A composition that includes a non-gelled copolymer that contains residues having structural units (I): where n is an integer from 1 to 10,000; R1 is linear or branched C1 to C4 alkyl; R2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, linear, cyclic or branched C2 to C20 alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl, and R3 is a group resulting from a post polymerization reaction selected from transesterification, transamidification and hydrolysis with a compound selected from hydroxy functional compounds and amine functional compounds. The composition may contain co-reactive functional groups and may be a thermosetting composition. A substrate may be coated with the thermosetting composition singly or as part of a multi-layer composite coating that includes a base coat layer and a substantially pigment free top coat layer.