ENERGY Assets, the smart metering specialist, has acquired Origins Technical Business Services for £850,000.

Chesterfield-based Origin provides and develops mobile works management systems, data capture, data hosting and analysis services. Its clients include Energy Assets and other companies in the utility sector.

Livingston-based Energy Assets said the deal, which it will fund from cash reserves, is in line with its strategy of making value- adding acquisitions.

Chief executive Phil Bellamy-Lee said the technology brought by Origin will allow it to "protect and control a component of our business that has played a major role in our growth and the development of our control systems".

Shares in Energy Assets closed up 7p to 405p.