WEST DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 29, 2015-- American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (NYSE:AEL), a leading issuer of fixed index annuities, today reported second quarter 2015 net income of $82.8 million, or $1.05 per diluted common share, compared to a second quarter 2014 net income of $36.7 million, or $0.46 per diluted common share.

Non-GAAP operating income¹ for the second quarter of 2015 increased 32% to $50.9 million, or $0.64 per diluted common share, compared to second quarter 2014 non-GAAP operating income¹ of $38.5 million, or $0.48 per diluted common share.

Highlights for the second quarter of 2015 include:

• Annuity sales (before coinsurance) were up 73% to $1.80 billion compared to second quarter 2014 annuity sales of $1.04 billion.
• Investment spread was 2.84% compared to 2.77% for the first quarter of 2015 and 2.70% for the second quarter of 2014.
• Estimated risk-based capital (RBC) ratio of 349% at June 30, 2015 compared to 372% at December 31, 2014 remained above A. M. Best’s rating threshold.
• Book value per share (excluding accumulated other comprehensive income) was $19.72 at June 30, 2015 compared to $18.52 at December 31, 2014.

¹ In addition to net income, the Company has 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 its financial performance. See accompanying tables for reconciliations of net income to operating income and descriptions of reconciling items. See Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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, the Company believes measures excluding their impact are useful in analyzing operating trends. The Company believes the combined presentation and evaluation of operating income together with net income, provides information that may enhance an investor’s understanding of its underlying results and profitability.

PRODUCTION UP 73% ON MARKET SHARE GAINS

Second quarter sales of $1.8 billion were up 73% from the prior year second quarter and 37% from first quarter 2015. Commenting on sales results, John Matovina, Chief Executive Officer and President, said: "In early March, the competitive landscape in the fixed index annuity marketplace improved significantly for us with the withdrawal of a competitor's guaranteed income product. Because that product offered one of the highest levels of guaranteed income among fixed index annuities, it had substantial market share ranking it in the top three best-sellers in each of the last three years. The withdrawal of this product enabled us to capture market share from many of the annuity producers looking for competitive guaranteed income solutions that formerly sold the competitor's product. In addition, another substantial competitor scaled back their sales appetite giving us another opportunity to increase our sales. We are encouraged that our attractive product offerings that meet retiree needs for safety, liquidity and guaranteed income are driving robust sales increases broadly across our network of distribution partners."

The Company noted that while growth in sales was substantial, the ramp was steady and manageable. Monthly sales increased in each month of 2015 and June 2015 was the best month in the Company's history. The pending business count also increased steadily month by month with an average daily pending count of almost 5,500 cases in June 2015 compared to 4,150 cases in March 2015.

Turning to the outlook for sales, Matovina added: "We are optimistic we will have a record year for sales but the first half surge may settle down somewhat. Several competitors recently increased their rates to make their product offerings more competitive and we are making adjustments to the payout factors in our lifetime income benefit rider beginning tomorrow. Some factors will be lowered while others will be raised. Our guaranteed lifetime income rider will still be competitive and we expect producers to continue to favor us in sales situations where guaranteed lifetime income is important to the consumer's fixed index annuity purchase. In addition, our rider remains attractive because our lifetime income is fully guaranteed while some competitors share the financial risk with the policyholder by guaranteeing only a portion of the income."

SPREAD WIDENS ON HIGHER BOND FEE AND PREPAYMENT INCOME

American Equity’s investment spread widened to 2.84% for the second quarter of 2015 compared to 2.77% for the first quarter of 2015 as a result of an increase in average yield on invested assets and a decrease in the cost of money.

Average yield on invested assets increased by 4 basis points to 4.78% for the second quarter of 2015 from 4.74% for the first quarter of 2015. The increase was attributable to fee income from bond transactions and prepayment income which together added 0.07% to the second quarter 2015 average yield on invested assets compared to 0.01% from such items in the first quarter of 2015.

Adjusting for the effect of non-trendable items, the average yield on invested assets for the quarter fell by 2 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 second quarter of 2015 was 3.73% compared to 3.84% in the first quarter of 2015 and average yields ranging from 4.14% - 4.39% in the prior year quarters.

The aggregate cost of money for annuity liabilities declined by 3 basis points to 1.94% in the second quarter of 2015 compared to 1.97% in the first quarter of 2015. This decrease reflected continued reductions in crediting rates. The benefit from over hedging the obligations for index linked interest was 0.07% in both the second and first quarters of 2015.

Commenting on investment spread, John Matovina, said: “We continued to effectively manage a challenging interest rate environment, holding our spread essentially flat after adjusting for non-trendable items. Yields obtained on new investments were 12 basis points lower than the first quarter while our cost of money benefited from reductions in both new money and renewal rates. We expect market conditions to continue to pressure our spread, but still have room to lower rates further and could decrease our cost of money by approximately 0.57% with further reductions in renewal rates to guaranteed minimums should the investment yields currently available to us persist. Most importantly, we intend to maintain our risk discipline in managing our investment portfolio and not chase higher yields in assets and asset classes that do not fit our risk profile.”

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 second quarter 2015 earnings on Thursday, July 30, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. CDT. 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 855-865-0606, passcode 81266360 (international callers, please dial 704-859-4382). An audio replay will be available shortly after the call on AEL’s website. An audio replay will also be available via telephone through August 6, 2015 at 855-859-2056, passcode 81266360 (international callers will need to dial 407-537-3406).

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.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In addition to net income, the Company has 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 its 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, the Company believes measures excluding their impact are useful in analyzing operating trends. The Company believes 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.

(a) Adjustments to net income to arrive at operating income are presented net of income taxes and where applicable, are net of related adjustments to amortization of deferred sales inducements (DSI) and deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC).

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.

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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