<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000903423-14-000017.txt : 20140227
<SEC-HEADER>0000903423-14-000017.hdr.sgml : 20140227
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20140110124743
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000903423-14-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20140110

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000819793
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BROADWOVEN FABRIC MILS, MAN MADE FIBER & SILK [2221]
		IRS NUMBER:				140462060
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0218

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1373 BROADWAY
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12204
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5184452200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1373 BROADWAY
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12204

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALBINT INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870924
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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        <P STYLE="font: 36pt AI Logo Font,sans-serif; margin: 0; text-align: right; color: navy">A</P></TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin: 0">Albany International Corp.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; color: navy">216 Airport Drive</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; color: navy">Rochester, NH 03867 USA</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; color: navy">Tel. 518 445-2281</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; color: navy">Fax: 518 677-1097</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; color: navy">E-mail: john.cozzolino@albint.com</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; color: navy">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; color: navy">John Cozzolino</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; color: navy">Chief Financial Officer &amp; Treasurer</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; color: navy">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; color: navy">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; color: navy">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">January 10, 2014</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Ms. Mara L. Ransom</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Assistant Director</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Division of Corporation Finance</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">United States Securities and Exchange Commission</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">100 F Street NE</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Washington, D.C. 20549</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">Re:</TD><TD>Albany International Corp.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in">Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in">Filed March 1, 2013</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in">Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in">Filed April 2, 2013</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in">SEC File No. 001-10026</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Dear Ms. Ransom:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">We are pleased to respond to your letter dated December 30, 2013
relating to the Company&rsquo;s above filings. For ease of review, we have set forth below the numbered comments from your letter
and our responses thereto.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">With respect to those responses that involve proposed revisions
to the manner in which the related items were addressed in the filings in which they appeared, we have included in our response
an illustration of how the proposed revisions would have appeared in our Definitive Proxy Statement filed April 2, 2013 (&ldquo;2013
Proxy Statement&rdquo;). These proposed revisions will appear in any future filings in which the same (or similar) disclosure is
repeated.</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt">1.</FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt"><B>Comment</B>: We note that Mr. Cozzolino&rsquo;s total direct compensation target increased
24.1% between 2011 and 2012, and the amount of such target paid as salary increased 17.7% between the same time. Similarly, we
note that Mr. Halftermeyer&rsquo;s total direct compensation target increased 10% during this time. Please revise to disclose the
reasons for these increases in Mr. Cozzolino&rsquo;s and Mr. Halftermeyer&rsquo;s compensation. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 11pt 0 0 0.25in"><B>Response:</B> The noted increases to Mr. Cozzolino&rsquo;s
total direct compensation target and his base salary related directly to his promotion, in February 2011, to the position of Chief
Financial Officer. At that time, he was awarded a raise in salary and an increase in his total</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 11pt 0 0 0.25in">direct compensation target. However, even though he
had been performing as Acting Chief Financial Officer since September 2010, the Compensation Committee discounted the relevance
of benchmarking data and determined to limit the size of those increases, due to his limited experience and the absence of a record
of performance in his new role over a sustained period. For this reason, Mr. Cozzolino&rsquo;s initial base salary as Chief Financial
Officer was only about 77% of his predecessor&rsquo;s base salary, and his total direct compensation target was only approximately
83% of that of his predecessor (equivalent to approximately the 25<SUP>th</SUP> percentile of the benchmark group). His predecessor&rsquo;s
base salary and total direct compensation targets had each been established with reliance on benchmarking data (see below).</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 11pt 0 0 0.25in">When the Compensation Committee met in early 2012
to establish compensation for 2012, it concluded that Mr. Cozzolino&rsquo;s performance, as judged over a greater body of work,
justified giving greater consideration to the benchmarking data. At that time, the Committee resolved to establish Mr. Cozzolino&rsquo;s
base salary at approximately the 50<SUP>th</SUP> percentile of the peer benchmarking group, as identified by its compensation consultant.
It further resolved to establish his total direct compensation target at slightly greater than the 50<SUP>th</SUP> percentile,
resulting in the increases noted.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 11pt 0 0 0.25in">Similarly, the noted increase in Mr. Halftermeyer&rsquo;s
total direct compensation target was primarily due to a change in his position which resulted in an expansion of duties and responsibilities.
Prior to August 2011, Mr. Halftermeyer served as President &ndash; Paper Machine Clothing. In August of 2011, he assumed additional
responsibility for the Engineered Fabrics business unit, which until that time had been the responsibility of another Company officer
who subsequently left the Company. By the end of 2011, the two businesses had been combined into a single business unit: Machine
Clothing. In February 2012, the Company changed Mr. Halftermeyer&rsquo;s title to &ldquo;President &ndash; Machine Clothing,&rdquo;
acknowledging his new responsibility for the new, larger business unit. At the same time the Compensation Committee resolved to
increase his total direct compensation target 10% to reflect the new responsibilities. The Committee, however, only increased his
base salary 6%, so that the majority of the increased total direct compensation target would be allocated to incentive compensation,
and would therefore be at risk and dependent upon performance.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 11pt 0 0 0.25in">We propose to include additional disclosure in future
filings, as applicable, regarding the rationale for decisions of the type described above under the table appearing immediately
under the heading &ldquo;<B>20XX NEO Compensation Opportunities</B>&rdquo;, which appeared on page 17 in the 2013 Proxy Statement.
We have set forth below an illustration of the additional disclosure as it would have appeared in that filing:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 11pt 0 0 0.25in">&ldquo;The significant increase in Mr. Cozzolino&rsquo;s
total direct compensation target related primarily to his promotion to the position of Chief Financial Officer. Although he was
promoted in February 2011, and was awarded an increase in his salary and total direct compensation target at that time, the Committee
decided to limit these initial increases to amounts less than the relevant benchmarking data might have suggested, until Mr. Cozzolino&rsquo;s
performance in his new role was established. When the Committee met in early 2012 to establish compensation targets for 2012, it
concluded that Mr. Cozzolino&rsquo;s performance during 2011 justified giving greater consideration to the benchmarking data, and</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 11pt 0 0 0.25in">determined that it would be appropriate to set his
base salary and total direct compensation target at or near the 50<SUP>th</SUP> percentile of the peer group, resulting in the
increases disclosed above.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 11pt 0 0 0.25in">The increase in Mr. Halftermeyer&rsquo;s total direct
compensation target was primarily due to his assuming additional responsibility for the Engineered Fabrics business unit during
the second half of 2011. By the end of 2011, the paper machine clothing and engineered fabrics businesses had been combined into
a single business unit: Machine Clothing. In February 2012, the Company changed Mr. Halftermeyer&rsquo;s title to &lsquo;President
&ndash; Machine Clothing,&rsquo; acknowledging his new responsibility for the new, larger business unit. At the same time, the
Committee increased his total direct compensation target and base salary, as reflected in the table above, in similar acknowledgment
of his new duties.&rdquo;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt">2.</FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt"><B>Comment</B>: You indicate that you use benchmarking data in setting various components of
compensation, but it is unclear how you use such benchmarking data. Please advise. Please also identify the benchmark used in setting
compensation. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in"><B>Response: </B>For many years, the Compensation Committee
would benchmark executive compensation against a peer group of companies identified by its executive compensation consultant, as
well as against a broader sample of compensation data culled from publicly available compensation surveys. For the last few years,
though, the Committee has benchmarked executive compensation solely against the peer group of companies identified by its executive
compensation consultant, Pearl Meyer and Partners (&ldquo;PMP&rdquo;). For 2012, that peer group of companies consisted of the
21 publicly-traded companies identified on page 18 of the Definitive Proxy Statement filed April 2, 2013. The companies in this
comparator group are deemed by PMP to be similar to the Company with respect to the industries in which they are engaged as well
as the industries they serve. They are also comparable in size, measured by, among other things, market capitalization, revenues
and employees. The Company considers these companies as among those for which it competes for executive talent.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: 0.5in">The Compensation Committee uses information
about the compensation paid by these comparator companies to determine whether it pays its own executives competitively, both in
terms of direct compensation as well as the mix of compensation among specific compensation elements. The Committee first reviews
the total direct compensation target and base salary paid to similarly-situated executives at these comparator companies. It determines
the mean and median compensation paid within the comparator group, and compares those against the amounts awarded to its own executives.
The Committee then reviews the mix of the compensation paid to executives at the comparator companies, focusing on long-term and
short-term compensation, fixed and variable components, and the ratio of earned compensation paid as equity or cash. It then uses
this information to help determine whether the mix paid to its own executives should be adjusted. Ultimately, based on this portion
of benchmarking data, the Company determines how much of an executive&rsquo;s total direct compensation target should be allocated
to base salary or incentive compensation, and how much should be paid, if earned, in cash or equity, and whether it be long-term
or short-term incentive pay. For instance, the Committee could conclude that an individual executive&rsquo;s total direct compensation
target should be established consistent with the 50th</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">percentile of the peer group data. From that determination,
the allocation of the target total direct compensation to fixed or variable compensation, long-term or short-term, and cash or
equity payouts falls into place according to the process described in greater detail in the Proxy Statement.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 11pt 0 0 0.25in">We propose to revise our future filings by revising
the disclosure appearing immediately under the heading &ldquo;<B>Structuring the 20XX Compensation Program &mdash; Pay for Performance,</B>&rdquo;
which appeared on page 16 of the 2013 Proxy Statement. We have set forth below an illustration of the additional disclosure as
it would have appeared in that filing (<I>added language is italicized</I>):</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&ldquo;Structuring the 2012 compensation program for
our NEOs began with the establishment of a total direct compensation target for each executive. This was done with reference to
benchmarking data and after consideration of the executive&rsquo;s past performance and his or her individual importance to the
Company. <I>The Committee considered the total direct compensation target and base salary paid to similarly-situated executives
at companies included in its benchmarking group (see page 18). It also noted the mean and median compensation paid to executives
in the benchmarking group, and compared those against the amounts awarded to its own executives in prior years.</I> <I>After considering
all of the foregoing factors, the Committee determined to maintain the total direct compensation target for Dr. Morone at or near
the 75th percentile of the peer group data, and to maintain the targets for the other NEOs at or between the 50<SUP>th</SUP> and
75<SUP>th</SUP> percentile of the peer group data.</I> The total direct compensation targets established are not guaranteed, but
paid only if earned by an NEO based on performance.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&ldquo;Once total direct compensation targets were established,
the Committee considered the components of the compensation program that would be utilized to pay the compensation, if earned,
<I>as well as the share of total direct compensation to be allocated to each component.</I> <I>In making this determination, the
Committee reviewed the mix of the compensation paid to executives in the benchmarking group, focusing on long-term and short-term
compensation, fixed and variable components, and the ratio of earned compensation paid as equity or cash. </I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in"><I>&nbsp;</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in"><I>&ldquo;After such consideration, and taking into account
the benchmarking data noted above,</I> the Committee decided that the total direct compensation target opportunities for NEOs would
be paid as base salary, and through short-term and long-term incentive compensation awards, with the latter two components being
performance-based and at risk. To determine the share of the total direct compensation target that would be allocated to each component,
the Committee determined the appropriate base salary to be paid to each executive. The Committee also determined that 35% of the
total direct compensation target would be granted in the form of a long-term performance incentive award (the &lsquo;Performance
Award&rsquo;). The remainder of the total direct compensation target would make up the target award opportunity in a short-term
performance incentive award (the &lsquo;APP Performance Award&rsquo;). Payment of the target awards allocated between the short-
and long-term incentives would be paid only if earned.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&nbsp;</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&ldquo;After the total direct compensation target was
allocated between components, the Committee then established the performance measurement metrics and goals for each NEO against
which performance would be judged to determine how much of the incentive compensation, if any, was earned by an NEO. For 2012 the
Committee adopted performance measurements and goals for both the short-term and long-term performance incentive awards that consisted
primarily of financial metrics.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&ldquo;Finally, the Committee determined the form in
which each component should be paid, if earned. Base salary was established as cash compensation, but both the short- and long-term
performance incentive awards would be paid in a combination of cash and equity.&rdquo;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>* * *</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">We confirm and acknowledge to you that:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font: 12pt Symbol">&#183;</FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt">The Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in our filings;</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font: 12pt Symbol">&#183;</FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt">Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to Staff comments do not foreclose the Commission
from taking any action with respect to any filing; and</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font: 12pt Symbol">&#183;</FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt">The Company may not assert Staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission
or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in">Sincerely,</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in">John B. Cozzolino</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in">Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.25in">&nbsp;</P>


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