Bayer MaterialScience LLC has agreed to sell its global powder polyester resins business and its U.S.-based liquid polyester resins merchant business to Stepan Co.

PPG Industries recently held a ceremony to mark the opening of its new automotive OEM coatings development and application center in Tianjin, China.

3M recently reported first quarter sales of $7.6 billion, an increase of 2% year-on-year and an all-time first quarter record.

FLEXcon recently announced Ken Koldan, New Business Development manager, has been selected as the executive director of Development and Strategy for the Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility (AIM) Global.

The Dow Chemical Co. recently reported sales of $14.4 billion in the first quarter of 2013, down 2% vs. the same period last year.

Arsenal Capital Partners recently announced the acquisition of Arnco, one of the world’s largest suppliers of polyurethane products.

Net sales were $418 million, vs. $460 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Cabot Corp. announced that the Board of its joint venture carbon black company, Cabot Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (CMSB), has decided to cease carbon black production at its Port Dickson, Malaysia, facility.

Akzo Nobel N.V. recently reported a 7% revenue decrease in the 2013 first quarter compared with the same period last year.

Ferro Corp. recently announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Peter T. Thomas president and CEO, effective immediately.