<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-14-002082.txt : 20140212
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-14-002082.hdr.sgml : 20140212
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20140113172336
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-14-002082
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
FILED AS OF DATE:		20140113

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000103145
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC [3559]
		IRS NUMBER:				112989601
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TERMINAL DRIVE
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11803
		BUSINESS PHONE:		516 677-0200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TERMINAL DRIVE
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11803

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VACUUM ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700408
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>CORRESP
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;punctuation-wrap:simple;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><img width="144" height="48" src="g33701bci001.jpg" alt="GRAPHIC"></font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1 Terminal Drive&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160; Plainview, New York 11803 U.S.A.&#160; </font><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160; Phone (516) 677-0200&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160; Fax (516) 677-0380&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160; www.veeco.com</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">January&nbsp;13, 2013</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">BY EDGAR</font></u></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Kevin L. Vaughn</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Accounting Branch Chief</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Securities and Exchange Commission</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Division of Corporation Finance</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">100 F Street, N.E.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Mail Stop 3030</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Washington, DC 20549</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Re:</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Veeco Instruments,&nbsp;Inc.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;10-K for the Year Ended December&nbsp;31, 2012</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Filed November&nbsp;4, 2013</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;10-Q for the Quarter Ended September&nbsp;30, 2013</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Filed November&nbsp;8, 2013</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">File No.&nbsp;000-16244</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dear Mr.&nbsp;Vaughn:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">This letter is submitted by Veeco Instruments Inc. (the &#147;<u>Company</u>&#148;) in response to the comments of the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;<u>Staff</u>&#148;) with respect to the Company&#146;s Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2012, filed November&nbsp;4, 2013, and the Company&#146;s Form&nbsp;10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September&nbsp;30, 2013, filed November&nbsp;4, 2013 (File No.&nbsp;0-16244), as set forth in your letter to John R. Peeler dated December&nbsp;31, 2013.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The text of each comment contained in the Staff&#146;s letter is set forth in italics below, followed by the Company&#146;s response.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December&nbsp;31, 2012</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item 7. Management&#146;s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, page&nbsp;34</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Liquidity and Capital Resources, page&nbsp;45</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">1.</font></i><i><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></i><i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">We note your disclosures on page&nbsp;F-43 that you have $96.4 million of undistributed earnings as of December&nbsp;31, 2012 related to your foreign subsidiaries and that you intend to permanently reinvest these earnings within your foreign subsidiaries in China, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. We also note on page&nbsp;F-7 that</font></i></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">you have $385 million of cash and cash equivalents outstanding as of December&nbsp;31, 2012. To the extent cash related to undistributed earnings could be considered material to an understanding of your liquidity and capital resources in future periods, please revise your future filings to disclose the cash and investment amounts held by your foreign subsidiaries that would not be available for use without you incurring income taxes thereon. Please further provide a discussion of any known trends, demands or uncertainties as a result of this policy that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on the business as a whole or that may be relevant to your financial flexibility. Refer to Item 303(a)(1)&nbsp;of Regulation S-K.</font></i></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">RESPONSE:</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Company acknowledges the Staff&#146;s comment and will disclose in future filings cash and investment amounts held by our foreign subsidiaries that would not be available for use without incurring income taxes thereon.&#160;&#160; The Company will also include additional disclosure, as applicable, for any known trends, demands or uncertainties as result of this policy that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on the business as a whole or that may be relevant to our financial flexibility.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule, page&nbsp;F-1</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, page&nbsp;F-13</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies and Other Matters, page&nbsp;F-44</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">2.</font></i><i><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></i><i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">We note your disclosure on pages&nbsp;F-46 and F-47 related to your outstanding litigation with Patrick Colbus. We also note that you believe that the &#147;potential loss&#148; associated with this contingency is &#147;not probable or estimable&#148; and that you have not recorded any reserves related to this legal matter. FASB ASC 450 requires disclosure of the amount or range of reasonably possible loss as that term is defined in the standard. Please revise future filings to disclose an estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss for the referenced contingency. If such an estimate cannot be made, you should include disclosures in future filings that specifically refer to your inability to estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss. Please refer to FASB ASC 450-20-50.</font></i></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">RESPONSE:</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">We appreciate the Staff&#146;s comment and note that we believe any damages that may arise from this action are expected to be fully covered by insurance and the Company does not believe that it is reasonably possible it will incur a loss for this matter.&#160; Subject of course to updates for changes in the underlying facts as the litigation progresses, we intend to update this disclosure in future filings as set forth below:</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2<a name="PB_2_104715_5335"></a></font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Litigation</font></i></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Veeco and certain other parties were named as defendants in a lawsuit filed on April&nbsp;25, 2013 in the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma. The plaintiff in the lawsuit, Patrick Colbus, seeks unspecified damages and asserts claims that he suffered burns and other injuries while he was cleaning a molecular beam epitaxy system alleged to have been manufactured by Veeco. The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that the molecular beam epitaxy system was defective and that Veeco failed to adequately warn of the potential risks of the system. <strike>Although </strike>Veeco believes this lawsuit is without merit and intends to defend vigorously against the claims.<strike> and although Veeco maintains insurance which may apply to this matter, the lawsuit could result in substantial costs, divert management&#146;s attention and resources from our operations and negatively affect our public image and reputation. Because the</strike><u>&#160; Veeco is unable to predict the outcome of this action or to reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any, arising from the claims asserted therein.&#160; The</u> Company believes <strike>that this potential loss is not probable or estimable, it has not recorded any reserves related to this legal matter. it has adequate insurance coverage to protect itself from financial damages that might be incurred</strike><u> that, in the event of any recovery by the plaintiff from Veeco, such recovery would be fully covered by Veeco&#146;s insurance.</u></font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended September&nbsp;30, 2013</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item 4. Controls and Procedures, page&nbsp;35</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">3.</font></i><i><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></i><i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">We noted disclosures herein that &#147;Veeco&#146;s management . . . conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December&nbsp;31, 2012 in connection with the preparation of our annual report on Form&nbsp;10- K, for year ended December&nbsp;31, 2012&#133;As a result of those material weaknesses, management has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September&nbsp;30, 2013&#148;. We also noted disclosures in Item 4 of your March&nbsp;31 and June&nbsp;30, 2013 Form&nbsp;10-Q&#146;s that management&#146;s disclosure controls and procedures effectiveness conclusions were based on evaluations performed </font></i><i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">as of December&nbsp;31, 2012</font></i><i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">. In light of the referenced disclosures, please confirm, if true, that management performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of your disclosure controls and procedures as of March&nbsp;31, June&nbsp;30 and September&nbsp;30, 2013. If not, tell us why you believe your current disclosure controls and procedures effectiveness conclusions are appropriate and compliant with Item 307 of Regulation S-K.</font></i></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">RESPONSE:</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">We confirm that management performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company&#146;s disclosure controls and procedures as of March&nbsp;31, June</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3<a name="PB_3_104725_5796"></a></font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">30 and September&nbsp;30, 2013.&#160; Future filings will reflect the appropriate date of each applicable evaluation.</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">*</font></b><b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></b><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">*</font></b><b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></b><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">*</font></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Company acknowledges that:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(1)</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(2)</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(3)</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">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></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Thank you for your assistance regarding this matter.&#160; Please contact the undersigned at (516) 677-0200 ext. 1301 with any further comments or questions you may have.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Sincerely,</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">VEECO   INSTRUMENTS INC.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/   David D. Glass</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">David   D. Glass</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Executive   Vice President and</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief   Financial Officer</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Veeco   Instruments Inc.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 3.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">cc:</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Tara Harkins</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Jay Webb</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4<a name="PB_4_104803_2897"></a></font></p>
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