German billionaire - Adolf Merckle - has committed suicide - je 07.01.2009 08

German billionaire - Adolf Merckle - has committed suicide. His business empire, which includes HeidelbergCement and generic drugsmaker Ratiopharm, had become burdened with 5 billion euros of debt. His holding company had been negotiating emergency financing after the value of his shares plunged and large bets on Volkswagen shares soured, leaving his empire short of cash.