Some of Germany's largest firms, such as Bayer, a chemicals giant, are now making most of their profits abroad.

ECONOMIST: Action man

There have been a number of studies showing that the chemicals, made by Bayer and Syngenta, do have negative impacts on bees.

BBC: Bee deaths: EU to ban neonicotinoid pesticides

But Bayer CropSciences which manufactures some of the chemicals that face restrictions says it remains convinced that neonicotinoids can be used safely and effectively in sustainable agriculture.

BBC: Science & Environment

She and many of her colleagues are being treated with Cipro, an antibiotic made by Bayer, a drug, crops, and chemicals conglomerate.

FORBES: Don't Buy Bayer On Germ Scare

ON, chemicals outfit BASF and health care firm Bayer as its largest holdings.

FORBES: Buy Germany As Euro Falls

The other two divisions in question are chemicals and a new polymers division formed by merging Bayer's existing rubber, plastics, polyurethanes, and coatings and colorants business groups.

FORBES: Bayer Finds Breaking Up Hard To Do

Bayer, which already derives barely a fifth of its turnover from chemicals, will increasingly stress health-related products, and is already impressively international.

ECONOMIST: The chemicals business

Bayer has four pillars: healthcare, polymers, agriculture and specialty chemicals.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Bayer has finally recognized that there is little to be gained from tightly binding its chemicals, agriculture and drugs businesses together.

FORBES: Bayer Finds Breaking Up Hard To Do

The idea that chemicals, drugs and agriculture fit neatly together may be dead, but Bayer doesn't seem to have noticed.

FORBES: Bayer's Headaches