British software firm Autonomy said on Thursday it expected to report third-quarter results ahead of market expectations after seeing significant demand for its products, sending its shares up 3 percent.

The company, whose software helps companies search data across phone calls, email, videos and instant messages, said it anticipated reporting revenues of between $191 million and $193 million, ahead of the company-supplied consensus estimate of $183 million.

The Cambridge-based group said it expected to report underlying earnings per share of between 20 and 23 cents, compared with a company-supplied consensus of 19.8 cents.

Chief Executive Mike Lynch said the company had benefited from more of its anticipated second-half revenues falling in the third quarter than expected.

We experienced less of the seasonal weakness which was a risk at the onset of the quarter, he said.

New product-related costs were slightly above the top end of the $10-$15 million range which the company had set.

Shares in Autonomy were up 2.1 percent to 1,649 pence at 1030 GMT.

(Reporting by Matt Scuffham; Editing by Paul Sandle)

Software