Solazyme Inc., a renewable oil and bioproducts company headquartered in South San Francisco, CA, and AkzoNobel have entered into an agreement targeting the development of advanced tailored oils and their commercial sales for near-term product supply.

PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, has donated RMB 900,000 (approximately $145,000) to the School of Social Sciences at Tsinghua University to help set up a Social Responsibility Research Fund through the Tsinghua University Education Foundation (TUEF).

Paint and coatings manufacturer AkzoNobel has appointed Marten Booisma to be the company's new Executive Committee Member responsible for Human Resources.

PPG Industries celebrated the opening of its new automotive OEM (original equipment manufacturer) coatings development and application center in Tianjin, China.

The Sherwin-Williams Co. announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013.

RPM International Inc. has appointed Craig S. Morford to its Board of Directors in anticipation of the retirement of William A. Papenbrock.

Axalta Powder Coatings (formerly DuPont Powder Coatings) has assigned Michael A. Wittenhagen Technical Service Manager.

Akzo Nobel N.V. (AkzoNobel) reported a 7 percent revenue decrease in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, due to weak demand in European markets and divestments.

BASF announced its sponsorship of the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) in Mesa, AZ, and the official opening of its newest National Training Center.

PPG Industries has reached a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets of Deft Inc., a privately-owned specialty coatings company based in Irvine, CA.