"We have signed a letter of intent to acquire certain assets of Ventures Online as part of a transaction in which Ventures Online will move into our data center," said Lee Woodward, president of Data393. "The combined companies will be one of the few web hosting companies to own its data center and be profitable with positive cash flow. We are excited about the opportunity to join with Ventures Online and continue to grow its hosting business."

Ventures Online was the fifth-fastest growing provider between May and October, posting a 53 percent gain in active sites (23.2K to 35.7K). The company started out in 1997 as a web design and hosting business targeting the SME market. In 2001 it shfted its focus to the reseller hosting market,establishing a reputation for strong customer support.

Data393 launched last year, operating out of a former COLO.COM facility in Englewood, Colo. Ventures Online CEO John Burns confirmed that the company is discussing a business combination, but offered no details in a post at Web Hosting Talk.

"What I can tell you is that Ventures Online is indeed in discussions with another company," wrote Burns. "The ultimate goal is to enhance the resources of the company so as to provide the very best products and services for its customers. The current customer focus and core values of Ventures Online will remain the same."