WEST DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 2015-- American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (NYSE: AEL), a leading issuer of fixed index annuities, today reported fourth quarter 2014 net income of $31.2 million, or $0.39 per diluted common share, compared to fourth quarter 2013 net income of $51.0 million, or $0.64 per diluted common share.

Non-GAAP operating income¹ for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $50.7 million, or $0.63 per diluted common share, compared to fourth quarter 2013 non-GAAP operating income¹ of $39.8 million, or $0.50 per diluted common share.

Highlights for the fourth quarter of 2014 include:

• Annuity sales (before coinsurance) were $1.15 billion compared to third quarter 2014 annuity sales of $1.07 billion and fourth quarter 2013 annuity sales of $1.09 billion.
• Investment spread was 2.92% compared to 2.82% for the third quarter of 2014 and 2.73% for the fourth quarter of 2013.
• Risk-based capital (RBC) ratio of 372% at December 31, 2014 compared to 344% at December 31, 2013 remained above A. M. Best’s rating threshold.
• Book value per share (excluding accumulated other comprehensive income) was $18.52 at December 31, 2014 compared to $19.10 at September 30, 2014 and $18.75 at December 31, 2013.
• Paid annual cash dividend of $0.20 per share, an 11% increase from the previous year. This marks the 16^th consecutive year a cash dividend has been paid and the 11^th consecutive year the annual cash dividend amount has been increased.

Commenting on results and the outlook for American Equity, founder and Executive Chairman David J. Noble said: “Our fourth quarter results capped off another year in which our non-GAAP operating income¹ and the related per share amount were record highs. Fourth quarter sales of $1.15 billion pushed our 2014 full year sales up close to $4.2 billion and give us excellent momentum heading into 2015. For the year, we delivered 12% growth in policyholder funds under management, a 14% non-GAAP operating return¹ on average equity and increased the cushion to our targeted RBC ratio. Over the past ten years, our non-GAAP operating income¹ has compounded at a 16% annual rate while policyholder funds under management have grown 17% annually. This track record classifies us as one of the best growth stories of the past decade, especially in the insurance and financial services industries. We look forward to delivering more growth for our shareholders in the years ahead."

Noble continued, "We owe our success to delivering attractive products that meet the needs of Americans preparing for or enjoying their retirement. Serving the retirement savings and income needs of our policyholders is the reason my partners at American Equity come to work each day, and will continue to be our motivation for years to come. American Equity has been in the top three of fixed index annuity sales in 14 of the last 15 years. Our commitment to consistency in our business practices and providing best in class service to our agents and policyholders gives us a strong foundation in the independent agent distribution channel. We are building on that foundation by expanding our distribution into broker-dealers and banks. While we believe independent agents will continue to be a significant source of our future fixed index annuity sales, we expect meaningful sales from new distribution sources in 2015 to contribute to sales and policyholder funds under management growth."

SPREAD WIDENS BUT LOW INTEREST RATES REMAIN A HEADWIND TO 3% TARGET

American Equity’s investment spread widened to 2.92% for the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to 2.82% for the third quarter of 2014, as a result of an increase in the average yield on invested assets and a decline in the cost of money.

Average yield on invested assets grew by 6 basis points to 4.95% for the fourth quarter of 2014 from 4.89% for the third quarter of 2014. Much of this increase was attributable to fee income from bond transactions which together with certain prepayment income added 0.13% to the fourth quarter 2014 average yield on invested assets compared to 0.07% from such items in the third quarter of 2014. Cash and short-term investments were at normal operating levels for much of the fourth quarter and above normal operating levels for much of the third quarter. The average balance for excess cash and short-term investments for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $116 million compared to $656 million for the third quarter of 2014.

Adjusting for the effect of these non-trendable items, the average yield on invested assets for the quarter fell by 7 basis points from the prior quarter as new premiums and portfolio cash flows were invested at rates below the portfolio rate. The average yield on fixed income securities purchased and commercial mortgage loans funded in the fourth quarter of 2014 was 4.27%, compared to average yields of 4.14%, 4.15% and 4.39% in the third, second and first quarters of 2014, respectively.

The aggregate cost of money for annuity liabilities declined by 4 basis points to 2.03% in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to 2.07% in the third quarter of 2014. This decrease reflected continued reductions in crediting rates. The benefit from over hedging the obligations for index linked interest was 0.05% in both the fourth and third quarters of 2014.

Commenting on investment spread, John Matovina, Chief Executive Officer and President, said: “Similar to the third quarter, bond fees and prepayment income together with the benefit from over hedging benefited our spread. However, low interest rates remain a headwind to our spread management and the benefit we received in the quarter from reductions in liability rates was offset by lower rates on invested assets purchased or funded. Our spread success ultimately depends on finding suitable investments with acceptable yields combined with appropriate management of the rates on our policy liabilities. Spread management may be more challenging in 2015. Investment yields have moved lower in the first several weeks of 2015 and achieving a 4.00% average yield on new investments is not possible without taking on risk that is beyond our comfort level. Conversely, we continue to have flexibility in managing our cost of money. Competitive conditions have eased somewhat as several of our key competitors have recently reduced the terms of their new product offerings. We are in the process of reducing our new money rates and will be actively managing renewal rates should the investment yields currently available to us persist.”

CONVERTIBLE DEBT RETIREMENTS REDUCE DEBT-TO-CAPITAL RATIO TO 20.2%

The Company retired $55.2 million principal amount of its convertible notes in the fourth quarter of 2014 and ended 2014 with $22.4 million principal amount of its 3.50% convertible notes outstanding. The total consideration paid by the Company for the fourth quarter retirements included $99.4 million of cash and 1,515,939 shares of the Company's common stock. The remaining 3.50% convertible notes mature in September 2015 and will be retired at maturity if not redeemed or repurchased prior to that date. The holding company has sufficient cash on hand and cash resources to retire the remaining 3.50% convertible notes without accessing external sources of capital such as its bank line of credit or dividends from its primary insurance subsidiary.

The fourth quarter convertible debt retirements contributed to the reduction in the Company's adjusted debt / total capitalization ratio to 20.2%. The Company has substantially met its goal of reducing this ratio, which was 31.9% at September 30, 2013 following the July 2013 senior notes offering, to its 20% target ratio. Standard & Poors' capital model requires additional capital for companies whose adjusted debt / total capitalization ratio exceeds 20%. Reducing the debt-to-capital ratio below 20% will be a positive factor in the determination of the ratings Standard & Poors assigns to the Company and its subsidiaries.

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 2014 earnings on Friday, February 13, 2015, 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 877-280-4961, passcode 71403973 (international callers, please dial 857-244-7318). An audio replay will be available shortly after the call on AEL’s website. An audio replay will also be available via telephone through February 20, 2015 at 1-888-286-8010, passcode 34617948 (international callers will need to dial 617-801-6888).

ABOUT AMERICAN EQUITY

American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, through its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, issues fixed annuity and life insurance products, with a primary emphasis on the sale of fixed 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 (Unaudited)

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