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: September 17, 2013
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, including zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 217-789-2500
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Forward-looking Information
Statements included in the accompanying press release that state Horace Mann Educators Corporation's (the “Company”) or its management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of future events or the Company's future financial performance are forward-looking statements and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Horace Mann is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Please refer to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2013 and the Company's past and future filings and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information concerning the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.
Item 5.02: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
Appointment of President and Chief Executive Officer
Effective September 17, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors appointed Marita Zuraitis, 53, to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Zuraitis joined the Company as its President and Chief Executive Officer-Elect on May 13, 2013. Following this successful four-month transition period, and consistent with his previously disclosed Transition Agreement, former President and Chief Executive Officer Peter H. Heckman will remain available to the Company on a consultative basis for the remainder of 2013. Additional information regarding Ms. Zuraitis and Mr. Heckman is contained in the Company’s press release dated September 19, 2013, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.
Election of New Board Member and Departure of Director
Effective September 17, 2013, the Company's Board of Directors elected Marita Zuraitis to hold office as Director, until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. With Ms. Zuraitis’ election to the Board and Mr. Heckman’s resignation from it, the number of board members remains nine. There are no special arrangements or understandings between Ms. Zuraitis and any other persons under which she was selected to serve as a Director. Ms. Zuraitis was appointed to serve on the Board's Executive Committee. The Company’s press release dated September 19, 2013 is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01: Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits.
| 99.1 | Press release dated September 19, 2013. |
| 1 |
SIGNATURE
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/ Dwayne D. Hallman | |
| Name: Dwayne D.
Hallman Title: Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | ||
Date: September 19, 2013
| 2 |
Exhibit 99.1
[Horace Mann Educators Corporation logo]
HORACE MANN NAMES MARITA ZURAITIS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER; ELECTED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Sept. 19, 2013 -- Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE:HMN) announced today that its Board of Directors appointed Marita Zuraitis to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and elected her a member of Horace Mann’s Board of Directors. Following a successful four-month transition period, and consistent with his previously disclosed Transition Agreement, former President and CEO Peter Heckman has resigned from the Board. Heckman will remain available to the company on a consultative basis for the remainder of the year.
“The Board is deeply grateful to Pete Heckman for his 13 years of service with the company, especially the last three years as President and CEO, including this smooth transition to his successor,” said Gabriel Shaheen, Chairman of the Board. “Through his outstanding leadership, Pete and his team have built a solid financial foundation and have moved the company forward significantly. We now look to Marita’s vision and leadership to continue the mission of taking Horace Mann to the next level.”
Zuraitis joined Horace Mann on May 13, 2013 as President and Chief Executive Officer-Elect. She came to Horace Mann from The Hanover Insurance Group where she was President of Hanover’s property and casualty companies and a member of The Hanover's Executive Leadership Team.
“My four-month transition working with Pete has been invaluable and validated my initial assessment of Horace Mann as a financially strong company with dedicated agents and employees focused on serving the educator marketplace,” said Zuraitis. “I look forward to building on that foundation and profitably growing the business.”
Horace Mann -- the largest national multiline insurance company focusing on educators' financial needs -- provides auto and homeowners insurance, retirement annuities, life insurance and other financial solutions. Founded by Educators for Educators® in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Ill. For more information, visit www.horacemann.com.
Investor Relations Contact: Ryan Greenier, 217-788-5738, Ryan.Greenier@horacemann.com
Media Relations Contact: Michelle Eccles, 217-788-5394, Michelle.Eccles@horacemann.com
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