Orica achieves record earnings, appoints new chairman

Orica Limited announced a robust financial performance for 2025, with earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) reaching $992 million, a 23% increase from the prior year and the highest in 13 years. The company's net profit after tax (NPAT) was $162 million, and diluted earnings per share (before significant items) increased by 25.4 cents. Orica also declared a final ordinary dividend of 32 cents per ordinary share, unfranked, resulting in a total dividend payout ratio of 50% of full-year earnings.

The company's capital management framework was refreshed, with a successfully launched and substantially completed $400 million on-market share buy-back program, subsequently increased by up to an additional $100 million. As of December 22, 2025, Orica has bought back 20,621,354 shares at a total consideration of AUD 418,707,000 since the buy-back commenced on March 28, 2025.

Malcolm Broomhead stepped down as chairman, with Vik Bansal elected as an independent non-executive director and chairman-elect. Resolutions for the election of Vik Bansal and re-election of Karen Moses and Gordon Naylor as directors were approved by shareholders, as was the adoption of the remuneration report and the grant of performance rights to the managing director and chief executive officer, Sanjeev Gandhi.