WEST DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 2014-- American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (NYSE: AEL), a leading underwriter of index and fixed rate annuities, today reported fourth quarter 2013 net income of $51.0 million, or $0.64 per diluted common share, compared to fourth quarter 2012 net income of $36.4 million, or $0.55 per diluted common share.

Non-GAAP operating income¹ for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $39.8 million, or $0.50 per diluted common share, compared to fourth quarter 2012 non-GAAP operating income¹ of $30.9 million, or $0.47 per diluted common share.

The diluted share count for fourth quarter 2013 was 79.0 million shares compared to 65.9 million shares for the fourth quarter of 2012. This increase was attributable to the shares issued during the year for retirement of convertible notes and the exercise of stock options and greater dilution from convertible notes, warrants and stock options because the Company’s common stock price was substantially higher in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012.

¹ In addition to net income, we have consistently utilized operating income and operating income per common share – assuming dilution, non-GAAP financial measures commonly used in the life insurance industry, as economic measures to evaluate our financial performance. See accompanying tables for reconciliations of net income to operating income and descriptions of reconciling items. See Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of the reconciling items and their impact on net income for the periods presented. Because these items fluctuate from period to period in a manner unrelated to core operations, we believe measures excluding their impact are useful in analyzing operating trends. We believe the combined presentation and evaluation of operating income together with net income, provides information that may enhance an investor’s understanding of our underlying results and profitability.

Highlights for the fourth quarter of 2013 include:

• Annuity sales (before coinsurance) were $1.094 billion compared to third quarter 2013 annuity sales of $1.054 billion.
• Total invested assets were $30.3 billion (amortized cost basis = $29.6 billion).
• Investment spread was 2.73% compared to 2.80% for the third quarter of 2013.
• Risk-based capital (RBC) ratio at December 31, 2013 remained above target at 344% compared to 332% at December 31, 2012.
• Book value per share (excluding accumulated other comprehensive income) was $18.75 at December 31, 2013 compared to $18.81 at September 30, 2013 and $16.49 at December 31, 2012.
• Paid annual cash dividend of $0.18 per share, a 20% increase from the previous year. This marks the 15^th consecutive year a cash dividend has been paid and the 10^th consecutive year the Company has increased the annual cash dividend amount.

SOLID QUARTER CAPS YEAR OF EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE
Commenting on results and the outlook for American Equity, David J. Noble, founder and Executive Chairman said: “Our fourth quarter financial performance capped off a year in which our net income and operating income¹ as well as the related diluted per share amounts were record highs. 2013 was a year during which we delivered 14% growth in assets under management, sustained a double-digit return on average equity, and increased the cushion to our targeted regulatory capital ratio. Importantly for both our policyholders and shareholders, we achieved this success while conservatively managing our risks and financial profile.”

Noble continued, “American Equity is well positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for guaranteed retirement savings and income products, and we expect our invested assets and earnings to continue to grow in the periods ahead. Our value proposition to our policyholders and distribution partners is strong and we are always striving to improve in every element of our operations. Even with a more competitive sales environment, we are optimistic that 2014 will be another successful and rewarding year for us.”

SPREAD ESSENTIALLY FLAT DESPITE PRESSURE FROM NEW INVESTMENT YIELDS
American Equity’s investment spread of 2.73% for the fourth quarter of 2013 decreased slightly compared to 2.80% for the third quarter of 2013. Spread performance was impacted by the average yield on invested assets, which declined 0.05% when compared to the third quarter of 2013, due to the investment of new premiums and portfolio cash flows at rates below the portfolio rate. The average yield on invested assets was 4.97% for the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to 5.02% for the third quarter of 2013, while the average yield on fixed income securities purchased and commercial mortgage loans funded in the fourth quarter of 2013 was 4.48%, compared to an average yield of 4.37% in the third quarter of 2013 and 3.49% and 3.48% in the first two quarters of 2013.

The aggregate cost of money for annuity liabilities was 2.24% in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to 2.22% in the third quarter of 2013. Although the Company continued to reduce its cost of money through lower crediting rates, progress in the fourth quarter was offset by hedging results. The 0.02% increase in the aggregate cost of money for annuity liabilities was directly attributable to hedging results which swung from 0.03% of over hedging benefit in the third quarter of 2013 to 0.03% of under hedging cost in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Commenting on investment spread, John Matovina, Chief Executive Officer and President said: “In today’s low rate environment, we expect the portfolio yield to be under pressure from lower reinvestment rates and have been reducing crediting rates as appropriate to manage our investment spread. However, in the fourth quarter, our hedging results negated the benefit obtained from the reductions in crediting rates. As we caution regularly, our challenge with hedging index linked interest for our fixed index annuities is estimating policyholder behavior in order to match the volume of hedges to the policy obligations. Historically, we have managed to an over hedged outcome, but we occasionally have a quarter where we are under hedged. The under hedged outcome for the fourth quarter of 2013 was in part magnified by the strong equity market returns.”

LONG-TERM BENEFIT FROM REDUCED EXPOSURE TO CONVERTIBLE DEBT
During the quarter, the Company retired $156 million aggregate principal amount of its two outstanding convertible debt instruments via public and private exchange offers with holders of the convertible notes. The total consideration paid by the Company included $191 million of cash and 5,273,079 shares of the Company’s common stock. In the short-term these convertible debt retirements negatively impacted fourth quarter net income and book value per share. However, the Company believes the retirements will provide meaningful long-term benefit by eliminating potential additional dilution from further increases in the Company’s stock price.

At December 31, 2013, the Company had approximately $206 million of net proceeds from its $400 million 6.625% Senior Notes due 2021 offering available for future retirement of the convertible notes and intends to use these remaining net proceeds to tender for, redeem or repurchase the $160 million aggregate principal amount of convertible notes that were outstanding at December 31, 2013. The form and timing of any such activity will be dependent upon market conditions and other factors and there can be no assurance that any such transactions can be completed prior to the December 2014 call date for the 5.25% convertible notes or the September 2015 maturity date for the 3.50% convertible notes.

CLASS ACTION LITIGATION
Fourth quarter 2013 net income and non-GAAP operating income¹ include $4.7 million of surrender charges deducted from California policyholders surrendering their policies as a condition of receiving certain benefits in a national class action lawsuit settlement. The impact, after related adjustments to amortization of deferred sales inducements and deferred policy acquisition costs and income taxes, increased net income by $1.9 million and non-GAAP operating income¹ by $2.0 million (each $0.02 per diluted common share).

Fourth quarter 2013 net income includes $4.2 million of expense from recognizing an increase in the estimated class action litigation reserve based upon developments in the claim process for settlement of the class action litigation and third party costs incurred during the quarter associated with administration of the settlement, which after related adjustments to amortization of deferred sales inducements and deferred policy acquisition costs and income taxes, decreased net income by $1.9 million ($0.02 per diluted common share).

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments, and are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Statements such as “guidance”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “goal”, “objective”, “target”, “may”, “should”, “estimate”, “projects” or similar words as well as specific projections of future results qualify as forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these forward looking statements can be found in the company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statement was made and the company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that other factors not currently anticipated by the company will not materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf.

CONFERENCE CALL
American Equity will hold a conference call to discuss fourth quarter 2013 earnings on Thursday, February 13, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. CST. The conference call will be webcast live on the Internet. Investors and interested parties who wish to listen to the call on the Internet may do so at www.american-equity.com.

The call may also be accessed by telephone at 800-591-6942, passcode 55486110 (international callers, please dial 617-614-4909). An audio replay will be available shortly after the call on AEL’s website. An audio replay will also be available via telephone through March 6, 2014 at 1-888-286-8010, passcode 80125803 (international callers will need to dial 617-801-6888).

ABOUT AMERICAN EQUITY
American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, through its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, is a full service underwriter of fixed annuity and life insurance products, with a primary emphasis on the sale of index and fixed rate annuities. American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, a New York Stock Exchange Listed company (NYSE: AEL), is headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa. For more information, please visit www.american-equity.com.

American Equity Investment Life Holding Company

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In addition to net income, we have consistently utilized operating income and operating income per common share - assuming dilution, non-GAAP financial measures commonly used in the life insurance industry, as economic measures to evaluate our financial performance. Operating income equals net income adjusted to eliminate the impact of net realized gains and losses on investments including net OTTI losses recognized in operations, fair value changes in derivatives and embedded derivatives, loss on extinguishment of debt and changes in litigation reserves. Because these items fluctuate from quarter to quarter in a manner unrelated to core operations, we believe measures excluding their impact are useful in analyzing operating trends. We believe the combined presentation and evaluation of operating income together with net income provides information that may enhance an investor’s understanding of our underlying results and profitability.

American Equity Investment Life Holding Company

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Average Stockholders' Equity and Return on Average Equity

Return on equity measures how efficiently we generate profits from the resources provided by our net assets. Return on equity is calculated by dividing net income and operating income for the trailing twelve months by average equity excluding average accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI").

1 - simple average based on stockholders' equity at beginning and end of the twelve month period.

Source: American Equity Investment Life Holding Company

American Equity Investment Life Holding Company
John M. Matovina, 515-457-1813
Chief Executive Officer
jmatovina@american-equity.com
or
Ted M. Johnson, 515-457-1980
Chief Financial Officer
tjohnson@american-equity.com
or
Debra J. Richardson, 515-273-3551
Chief Administrative Officer
drichardson@american-equity.com
or
Julie L. LaFollette, 515-273-3602
Director of Investor Relations
jlafollette@american-equity.com