Hiscox Ltd.'s board declared an interim dividend of 13.25 cents per share for the first half, up 5% from 12.60 cents per share in the same period a year ago.

The interim dividend will be payable Sept. 11 to shareholders on the register Aug. 10.

Hiscox's first-half profit before tax totaled $163.6 million, compared to $129.1 million in the year-ago period. Gross premiums written for the period totaled $2.23 billion, versus $1.84 billion a year earlier.