American Equity Reports Third Quarter 2014 Results

November 7, 2014 by Business Wire

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (NYSE: AEL), a leading underwriter of index and fixed rate annuities, today reported third quarter 2014 net income of $67.8 million, or $0.85 per diluted common share, compared to third quarter 2013 net income of $56.2 million, or $0.75 per diluted common share.

Non-GAAP operating income¹ for the third quarter of 2014 was $64.0 million, or $0.81 per diluted common share, compared to third quarter 2013 non-GAAP operating income¹ of $59.8 million, or $0.80 per diluted common share.

Highlights for the third quarter of 2014 include:

• Annuity sales (before coinsurance) were $1.07 billion compared to second quarter 2014 annuity sales of $1.04 billion and third quarter 2013 annuity sales of $1.05 billion.
• Total invested assets were $34.6 billion (amortized cost basis = $32.4 billion).
• Investment spread was 2.82% compared to 2.70% for the second quarter of 2014 and 2.80% for the third quarter of 2013.
• Estimated risk-based capital (RBC) ratio at September 30, 2014 remained above A. M. Best’s rating threshold at 359% compared to 344% at December 31, 2013.
• Book value per share (excluding accumulated other comprehensive income) was $19.10 at September 30, 2014 compared to $18.19 at June 30, 2014 and $18.75 at December 31, 2013.

Third quarter 2014 net income and non-GAAP operating income¹ were increased by $23.0 million ($0.29 per diluted common share) and $20.2 million ($0.26 per diluted common share), respectively, for revisions to assumptions utilized in the determination of deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred sales inducements and the liability for future benefits to be paid under lifetime income benefit riders. Net income and non-GAAP operating income¹ for the third quarter of 2013 were impacted by similar assumption revisions which increased net income by $20.2 million ($0.27 per diluted common share) and non-GAAP operating income¹ by $22.4 million ($0.30 per diluted common share).

Excluding the effects of these assumption revisions, third quarter 2014 non-GAAP operating income¹ per share of $0.55 increased by 10% compared to third quarter 2013 non-GAAP operating income¹ per share of $0.50.

The diluted share count for third quarter 2014 was 79.5 million shares compared to 74.6 million shares for the third quarter of 2013. This increase was attributable to (i) shares issued for retirement of convertible notes and the exercise of stock options and (ii) greater dilution from convertible notes, warrants and stock options because the Company’s common stock price was higher in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013.

Commenting on third quarter results, founder and Executive Chairman David J. Noble said: “Considering the challenging conditions in our business, I am proud to see our team deliver another quarter of solid financial performance for our shareholders. Low interest rates remain a headwind to our spread management, but we kept our yield on new investment purchases flat with the second quarter and widened our spread. Sales again exceeded $1 billion contributing to 3% sequential growth in our policyholder funds under management. We are excited about the initiatives we announced last quarter–a new index crediting strategy, revisions to the payouts under our lifetime income benefit rider and a new option for the payment of commissions–and believe they are helping us sustain our leadership position within the fixed index annuity business. We continue to deliver double-digit growth in policyholder funds under management and a double-digit non-GAAP operating return¹ on average equity while conservatively managing our risks and financial profile and maintaining a cushion to our targeted RBC ratio. American Equity remains well positioned to continue to capitalize on the growing demand for guaranteed retirement savings and income products.”

SPREAD WIDENS, BALANCED BETWEEN YIELD ON ASSETS AND COST OF MONEY
American Equity’s investment spread widened to 2.82% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to 2.70% for the second 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 4.89% for the third quarter of 2014 from 4.83% for the second quarter of 2014. Much of this increase was attributable to fee income from bond transactions which together with certain prepayment income added 0.07% to the third quarter 2014 average yield on invested assets compared to 0.01% from such items in the second quarter of 2014. Cash and short-term investments were above normal operating levels for much of the third quarter but returned to normal operating levels by the end of the quarter. The average balance for excess cash and short-term investments for the third quarter of 2014 was $656 million compared to $618 million for the second quarter of 2014.

The average yield on invested assets continues to be impacted by the investment of new premiums and portfolio cash flows at rates below the portfolio rate. The average yield on fixed income securities purchased and commercial mortgage loans funded in the third quarter of 2014 was 4.14%, compared to an average yield of 4.15% and 4.39% in the second and first quarters of 2014, respectively.

The aggregate cost of money for annuity liabilities declined by 6 basis points to 2.07% in the third quarter of 2014 compared to 2.13% in the second quarter of 2014. This decrease reflected continued reductions in crediting rates and a 0.02% increase in the benefit from hedging the obligations for index linked interest which increased from 0.03% in the second quarter of 2014 to 0.05% in the third quarter of 2014.

Commenting on investment spread, John Matovina, Chief Executive Officer and President, said: “We are committed to balancing the achievement of spread targets with the need to offer competitive new money rates. We achieved this balance in the third quarter, widening our spread while sustaining sales over $1 billion. The bond fees and prepayment income did give our spread a nice boost in the third quarter and renewal rate reductions helped reduce the cost of money exclusive of the hedging outcome by 0.04%. However, the investing and competitive environments remain challenging and we caution that our spread success ultimately depends on finding attractive investments with acceptable yields combined with appropriate management of the rates on our policy liabilities. We implemented modest reductions in certain new money rates in early October, which we believe will not impact our sales momentum.”

FINANCIAL PROFILE IMPROVES AS CONVERTIBLE DEBT RETIREMENTS NEAR COMPLETION
While the Company did not retire any convertible notes during the third quarter of 2014, it retired $23.1 million principal amount of the 3.50% convertible notes on October 31, 2014 and intends to call the $32.1 million principal amount of the 5.25% convertible notes that is still outstanding in December 2014. With these retirements, the Company will end 2014 with no more than $22.4 million principal amount of the 3.50% convertible notes outstanding.

The total consideration paid by the Company to retire the 3.50% convertible notes on October 31, 2014 included $30 million of cash and 618,391 shares of the Company’s common stock. At November 1, 2014, the Company had approximately $66.5 million of net proceeds remaining from its July 2013 $400 million 6.625% Senior Notes due 2021 offering. The Company intends to use these net proceeds to redeem or repurchase the $32.1 million principal amount of the 5.25% convertible notes it intends to call in December 2014 and the $22.4 million principal amount of the 3.50% convertible notes that remain outstanding at November 1, 2014. The form and timing of any such activity for the 3.50% convertible notes will be dependent upon market conditions and other factors and there can be no assurance that any transactions can be completed prior to the September 2015 maturity date for the 3.50% convertible notes.

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 third quarter 2014 earnings on Friday, November 7, 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 800-299-9086, passcode 94155428 (international callers, please dial 617-786-2903). An audio replay will be available shortly after the call on AEL’s website. An audio replay will also be available via telephone through November 14, 2014 at 1-888-286-8010, passcode 46611697 (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.

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 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, 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.

Originally Posted at Business Wire on November 6, 2014 by Business Wire.