Brookfield Reinsurance to acquire American Equity in $4.3B transaction

Brookfield Reinsurance (BNRE) and American Equity Investment Life Holding Company have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Brookfield Reinsurance will acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of AEL it does not already own in a cash and stock transaction that values AEL at approximately $4.3B. As part of the agreement, each AEL shareholder will receive $55.00 per AEL share, consisting of $38.85 in cash and 0.49707 of a Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) class A limited voting share having a value equal to $16.15, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances as described below. The Merger Consideration of $55.00 per share represents a 35% premium to AEL’s undisturbed closing share price on June 23, 2023 and a 42% premium to AEL’s 90-day VWAP as of such date. Following closing, Brookfield Reinsurance expects to maintain AEL’s headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa and that growth in the AEL platform over time should increase net jobs in Iowa. Brookfield Reinsurance also looks forward to supporting the greater Des Moines area, including through maintaining AEL’s existing charitable contributions and through Brookfield’s broader charitable foundation and other charitable initiatives. Brookfield Reinsurance also intends to continue AEL’s focus on alternative asset strategies and expects BAM will manage a significant portion of AEL’s assets. As a result, AEL will gain access to BAM’s leading direct origination platforms and asset management capabilities while maintaining its current high-quality bias and investment grade focus. If based on the 10-day VWAP of the BAM Shares, the BAM Shares are trading at a price such that the aggregate consideration per AEL share would be less than $54.00 per share, the number of BAM Shares delivered for each AEL Share will be increased such that the value of the aggregate consideration delivered for each AEL Share will equal $54.00 and Brookfield Reinsurance will have the option to pay cash in lieu of some or all of the share portion of the Merger Consideration. In the event that the BAM Final Stock Price would result in the aggregate Merger Consideration per AEL Share being greater than $56.50, the number of BAM Shares delivered for each AEL Share will be decreased such that the value of the aggregate consideration delivered for each AEL Share will equal $56.50. Brookfield Reinsurance intends to acquire from Brookfield Corporation (BN) the BAM Shares required to satisfy the non-cash consideration offered to AEL shareholders. Subject to this occurring, BAM’s public float will increase by approximately 10%, which is strategically important as BAM continues to broaden its shareholder base and BN’s interest in BAM will decrease from 75% to approximately 73%. Accordingly, there will be no net new issuance of shares of BAM, BN or Brookfield Reinsurance and no dilution to BAM, BN or Brookfield Reinsurance shareholders as a result of this transaction. The cash portion will be funded from excess liquidity within Brookfield Reinsurance. The transaction is not subject to any financing condition or contingency. Each of Brookfield Reinsurance’s and AEL’s boards of directors unanimously approved the merger agreement. The merger is expected to close in the first half of 2024, subject to approval by AEL shareholders and other closing conditions customary for a transaction of this type, including receipt of insurance regulatory approvals in relevant jurisdictions and the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Upon the closing of the proposed transaction, AEL Shares will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and shares of AEL’s series A noncumulative preferred stock and series B preferred stock will remain listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Under the terms of the merger agreement, AEL has agreed to suspend the payment of dividends on its common stock through the closing of the transaction, unless the transaction does not close by April 4, 2024, in which case the AEL Board may decide to reinstate the payment of dividends on its common stock.