Bayer AG executives refused to be drawn into discussions about divesting the company’s material sciences business as it reported strong first quarter sales and earnings growth on April 28, driven by its newly launched pharmaceutical products and despite substantial currency exchange rate headwinds stemming from the rise in the value of the euro against major currencies.
Divesting its plastics-based material sciences unit would focus the German diversified company on its life sciences businesses in pharmaceuticals, crop protection and consumer health, and would follow recent moves by...