American equity reports third quarter 2011 results
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 2011 operating income1 of $41.5 million, or $0.67 per diluted common share, an increase of 50% over 2010 third quarter operating income of $27.6 million, or $0.45 per diluted common share. operating earnings were positively impacted by unlocking of assumptions utilized in the determination of deferred acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements which increased operating income by $12.5 million or $0.20 per diluted common share. performance highlights for the third quarter of 2011 include: total invested assets grew 27% to $23.4 billion at september 30, 2011 compared to total invested assets of $18.5 billion at september 30, 2010. net investment income, the principal component of total revenues, increased 17% to $305.5 million compared to third quarter 2010 investment income of $260.5 million. annuity sales for the third quarter of 2011 grew 4% to $1.27 billion (before coinsurance) compared to third quarter 2010 annuity sales of $1.22 billion (before coinsurance). estimated risk-based capital (“rbc”) ratio at september 30, 2011 remained above target at 350%. book value per outstanding common share (excluding accumulated other comprehensive income) was $15.33 at september 30, 2011 compared to $15.53 at june 30, 2011. operating earnings return on average equity of 14.6% for the trailing four quarters ended september 30, 2011. annuity sales gained momentum in the third quarter of 2011 american equity’s sales during the third quarter of 2011 grew each month to a high of $462 million for september 2011, fueled in part by impending rate reductions announced earlier that month. high demand for fixed indexed annuities in the third quarter was generated by volatile equity markets, low rates on competing products such as bank certificates of deposit, and an ongoing public focus on longevity risk and retirement income planning. the average indexed interest credit to american equity policy holders whose contract anniversary date fell within the third quarter of 2011 was 5.20% including interest credits linked to both equity and bond market indexes. commented david j. noble, executive chairman and founder of american equity: “today’s equity markets offer little respite from their steep swings up and down. at american equity we are proud to offer products that provide much needed safety of principal as well as guaranteed lifetime income.” bond yields moved lower the aggregate yield on the company’s invested assets was 5.70% for the third quarter of 2011 compared to 5.98% for the same period last year. a total of $1.5 billion in new fixed income securities were purchased during the third quarter of 2011 with an aggregate yield of 5.05%. the level of calls for redemption, sales and prepayments were significantly lower in the third quarter of 2011 at $182 million with an aggregate yield of 6.85%, compared to $1.5 billion with an aggregate yield of 5.66% in the second quarter of 2011, and $1.7 billion with an aggregate yield of 5.88% in the first quarter of 2011. new commercial mortgage loans made during the third quarter totaled $133 million with an aggregate yield of 5.67%. the overall decline in yields caused a contraction in the spread of investment earnings over the cost of money on policyholder liabilities to 2.95% for the third quarter of 2011, compared to 3.09% for the same period in 2010. spread earnings were also impacted by increased liquidity in the third quarter, with average cash balances at $496 million for this quarter compared to $395 million for the second quarter of 2011 and $185 million for the first quarter of 2011. the foregone investment income due to holding cash was an estimated 0.11% on spread earnings. this cost of higher liquidity was offset in part by an over hedging benefit of $2.4 million, which had a positive impact on spread earnings of 0.05%. policyholer rate reductions implemented in response to falling bond yields on september 22, 2011 american equity announced to its producers that rates on fixed interest strategies as well as caps and participation rates on indexed strategies would be reduced in the fourth quarter of 2011. rates on new sales were reduced by 0.40% - 0.50% beginning with applications for policies received after october 7, 2011. in addition, renewal rate adjustments on the company’s $23.4 billion of annuity account values at september 30, 2011 (net of coinsurance) will be implemented as of policyholder anniversary dates beginning after november 14, 2011. this is the first renewal rate reduction the company has implemented since 2007. these renewal rate adjustments are intended to reduce the company’s aggregate cost of money on policyholder liabilities by approximately 15-25 basis points over the next twelve months. should yields on new fixed income securities continue to fall, american equity may announce additional rate reductions to maintain satisfactory spread results. in addition, american equity has refiled its current products with lower minimum guaranteed rates to provide additional flexibility to adjust rates on future sales. on existing policyholder liabilities american equity believes it continues to have adequate flexibility to adjust renewal caps and participation rates based on the margin between current caps and participation rates and minimum guaranteed rates. that margin ranges from 1.0% - 2.0% on the majority of american equity’s policyholder liabilities. 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 2011 earnings on thursday, november 3, 2011, at 9 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 1-866-804-6929, passcode 74223033 (international callers, please dial 1-857-350-1675). an audio replay will be available via telephone through november 24, 2011 at 1-888-286-8010, passcode 39719319 (international callers will need to dial 1-617-801-6888). about american equity american equity investment life holding company, through its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, is a full service underwriter of a broad line 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, visit www.american-equity.com. 1 in addition to net income, american equity has consistently utilized operating income, a non-gaap financial measure commonly used in the life insurance industry, as an economic measure to evaluate its financial performance. see accompanying tables for reconciliations of net income to operating income and descriptions of reconciling items. see the 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. net loss was $13.1 million for the third quarter of 2011, compared to net income of $20.5 million for the same period in 2010. american equity investment life holding company net income (loss)/operating income (unaudited) see notes below. three months ended september 30, 2011 (unaudited) impairment ("otti") losses
