Itron Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire Asais, an energy information management software and consulting services provider, headquartered in France, for an undisclosed sum. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2011.

Asais provides energy information management and multi-vendor data collection capabilities. For the past 25 years, the company has developed and implemented energy information management solutions through software and online services. Asais delivers flexibility to every segment of the energy industry by providing customers with data collection, data analysis and smart grid management software solutions and services.

Itron has been partnering with Asais globally for the past four years. Joint projects include smart metering and smart grid initiatives with many major utilities across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The acquisition enables Itron to offer integrated, end-to-end solutions with energy information management and efficiency.

Asais’ data collection software will complement Itron’s meter data management and analytics systems, creating a platform for smart metering deployments in Europe and across the globe. In return, Itron will provide Asais opportunities for growth into international markets.