American Equity Investment Life Holding Co. is working with an investment bank as it discusses a potential sale with interested suitors, Reuters reported. The West Des Moines-based provider of annuities and life insurance today confirmed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it is “in preliminary discussions regarding a potential transaction,” but cautioned that no assurance can be given that the discussions will continue or that any definitive agreement will be reached. Other Greater Des Moines-based insurers, among them Athene Holding Ltd., parent of West Des Moines-based Athene USA, and FGL Holdings, the holding company of Fidelity & Guaranty Life in Des Moines, could be among those expressing an interest in acquiring American Equity, unnamed sources told Reuters. American Equity, which was launched by the late David Noble in 1995 and went public in 2003, currently employs about 520 people locally, according to the 2018 Book of Lists. Earlier this month AEL reported first-quarter net income of $141 million, or $1.55 per share, compared with net income of $53.9 million, or 60 cents per share for the first quarter of 2017. American Equity shares ended up 11.2 percent at $32.28 on the news on Tuesday, giving the company a market capitalization of $2.9 billion.