Reuters exclusive with Merckle’s son on M&A

Ludwig Merckle — the eldest son of late German billionaire Adolf Merckle — told Reuters there were potential buyers interested in all parts of the group that spans HeidelbergCement, Ratiopharm and drug wholesaler Phoenix. The interview was the first word from the Merckle family after the suicide of its patriarch, and moved HeidelbergCement shares into positive territory in higher volumes. The information was key to lending banks and bond holders and was picked up by major newspapers including Financial Times Deutschland and Stuttgarter Zeitung and the online edition of the London Times and news magazine Focus.