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Exhibit 4.18    
    






 

GUARANTEE AGREEMENT  


between 


AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY,
  as Guarantor,


and 


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
 as Guarantee Trustee  


Dated as of December 22, 2004 


AMERICAN EQUITY CAPITAL TRUST VIII







 






 
TABLE OF CONTENTS  



	 
	 	 
	 	Page

	ARTICLE I    Interpretation and Definitions	 	2
	 	 Section 1.1.	 	Interpretation	 	2
	 	 Section 1.2.	 	Definitions	 	2
	ARTICLE II    Reports	 	4
	 	 Section 2.1.	 	List of Holders	 	4
	 	 Section 2.2.	 	Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee	 	4
	 	 Section 2.3.	 	Event of Default; Waiver	 	4
	 	 Section 2.4.	 	Event of Default; Notice	 	5
	ARTICLE III    Powers, Duties and Rights of the Guarantee Trustee	 	5
	 	 Section 3.1.	 	Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee	 	5
	 	 Section 3.2.	 	Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee	 	6
	 	 Section 3.3.	 	Compensation	 	7
	 	 Section 3.4.	 	Indemnity	 	7
	 	 Section 3.5.	 	Securities	 	7
	ARTICLE IV    Guarantee Trustee	 	8
	 	 Section 4.1.	 	Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility	 	8
	 	 Section 4.2.	 	Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee	 	8
	ARTICLE V    Guarantee	 	8
	 	 Section 5.1.	 	Guarantee	 	8
	 	 Section 5.2.	 	Waiver of Notice and Demand	 	9
	 	 Section 5.3.	 	Obligations Not Affected	 	9
	 	 Section 5.4.	 	Rights of Holders	 	9
	 	 Section 5.5.	 	Guarantee of Payment	 	9
	 	 Section 5.6.	 	Subrogation	 	9
	 	 Section 5.7.	 	Independent Obligations	 	10
	 	 Section 5.8.	 	Enforcement	 	10
	ARTICLE VI    Covenants and Subordination	 	10
	 	 Section 6.1.	 	Dividends, Distributions and Payments	 	10
	 	 Section 6.2.	 	Subordination	 	10
	 	 Section 6.3.	 	Pari Passu Guarantees	 	10
	ARTICLE VII    Termination	 	11
	 	 Section 7.1.	 	Termination	 	11
	ARTICLE VIII    Miscellaneous	 	11
	 	 Section 8.1.	 	Successors and Assigns	 	11
	 	 Section 8.2.	 	Amendments	 	11
	 	 Section 8.3.	 	Notices	 	11
	 	 Section 8.4.	 	Benefit	 	12
	 	 Section 8.5.	 	Governing Law	 	12
	 	 Section 8.6.	 	Submission to Jurisdiction	 	12
	 	 Section 8.7.	 	Counterparts	 	12
	 	 Section 8.8.	 	Severability	 	12




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        GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of December 22, 2004, executed and delivered by AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY, an Iowa corporation (the
"Guarantor") having its principal office at 5000 Westown Parkway, Suite 440, West Des Moines, IA 50266, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., a national
banking association, as trustee (in such capacity, the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the
Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of AMERICAN EQUITY CAPITAL TRUST VIII, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Issuer"). 


W
I T N E S S E T H: 


        WHEREAS,
pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the "Trust Agreement"), among the Guarantor, as
Depositor, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees named therein and the holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as hereinafter defined), the Issuer
is issuing Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of its Floating Rate Preferred Securities (Liquidation Amount $1,000 per preferred
security) (the "Preferred Securities") representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer and having the terms set forth
in the Trust Agreement; 


        WHEREAS,
the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Issuer and the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer's Common Securities (as defined
below), will be used to purchase the Notes (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor; and 


        WHEREAS,
as incentive for the Holders to purchase Preferred Securities the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth herein, to pay to the
Holders of the Preferred 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 Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes
and delivers this Guarantee Agreement to provide as follows for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities: 


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ARTICLE I  


 INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS  


        SECTION
1.1.    Interpretation.    


        In
this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: 



        (a)   capitalized
terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not defined in the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to them in  Section 1.2; 


        (b)   the
words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation"; 


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



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


        (e)   the
words "hereby", "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Guarantee Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article,
Section or other subdivision; 


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


        (g)   the
masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders. 




        SECTION
1.2.    Definitions.    


        As
used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings: 



        "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such specified Person; provided, that the Issuer shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Guarantor. For the purposes of this
definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or
indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. 


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



        "Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Guarantor or any duly authorized committee of that board. 


        "Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer. 


        "Debt" means with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person, whether currently existing
or hereafter incurred, and whether or not contingent and without duplication, (i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of such Person evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation
of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person; (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as the
deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person;
(vi) all indebtedness of such Person, whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Guarantee Agreement or thereafter incurred, for claims in respect of derivative products, including
interest rate, foreign exchange rate and commodity forward contracts, options, swaps and similar arrangements; (vii) every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through
(vi) of another Person and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such Person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable for, directly or indirectly, as obligor
or otherwise; and (viii) any renewals, extensions, refundings, amendments or modifications of any obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vii). 


        "Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement;  provided, that except with respect to a
default in payment of any Guarantee 



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Payments,
the Guarantor shall have received notice of default from the Guarantee Trustee and shall not have cured such default within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice. 


        "Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the
extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Trust Agreement) required to be paid on the Preferred Securities, to the
extent
the Issuer shall have funds on hand available therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price with respect to any Preferred Securities to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary termination, winding up or liquidation of the Issuer, unless Notes are distributed to the Holders, the lesser of
(a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount of $1,000 per Preferred Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent that the
Issuer shall have funds available 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 in accordance with applicable law (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). 



        "Guarantee Trustee" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., until a Successor Guarantee Trustee, as defined below, has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement, and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee. 


        "Guarantor" means American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company and each of its successors and assigns. 


        "Issuer" has the meaning set forth herein above. 


        "Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer, of any Preferred Securities;  provided, that, in determining whether the holders of the
requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver
hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the Guarantee Trustee. 


        "Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of the date hereof, as supplemented and amended, between the Guarantor and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as trustee. 


        "List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1.


        "Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities" means a vote by the Holder(s), voting separately as a class, of more than
fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then outstanding Preferred Securities issued by the Issuer. 


        "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. 


        "Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,
President or a Vice President of such Person, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person, and delivered to the Guarantee Trustee. Any
Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement (other than the certificate provided pursuant to  Section 2.2) shall
include: 


        (a)   a
statement that each officer signing the Officers' 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 each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate; 



        (c)   a
statement that each 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 each officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. 



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


        "Preferred Securities" has the meaning set forth in the first recital hereof. 


        "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, the officer in the Institutional Trust Services department of the
Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Guarantee Agreement. 


        "Senior Debt" means the principal of and any premium, if any, and interest on (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any
petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Guarantor whether or not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) all Debt of the Guarantor,
whether incurred on or prior to the date of the Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless it is provided in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding,
that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Preferred Securities; provided, that if the Guarantor is subject to the regulation and
supervision of an insurance regulatory authority, the Guarantor shall have received the approval of such appropriate insurance regulatory authority prior to issuing any such obligation; and  provided, further, that Senior Debt shall not include any other debt securities and guarantees in respect of such debt securities issued to any trust
other than the Trust (or a trustee of any such trust), partnership or other entity affiliated with the Guarantor that is a financing vehicle of the Guarantor (a "financing entity") in connection with
the issuance by such financing entity of equity securities or other securities that are treated as equity capital for regulatory capital purposes guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to an instrument
that ranks pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the Indenture, including, without limitation, securities issued by American Equity Capital
Trust I, American Equity Capital Trust II, American Equity Capital Trust III, American Equity Capital Trust IV, American Equity Capital Trust V, American Equity Capital Trust VI, and American Equity
Capital Trust VII. 


        "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and as in effect on the date of this Guarantee Agreement. 



        "Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under  Section 4.1.




        Capitalized
or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof. 


ARTICLE II  


 REPORTS  


        SECTION
2.1.    List of Holders.    


        The
Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee at such times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing, within thirty (30) days after the
receipt by the Guarantor of any such request, a list, in such form as the Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders (the "List of
Holders") as of a date not more than fifteen (15) days prior to the time such list is furnished, in each case to the extent such information is in the possession or
control of the Guarantor and is not identical to a previously supplied list of Holders or has not otherwise been received by the Guarantee Trustee in its capacity as such. The Guarantee Trustee may
destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders. 


        SECTION
2.2.    Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee.    


        The
Guarantor shall deliver to the Guarantee Trustee, within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Guarantor ending after the date of this
Guarantee Agreement, an Officers' Certificate covering the preceding fiscal year, stating whether or not to the knowledge of the signers thereof the Guarantor is in default in the performance or
observance of any of the terms or provisions or any of the conditions of this Guarantee Agreement (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the
Guarantor shall be in default thereof, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they have knowledge. The delivery requirements of this Section 2.2 may be
satisfied by compliance with Section 8.16(a) of the Trust Agreement. 


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        SECTION
2.3.    Event of Default; Waiver.    



        The
Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any
such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent therefrom. 


        SECTION
2.4.    Event of Default; Notice.    



        (a)   The
Guarantee Trustee shall, within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of a default, transmit to the Holders notices of all defaults actually known to the
Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice. For the purpose of this Section 2.4, the term
"default" means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default. 


        (b)   The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice, or a Responsible
Officer charged with the administration of this Guarantee Agreement shall have obtained written notice, of such Event of Default from the Guarantor or a Holder. 


ARTICLE III  


 POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE  


        SECTION
3.1.    Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.    



        (a)   This
Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee Agreement to
any Person except a Holder exercising its rights pursuant to Section 5.4(d) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee upon 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, upon
acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment hereunder, and such vesting and succession 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)   The
rights, immunities, duties and responsibilities of the Guarantee Trustee shall be as provided by this Guarantee Agreement and there shall be no other duties or
obligations, express or implied, of the Guarantee Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provisions of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds
or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that
repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not herein expressly so provided, every provision of this Guarantee Agreement
relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Guarantee Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this  Section 3.1. To the extent that, at law or in
equity, the Guarantee Trustee has duties and liabilities relating to the Guarantor or the Holders,
the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder for the Guarantee Trustee's good faith reliance on the provisions of this Guarantee Agreement. The provisions of this Guarantee Agreement, to
the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Guarantee Trustee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Guarantor and the Holders to replace such other duties and
liabilities of the Guarantee Trustee. 


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



          (i)  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
the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made; and 


         (ii)  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 direction of the Holders of
not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred 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 Agreement. 



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        SECTION
3.2.    Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee.    



        (a)   Subject
to the provisions of Section 3.1:



          (i)  the
Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith and in accordance with the terms hereof 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
reasonably 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 Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate unless otherwise prescribed
herein; 


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


        (iv)  the
Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement at the request or direction of any
Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) 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, that, nothing contained in this
Section 3.2(a)(iv) 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 Agreement; provided,
further, that nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(iv) shall prevent the Guarantee Trustee from exercising its rights
under Section 4.2 hereof.; 


         (v)  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, and if the Guarantee Trustee shall determine to make such inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the
books, records and premises of the Guarantor, personally or by agent or attorney; 


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


       (vii)  whenever
in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy
or right hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred 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 acting in accordance with such instructions; 


      (viii)  except
as otherwise expressly provided by this Guarantee Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary
under the provisions of this Guarantee Agreement; and 


        (ix)  whenever,
in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking,
suffering or omitting to take 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 rely upon
an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request from the Guarantee Trustee, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor. 




        (b)   No
provision of this Guarantee Agreement 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, 


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power,
duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty to act in accordance with such power and authority. 


        SECTION
3.3.    Compensation.    



        The
Guarantor agrees to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any
provisions of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) and to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances (including
the reasonable fees and expenses of its attorneys and agents) incurred or made by the Guarantee Trustee in accordance with any provisions of this Guarantee Agreement. 


        SECTION
3.4.    Indemnity.    



        The
Guarantor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Guarantee Trustee and any of its Affiliates and any of their officers, directors, shareholders, employees, representatives or
agents from and against any loss, damage, liability, tax (other than income, franchise or other taxes imposed on amounts paid pursuant to  Section 3.3), penalty, expense or claim of any kind or
nature whatsoever incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its
part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in
connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any lien or charge on any Guarantee Payments as a result of any
amount due to it under this Guarantee Agreement. This indemnity shall survive the termination of this Agreement or the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee. 


        In
no event shall the Guarantee Trustee be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, lost profits,
even if the Guarantee Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. 


        In
no event shall the Guarantee Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder because of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not
limited to, acts of God, flood, war (declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot, embargo, government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations, governmental action or the like which
delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Guarantee Agreement. 


        SECTION
3.5.    Securities.    


        The
Guarantee Trustee or any other agent of the Guarantee Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Common or Preferred Securities. 


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   ARTICLE IV  


 GUARANTEE TRUSTEE  


        SECTION
4.1.    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 organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any State thereof, authorized to exercise corporate trust powers, having a
combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority and having an office within the United States. If such
corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of such supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this  Section 4.1, the
combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published. 




        (b)   If
at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Guarantee
Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(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 in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c). 


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



        (a)   Subject
to Section 4.2(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 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 hereunder 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 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 4.2  within thirty (30) days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of
resignation, the resigning Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor,
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. 


ARTICLE V  


 GUARANTEE  


        Section 5.1.    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 or on
behalf of the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense (except for the defense of payment by the Issuer), right of set-off or counterclaim which 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. The Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Guarantee Trustee in the event it makes any direct payment to the Holders hereunder. 


        (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
5.2.    Waiver of Notice and Demand.    



        The
Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the Guarantee Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a
proceeding first against the Guarantee Trustee, 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
5.3.    Obligations Not Affected.    



        The
obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement 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 Preferred 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 (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions that results
from the extension of any interest payment period on the Notes as provided in the Indenture), Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred
Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred Securities; 


        (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 Preferred 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 Preferred 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 5.3 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 the consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. 


        SECTION
5.4.    Rights of Holders.    



        The
Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (a) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the Holders; (b) the
Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (c) the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred 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 Agreement or exercising any trust or power conferred upon
the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and (d) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement,
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer or any other Person. 


        SECTION
5.5.    Guarantee of Payment.    


        This
Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full
(without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer) or upon distribution of Notes to Holders as provided in the Trust Agreement. 


        SECTION
5.6.    Subrogation.    



        The
Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement
and shall have the right to waive payment by the Issuer pursuant to Section 5.1; provided, that,
the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity,
reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this 


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Guarantee
Agreement, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. 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
5.7.    Independent Obligations.    


        The
Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Preferred 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 Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections
(a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3.


        SECTION
5.8.    Enforcement.    


        A
Beneficiary may enforce the Obligations of the Guarantor contained in Section 5.1(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. 


ARTICLE VI  


 COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION  


        SECTION
6.1.    Dividends, Distributions and Payments.    


        So
long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or the Guarantor shall have entered into an Extension Period as
provided for in the Indenture and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then the Guarantor may not (a) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on,
or redeem, purchase, acquire or make liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor's capital stock or (b) make any payment of principal of or any interest or premium, if any, on or
repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Notes (other
than (i) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Guarantor in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or
for the benefit of any one of more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or 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 such Event
of Default or the applicable Extension Period, (ii) as a result of an 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 any class of 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 conversions or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged,
(iv) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any rights plan, the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any 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 to such stock). 


        SECTION
6.2.    Subordination.    


        The
obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement will constitute unsecured obligations of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all
Senior Debt of the Guarantor. 


        SECTION
6.3.    Pari Passu Guarantees.    


        (a)   The
obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall rank pari passu with the obligations of the
Guarantor under any similar guarantee agreements issued by the Guarantor with respect to preferred securities (if any) similar to the Preferred Securities, issued by trusts other than the Issuer
established or to be established by the Guarantor (if any), in each case similar to the Issuer American Equity Capital Trust I, American Equity Capital Trust II, American Equity Capital Trust III,
American Equity Capital Trust IV, American Equity Capital Trust V, American Equity Capital Trust VI, and American Equity Capital Trust VII. 


        (b)   The
right of the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of any of its subsidiaries upon any such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise
is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Guarantor's obligations
under this Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and 


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future
liabilities of the Guarantor's subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to the assets of the Guarantor for payments thereunder. This Guarantee does not limit the incurrence or issuance of
other secured or unsecured debt of the Guarantor, including Senior Debt of the Guarantor, under any indenture or agreement that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or otherwise. 


ARTICLE VII  


 TERMINATION  


        Section 7.1.    Termination.    



        This
Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon (a) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, (b) the
distribution of Notes to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities or (c) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the
Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment of any sums paid
with respect to Preferred Securities or this Guarantee Agreement. The obligations of the Guarantor under Sections 3.3 and  3.4 shall survive any such
termination or the resignation and removal of the Guarantee Trustee. 


ARTICLE VIII  


 MISCELLANEOUS  


        SECTION
8.1.    Successors and Assigns.    


        All
guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the
benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article VIII of
the Indenture and pursuant to which the successor or assignee agrees in writing to perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign its rights or delegate its obligations
hereunder without the prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities. 


        SECTION
8.2.    Amendments.    


        Except
with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights of the Holders in any material respect (in which case no consent of the Holders will be required), this
Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior approval of the Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities.
The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement concerning meetings or consents of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval. 


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        SECTION
8.3.    Notices.    


        Any
notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied or
mailed by first class mail as follows: 



        (a)   if
given to the Guarantor, to the address or facsimile number set forth below or such other address, facsimile number or to the attention of such other Person as the
Guarantor may give notice to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders: 




American
Equity Investment Life Insurance Company

5000 Westown Parkway, Suite 440

West Des Moines, IA 50266

Facsimile No.: (515) 221-0744

Attention: Wendy Carlson 





        (b)   if
given to the Issuer, at the Issuer's address or facsimile number set forth below or such other address, facsimile number or to the attention of such other Person as
the Issuer may give notice to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders: 




American
Equity Capital Trust VIII

5000 Westown Parkway, Suite 440

West Des Moines, IA 50266

Facsimile No.: (515) 221-0744

Attention: Wendy Carlson 





        (c)   if
given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the address or facsimile number set forth below or such other address, facsimile number or to the attention of such other Person as
the Guarantee Trustee may give notice to the Guarantor and the Holders: 




JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A.

600 Travis, 50th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

Facsimile No.: 713-216-2101

Attention: International Trust Services—

                  American Equity Capital Trust VIII 





        (d)   if
given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer. 




        All
notices hereunder 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 Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities. 


        SECTION
8.5.    Governing Law.    



        This Guarantee Agreement and the rights and obligations of each party hereto, shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the
State of New York without reference to its conflict of laws provisions (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law). 


        SECTION
8.6.    Submission to Jurisdiction.    


        ANY
LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY OR AGAINST ANY PARTY HERETO OR WITH RESPECT TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN OR REMOVED TO THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, OR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (IN EACH CASE SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN). BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY ACCEPTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID 


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COURTS
(AND COURTS OF APPEALS THEREFROM) FOR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT. 


        SECTION
8.7.    Counterparts.    



        This
instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument. 


        SECTION
8.8.    Severability.    


        In
the event that one or more of the provisions contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Guarantee, but this Guarantee shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had
never been contained herein. 


[Signature pages follow.] 


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        In
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Guarantee Agreement as of the date first above written. 



	 	 	AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE

HOLDING COMPANY
	

 	
 	
By:	
 	

/s/  DEBRA J. RICHARDSON      

	 	 	 	 	Name	 	Debra J. Richardson
	 	 	 	 	Title:	 	Secretary and Senior Vice President
	

 	
 	
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., not in its individual

capacity, but solely as Guarantee Trustee
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  MARIA D. CALZADO      

	 	 	 	 	Name	 	Maria D. Calzado
	 	 	 	 	Title:	 	Vice President




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