GA eXpress Owners OK Hardware Business Sale

Shareholders of GA eXpress, an Irvine maker of database business products, approved the sale of the company’s hardware business and an increase in shares of stock, the company said.

GA eXpress said it agreed to sell the hardware services business to an unidentified private investor group. The business accounted for about $6 million in revenue in the last fiscal year. The deal should close by mid-February, said Jane M. Christie, chairwoman, president and chief executive.

Shareholders approved an increase in common stock to 50 million shares from 30 million shares, the company said. The stock, which trades over the counter, closed Monday at 25 cents a share, off 5 cents.

Shareholders also approved a change in the company’s name from General Automation Inc. The company has been operating under its new name since January 2000.