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Subordinated Debentures | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2012
Subordinated Debentures [Abstract] |
Subordinated Borrowings Disclosure [Text Block] | Subordinated Debentures In May 2012, we issued a notice of mandatory redemption of all of our 8% Convertible Junior Subordinated Debentures (the "Debentures") and American Equity Capital Trust I, the holder of all of the Debentures, issued notices of mandatory redemption of all of its 8% Convertible Trust Preferred Securities and all of its 8% Trust Common Securities. As of September 30, 2012, $20.6 million principal amount (688,327 shares) of 8% Convertible Trust Preferred Securities were converted into 2,549,333 shares of our common stock. The remaining 44,001 shares of these trust preferred securities either have been or will be settled in cash of approximately $1.3 million.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for borrowings under subordinated debt agreements that qualify as available in computing net capital under SEC's uniform net capital rule, including restrictive covenants, collateral, interest rates and due dates, amounts due by date and amount owed in total. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG) -Number AAG-BRD -Chapter 4 -Paragraph 80 -Subparagraph Exhibit 4-8, 9 -IssueDate 2006-05-01 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG) -Number AAG-BRD -Chapter 4 -Paragraph 08 -IssueDate 2006-05-01 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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