For the fifth time in succession, the shareholders voted in favour of the proposal to raise the dividend to a new level of EUR 1.40 (1.35) per share. Based on the 2017 average share price, this corresponds to a dividend yield of 4.2%. Since the IPO in October 2012, when it stood at EUR 1.05, the dividend has thus increased steadily by a total of 35 cents or 33%. This underlines once again the Group’s dividend policy geared towards reliability.
A large majority at the Annual General Meeting also voted in favour of the shareholder representatives put forward for election to the Supervisory Board. Among others, the shareholders elected as new members of the Supervisory Board Herbert K. Haas (63), who was stepping down from the Board of Management of Talanx AG at the end of the Annual General Meeting, and Angela Titzrath (52), Chairwoman of the Executive Board of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG. In another resolution, the Annual General Meeting appointed the auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers as the new statutory auditor.
424 shareholders were present at the Annual General Meeting at the Hannover Congress Centrum. This corresponds to a presence of 91.43% of the company’s voting share capital.
The changes in leadership decided on back in November 2017 have also now been completed. After twelve years as Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Wolf-Dieter Baumgartl (74) had decided not to stand for re-election. “With his experience and expertise in the insurance business, Wolf-Dieter Baumgartl always cut an impressive figure and offered strategic advice to the Talanx AG Board of Management. During his time as Chairman of the Supervisory Board, the strategy of globalising and internationalising the industrial lines and retail business was pursued consistently, profitably and with rigorous focus and Talanx AG went public in 2012. On behalf of the whole Supervisory Board, I’d like to thank Mr Baumgartl and wish him all the best for the future,” said Supervisory Board member Dr Thomas Lindner (66). Besides Wolf-Dieter Baumgartl, Prof Dr Eckhard Rohkamm (75) also didn’t stand for re-election into the Supervisory Board. “We’d like to thank Prof Dr Rohkamm for his long-standing and successful cooperation within the Supervisory Board,” says Wolf-Dieter Baumgartl.
Coinciding with his election to the Supervisory Board, Herbert K. Haas is standing down as Chairman of the Talanx AG Board of Management after twelve years. “We’d like to thank Mr Haas for his successful time chairing the Talanx AG Board of Management and wish him the best of luck in his new role,” said Wolf-Dieter Baumgartl. Mr Haas was elected as the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board at its constituting meeting following the Annual General Meeting. Torsten Leue (51) is the new Chairman of the Talanx AG Board of Management with effect from the end of today’s Annual General Meeting.
The Talanx AG Board of Management led by Torsten Leue thus comprises the following members: Dr Christian Hinsch (Deputy Chairman of the Board of Management with responsibility for the Industrial Lines Division), Sven Fokkema (Retail International Division), Dr Immo Querner (Finance), Ulrich Wallin (Reinsurance Division) and Dr Jan Wicke (Retail Germany Division and Information Technology (IT)).
Disclaimer
This news release contains forward-looking statements which are based on certain assumptions, expectations and opinions of the Talanx AG management. These statements are, therefore, subject to certain known or unknown risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond Talanx AG’s control, affect Talanx AG’s business activities, business strategy, results, performance and achievements. Should one or more of these factors or risks or uncertainties materialise, actual results, performance or achievements of Talanx AG may vary materially from those expressed or implied in the relevant forward-looking statement. Talanx AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does Talanx AG accept any responsibility for the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. Talanx AG neither intends, nor assumes any obligation, to update or revise these forward-looking statements in light of developments which differ from those anticipated.