LETTER 1 filename1.txt April 1, 2005 Mail Stop 0510 Via U.S. mail and facsimile Mr. Todd R. Moore Vice President and General Counsel NCI Building Systems, Inc. 10943 North Sam Houston Parkway West Houston, TX 77064 Re: NCI Building Systems, Inc. Form S-3/A filed March 3, 2005 File No. 333-122457 Dear Mr. Moore: We have reviewed your supplemental response and have the following comments. Where indicated, we think you should revise your document in response to these comments. If you disagree, we will consider your explanation as to why our comment is inapplicable or a revision is unnecessary. Please be as detailed as necessary in your explanation. In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with supplemental information so we may better understand your disclosure. After reviewing this information, we may or may not raise additional comments. Please understand that the purpose of our review process is to assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filing. We look forward to working with you in these respects. We welcome any questions you may have about our comments or on any other aspect of our review. Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers listed at the end of this letter. Exhibit 5.1 1. We reissue prior comment 2 as it relates to the limitations set forth in the first paragraph on page 3 of the legal opinion. Counsel`s opinion as to the Rights must address the state contract law governing the Rights Agreement. In this regard, we note that it appears that the Rights Agreement is governed by the contract law of the State of Delaware. 2. We note the second qualification set forth in opinion (3) relating to fiduciary considerations. Counsel may not limit its opinion in this manner. Please revise accordingly. * * * * As appropriate, please amend your registration statement in response to these comments. You may wish to provide us with marked copies of the amendment to expedite our review. Please furnish a cover letter that is filed on EDGAR with your amendment that keys your responses to our comments and provides any requested supplemental information. Detailed cover letters greatly facilitate our review. Please understand that we may have additional comments after reviewing your amendment and responses to our comments. We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosure in your registration statement to be certain that they have provided all information investors require for an informed decision. Since the company and its management are in possession of all facts relating to a company`s disclosure, they are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosures they have made. Notwithstanding our comments, in the event the company requests acceleration of the effective date of the pending registration statement, it should furnish a letter, at the time of such request, acknowledging that: * the company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its filing; * 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 * 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. In addition, please be advised that the Division of Enforcement has access to all information you provide to the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance in our review of your filing or in response to our comments on your filing. We will consider a written request for acceleration of the effective date of the registration statement as a confirmation of the fact that those requesting acceleration are aware of their respective responsibilities under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as they relate to the proposed public offering of the securities specified in the above registration statement. We will act on the request and, pursuant to delegated authority, grant acceleration of the effective date. We direct your attention to Rules 460 and 461 regarding requesting acceleration of a registration statement. Please allow adequate time after the filing of any amendment for further review before submitting a request for acceleration. Please provide this request at least two business days in advance of the requested effective date. If you have any questions regarding the foregoing, please do not hesitate to call Andrew Schoeffler, Staff Attorney, at (202) 824- 5612 or, in his absence, Chris Edwards, Senior Staff Attorney, at (202) 942-2842. Sincerely, Pamela A. Long Assistant Director cc: Kelly B. Rose, Esq. Baker Botts L.L.P. 910 Louisiana One Shell Plaza Houston, TX 77002 ?? ?? ?? ?? Mr. Todd R. Moore April 1, 2005 Page 1 of 3 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-0510 DIVISION OF CORPORATION FINANCE