Hannover Re reports rising profits
Germany-based Hannover Re AG has announced its first quarter results, beating analysts’ expectations with profits up 23% on year.
First quarter profits for the world’s fourth biggest reinsurer totalled €151.5 million, or €1.26 per share. This is compared to profits of €123.5 million (€1.02 per share) for the first quarter of 2007.
Reinsurance companies make their money by selling insurance to insurance companies, serving as a back up and spreading the risk. Many reinsurers have been hard hit by the credit crisis.
Analysts, however, had predicted that Hannover’s profits would be up – at around €130 million – but weren’t prepared for such excellent results.
Hannover is attributing the results to better investments, and lower costs on disaster claims.
Despite rising profits, the company’s gross premium fell 5.5% to €2.28 billion, compared to €2.41 billion for the first quarter of 2007.
CEO Wilhelm Zeller says that the group is on track to reach its projected profits for 2008.
Category: Financials, Insurance News
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