully paid and 
non-assessable.

     We render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any 
jurisdiction other than the laws of the United States of America, the State of 
New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.  In rendering
this opinion, we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion
should present laws, or the interpretations thereof, be changed.

     We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the 
Registration Statement.  In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of 
the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission.


                                Very truly yours,




                                /s/  GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP






<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 23.01

                         INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S CONSENT



The Board of Directors
Horace Mann Educators Corporation:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement on Form
S-8 of Horace Mann Educators Corporation (the Company) of our report dated
February 16, 1996, which report appears in the December 31, 1995 annual report
on Form 10-K of the Company.

     Our report refers to the Company adopting the provisions of Financial
Accounting Standards Board's Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)
No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, in
1994.


                                    /s/  KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
                                    --------------------------

Chicago, Illinois
November 20, 1996




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