<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001341004-14-001106.txt : 20141217
<SEC-HEADER>0001341004-14-001106.hdr.sgml : 20141217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20141217151338
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001341004-14-001106
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	S-3ASR
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		4
FILED AS OF DATE:		20141217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20141217
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20141217

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001039828
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		IRS NUMBER:				421447959
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		S-3ASR
		SEC ACT:		1933 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-201008
		FILM NUMBER:		141292337

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6000 WESTOWN PARKWAY
		CITY:			WEST DEMOINES
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50266
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5152210002

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6000 WESTOWN PARKWAY
		CITY:			WEST DES MOINES
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50266
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>S-3ASR
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>s-3.htm
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 17, 2014</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Registration No. 333-</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">WASHINGTON, DC 20549</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">_______________</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">FORM S-3</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">UNDER</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">American Equity Investment Life Holding Company</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)</font></div>

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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Iowa</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&#160;</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">42-1447959</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">6000 Westown Parkway</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">West Des Moines, Iowa 50266</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">(515) 221-0002</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">area code, of Registrant&#8217;s principal executive offices)</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">John M. Matovina</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Chief Executive Officer and President</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">6000 Westown Parkway</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">West Des Moines, Iowa 50266</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">(515) 221-0002</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Copies to:</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Shilpi Gupta</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &amp; Flom LLP</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">155 North Wacker Drive</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Chicago, Illinois 60606</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">_______________</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. <font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">o</font></font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. <font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings 2, serif">T</font></font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. <font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">o</font></font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. <font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">o</font></font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. <font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings 2, serif">T</font></font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. <font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">o</font></font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer&#8221; and &#8220;smaller reporting company&#8221; in Rule 12b2 of the Exchange Act.</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: -9pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Large accelerated filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings 2, serif">T</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Accelerated filer&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">o</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Non-accelerated filer <font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">o</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Smaller reporting company&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">o</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></div>

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<table cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Title of Securities to be Registered</font></div>
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<td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#160;</font></div>
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<td valign="bottom" width="13%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Amount to be Registered (2)</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#160;</font></div>
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<td valign="bottom" width="10%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit(3)</font></div>
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<td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#160;</font></div>
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<td valign="bottom" width="15%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(3)</font></div>
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<td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#160;</font></div>
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<td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Amount of Registration Fee</font></div>
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<td align="left" valign="bottom" width="20%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Common Stock, par value&#160;&#160;$1.00 (1)</font></div>
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<td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&#160;</font></div>
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<td valign="bottom" width="13%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">1,000,000 Shares</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&#160;</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="10%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">$27.40</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="15%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">$27,400,000</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">$3,184</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(1) This registration statement registers the issuance of shares of Common Stock, which may be subject to vesting, in connection with the grant of restricted stock and restricted stock units to independent insurance agents of American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, under the Amended and Restated American Equity Investment Life Holding Company 2014 Independent Insurance Agent Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Plan.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(2) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, the amount to be registered also includes an indeterminate number of additional shares of the registrant&#8217;s common stock that become issuable under the Amended and Restated American Equity Investment Life Holding Company 2014 Independent Insurance Agent Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, or other similar transaction that increases the number of the registrant&#8217;s outstanding shares of common stock.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(3) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act, based on the average high and low prices per share of common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on December 15, 2014.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">American Equity</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Investment Life Holding Company</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">_____________</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">1,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">under the</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: -18pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">AMENDED AND RESTATED AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">2014 INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENT RESTRICTED STOCK</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">This prospectus relates to the 1,000,000 shares of our common stock, $1.00 par value per share, that may be awarded under the Amended and Restated American Equity Investment Life Holding Company 2014 Independent Insurance Agent Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;) to independent insurance agents who are significant producers for our wholly owned operating subsidiary, American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, as further detailed in &#8220;Description of the Plan&#8221; section beginning on page 4 of this prospectus.&#160;&#160;Such awards may be subject to vesting conditions as established under the Plan.&#160;&#160;We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of restricted stock or restricted stock units.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol &#8220;AEL.&#8221;&#160;&#160;On December 15, 2014, the closing price of our common stock as reported on the NYSE was $27.34.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman Bold, Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Investing in our common stock involves risks that are described in the &#8220;Risk Factors&#8221; section beginning on page 1 of this prospectus.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission, the Iowa Commissioner of Insurance or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of any of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The date of this prospectus is December 17, 2014.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Page</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">8</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and the information to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this prospectus may only be accurate on the date of this document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects may have changed since that date.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">All references to &#8220;we,&#8221; &#8220;us,&#8221; &#8220;our&#8221; or &#8220;American Equity&#8221; in this prospectus are to American Equity Investment Life Holding Company.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Our Business</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">We are a full service underwriter of fixed annuity and life insurance products through our wholly owned life insurance subsidiaries, American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company (&#8220;American Equity Life&#8221;), American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company of New York and Eagle Life Insurance Company. Our business consists primarily of the sale of fixed index and fixed rate annuities and, accordingly, we have only one business segment. Our business strategy is to focus on growing our annuity business and earning predictable returns by managing investment spreads and investment risk. We are currently licensed to sell our products in 50 states and the District of Columbia.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our executive offices are located at 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, and our telephone number is (515) 221-0002. Our website address is <font style="DISPLAY: inline; COLOR: #0000ff; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">www.american-equity.com</font>. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">RISK FACTORS</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Investing in common stock involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks discussed below and the risks, uncertainties and additional information set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any subsequent Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference into this prospectus, and in the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and which are deemed incorporated by reference in this prospectus. For a description of these reports and documents, and information about where you can find them, see &#8220;Where You Can Find More Information&#8221;. The risks and uncertainties discussed below and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus are those that we currently believe may materially affect our company. Additional risks not presently known or that are currently deemed immaterial could also materially and adversely affect our financial condition, result of operations, business and prospects.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The price of our common stock on the NYSE constantly changes. Volatility in the market price of our common stock may prevent you from being able to sell your shares when you want or at prices you find attractive.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The market price of our common stock may fluctuate in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include the following:</font></div>

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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results;</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">changes in expectations as to our future financial performance, including financial estimates by securities analysts and investors;</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">changes in laws and regulations which may affect the sale of our products;</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">the operating and stock performance of our competitors;</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">announcements by us or our competitors of new products or services or significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">general domestic or international economic, market and political conditions and regulatory initiatives;</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">additions or departures of key personnel; and</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">future sales of our common stock, including sales of our common stock in short sales transactions.</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In addition, the stock markets from time to time experience extreme price and volume fluctuations that may be unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies. These broad fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The price of our common stock and our ability to raise funds in new stock offerings may be adversely affected by the issuance and sale of our common stock or equity-related securities, now and in the future.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Issuances or exchanges of significant amounts of our common stock or equity-related securities or the perception that such sales will occur, could adversely affect prevailing trading prices of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through future offerings of equity or equity-related securities. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that future issuances or exchanges of shares of our common stock or equity-related securities or the availability of shares of our common stock for future issuance or exchange will have on the trading price of our common stock.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Our common stock is an equity security and is subordinate to our existing and future indebtedness.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Shares of our common stock are equity interests and do not constitute indebtedness. As such, shares of our common stock rank junior to all indebtedness and other non-equity claims against us with respect to assets available to satisfy claims against us, including in a liquidation. Additionally, holders of our common stock may become subject to the prior dividend and liquidation rights of any holders of any preferred stock we may issue in the future.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Anti-takeover provisions affecting us could make it difficult for a third party to acquire our company.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our articles of incorporation, as amended, our third amended and restated bylaws and Iowa law contain anti-takeover provisions that could have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control of our company or our management. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for our shareholders to elect directors and take other corporate actions without the concurrence of our management or board of directors. The provisions in our charter documents include the following:</font></div>

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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">our amended articles of incorporation provide for a classified board of directors pursuant to which our directors are divided into three classes, with three-year staggered terms;</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">our amended articles of incorporation provide our board of directors the ability to issue shares of preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms, including preferences and voting rights, of those shares without shareholder approval;</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">our bylaws provide that shareholder action may be taken only at a special or regular meeting or by written consent signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than 90% of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote on the action were present and voted;</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">our bylaws limit our shareholders&#8217; ability to make proposals at shareholder meetings; and</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">our bylaws establish advance notice procedures for nominating candidates to our board of directors.</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The foregoing provisions may discourage transactions that otherwise could provide for the payment of a premium over prevailing market prices of our common stock and also could limit the price that investors are willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. In addition, before a person can directly or indirectly acquire 10% or greater voting control of any of our life insurance subsidiaries, prior written approval must generally be obtained from the applicable insurance regulator where our affected life insurance subsidiary is domiciled.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Our ability to pay dividends in the future is subject to many factors and you may not receive dividends on our common stock.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Holders of our common stock are only entitled to receive dividends as our board of directors may declare out of funds legally available for such payments. However, we intend to continue to pay an annual cash dividend on such shares so long as we have sufficient capital and/or future earnings to do so. We anticipate retaining most of our future earnings, if any, for use in our operations and the expansion of our business. Any further determination as to dividend policy will be made by our board of directors and will depend on a number of factors, including our future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and future prospects and such other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our ability to pay dividends may be impaired if any of the risks described in this prospectus or incorporated by reference herein were to occur. In addition, since we are a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends depends in large measure on our subsidiaries&#8217; ability to make distributions of cash or property to us. Iowa insurance laws restrict the amount of distributions American Equity Life can pay to us without the approval of the Iowa Insurance Commissioner.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">You may suffer immediate and substantial dilution in connection with the conversion of any convertible preferred stock or convertible notes and upon the issuance of securities in connection with any possible future acquisition.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>Signification dilution may occur due to the issuance of common stock issuable upon conversion of convertible preferred stock and convertible notes. Additional dilution to existing shareholders may also occur in connection with the issuance of additional shares of our common stock as consideration for any part of an acquisition by us.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>Any additional capital raised by us through the sale of equity or convertible securities or any equity or convertible securities issued as consideration in future acquisitions may also dilute your ownership in us. Furthermore, if we issue additional equity securities, our shareholders will experience dilution, the new equity securities could have rights senior to those of our common stock and the convertible preferred stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering may depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. As a result, our shareholders bear the risk of our future securities offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting their interest in us.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>This prospectus (including the information incorporated by reference) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Securities Act&#8221;), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;). All statements, trend analyses and other information contained in this prospectus and elsewhere (such as in filings by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;SEC&#8221;), press releases, presentations by us or our management or oral statements) relative to markets for our products and trends in our operations or financial results, as well as other statements including words such as &#8220;anticipate,&#8221; &#8220;believe,&#8221; &#8220;plan,&#8221; &#8220;estimate,&#8221; &#8220;expect,&#8221; &#8220;intend&#8221; and other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements. We caution that these statements may and often do vary from actual results and the differences between these statements and actual results can be material. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.</font></div>

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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">general economic conditions and other factors, including prevailing interest rate levels and stock and credit market performance which may affect (among other things) our ability to sell our products, our ability to access capital resources and the costs associated therewith, the fair value of our investments, which could result in impairments and other than temporary impairments, and certain liabilities, and the lapse rate and profitability of policies;</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">regulatory changes or actions, including those relating to regulation of financial services affecting (among other things) bank sales and underwriting of insurance products and regulation of the sale, underwriting and pricing of products; and</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">the risk factors or uncertainties listed from time to time in our filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is intended to reflect opinions as of the date of this prospectus. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements described in this prospectus, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason after the date of this prospectus.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The following is a description in question and answer form of the Plan, but is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Plan and this description, the terms of the Plan will prevail.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">What is the purpose of the Plan?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The Plan is intended to assist us and our wholly owned operating subsidiary, American Equity Life, in attracting and retaining certain independent insurance agents of outstanding ability and to align the interests of such agents with those of our shareholders.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">When did the Plan become effective?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The Plan became effective on January 1, 2014.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Who is eligible to receive awards under the Plan?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Restricted shares of our common stock and restricted stock units may be granted to those independent insurance agents who sign a written agreement awarding restricted stock or restricted stock units pursuant to the Plan and who at all times during the qualifying period and production period set forth in the Plan: (1) are appointed by American Equity Life as an independent sales agent for American Equity Life&#8217;s products in applicable jurisdictions, (2)&#160;&#160;have a valid and existing agent contract with American Equity Life; and (3) are in good standing with American Equity Life.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Who administers the Plan?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The Plan is administered by the Executive Committee of our Board of Directors (the &#8220;Executive Committee&#8221;), which has plenary authority and discretion, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to amend or waive the provisions set forth in the terms and conditions of the Plan, including but not limited to: production criteria, eligibility of agents to receive an award, the number of shares or units subject to an award, any provisions relating to vesting, any circumstances in which an award may terminate and any other terms, conditions or restrictions on awards. In making the determinations, the Executive Committee may adopt rules from time to time regarding sales production criteria and such other factors as the Executive Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant.&#160;&#160;Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Executive Committee shall have plenary authority to construe and interpret the Plan and any agreements under the Plan; to prescribe, amend or rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, including, but not limited to, any determination to accelerate the vesting of outstanding awards. The Executive Committee shall have the authority and discretion to grant exceptions, on a case-by-case basis, to any of the provisions in the Plan. The determination of the Executive Committee on matters relating to the administration of the Plan is binding and final.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Further, in addition to such other rights of indemnification that members of the Executive Committee may have as directors or as members of the Executive Committee, the members of the Executive Committee will be indemnified by us against the reasonable expenses, including attorneys&#8217; fees, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, any related agreement or any award granted under the Plan, and against all amounts reasonably paid by them in settlement thereof or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, if such members acted in good faith and in a manner which they believed to be in, and not opposed to, our best interests.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The terms and conditions of each participant&#8217;s agent&#8217;s contract with American Equity Life are incorporated into the Plan, including without limitation the requirement for arbitration of any disputes concerning the interpretation or administration of the Plan.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">How many shares of our common stock may be awarded under the Plan?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">We may award up to 1,000,000 shares of our common stock under the Plan, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, as described below.&#160;&#160;If shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units awarded to a Plan participant do not vest, for any reason, those shares and all dividends or dividend equivalents related thereto are forfeited and returned to American Equity.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">How will the amount of restricted stock or restricted stock units awarded to a Plan participant be determined?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The amount of shares or units in an award is based on and directly proportionate to the Plan participant&#8217;s net paid annuity production during a qualifying period, as defined in the Plan. The participant&#8217;s net paid annuity production during the qualifying period is multiplied by the applicable basis points set out in the Plan and then divided by the closing price of a share of American Equity&#8217;s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date the award is granted to the participant.&#160;&#160;We will not issue fractional shares or units. If a fractional share or unit is earned, we will eliminate such fractional share or unit by rounding down to the nearest whole share or unit.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">When do shares of restricted stock vest?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">An award of restricted stock vests as set forth in the terms and conditions of the Plan.&#160;&#160;Vesting of an award shall be accelerated and/or any other restrictions on exercise shall lapse upon the death of the participant or a change in control of American Equity, as defined in the Plan.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">When do restricted stock units vest and settle?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">An award of restricted stock units vests and settles based on the participant&#8217;s individual net paid annuity production and continued service as an independent agent to American Equity over a period of years as indicated in the Plan.&#160;&#160;Each production period during which the participant achieves a specified amount of net paid annuity production and meets all other eligibility requirements, a specified portion of the award shall vest and settle as more specifically set forth in the terms and conditions of the Plan. Vesting and settling of an award shall be accelerated and/or any other restrictions on exercise shall lapse upon the death of the participant or a change in control of American Equity, as defined in the Plan.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Can the Company set-off an award?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">American Equity reserves the right to apply all or any part of any restricted stock or restricted stock unit award to satisfy any indebtedness of the participant to American Equity or American Equity Life. Such indebtedness shall include any debit balance, outstanding loan, indemnification obligation, or any other debt or charge of any kind owed by the participant to American Equity or American Equity Life whenever and however such debt or charge is or was created.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">What happens if there is a stock split or a stock dividend is declared?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">If there is a change in the outstanding common stock because of a stock dividend, split-up (or reverse stock split), recapitalization, reorganization, reincorporation, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, liquidation or similar change in corporate structure, the Executive Committee shall, in its discretion and to the extent necessary to compensate for the effect of such transaction or change, provide for an equitable substitution for or adjustment in the number and class of shares subject to the outstanding awards and that may be issued under the Plan.&#160;&#160;Dividends declared with respect to restricted stock are credited to the participant&#8217;s account subject to the same restrictions as the restricted stock with regard to which they are issued and held by American Equity or its agent for the participant prior to the vesting of such restricted stock and are paid in cash to the participant promptly after vesting.&#160;&#160;Restricted stock units may be granted with a dividend equivalent right with respect to the shares subject to the restricted stock units, as determined by the Executive Committee in its discretion, and will be paid at the time the underlying restricted stock units vest.&#160;&#160;Dividends and dividend equivalent rights shall be subject to forfeiture under the same conditions as apply to the underlying restricted stock and restricted stock units.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">May restricted stock or restricted stock units be transferred?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Until an award of restricted stock or restricted stock units vests, plan participants may not (i) sell, transfer, pledge (as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of an obligation or for any other purpose) or assign shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units awarded under the Plan, or (ii) receive a stock certificate representing restricted stock or restricted stock units.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">When is an award forfeited?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Upon the termination of the Plan participant&#8217;s status as an independent agent for American Equity Life, for any reason, except the death of the participant, or upon a Plan participant&#8217;s failure to achieve the required minimum net paid annuity production during a specified time period as set forth in the Plan, all restricted stock and restricted stock units awarded to that participant which have not vested shall become forfeited shares and be returned to American Equity, along with any related dividends or dividend equivalents, as applicable.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">What happens upon a change of control of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">If there is a change of control of our company, as defined in the Plan, the vesting of awards will accelerate and any restrictions on awards will lapse.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Is the status of an individual holding an award affected?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">No. An award granted to an agent under the Plan does not confer any right to continue as an agent of American Equity Life or interfere in any way with the right of American Equity Life to terminate its relationship with the agent.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Does a holder of an award have any rights as a shareholder?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">No, not unless and until the restricted stock vests or the restricted stock unit vests and the participant receives shares in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">When does the Plan terminate?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Unless sooner terminated by our board of directors, the Plan will terminate on February 1, 2020.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Who is responsible for taxes or other withholding obligations with respect to the shares?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The participant is responsible for all taxes and withholding obligations payable in connection with or relating to the grant or vesting of restricted stock or restricted stock units, and/or the sale of any shares of common stock by the Plan participant.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">What tax considerations affect the awards?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Set forth below is a discussion of certain United States federal tax consequences with respect to restricted stock and restricted stock units. This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the &#8220;Code&#8221;), judicial decisions and administrative interpretations thereof, as currently in effect as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change. This discussion does not address all of the tax consequences that may be applicable to any particular Plan participant. In addition to being subject to the federal tax consequences described below, a participant may also be subject to foreign, state, and local income or other tax consequences in the jurisdiction in which he works and/or resides. EACH PLAN PARTICIPANT IS URGED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER PERSONAL TAX ADVISOR TO DETERMINE THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO HIM OR HER OF THE PLAN (OR ANY COMPONENT THEREOF), INCLUDING THE INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF HOLDING RESTRICTED STOCK OR RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AND THE VESTING THEREOF.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">A participant will not recognize any taxable income upon the award of restricted stock which is not transferable and is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, unless the participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code (a &#8220;Section 83(b) Election&#8221;).&#160;&#160;A Section 83(b) Election allows a participant to include the fair market value of the restricted stock in taxable ordinary income when the restricted stock is granted instead of when the stock vests.&#160;&#160;If a participant makes this election, any dividends paid with respect to that restricted stock will be treated as dividend income when received, and the participant will not recognize additional taxable income with respect to the restricted stock when the restrictions applicable to his or her restricted stock award lapse. If a participant does not make a Section 83(b) Election, a participant will recognize taxable ordinary income at such time as the stock first becomes transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, in an amount equal to the fair market value of the stock when such restrictions lapse. Dividends paid with respect to restricted stock prior to the lapse of such restrictions will be taxable as ordinary income to a participant when received. If a participant disposes of the stock after it has vested, any amount received in excess of the fair market value of the stock at the time the restrictions described above lapsed or, if the participant made a Section 83(b) Election,&#160;&#160;the fair market value of the stock on the award date will be taxed as capital gains.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; DISPLAY: inline">A participant will not recognize any taxable income upon the award of restricted stock units.&#160;&#160;A participant will have taxable income when a restricted stock unit vests and settles. The amount of ordinary income will be equal to the number of restricted stock units multiplied by the fair market value of the stock on the date of vesting and settling.&#160;&#160;Any dividend equivalents received during the period of restriction (or</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; DISPLAY: inline">accrued and paid upon vesting) will be taxed as ordinary income to a participant when received, not dividend income.</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Are there any other considerations relating to ERISA or a Tax-Qualified Plan?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The Plan is not qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and is not subject to any provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (referred to as &#8220;ERISA&#8221;).</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Are there any other considerations regarding the resale of shares issued?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Shares of our common stock acquired upon vesting of an award pursuant to the Plan may be sold publicly. However, shares owned by persons who may be deemed to be our &#8220;affiliates&#8221; as defined in the rules of the SEC under the Securities Act may not be re-offered or resold except pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">How can Plan participants obtain additional information about the Plan and its administrators?</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Plan participants may request additional information about the Plan by writing or telephoning us as follows: Julie LaFollette, Director of Investor Relations, American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, 1-888-221-1234, ext. 3602.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">We will receive no proceeds from the issuance of the restricted stock and restricted stock units.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The Plan permits us to issue restricted shares of our common stock and restricted stock units, which may be subject to vesting, to independent insurance agents of American Equity Life, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Equity.&#160;&#160;Shares are issuable by means of restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards.&#160;&#160;See &#8220;Description of the Plan&#8221;.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">LEGAL MATTERS</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Certain legal matters regarding the securities will be passed upon for us by William R. Kunkel, our Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Mr. Kunkel is a full-time employee of our company.&#160;&#160;Mr. Kunkel owns shares of Company common stock, beneficially and as a participant in various employee benefit plans, and owns options to purchase shares of Company common stock.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">EXPERTS</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The consolidated financial statements (and financial statement schedules) of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2013, and management&#8217;s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, have been incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important business and financial information to you that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus by referring you to publicly filed documents that contain the omitted information.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">You may read and copy the information that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus as well as other reports, proxy statements and other information that we file with the SEC at the public reference facility maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room. In addition, we are required to file electronic versions of those materials with the SEC through the SEC&#8217;s EDGAR system. The SEC maintains a web site at <font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">http://www.sec.gov</font> that contains reports, proxy statements and other information that registrants, such as us, file electronically with the SEC. You may also request a copy of these filings, at no<a name="sAF86E9C50A24487942AE4B3111F1CF25"><!--EFPlaceholder--></a> cost, by writing or telephoning us as follows: Shareholder Relations, American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, Attention Julie L. LaFollette, Director of Investor Relations, 1-888-221-1234, ext. 3602. These reports, proxy statements and other information may also be inspected at the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate on any date other than the date on the front cover of such documents or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus is delivered or securities are sold on a later date. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any distribution of securities pursuant to such documents shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth in this prospectus or in our affairs since the date of this prospectus. We are not making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to purchase these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act covering the securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement, some of which is contained in exhibits included with or incorporated by reference into the registration statement. The registration statement, including the exhibits contained or incorporated by reference therein, can be read at the SEC&#8217;s website or at the SEC offices referred to above. Any statement made in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document is only a summary of the actual contract, agreement or other document. If we have filed or incorporated by reference any contract, agreement or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement regarding a contract, agreement or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual document.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Rather than include certain information in this prospectus that we have already included in documents filed with the SEC, we are incorporating this information by reference, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring to those publicly filed documents that contain the information. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Accordingly, we incorporate by reference the following documents filed with the SEC by us:</font></div>

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<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
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<td>
<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed on March 3, 2014;</font></div>
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</div>

<div>
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<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
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<td>
<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, filed on November 10, 2014;</font></div>
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<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
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<td>
<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, filed on August 8, 2014;</font></div>
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<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
</td>
<td>
<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, filed on May 8, 2014;</font></div>
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<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
</td>
<td>
<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our&#160;Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 8, 2014, filed on December 8, 2014;</font></div>
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<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
</td>
<td>
<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 5, 2014, filed on June 9, 2014;</font></div>
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<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
</td>
<td>
<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 11, 2014, filed on April 11, 2014;</font></div>
</td>
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</div>

<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
</td>
<td>
<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 6, 2014, filed on March 7, 2014;</font></div>
</td>
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</div>

<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
</td>
<td>
<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 10, 2014, filed on&#160;&#160;February 10, 2014; and</font></div>
</td>
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</div>

<div>
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<tr valign="top">
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;</font></font></div>
</td>
<td>
<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The description of the common stock which is contained in a registration statement on Form 8-A filed on November 26, 2003 (File No. 001-31911) under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.</font></div>
</td>
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<br>
<div id="PGBRK" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
<div id="FTR">
<div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160; </font></div>
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<div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%">
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">9</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
<hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
</div>
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<div id="HDR">
<div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160; </font></div>
</div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">We also incorporate by reference any future filings (other than information furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K) we make with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (1) after the date of the filing of this registration statement and before its effectiveness and (2) until all of the securities to which this prospectus relates are sold or the offering is otherwise terminated. Our subsequent filings with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information in this prospectus.<a name="page_ja78301_1_1"><!--EFPlaceholder--></a></font></div>

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<br>
<div id="PGBRK" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
<div id="FTR">
<div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160; </font></div>
</div>

<div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%">
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">10</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
<hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
</div>
</div>

<div id="HDR">
<div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160; </font></div>
</div>
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<br>
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">PART II</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by American Equity Investment Life Holding Company in connection with the securities being registered. All amounts are estimates except the SEC registration fee.</font></div>

<div>&#160;</div>

<div align="center">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="80%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
<td align="left" valign="top" width="45%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">SEC Registration Fee</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="1%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;$</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="10%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">3,184</font></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top" width="45%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">NYSE Listing Fees</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="1%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td align="right" valign="top" width="10%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">12,000</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
<td align="left" valign="top" width="45%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Legal Fees and Expenses</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="1%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td align="right" valign="top" width="10%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">50,000</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="left" valign="top" width="45%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Accounting Fees and Expenses</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="1%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td align="right" valign="top" width="10%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">15,000</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
<td align="left" valign="top" width="45%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Miscellaneous</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="1%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td align="right" valign="top" width="10%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.5pt solid">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">15,000</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr bgcolor="white">
<td align="left" valign="top" width="45%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></td>
<td align="right" valign="top" width="10%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></td>
</tr><tr bgcolor="white">
<td align="left" valign="top" width="45%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Total</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="1%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;$</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="10%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2pt solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">95,184</font></div>
</td>
</tr></table>
</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Section 490.202 of the Iowa Business Corporation Act, or the IBCA, provides that a corporation&#8217;s articles of incorporation may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for any action taken, or failure to take action, as a director, provided that the provision does not eliminate or limit the liability of a director for (1) the amount of a financial benefit received by a director to which the director is not entitled; (2) an intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or its shareholders; (3) a violation of Section 490.833 of the IBCA, which relates to liability for unlawful distributions; or (4) an intentional violation of criminal law. Further, Section 490.851 of the IBCA provides that a corporation may indemnify its directors party to a proceeding against liability incurred in the proceeding by reason of such person serving in the capacity of director, if such person has acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed by the individual to be in the best interests of the corporation, if the director was acting in an official capacity, and in all other cases that the individual&#8217;s conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and in any criminal proceeding if such person had no reasonable cause to believe the individual&#8217;s conduct was unlawful or the director engaged in conduct for which broader indemnification has been made permissible or obligatory under a provision of the articles of incorporation.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The indemnity provisions under Section 490.851 do not apply (1) in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director has met the relevant standard of conduct under Subsection 1 of Section 490.851; or (2) in connection with any proceedings with respect to conduct for which the director was adjudged liable on the basis that the director received a financial benefit to which the director was not entitled, whether or not involving action in the director&#8217;s official capacity. In addition, Section 490.852 of the IBCA provides mandatory indemnification of reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is wholly successful in defending any action in which the director was a party because the director is or was a director of the corporation. A director who is a party to a proceeding because the person is a director may also apply for court-ordered indemnification and advance of expenses under Section 490.854 of the IBCA.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Section 490.853 of the IBCA provides that a corporation may, before final disposition of a proceeding, advance funds to pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to a proceeding because he is a director if the director delivers the following to the corporation: (1) a written affirmation that the director has met the standard of conduct described above or that the proceeding involved conduct for which liability has been eliminated under the corporation&#8217;s articles of incorporation; and (2) the director&#8217;s written undertaking to repay any funds advanced if the director is not entitled to</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">mandatory indemnification under Section 490.852 of the IBCA and it is ultimately determined that the director has not met the standard of conduct described above.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Under Section 490.856 of the IBCA, a corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer of the corporation who is a party to a proceeding because he is an officer to the same extent as a director. In addition, if the person is an officer but not a director, further indemnification may be provided by the corporation&#8217;s articles of incorporation, the bylaws, a resolution of the board of directors or contract, except for liability in connection with (1) a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation other than for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding; and (2) conduct that constitutes receipt by the officer of a financial benefit to which the officer is not entitled, an intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or the shareholders, or an intentional violation of criminal law. Such indemnification is also available to an officer who is also a director if the basis on which the officer is made a party to a proceeding is an act or omission solely as an officer.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our amended articles of incorporation provide that our directors will not be liable to us or our shareholders for money damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a director, except liability for (1) the amount of a financial benefit received by a director to which the director is not entitled; (2) intentional infliction of harm on us or our shareholders; (3) a violation of Section 490.833 of the IBCA, which relates to liability for unlawful distributions; and (4) an intentional violation of criminal law. Our amended articles of incorporation also provide that each of our current and former directors who was or is made a party to, or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director of us or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be indemnified and held harmless by us to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, except liability for (1) a financial benefit received by a director to which the director is not entitled; (2) an intentional infliction of harm on us or our shareholders; (3) an unlawful distribution to shareholders; and (4) an intentional violation of criminal law. In addition to such indemnification, any such director and any officer are entitled to have any expenses reasonably incurred in defending any such proceeding or any similar proceeding against any officer in advance of its final disposition paid directly by us to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Our bylaws also provide indemnification to our directors on the same terms as the indemnification provided in our amended articles of incorporation. Our bylaws also provide for advances of expenses to our directors and officers on the same terms as provided in our amended articles of incorporation. The indemnification provisions of our bylaws are not exclusive of any other right which any person seeking indemnification may have or acquire under any statute, our amended articles of incorporation or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Section 490.857 of the IBCA provides that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a person who is a director or officer of a corporation, or who, while a director or officer of a corporation, serves at the corporation&#8217;s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity, against liability asserted against or incurred by that person in that capacity or arising from that person&#8217;s status as a director or officer, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify or advance expenses to that person against the same liability under the IBCA. As permitted by and in accordance with Section 490.857 of the IBCA, we maintain insurance coverage for our officers and directors as well as insurance coverage to reimburse us for potential costs for indemnification of directors and officers.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Articles of Incorporation, including Articles of Amendment, of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on May 6, 1999, File No. 000-25985, and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on July 22, 1999, File No. 000-25985, and the Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2000, filed on August 14, 2000, File No. 000-25985)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;</font></div>
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<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(ii)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &#8220;Calculation of Registration Fee&#8221; table in the effective registration statement; and</font></div>
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<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(iii)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">provided</font>, <font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">however, </font>that paragraphs (A)(1)(i), (A)(1)(ii) and (A)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&#160;</font><br>
&#160;</div>

<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(2)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">bona fide </font>offering thereof.</font></div>
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<div>&#160;</div>

<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(3)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.</font></div>
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<div>&#160;</div>

<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(4)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:</font></div>
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</div>

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<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(i)</font></div>
</td>
<td>
<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and</font></font></div>
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</div>

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<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
<td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(ii)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of</font></div>
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<div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%">
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">II -4</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
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<div id="HDR">
<div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160; </font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 108pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">bona fide</font> offering thereof. <font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">Provided, however</font>, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.</font></div>

<div>&#160;</div>

<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(5)</font></div>
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<td>
<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:</font></div>
</td>
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</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 72pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:</font></div>

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<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
<td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(i)</font></div>
</td>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;</font></div>
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</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
<td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(ii)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;</font></div>
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</div>

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<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(iii)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and</font></div>
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<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
<td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
</td>
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(iv)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.</font></div>
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<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">(B)</font></font></div>
</td>
<td>
<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant&#8217;s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#8217;s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">bona fide </font>offering thereof.</font></div>
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</div>

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<div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
<td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">(C)</font></font></div>
</td>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">II -5</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
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<div id="HDR">
<div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160; </font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">II -6</font></div>

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<div id="HDR">
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">SIGNATURES</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of West Des Moines, State of Iowa, on <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">December 17, 2014.</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
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<div>&#160;</div>

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<td valign="top" width="35%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
<td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
<td valign="top" width="34%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
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<td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
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<td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
<td valign="top" width="34%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
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<td valign="top" width="35%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="34%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Director</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
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<td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Director</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">A.J. Strickland, III</font></div>
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<td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="34%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="35%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
<td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
<td valign="top" width="34%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
</tr><tr>
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<td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Director</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Harley A. Whitfield, Sr.</font></div>
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<td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="34%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
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<br>
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<div id="FTR">
<div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160; </font></div>
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<div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%">
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160; </font></div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
<hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
</div>
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<div id="HDR">
<div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160; </font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">EXHIBIT INDEX</font></div>

<div>&#160;</div>

<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr>
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Exhibit No.</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="1%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 1pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#160;</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="76%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Description</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="8%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="76%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 9pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="8%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">3.1</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 1pt">&#160;</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Articles of Incorporation, including Articles of Amendment, of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on May 6, 1999, File No. 000-25985, and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on July 22, 1999, File No. 000-25985, and the Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2000, filed on August 14, 2000, File No. 000-25985)</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="8%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">3.2</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 1pt">&#160;</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on October 20, 2003, File No. 333-108794)</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="8%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">3.3</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 1pt">&#160;</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed on January 15, 2008, File No. 333-148681)</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="8%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">3.4</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></td>
<td valign="top" width="76%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (incorporated by reference to Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2011, filed on August 5, 2011, File No. 001-31911)</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="8%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">3.5</font></div>
</td>
<td align="left" valign="bottom" width="1%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 1pt">&#160;</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="76%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K, filed on September 2, 2008, File No. 001-31911)</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="8%">
<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">5.1</font></div>
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<TYPE>EX-5.1
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<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 5.1 - OPINION
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Exhibit 5.1</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 180pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">December 17, 2014</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">American Equity Investment Life Holding Company</font></div>

<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">6000 Westown Parkway</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Re:</font></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">American Equity Investment Life Holding Company</font></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Registration Statement on Form S-3</font></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Ladies and Gentlemen:</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I am the Executive Vice President&#8212;Legal and General Counsel for American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, an Iowa corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;), and I am delivering this opinion in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Company (the &#8220;Registration Statement&#8221;) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Act&#8221;), on the date hereof, relating to the registration by the Company of 1,000,000 shares (the &#8220;Plan Shares&#8221;) of the Company&#8217;s common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the &#8220;Common Stock&#8221;), authorized for issuance pursuant to the Amended and Restated American Equity Investment Life Holding Company 2014 Independent Insurance Agent Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;).</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Act.</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In rendering the opinion stated herein, I have examined and relied upon the following: (i) the Registration Statement in the form to be filed with the Commission on the date hereof; (ii) a specimen certificate representing the Common Stock, (iii) the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect as of the date hereof; (iv)&#160;the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as in effect as of the date hereof; (v) the Plan; and (vi) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the Plan and the filing of the Registration Statement.</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion stated below.</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In my examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, including endorsements, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to me as facsimile, electronic, certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts relevant to the opinion stated herein that I did not independently establish or verify, I have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others and of public officials.</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In making my examination of executed documents or documents to be executed, I have assumed that (i) the parties thereto, other than the Company had or will have the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and (ii) the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and the execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and the validity and binding effect thereof on such parties.</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In rendering the opinion stated herein, I have also assumed that (i) an appropriate account statement evidencing the Plan Shares credited to the recipient&#8217;s account maintained with the Company&#8217;s transfer agent has been issued by the Company&#8217;s transfer agent, (ii) the issuance of the Plan Shares will be duly recorded in the books and records of the Company, (iii) each award agreement under which restricted stock or restricted stock units are granted pursuant to the Plan will be consistent with the Plan and will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and (iv) the consideration received by the Company for each of the Plan Shares delivered pursuant to the Plan shall not be less than the per share par value of the Common Stock.</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">My opinions set forth herein are limited to the laws of the state of Iowa that, in my experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Registration Statement and, to the extent that judicial or regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations, validations, filings, recordings or registrations with governmental authorities are relevant, to those required under such laws (all of the foregoing being referred to as &#8220;Opined on Law&#8221;). I do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any jurisdiction other than Opined on Law or as to the effect of any such non-Opined on Law on the opinions herein stated.</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The Plan Shares may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect.</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated herein,</font> I am of the opinion that the Plan Shares have been duly authorized for issuance by the Company and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the applicable award agreement, the Plan Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.</font></div>

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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">to the Registration Statement. I also consent to the inclusion of my name under the caption &#8220;Legal Matters&#8221; in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, I do not thereby admit that I am included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and I disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.</font></div>

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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>ex10-1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 10.1 - AMENDED AND RESTATED RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT PLAN
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Exhibit 10.1</font><br>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: -18pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">AMENDED AND RESTATED AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">WHEREAS</font>, the Board of Directors of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company adopted the American Equity Investment Life Holding Company 2014 Independent Insurance Agent Restricted Stock Plan effective January 1, 2014 (the <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Arial Unicode MS Western, sans-serif">&#8220;</font>2014 Plan<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Arial Unicode MS Western, sans-serif">&#8221;</font>) as it deemed it in the best interest of the Company that independent licensed insurance agents who are significant producers for the Company<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Arial Unicode MS Western, sans-serif">&#8217;</font>s wholly owned operating subsidiary, American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, be given an opportunity to acquire an interest in the operation and growth of the Company as a means of assuring their maximum effort and continued association with the Company; and</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">WHEREAS</font>, the Board desires to amend and restate the 2014 Plan to include Restricted Stock Units as it believes the Company can best obtain these and other benefits by providing awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to qualifying Agents designated from time to time pursuant to this Plan;</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">NOW, THEREFORE</font>, the Board does hereby adopt this Amended and Restated American Equity Investment Life Holding Company 2014 Independent Insurance Agent Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Plan, effective January 1, 2014, with such terms and conditions set forth below.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">ARTICLE I</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">DEFINITIONS</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">For purposes of the Plan, the following definitions apply:</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Affiliate&#8221;</font> means (i) any entity, that directly or through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by the Company, or (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in each case as determined by the Committee.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Agent&#8221;</font> means a licensed insurance agent who (i) is validly appointed by American Equity as an independent sales agent for American Equity&#8217;s products in applicable jurisdictions; (ii) has a valid and existing Agent&#8217;s Contract with American Equity at the time of any Award under this Plan; and (iii) is not terminated prior to the Vesting of any Award under this Plan.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Agreement&#8221;</font> means a written agreement awarding Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units pursuant to this Plan that is executed by the Company and the Participant as an indication of the parties&#8217; mutual assent to the Plan and the Terms and Conditions.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;American Equity&#8221;</font> means American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, a life insurance company domiciled in the State of Iowa.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Award&#8221;</font> means Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units earned by a Participant subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Terms and Conditions, and the Participant&#8217;s respective Agreement.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Beneficial Owner&#8221;</font> (or any variant thereof) has the meaning defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Board&#8221;</font> means the Board of Directors of the Company.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Common Stock&#8221;</font> means the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Company&#8221;</font> means American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, an Iowa corporation.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Date of Grant&#8221;</font> means the date on which an Award is granted under an Agreement and pursuant to the Plan provisions.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Director&#8221;</font> means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;</font> means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Fair Market Value&#8221;</font> means (i) the closing sale price reported for such Share on a national securities exchange or national market system on which such stock is principally traded as of such date, or (ii) if the Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange or national market system, or the value of such Shares is not otherwise determinable, such value as determined by the Committee in good faith in its sole discretion.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Participant&#8221;</font> means an Agent to whom Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units has been awarded pursuant to the Plan provisions.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Person&#8221;</font> shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any Affiliate thereof, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Shares of the Company.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Plan&#8221;</font> means the Amended and Restated American Equity Investment Life Holding Company 2014 Independent Insurance Agent Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Plan, as embodied herein and as amended from time to time.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Restricted Stock&#8221;</font> means shares of Common Stock that have been awarded to Participants, but have not Vested pursuant to the Plan and the Terms and Conditions.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Restricted Stock Units&#8221;</font> means notional, non-voting units of measurement representing the same Fair Market Value of a similar number of Shares that represent a right to receive Shares or are payable in Shares as set forth under the Plan that have been awarded to Participants, but have not Vested pursuant to the Plan and the Terms and Conditions.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#8220;Vest, Vesting, Vested&#8221;</font> means the date on which a Participant becomes entitled to all benefits of ownership of awarded Shares.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">3.1&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Administration of Plan</font>.&#160;&#160;The Committee shall administer the Plan in accordance with the terms, requirements, and restrictions as set forth herein and in the Terms and Conditions. The Committee shall have plenary authority and discretion, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to amend or waive the provisions set forth in the Terms and Conditions including, but not limited to: production criteria, eligibility of Agents to receive an Award, the time or times at which Awards are granted, the number of Shares subject to an Award, any provisions relating to Vesting, any circumstances in which an Award may terminate and any other terms, conditions or restrictions on Awards.&#160;&#160;In making the determinations, the Committee may adopt rules from time to time regarding sales production criteria and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant.&#160;&#160;Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have plenary authority to construe and interpret the Plan and any Agreements; to prescribe, amend, waive or rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administrator of the Plan, including, but not limited to, any determination to accelerate the Vesting of outstanding Awards. The Committee shall have the authority and discretion to grant exceptions, on a case-by-case basis, to any of the provisions in the Plan or the Terms and Conditions. The determination of the Committee on the matters referred to in this Article III shall be binding and final.</font></div>

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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">A <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Arial Unicode MS Western, sans-serif">&#8220;</font>Change of Control<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Arial Unicode MS Western, sans-serif">&#8221;</font> as hereinafter defined.</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Company<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Arial Unicode MS Western, sans-serif">&#8217;</font>s then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in paragraph (c) below;</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving:&#160;&#160;individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company&#8217;s shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended;</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary with any other corporation, other than (i) a merger or consolidation immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the Company, the entity surviving such merger or consolidation or, if the Company or the entity surviving such merger is then a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Company&#8217;s then outstanding securities; or</font></div>
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<div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company&#8217;s assets, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company&#8217;s assets immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the entity to which such assets are sole or disposed or any parent hereof.</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">which the record holders of the Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">ELIGIBILITY</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The Committee may from time to time designate Agents to whom Awards are granted from among those who are eligible to become Participants.&#160;&#160;Such designation shall specify the number of shares of Restricted Stock or the number of Restricted Stock Units granted in each Award.&#160;&#160;All Awards granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by Agreements which shall be subject to applicable provisions of this Plan, the Terms and Conditions, or such other provisions as the Committee may adopt that are not inconsistent with the Plan.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Awards under this Plan is 1,000,000 Shares, subject to adjustments as provided in Article VIII.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">A Participant shall not be permitted (i) to sell, transfer, pledge (as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of an obligation or for any other purpose) or assign shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units awarded under the Plan, or (ii) to receive a stock certificate representing Restricted Stock, until, in each case, the restrictions stated in the Participant<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Arial Unicode MS Western, sans-serif">&#8217;</font>s Agreement lapse.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The Board may amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan in any respect at any time; provided, however, that no amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan shall be made by the Board without approval of each affected Participant if such amendment, alteration, suspension or termination would adversely affect his or her rights or obligations under any Award granted prior to the date of such amendment, alteration, suspension or termination or without shareholder approval to the extent such approval is required by applicable law or an exchange, market or other listing requirement.&#160;&#160;No Award may be granted during any suspension or after termination of the Plan.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">GENERAL PROVISIONS</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">13.1&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">No Other Rights Conferred</font>.&#160;&#160;The establishment of the Plan shall not confer upon any Agent any legal or equitable right against the Company or any member of the Committee or the Board, except as expressly provided in the Plan.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">13.2&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">No Employment Contract</font>.&#160;&#160;The Plan does not constitute inducement or consideration for the services of any Agent, nor is it a contract between the Company or American Equity and any Agent.&#160;&#160;Participation in the Plan shall not give an Agent any right to be retained under his or her applicable Agent<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Arial Unicode MS Western, sans-serif">&#8217;</font>s Contract with American Equity.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">13.3&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Plan Interest Not Subject to Creditor Claims</font>.&#160;&#160;The interests of any eligible Participant under the Plan are not subject to the claims of creditors and may not, in any way, be assigned, alienated or encumbered except as provided in an Agreement.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">13.4&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Applicable Laws</font>.&#160;&#160;The Plan shall be governed, construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">13.5&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Representations Regarding Investment Intent; Restrictive Legends</font>.&#160;&#160;The Committee may require each person acquiring Shares pursuant to an Award hereunder to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the Shares without a view to distribution thereof.&#160;&#160;The certificates for such Shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer.&#160;&#160;All certificates for Shares issued pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange or interdealer quotation system upon which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted, and any applicable federal or state securities <font style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">laws.&#160;&#160;The</font> Committee may place a legend or legends on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.&#160;&#160;The certificates for Shares acquired pursuant to an Award may also include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect restrictions contained in this Plan or in the applicable Agreement or to comply with the Iowa Business Corporation Law.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">13.6&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Regulatory Approvals</font>.&#160;&#160;The Company shall not be required to issue any certificate or certificates for Shares upon an Award, or record any person as a holder of record of such Shares, without obtaining, to the complete satisfaction of the Committee, the approval of all regulatory bodies deemed necessary by the Committee, and without complying to the Committee<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Arial Unicode MS Western, sans-serif">&#8217;</font>s complete satisfaction, with all rules and regulations, under federal, state or local law deemed applicable by the Committee and all applicable listing or exchange requirements.</font></div>

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<TYPE>EX-23.1
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<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 23.1 - CONSENT
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Exhibit 23.1</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The Board of Directors</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">American Equity Investment Life Holding Company:</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">We consent to the use of our report dated March&#160;3, 2014, with respect to the consolidated financial statements, and all related financial statement schedules, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, incorporated by reference herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading &#8220;Experts&#8221; in the prospectus.</font></div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">As discussed in note&#160;1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January&#160;1, 2012, the Company modified the types of costs incurred that can be capitalized when issuing or renewing insurance contracts due to the prospective adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No.&#160;2010-26, <font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts</font>.</font></div>

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<div align="center">/s/ KPMG LLP</div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Des Moines, Iowa</font></div>

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