Brickworks declares increased final dividend ahead of Soul Patts merger

The news: Construction materials supplier Brickworks has declared a final dividend of 48.4 cents per share for the 2025 financial year, ahead of its proposed merger with investment house Washington H Soul Pattinson.

The numbers: As set out in the combination deed with Soul Patts, Brickworks' dividend is equivalent to 0.82 times the value of Soul Patts' final dividend also declared this morning.

Brickworks' final dividend last year was 43 cents per share.

The context: The dividend will be paid regardless of whether the merger proceeds, Brickworks said in an ASX release.

The proposed merger, announced in June, would see the long-time cross-shareholders combine to form a new $14 billion company.