Press Release

• Record quarterly sales of $141.7 million, up 14% compared with last year and the sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue growth
• Net income rose to $18.6 million ($0.25 per diluted share)
• Gross margin of 31.5% and operating margin of 19.2%, driven by high incremental margins
• High-End IC and FPD increased 49% and 48% Y/Y, respectively
• EBITDA of $50 million, up 54% from Q414
• Net cash of $73 million, up $23 million from 2014, providing financial strength and flexibility to fund growth

BROOKFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB), a worldwide leader in supplying innovative imaging technology solutions for the global electronics industry, today reported financial results for the fiscal 2015 fourth quarter and fiscal year ended November 1, 2015.

Fourth quarter sales were $141.7 million, a sequential increase of 8% and up 14% compared with last year. Sales of semiconductor photomasks were $111.5 million, up 12% compared with the fourth quarter of 2014, and sales of flat panel display (FPD) photomasks were $30.2 million, up 21% compared with last year. Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders was $18.6 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, compared with $4.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2014.

"We benefited from very strong demand for High-End photomasks in both IC and FPD," stated Peter Kirlin, chief executive officer. "High-End memory and flat panel display have been strong all year, and those trends continued through the fourth quarter. High-End logic also contributed as customers introduced new designs at advanced nodes. Coupled with these strong demand drivers, we realized a high level of operating leverage, allowing us to deliver strong bottom line growth. Finally, our net cash position expanded to $73 million, providing additional flexibility as we look to invest in our future and increase shareholder value. Needless to say, I'm very pleased with these results and the performance by everyone in the organization to achieve them."

Full Year Results

Sales for fiscal year 2015 were a record $524.2 million, growing 15% over fiscal year 2014. Sales of IC photomasks increased 19% while sales of FPD photomasks were up 1%. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders for fiscal 2015 was a record $45.5 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, compared with $12.1 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in fiscal 2014.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Non-GAAP net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders and non-GAAP earnings per share are "non-GAAP financial measures," as such term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and may differ from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. The attached financial supplement reconciles non-GAAP financial information with Photronics, Inc.'s financial results under GAAP. Photronics, Inc. believes that non-GAAP net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders and non-GAAP earnings per share that exclude certain non-cash or non-recurring income or expense items are useful for analysts and investors to evaluate Photronics, Inc.'s future on-going performance because they enable a more meaningful comparison of Photronics, Inc.'s projected earnings and performance with its historical results of prior periods. These non-GAAP metrics, in particular non-GAAP net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders and non-GAAP earnings per share are not intended to represent funds available for Photronics, Inc.'s discretionary use and are not intended to represent, or be used as a substitute for, operating income, net income or cash flows from operations data as measured under GAAP. The items excluded from these non-GAAP metrics, but included in the calculation of their closest GAAP equivalent, are significant components of the consolidated statements of operations and must be considered in performing a comprehensive assessment of overall financial performance. Non-GAAP financial information is adjusted for the following items:

• Financing expenses in fiscal 2015 related to the exchange of convertible senior notes are excluded because they are not a part of ongoing operations.
• Non-cash acquisition gain and transaction expenses in fiscal 2014 related to the joint venture, PDMC, in Taiwan are excluded because they are not part of ongoing operations.

The presentation of this financial information should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The attached financial supplement reconciles non-GAAP financial information with Photronics, Inc.'s financial results under GAAP.

Conference Call

A conference call with investors and the media to discuss these results is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, December 3, 2015. The call can be accessed by logging onto Photronics' web site at www.photronics.com. The live dial-in number is (408) 774-4601. The call will be archived on Photronics' web site for instant replay access.

About Photronics

Photronics is a leading worldwide manufacturer of photomasks. Photomasks are high precision quartz plates that contain microscopic images of electronic circuits. A key element in the manufacture of semiconductors and flat panel displays, photomasks are used to transfer circuit patterns onto semiconductor wafers and flat panel substrates during the fabrication of integrated circuits, a variety of flat panel displays and, to a lesser extent, other types of electrical and optical components. They are produced in accordance with product designs provided by customers at strategically located manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. Additional information on the Company can be accessed at www.photronics.com

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Photronics, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company). The forward-looking statements contained in this press release and other parts of Photronics' web site involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products, services, prices, and other factors. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, legal, governmental, and technological factors as well as decisions we may make in the future regarding our business, capital structure and other matters. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", and similar expressions. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Company's expectations will be realized. For a fuller discussion of the factors that may affect the Company's operations, see "Forward Looking Statements" in the Company's Quarterly and Annual Reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K. The Company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements.

18-2015

PHOTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
					Three Months Ended								Year Ended
					November 1,				November 2,				November 1,				November 2,
						2015				2014				2015				2014
Net sales					$	141,692			$	124,251			$	524,206			$	455,527
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales						(97,078	)			(97,626	)			(381,070	)			(355,181	)
Selling, general and administrative						(12,189	)			(11,547	)			(48,983	)			(49,638	)
Research and development						(5,177	)			(5,801	)			(21,920	)			(21,913	)
Operating income						27,248				9,277				72,233				28,795
Gain on acquisition						-				-				-				16,372
Other income (expense), net						308				(574	)			(2,193	)			(3,837	)
Income before income taxes						27,556				8,703				70,040				41,330
Income tax provision						(5,406	)			(2,004	)			(13,181	)			(9,295	)
Net income						22,150				6,699				56,859				32,035
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests						(3,527	)			(2,422	)			(12,234	)			(6,039	)
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders					$	18,623			$	4,277			$	44,625			$	25,996
Earnings per share:
Basic					$	0.28			$	0.07			$	0.67			$	0.42
Diluted					$	0.25			$	0.07			$	0.63			$	0.41
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic						66,575				63,106				66,331				61,779
Diluted						78,631				64,085				78,383				66,679

PHOTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
					November 1,			November 2,
						2015			2014
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents					$	205,867		$	192,929
Accounts receivable						110,056			94,515
Inventories						24,157			22,478
Other current assets						24,034			26,570
Total current assets						364,114			336,492
Property, plant and equipment, net						547,284			550,069
Investment in joint venture						93,021			93,122
Intangible assets, net						24,616			30,294
Other assets						16,520			19,206
					$	1,045,555		$	1,029,183
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term borrowings					$	65,495		$	10,381
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities						127,197			128,736
Total current liabilities						192,692			139,117
Long-term borrowings						67,120			131,805
Other liabilities						23,677			18,767
Photronics, Inc. shareholders' equity						646,555			628,050
Noncontrolling interests						115,511			111,444
Total equity						762,066			739,494
					$	1,045,555		$	1,029,183

PHOTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
					Year Ended
					November 1,				November 2,
						2015				2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income					$	56,859			$	32,035
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization						82,413				80,136
Gain on acquisition						-				(16,372	)
Changes in assets and liabilities and other						(6,077	)			562
Net cash provided by operating activities						133,195				96,361
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment						(104,033	)			(91,085	)
Cash from acquisition						-				4,508
Other						(272	)			(908	)
Net cash used in investing activities						(104,305	)			(87,485	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term borrowings						(9,571	)			(29,782	)
Payment of deferred financing fees						-				(346	)
Proceeds from share-based arrangements						2,651				1,298
Other						(179	)			(711	)
Net cash used in financing activities						(7,099	)			(29,541	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash						(8,853	)			(2,021	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents						12,938				(22,686	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period						192,929				215,615
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period					$	205,867			$	192,929
Noncash net assets from acquisition					$	-			$	110,211

PHOTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Information
(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
			Three Months Ended						Year Ended
			November 1,			November 2,			November 1,			November 2,
			2015			2014			2015			2014
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Net Income
Attributable to Photronics, Inc. Shareholders
GAAP net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders			$	18,623		$	4,277		$	44,625		$	25,996
(a) Financing expenses, net of tax				-			-			901			-
(b) Gain on acquisition, net of tax				-			-			-			(16,372	)
(c) Acquisition transaction expenses, net of tax				-			-			-			2,455
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders			$	18,623		$	4,277		$	45,526		$	12,079
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Net Income
Applicable to Common Shareholders
Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding
GAAP				78,631			64,085			78,383			66,679
Non-GAAP				78,631			64,085			78,383			62,734
Net income per diluted share
GAAP			$	0.25		$	0.07		$	0.63		$	0.41
Non-GAAP			$	0.25		$	0.07		$	0.64		$	0.19
(a) Represents financing expenses related to the exchange of $57.5 million of 3.25% convertible senior notes, recorded in other expense, net
(b) Represents gain on acquisition of DNP Photomask Technology Taiwan Co., Ltd (DPTT), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
(c) Represents transaction expenses in connection with the acquisition of DPTT

PHOTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP EBITDA
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	November 1,			November 2,			November 1,			November 2,
	2015			2014			2015			2014
GAAP Net Income (a)	$	22,150		$	6,699		$	56,859		$	32,035
Add: interest expense		1,178			1,638			4,991			7,247
Add: income tax expense		5,406			2,004			13,181			9,295
Add: depreciation and amortization		20,777			21,421			81,653			78,685
Add (less): special items (b)		905			941			4,590			(9,846	)
Non-GAAP EBITDA	$	50,416		$	32,703		$	161,274		$	117,416
(a) Includes net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.
(b) Special items consist of stock compensation expense, and in 2015 financing expenses in connection with the exchange
of $57.5 million of 3.25% convertible senior notes, and in 2014 noncash gain on acquisition of DNP Photomask Technology
Taiwan, Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., and related acquisition transaction expenses.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151202006408/en/

Photronics
R. Troy Dewar, CFA, (203) 740-5610
Director, Investor Relations
tdewar@photronics.com

Source: Photronics

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