Global technology leader General Electric (GE) today said that it will acquire a majority stake in Vadodara-based engineering company Advanced Systek Pvt Ltd, in order to seek growth in South Asia and the Middle East.

The New York-based multinational conglomerate did not disclose the size of the stake or the financial terms of the deal.

Founded in 1988 by Umed Fifadra and Mukesh Kapadia, Advanced Systek provides fiscal metering and automation expertise to the oil and gas and petrochemical industries.

It is a pioneer in providing integrated automation systems for pipeline transfer and storage-distribution of petroleum and petrochemical products as well as supplying solutions for complex liquid and gas metering skid systems.

The company offers the midstream and upstream oil and gas industry with total terminal management and flow metering solutions including design, engineering, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance.

Oil and gas asset automation applications require specialised skills to ensure the safe transportation and accurate measurement of natural gas, crude oil and petroleum products.

The transaction will enhance GE's ability to offer solutions to customers in regions such as South Asia and the Middle East.

By combining Advanced Systek's capabilities with GE technology and world-class product suite of flow meters, control valves, UPS, controllers and instrumentation, the deal enables the GE Oil & Gas business to broaden its offerings for the industry.

Under the terms of the transaction, the senior management team of Advanced Systek will continue to serve as directors and will work with GE to utilise their industry expertise to help the business grow.

John Flannery, president and CEO of GE India, said, ''GE and Advanced Systek complement each other very well. Advanced Systek's capabilities and its established track record in the oil and gas industry combined with our expertise and product portfolio in custody transfer will help us expand our service offerings to our customers. This merging of strengths will help us address growth opportunities in India and other emerging countries.''

Fifadra and Kapadia, joint managing directors of Advanced Systek, said, ''Advanced Systek's electronic flow measurement devices and automation software will be complemented by GE Energy's existing strength in measurement instrumentation, diagnostics and performance optimization offerings, to create an overall solutions business with strong local capabilities.''