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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 (Date of earliest event reported): January 4, 2010
AMERICAN EQUITY
INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
IOWA 001-31911 42-1447959
(State or Other (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
Jurisdiction Identification No.)
of Incorporation)
6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(515) 221-0002
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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))
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Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
American Equity Investment Life Holding Company ("AEL") has completed a pro
forma estimate as of September 30, 2009 of the risked-based capital ("RBC")
ratio of its principal life insurance subsidiary under the rules adopted by the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"). The pro forma estimate
reflects the approximate impact at September 30, 2009 of revisions to the NAIC
Designations for residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS") and SSAP No.
43R adopted by the NAIC in the fourth quarter of 2009. Such revisions require
the use of a financial model to determine the NAIC Designations for non-agency
RMBS rather than the ratings for such securities assigned by credit rating
agencies. The NAIC retained PIMCO Advisory as a third-party financial modeler to
assist with the modeling.
To determine its pro forma RBC ratio AEL utilized the NAIC Designation
assigned to its non-agency RMBS under the PIMCO model to determine its required
capital as well as the appropriate carrying value for each non-agency RMBS
security. Based upon such new NAIC Designations, AEL's pro forma RBC ratio at
September 30, 2009 is estimated to be no less than 325% of company action level.
SIGNATURES
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.
AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE
HOLDING COMPANY
Date: January 5, 2010 /s/ Wendy L. Carlson
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Wendy L. Carlson
Chief Executive Officer and President