2 Internet Companies Announce Merger

Officials with Internet Specialties West of Westlake Village and Channel Island Internet of Ventura announced that they have merged.

“I expect to complete more acquisitions in 1999, as this industry needs rolling up,” said Drew J. Kaplan, vice president and director of sales and marketing at Internet Specialties.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Channel Island customers will continue to be billed under Channel Island Internet until the companies choose a new name or use Internet Specialties as the main company.

The companies together have annual sales of more than $1 million. The merger will reduce expenses by at least 30%, company officials said.

“There should be no service interruption of the existing Channel Island customer during our merger and upgrade of the Channel Island infrastructure,” said Robert Johnson, Internet Specialties president. “We intend on upgrading all of the equipment that will remain in our new Ventura facility over the next few months.”