Merckle began small, taking over a family company with just 80employees in 1967.

1967年，默克勒接手只有80人的家族小企业。

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Mr Merckle is thought to have lost some euro400m ($550m), an amount he had been trying to raise in recent weeks from a consortium of banks.

据信默克尔先生损失了40亿欧元（折合55亿美元），最近几周他在银行财团间奔走筹集这笔巨款。

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And when Mr Merckle sets goals for his companies, he does not like to be kept waiting.

ECONOMIST: Will Germany's HeidelbergCement make a bid for Hanson?

Hoping to make some quick cash, Merckle began gambling on risky short positions.

FORBES

On the evening of Jan. 5 Adolf Merckle, Germany's fifth-richest man, opened the door of his modest home in Blaubeuren, Germany and stepped out into the frigid air.

FORBES