The group expects sales of between 6.4 billion and 7.2 billion euros ($6.8-$7.6 billion), compared with 6.26 billion euros in 2022.

It also said it would propose a dividend of 0.85 euros per share for 2022, roughly half of the 1.69 euros in 2021.

Core profit (EBITDA) is forecast at 2.6 billion to 2.85 billion euros following 2.76 billion last year, which was an increase of 22.6%.

"We are confident that we will maintain our robustness and use it positively in the interest of all our stakeholders," Chief Executive Rolf Buch said.

($1 = 0.9442 euros)

(Reporting by Christoph Steitz; editing by Barbara Lewis)