HANNOVER (dpa-AFX) - The insurance group Talanx (HDI) has achieved a record profit in the past year as planned. According to preliminary figures, the Executive Board expects a surplus of 1.58 billion euros, as the MDax-listed company announced in Hanover on Thursday. Analysts had expected an average of 1.6 billion. CEO Torsten Leue had originally aimed for around 1.4 billion euros, but raised the target to "significantly more" than 1.5 billion in October.

Talanx also announced that all business areas had increased their results. Leue is still targeting a profit of more than 1.7 billion euros for 2024. Since 2023, large insurers have been calculating their business figures according to new rules. Talanx did not yet name the comparable profit level for 2022 on Thursday.

Last year, the Group increased its insurance turnover by around nine percent to 43.2 billion euros. Talanx includes the main brand HDI and the majority stake in the world's third-largest reinsurer Hannover Re. The latter had already reported a record profit of 1.8 billion euros on Tuesday evening. A good half of this is attributable to the majority shareholder.

Talanx intends to publish its final business figures as planned on March 21. The company will then also comment on the profit distribution for 2023. The Management Board is aiming to increase the dividend from the current level of 2 euros per share. Analysts surveyed by the Bloomberg news agency expect an average of 2.40 euros per share./stw/he