Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
The Audit Committee (the "Audit Committee") of the Board of Directors of
American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (the "Company") conducted a
competitive selection process to select a firm to serve as the Company's
independent registered public accounting firm for the Company's fiscal year
ending December 31, 2021. The Audit Committee invited three national independent
registered public accounting firms to participate in this process.
Following review of proposals, on November 16, 2020, the Audit Committee
selected Ernst & Young LLP ("EY") as the Company's independent registered public
accounting firm for the Company's fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, subject
to completion of EY's standard client acceptance procedures and execution of an
engagement letter. KPMG LLP ("KPMG"), the Company's current independent
registered public accounting firm, will continue as the Company's independent
registered public accounting firm through the filing of the Company's Form 10-K
for the year ending December 31, 2020.
The audit reports of KPMG on the Company's consolidated financial statements for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 did not contain any adverse
opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the subsequent
interim periods through November 16, 2020, there were: (i) no disagreements
within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related
instructions between the Company and KPMG on any matter of accounting principles
or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure,
which, if not resolved to KPMG's satisfaction would have caused KPMG to make
reference thereto in its reports on the Company's consolidated financial
statements for such years; and (ii) there were no "reportable events" within the
meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
The Company has requested that KPMG furnish a letter addressed to the Securities
and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the above
statements. A copy of KPMG's letter, dated November 20, 2020, is filed as
Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and the subsequent
interim period through November 16, 2020, neither the Company nor anyone acting
on its behalf consulted with EY regarding: (i) the application of accounting
principles to a specific transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type
of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's financial statements or
internal control over financial reporting, and neither a written nor oral advice
was provided to the Company by EY that was an important factor considered by the
Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial
reporting issue; (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement
within the meaning of Item 304(a)(2)(i) of Regulations S-K and the related
instructions to Item 304 of Regulations S-K; or (iii) any reportable event
within the meaning of Item 304(a)(2)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d)  Exhibits
The following exhibits are being furnished with this Form 8-K.
Exhibit
Number              Description
16.1                  Letter from KPMG LLP to the Securities and Exchange 

Commission dated November 20,


                    2020
104                 The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, 

formatted in Inline XBRL.

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