Adolf Merckle, the founder of a drugs, cement and engineering conglomerate, committed suicide on January 5th after burdening his empire with heavy debts and misguided financial gambles that ultimately cost his family control.

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Other interests in engineering, cement, hotels.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Graduating from the Kyushu Institute of Technology in 1960 with a degree in mining engineering, he discovered there was no work underground, so he joined what is now known as Taiheiyo Cement .

FORBES: Magazine Article