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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: October 29, 1998
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-10890 37-0911756
(State of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
1 Horace Mann Plaza, Springfield, Illinois 62715-0001
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 217-789-2500
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Forward-looking Information
Statements made in the following discussion that state the Company's or
management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the
future are forward-looking statements. It is important to note that the
Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in such
forward-looking statements due to, among other risks and uncertainties inherent
in the Company's business, changes in federal income tax laws and changes
resulting from federal tax audits effecting corporate tax rates or taxable
income.
Item 5: Other Events
The Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") regularly audits the Company's
federal income tax returns and is currently conducting an audit of the Company's
1994 and 1995 tax returns. As a result of this audit, certain tax benefits
which the Company has realized in the past will not be available to the Company
after 1998. Therefore, the Company's effective corporate tax rate is expected
to be approximately 33% in 1999 and beyond (an increase from approximately 27%
in 1998), assuming that the Company's level of tax-exempt investment income
remains about the same.
In addition, in the course of the current audit, the IRS is taking the
position thus far that it is not bound by certain documented understandings
contained in the Revenue Agent's Reports (the "RARs") pertaining to the audits
of the Company's 1989 through 1993 tax returns. The Company is vigorously
contesting the IRS' position and believes the IRS should honor the
understandings documented in the RARs. The Company's tax advisors, KPMG Peat
Marwick LLP, concur with the Company's interpretation of the RARs. The outcome
of this matter is uncertain. Therefore, the Company has not accrued a liability
in its financial statements with regard to this matter. The maximum amount of
additional taxes, with respect to the 1994 through 1998 tax years, if any, that
might be due as a result of the resolution of this matter would be less than 5%
of the Company's shareholders' equity as of June 30, 1998. Such additional
taxes, if any, would increase the Company's effective corporate tax rate only in
the year of payment of such taxes.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Roger W. Fisher
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Name: Roger W. Fisher
Title: Senior Vice President,
Financial Information & Control
Date: October 29, 1998
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