A composition that includes a non-gelled copolymer that contains residues having structural units (I): ##STR00001## where n is an integer from 1 to 10,000; R.sup.1 is linear or branched C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl; R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, linear, cyclic or branched C.sub.2 to C.sub.20 alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl, and R.sup.3 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.