Abstract: Linear, carboxylic acid functional polyester resins produced by reaction of: (a) at least one aromatic and/or cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acid compound A, comprising two aromatic and/or secondary aliphatic carboxyl groups in the 1,2-position, or anhydride thereof; (b) at least one hydroxyl monocarboxylic acid B1, comprising two aliphatic hydroxyl groups, which groups each independently may be primary or secondary hydroxyl groups and wherein the carboxylic acid group is a tertiary carboxyl group, mixed with a cycloaliphatic diol B2 in an amount of at least 5 wt %, relative to the weight of B1 and B2 together; (c) optionally an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid C, comprising an alkylene group having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and having two terminal aliphatic carboxyl groups; and (d) optionally an aromatic monocarboxylic acid D, the molar ratio of the compounds A:B1+B2:C:D being X:Y+X+Z1:Y:Z2, wherein X ranges from 1 to 8, Y ranges from 0 to 8, Z1 ranges from −3 to 3 and Z2 ranges from 0 to 2,