Shaky Dot-Com Market Claims Covalex, Chemdex, and Promedix.(Ventro Corp. closes Chemdex and Promedix online exchanges)(Brief Article)

CHEMDEX AND PROMEDIX, ONLINE exchanges owned by Ventro; and Covalex, a chior-alkali exchange formed in May, have closed, the latest victims of the dot-com shakeout, analysts say. Ventro said last month that it was refocusing to become a service provider and might sell Chemdex and Promedix (CW Nov. 8, p. 24). It says the shutdowns will result in 235 layoffs, about half the total. Ventro expects to take restructuring charges of $380 million-$410 million.

Ventro was created by Chemdex in February as a holding company to develop Internet services and exchanges. Ventro is now left with four exchanges, each of which it operates as joint ventures. These include Industria …