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Exhibit 4.12    
    


  



  



   



 
 

GUARANTEE AGREEMENT    
    


American Equity Investment Life Holding Company  


 Dated as of December 16, 2003  





 
TABLE OF CONTENTS  



	 
	 	 
	 	Page

	ARTICLE I



DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
	

SECTION 1.1	
 	

Definitions and Interpretation	
 	

1
	

ARTICLE II



POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
	

SECTION 2.1	
 	

Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee	
 	

3
	SECTION 2.2	 	Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee	 	4
	SECTION 2.3	 	Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee	 	6
	SECTION 2.4	 	Events of Default; Waiver	 	6
	SECTION 2.5	 	Events of Default; Notice	 	6
	

ARTICLE III



THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
	

SECTION 3.1	
 	

The Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility	
 	

6
	SECTION 3.2	 	Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee	 	7
	

ARTICLE IV



GUARANTEE
	

SECTION 4.1	
 	

Guarantee	
 	

7
	SECTION 4.2	 	Waiver of Notice and Demand	 	8
	SECTION 4.3	 	Obligations Not Affected	 	8
	SECTION 4.4	 	Rights of Holders	 	8
	SECTION 4.5	 	Guarantee of Payment	 	9
	SECTION 4.6	 	Subrogation	 	9
	SECTION 4.7	 	Independent Obligations	 	9
	SECTION 4.8	 	Enforcement	 	9
	

ARTICLE V



LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
	

SECTION 5.1	
 	

Limitation of Transactions	
 	

9
	SECTION 5.2	 	Ranking	 	10
	

ARTICLE VI



TERMINATION
	

SECTION 6.1	
 	

Termination	
 	

10
	 	 	 	 	 





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ARTICLE VII



INDEMNIFICATION
	

SECTION 7.1	
 	

Exculpation	
 	

10
	SECTION 7.2	 	Indemnification	 	11
	SECTION 7.3	 	Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses	 	12
	

ARTICLE VIII



MISCELLANEOUS
	

SECTION 8.1	
 	

Successors and Assigns	
 	

12
	SECTION 8.2	 	Amendments	 	12
	SECTION 8.3	 	Notices	 	12
	SECTION 8.4	 	Benefit	 	13
	SECTION 8.5	 	Governing Law	 	13
	SECTION 8.6	 	Counterparts	 	13




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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT    
    


        This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Guarantee"), dated as of [CLOSING DATE], 2003, is executed and delivered by American Equity Investment Life
Holding Company, an insurance holding company incorporated in the State of Iowa (the "Guarantor"), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"),
for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Capital Securities (as defined herein) of American Equity Capital Trust IV, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Issuer"). 



        WHEREAS,
pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration"), dated as of December 16, 2003, among the trustees named therein of the Issuer, American
Equity Investment Life Holding Company, as sponsor, and the Holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof
securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of $12,000,000, designated in the Declaration as TRUPS® (the "Capital Securities"); and 


        WHEREAS,
as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in this Guarantee, to
pay to the Holders of Capital Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein. 


        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of the Capital Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes
and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders. 


 
 

ARTICLE I    
    
    DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION    
    


        SECTION
1.1    Definitions and Interpretation.    


        In
this Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires: 



        (a)   capitalized
terms used in this Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1; 


        (b)   a
term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning throughout; 


        (c)   all
references to "the Guarantee" or "this Guarantee" are to this Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; 


        (d)   all
references in this Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified; 


        (e)   terms
defined in the Declaration as of the date of execution of this Guarantee have the same meanings when used in this Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this
Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and 


        (f)    a
reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa. 




        "Beneficiaries"
means any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter becomes indebted or liable. 


        "Common
Securities" has the meaning specified in the Declaration. 


        "Corporate
Trust Office" means the office of the Guarantee Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which at all times
shall be located within the United States and at the time of the execution of this Guarantee shall be Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19890-0001. 


        "Covered
Person" means any Holder of Capital Securities. 


        "Debenture
Issuer" means American Equity Investment Life Holding Company or any successor entity resulting from any consolidation, amalgamation, merger or other business combination, in
its capacity as issuer of the Debentures. 





 

        "Debentures"
means the junior subordinated debentures of the Debenture Issuer that are designated in the Indenture as the "Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due 2034" and
held by the Institutional Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer. 


        "Event
of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4. 


        "Guarantee
Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not paid or made by the Issuer:
(i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) which are required to be paid on such Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property
Account (as defined in the Declaration) therefor at such time, (ii) the price payable upon the redemption of any Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property
Account therefor at such time, with respect to any Capital Securities that are (1) called for redemption by the Issuer or (2) mandatorily redeemed by the Issuer, in each case, in
accordance with the terms of such Capital Securities, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in
connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders of the Capital Securities in exchange therefor as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account
therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of
the Issuer as required by applicable law (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). 


        "Guarantee
Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee and
thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee. 


        "Holder"
means any Person in whose name any Capital Securities are registered on the books and records of the Issuer; provided, however, that, in determining whether the holders of the
requisite
percentage of Capital Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor. 


        "Indemnified
Person" means the Guarantee Trustee (including in its individual capacity), any Affiliate of the Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members,
partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee Trustee. 


        "Indenture"
means the Indenture, dated as of December 16, 2003, between the Debenture Issuer and Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee,
and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the Institutional Trustee of the Issuer. 


        "Liquidation
Distribution" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "Guarantee Payments" herein. 


        "Majority
in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities" means Holder(s) of outstanding Capital Securities, voting together as a class, but separately from the holders of Common
Securities, of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the amount that would be paid upon the redemption, liquidation or otherwise on the date upon which the voting percentages
are determined, plus unpaid Distributions accrued thereon to such date) of all Capital Securities then outstanding. 



        "Obligations"
means any costs, expenses or liabilities (but not including liabilities related to taxes) of the Issuer, other than obligations of the Issuer to pay to holders of any Trust
Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust Securities. 


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        "Officer's
Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by one Authorized Officer of such Person. Any Officer's Certificate delivered with respect to compliance
with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee shall include: 



        (a)   a
statement that such officer signing the Officer's Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; 


        (b)   a
brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by such officer in rendering the Officer's Certificate; 



        (c)   a
statement that such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed
opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and 


        (d)   a
statement as to whether, in the opinion of such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. 




        "Person"
means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust,
unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature. 


        "Responsible
Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee with direct responsibility for the
administration of any matters relating to this Guarantee, including any vice president, any assistant vice president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer,
any trust officer or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also
means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. 


        "Successor
Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 3.1. 


        "Trust
Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities. 


 
 

ARTICLE II    
    
    POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE    
    



        SECTION
2.1    Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.    


        (a)   This
Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this
Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Capital Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 4.4 (b) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, and such
vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee. 


        (b)   If
an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities. 


        (c)   The
Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to
perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has
occurred (that has not been cured or 


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waived
pursuant to Section 2.4(b)) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by
this Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. 



        (d)   No
provision of this Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its
own willful misconduct or bad faith, except that: 



          (i)  prior
to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred: 



        (A)  the
duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable
except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Guarantee against the
Guarantee Trustee; and 


        (B)  in
the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of
the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or
opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not on their face they conform to the requirements of this
Guarantee; 




         (ii)  the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that
such Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made; 


        (iii)  the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the written direction of the
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; and 


        (iv)  no
provision of this Guarantee shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of
any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds is not reasonably assured to
it under the terms of this Guarantee, or security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. 




        SECTION
2.2    Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee.    


        (a)   Subject
to the provisions of Section 2.1: 



          (i)  The
Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent
or presented by the proper party or parties. 


         (ii)  Any
direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer's Certificate. 



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        (iii)  Whenever,
in the administration of this Guarantee, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or
omitting any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an
Officer's Certificate of the Guarantor which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor. 


        (iv)  The
Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument or other writing (or any rerecording, refiling or
reregistration thereof). 


         (v)  The
Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the
Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee
from any court of competent jurisdiction. 


        (vi)  The
Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder,
unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees
and expenses and the expenses of the Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such
reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 2.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Guarantee Trustee,
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee. 


       (vii)  The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit. 


      (viii)  The
Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians
or attorneys, and the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder. 


        (ix)  Any
action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the signature of the Guarantee Trustee or its
agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance
with any of the terms and provisions of this Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action. 


         (x)  Whenever
in the administration of this Guarantee the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or
taking any other action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, (B) may refrain from
enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received and (C) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such
instructions. 


        (xi)  The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or
within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Guarantee. 



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        (b)   No
provision of this Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or
obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal or in which the Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law to
perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. 


        SECTION
2.3    Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.    



        The
recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The
Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee. 


        SECTION
2.4    Events of Default; Waiver.    


        (a)   An
"Event of Default" under this Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the Guarantor to perform any of its payment or other obligations hereunder. 



        (b)   The
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, voting or consenting as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital
Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this
Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. 


        SECTION
2.5    Events of Default; Notice.    



        (a)   The
Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the
Capital Securities, notices of all Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided,
however, that the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such
notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Capital Securities. 


        (b)   The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the
Guarantor or a Holder of the Capital Securities, or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of this Guarantee shall have actual knowledge thereof. 


 
 

ARTICLE III    
    
    THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE    
    


        SECTION
3.1    The Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.    



        (a)   There
shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall: 



          (i)  not
be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and 


         (ii)  be
a corporation or national association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or of the District of
Columbia, or Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to
supervision or examination by federal, state or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation or national association publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 3. l(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or national
association shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. 



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        (b)   If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 3.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and
with the effect set forth in Section 3.2(c). 


        (c)   If
the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee
shall either eliminate such interest or resign to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to, this Guarantee. 


        SECTION
3.2    Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee.    



        (a)   Subject
to Section 3.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor except during an Event of Default. 


        (b)   The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 3.2(a) until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor. 


        (c)   The
Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The
Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which
resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by an instrument in writing executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee Trustee. 


        (d)   If
no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 3.2 within 60 days after delivery of an
instrument of removal or resignation, the Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may
thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee. 


        (e)   No
Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Guarantee Trustee. 


        (f)    Upon
termination of this Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Guarantee
Trustee all amounts owing to the Guarantee Trustee under Sections 7.2 and 7.3 accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation. 


 
 

ARTICLE IV    
    
    GUARANTEE    
    


        SECTION
4.1    Guarantee.    


        (a)   The
Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the
Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense (except defense of payment by the Issuer), right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to make a
Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders. 


        (b)   The
Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all Obligations of the Issuer and in the event any such Obligation is not so assumed, subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Beneficiary the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations to such Beneficiaries. This
Guarantee is intended to be for the Beneficiaries who have received notice hereof. 


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        SECTION
4.2    Waiver of Notice and Demand.    



        The
Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a
proceeding first against
the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands. 


        SECTION
4.3    Obligations Not Affected.    



        The
obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the
following: 



        (a)   the
release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition
relating to the Capital Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer; 


        (b)   the
extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions, the price payable upon the redemption of the Capital Securities, the
Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in
connection with, the Capital Securities (other than an extension of time for the payment of the Distributions, the price payable upon the redemption of the Capital Securities, the Liquidation
Distribution or other sums payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures); 


        (c)   any
failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the
Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind; 



        (d)   the
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors,
reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer; 


        (e)   any
invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities; 


        (f)    the
settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred, or 



        (g)   any
other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this
Section 4.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. 




        There
shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. 


        SECTION
4.4    Rights of Holders.    



        (a)   The
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; provided, however, that
(subject to Sections 2.1 and 2.2) the Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Guarantee Trustee shall determine that the actions so directed would
be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction or if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by legal counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not
lawfully be taken or if the Guarantee Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall
determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Guarantee Trustee in personal liability. 


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        (b)   Any
Holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Guarantee, without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any such action be brought first against
the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person before so proceeding directly against the Guarantor. 


        SECTION
4.5    Guarantee of Payment.    


        This
Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. 


        SECTION
4.6    Subrogation.    



        The
Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders of Capital Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under
this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by applicable provisions
of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this
Guarantee, if, after giving effect to any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the
Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders. 


        SECTION
4.7    Independent Obligations.    


        The
Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable
as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g),
inclusive, of Section 4.3 hereof. 


        SECTION
4.8    Enforcement.    


        A
Beneficiary may enforce the Obligations of the Guarantor contained in Section 4.l(b) directly against the Guarantor, and the Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that
any action be brought against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding against the Guarantor. 


        The
Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of any Beneficiary against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Beneficiaries by the Guarantor under this Guarantee;
provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by applicable provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights that it may acquire by way of subrogation
or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this
Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Beneficiaries and to pay over such amount to
the Beneficiaries. 


 
 

ARTICLE V    
    
    LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION    
    


        SECTION
5.1    Limitation of Transactions.    


        So
long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if (a) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or (b) Debenture Issuer shall have selected an
Extension Period as provided in the Indenture and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then the Guarantor may not (x) declare or pay any dividends or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor's capital stock, (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium,
if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor that rank in all respects pari passu with or 


9





 



junior
in interest to the Debentures or (z) make any payment under any guarantees of the Guarantor that rank in all respects pari passu with or
junior in interest to this Guarantee (other than (i) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Guarantor (A) in connection with any employment
contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors, or consultants, (B) in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan or (C) in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock), as consideration
in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of the Event of Default or the applicable Extension Period, (ii) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or
series of the Guarantor's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock or of any class or series of the Guarantor's
indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock, (iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or
exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (v) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or
other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks  pari passu with
or junior in interest to such stock). 



        SECTION
5.2    Ranking.    


        This
Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined
in the Indenture) of the Guarantor. By their acceptance thereof, each Holder of Capital Securities agrees to the foregoing provisions of this Guarantee and the other terms set forth herein. 


 
 

ARTICLE VI    
    
    TERMINATION    
    


        SECTION
6.1    Termination.    


        This
Guarantee shall terminate as to the Capital Securities (i) upon full payment of the price payable upon redemption of all Capital Securities then outstanding, (ii) upon
the distribution of all of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Capital Securities or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration upon dissolution
of the Issuer. This Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Capital Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the
Capital Securities or under this Guarantee. 


 
 

ARTICLE VII    
    
    INDEMNIFICATION    
    


        SECTION
7.1    Exculpation.    



        (a)   No
Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred
by reason of any act or omission of such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of
the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such
Indemnified Person's negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith with respect to such acts or omissions. 


10





 



        (b)   An
Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Issuer or the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports or
statements presented to the Issuer or the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence and who, if
selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected with reasonable care by such Indemnified Person, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets,
liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Capital Securities might properly be paid. 


        SECTION
7.2    Indemnification.    


        (a)   The
Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or
expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Indemnified Person, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including but not limited to the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of the Indemnified Person defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Indemnified Person's powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 7.2 shall
survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee. 


        (b)   Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this Section 7.2 of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Person will, if a claim in
respect thereof is to be made against the Guarantor under this Section 7.2, notify the Guarantor in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the Guarantor
(i) will not relieve the Guarantor from liability under paragraph (a) above unless and to the extent that the Guarantor did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in
the forfeiture by the Guarantor of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the Guarantor from any obligations to any Indemnified Person other than the
indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) above. The Guarantor shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the Guarantor's choice at the Guarantor's expense to represent the Indemnified
Person in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the Guarantor shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the Indemnified
Person or Persons except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the Guarantor's election to appoint counsel to
represent the Indemnified Person in any action, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Guarantor shall bear the reasonable fees,
costs and expenses of such separate counsel, if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Guarantor to represent the Indemnified Person would present such counsel with a conflict of interest,
(ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Guarantor and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that
there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified Persons which are different from or additional to those available to the Guarantor, (iii) the Guarantor shall not have
employed counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the Guarantor shall
authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor will not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Persons, settle or compromise
or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether
or not the Indemnified Persons are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Person from
all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding. 


11





 



        SECTION
7.3    Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses.    


        The
Guarantor agrees: 



        (a)   to
pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as the parties shall agree to from time to time (which
compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and 



        (b)   except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made
by it in accordance with any
provision of this Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be
attributable to the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the Guarantee Trustee. 




        The
provisions of this Section 7.3 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee. 


 
 

ARTICLE VIII    
    
    MISCELLANEOUS    
    


        SECTION
8.1    Successors and Assigns.    


        All
guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of
the Holders of the Capital Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with any merger or consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity or any sale, transfer or lease of the
Guarantor's assets to another entity, in each case to the extent permitted under the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Guarantee without the
prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. 


        SECTION
8.2    Amendments.    


        Except
with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the powers, preferences, rights or interests of Holders of the Capital Securities in any material respect (in which case
no approval of Holders will be required), this Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. The provisions of the
Declaration with respect to amendments thereof shall apply equally with respect to amendments of the Guarantee. 


        SECTION
8.3    Notices.    


        All
notices provided for in this Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows: 



        (a)   If
given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the
Holders of the Capital Securities): 




Wilmington
Trust Company

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

Telecopy: 302-651-8882

Telephone: 302-651-1000 





12





 




        (b)   If
given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital
Securities and to the Guarantee Trustee): 




American
Equity Investment Life Holding Company

5000 Westown Parkway, Suite 440,

West Des Moines, Iowa 50266

Attention: Wendy Carlson

Telecopy: (515) 221-0724

Telephone: (515) 457-1824 





        (c)   If
given to any Holder of the Capital Securities, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer. 




        All
such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or
other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of
such refusal or inability to deliver. 


        SECTION
8.4    Benefit.    


        This
Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities and, subject to Section 2.l(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities. 



        SECTION
8.5    Governing Law.    


        THIS
GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES OF SAID STATE OTHER THAN
SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW. 


        SECTION
8.6    Counterparts.    


        This
Guarantee may contain more than one counterpart of the signature page and this Guarantee may be executed by the affixing of the signature of the Guarantor and the Guarantee Trustee
to any of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a
single signature page. 


13








        THIS GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written. 



	 	 	AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE

HOLDING COMPANY,

as Guarantor
	

 	
 	

 	

 
	 	 	By:	/s/  D J NOBLE      
 Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	

 	

 
	 	 	WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Guarantee Trustee
	

 	
 	

 	

 
	 	 	By:	    
 Name:

Title:








        THIS
GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written. 



	 	 	AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE

HOLDING COMPANY,

as Guarantor
	

 	
 	

 	

 
	 	 	By:	    
 Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	

 	

 
	 	 	WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Guarantee Trustee
	

 	
 	

 	

 
	 	 	By:	/s/  DENISE M. GERAN      
 Name: Denise M. Geran

Title: Vice President











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Exhibit 4.12


GUARANTEE AGREEMENT



GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

ARTICLE II POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

ARTICLE III THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE


ARTICLE IV GUARANTEE

ARTICLE V LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION

ARTICLE VI TERMINATION

ARTICLE VII INDEMNIFICATION

ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS