(Reuters) - Ansys beat Wall Street expectations for third-quarter revenue and profit on Wednesday, helped by growing demand for its AI-powered tools and engineering software solutions.

Shares of the company, which is being bought by larger rival Synopsys, rose nearly 2% in after-market trading.

Ansys has benefited from rising demand for its simulation and analysis solutions that help in evaluating products virtually before launching them in the market. The company's software is used in creating products ranging from airplanes to tennis rackets for players such as Novak Djokovic.

The company reported revenue of $601.9 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with expectations of $517.3 million, according to analysts' estimates compiled by LSEG.

Excluding items, it earned $2.58 per share, compared with estimates of $1.72 per share.

In January, Synopsys, the largest maker of software used to design chips, said it would buy Ansys in a $35-billion cash-and-stock deal. The transaction is expected to complete in the first half of 2025.

Ansys reiterated on Wednesday that it expects the deal to close in the first half of 2025.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)