The company posted a net profit of NZ$14.5 million ($12.2 million) for the 12 months to Dec 31, against a NZ$9.3 million profit a year earlier.

The company, shares in which last traded up seven cents or 2.7 percent at NZ$2.66, declared a dividend of final dividend of 2.75 cents.

Last month NZX said financial services firm Markit would pay $21.4 million by Jan 31 to complete its acquisition of the TZ1 environmental registry, which was sold in 2009.

NZX said it would return between NZ$32.5 million to NZ$35 million to shareholders, through a share cancellation. Afterwards there would be a share split on the basis of seven for three.

NZX's founding chief executive Mark Weldon is leaving the company and will be replaced by Tim Bennett in early May.