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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

_________________________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant To Section 13 OR 15(d) Of The Securities Exchange Act Of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)       April 25, 2008  

PHOTRONICS, INC. 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 

Connecticut  0-15451  06-0854886 
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission    (IRS Employer 
of incorporation)  File Number)  Identification Number) 

15 Secor Road, Brookfield, CT    06804 
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code) 

Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code     (203) 775-9000 

 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report) 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 


Item 1.01     Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement 
 

On April 25, 2008, Photronics, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement was entered into on June 6, 2007 among the Company, the Lenders Party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, Citizens Bank of Massachusetts, HSBC Bank USA, National Association and Citibank, N.A. as Co-Syndication Agents (the “Credit Agreement”). Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement amends the Applicable Rate chart that is set forth in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement to amend the Eurocurrency Spread, ABR Spread and Commitment Fee Rate. Amendment No. 1 also amends clause (a) of Section 6.11 by amending the Maximum Senior Leverage Ratio to 2.25 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending April 29, 2008 through July 27, 2008 and 1.50 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending November 2, 2008 and thereafter. Article 7 of the Credit Agreement was amended to provide that during the period from April 25, 2008 to November 2, 2008, the Company will enter into an agreement evidencing permanent long term capital in form and on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent whereby the Company receives net cash proceeds in an amount of at least $75,000,000 during such period.

On April 25, 2008, the Company also entered into Amendment No.1 to the Amended and Restated Guarantee Agreement by and among the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank (China) Company Limited, Shanghai Branch, as Administrative Agent (for and on behalf of itself and the Majority Lenders under the Restated Credit Agreement) dated August 23, 2007 (the “Guarantee Agreement”). Clause (a) of Section 7.11 of the Guarantee Agreement was amended to provide that the Company will not permit the Senior Leverage Ratio to be greater than the following: 2.25 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending April 29, 2008 through July 27, 2008 and 1.50 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending November 2, 2008 and thereafter.

 
Item 9.01     (d) Exhibits 
Exhibits    

99.1 Amendment No.1 dated as of April 25, 2008 to the Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007. 

99.2 Amendment No.1 dated as of April 25, 2008 to the Amended and Restated Guarantee Agreement dated August 23, 2007.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

PHOTRONICS, INC. 
(Registrant) 

DATE   April 30, 2008       BY /s/ Richelle E. Burr
  Richelle E. Burr
  Vice President, Associate General Counsel
 

PHOTRONICS, INC.

EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO. 99.1            DESCRIPTION

99.1 Amendment No.1 dated as of April 25, 2008 to the Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007.

99.2 Amendment No.1 dated as of April 25, 2008 to the Amended and Restated Guarantee Agreement dated August 23, 2007.

AMENDMENT NO. 1

Dated as of April 25, 2008

to

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of June 6, 2007

     THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 (“Amendment”) is made as of April 25, 2008 by and among Photronics, Inc. (the “Company”), the financial institutions listed on the signature pages hereof and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”), under that certain Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007 by and among the Company, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

     WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Lenders and the Administrative Agent agree to certain amendments to the Credit Agreement;

     WHEREAS, the Lenders party hereto and the Administrative Agent have agreed to such amendments on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms and conditions contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Lenders party hereto and the Administrative Agent have agreed to enter into this Amendment.

     1. Amendments to Credit Agreement. Effective as of the date of satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2 below, the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

     (a) The definition of “Applicable Rate” set forth in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is amended to restate the chart set forth therein in its entirety as follows:

  Senior Leverage Eurocurrency ABR Commitment Fee Rate
  Ratio: Spread Spread  
Category 1:  < 0.75 to 1.00 1.00% 0% 0.20%
Category 2:  > 0.75 to 1.00 1.25% 0.25% 0.225%
    but      
  < 1.00 to 1.00      
Category 3:  > 1.00 to 1.00 1.50% 0.50% 0.25%

 

     (b) Clause (a) of Section 6.11 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

     (a) Maximum Senior Leverage Ratio. The Company will not permit the ratio (the “Senior Leverage Ratio”), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters set forth below, of (i) Consolidated Senior Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of 4 consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, all calculated for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be greater than the ratio set forth opposite such fiscal quarter:

      Fiscal Quarter Ending       Maximum Senior Leverage Ratio
April 29, 2007 through January 31, 2008  2.00 to 1.00
  April 29, 2008  through July 27, 2008  2.25 to 1.00
November 2, 2008 and thereafter  1.50 to 1.00

     (c) A new paragraph (o) is hereby added to Article VII as follows:

     (o) during the period beginning on April 25, 2008 and ending on November 2, 2008, the Company shall fail to enter into and consummate an agreement or agreements evidencing permanent long term capital in form and on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in respect of which the Company receives net cash proceeds in an aggregate amount of at least $75,000,000 during such period;

     2. Conditions of Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to the conditions precedent that (a) the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Amendment duly executed by the Company, the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent and the Consent and Reaffirmation attached hereto duly executed by the Subsidiary Guarantors, (b) the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence of amendment(s) to the Chinese Credit Facility Documents on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to it and (c) the Company shall have paid all of the fees of the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lenders (including, to the extent invoiced, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent) in connection with this Amendment and the other Loan Documents.

     3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants as follows:

     (a) This Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

     (b) As of the date hereof and giving effect to the terms of this Amendment, (i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, are true and correct as of the date hereof.

     4. Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement.

     (a) Upon the effectiveness hereof, each reference to the Credit Agreement in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

     (b) Except as specifically amended above, the Credit Agreement and all other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

2 

     (c) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit Agreement or any other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith.

     5. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

     6. Headings. Section headings in this Amendment are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment for any other purpose.

     7. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures delivered by facsimile or PDF shall have the same force and effect as manual signatures delivered in person.

[Signature Pages Follow]

3 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

PHOTRONICS, INC., 
as the Company 
 
 
By: /s/ Sean T. Smith     
Name:  Sean T. Smith 
Title:  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer   

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1
Photronics, Inc.
Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, 
individually as a Lender, as the Swingline Lender, as the Issuing 
Bank and as Administrative Agent 
 
  
By: /s/ David F. Gibbs  
Name:  David F. Gibbs 
Title:  Managing Director   

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1
Photronics, Inc.
Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007


RBS CITIZENS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (successor by 
merger to Citizens Bank of Massachusetts), individually as a 
Lender and as Co-Syndication Agent 
 
  
By: /s/ Darcy Salinger  
Name:  Darcy Salinger 
Title:  Vice President   

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1
Photronics, Inc.
Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007


HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, individually 
as a Lender and as Co-Syndication Agent 
 
  
By: /s/ Robert H. Rogers, Jr.  
Name:  Robert H. Rogers, Jr. 
Title:  First Vice President   

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1
Photronics, Inc.
Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007


CITIBANK, N.A., individually as a Lender and as Co- 
Syndication Agent 
 
  
By: /s/ Humberto M. Salomon  
Name:  Humberto M. Salomon 
Title:  Vice President   

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1
Photronics, Inc.
Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., 
as a Lender 
 
  
By: /s/ Debra DelVecchio  
Name:  Debra DelVecchio 
Title:  Managing Director   

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1
Photronics, Inc.
Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007


UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC, 
as a Lender 
 
  
By: /s/ Richard L. Tavrow  
Name:  Richard L. Tavrow 
Title:  Director   
 
By: /s/ David B. Julie  
Name:  David B. Julie 
Title:  Associate Director   

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1
Photronics, Inc.
Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007

CONSENT AND REAFFIRMATION

     Each of the undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the foregoing Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007 (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) by and among Photronics, Inc. (the “Company”), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto (together with the Company, the “Borrowers”), the financial institutions from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”), which Amendment No. 1 is dated as of April 25, 2008 (the “Amendment”). Capitalized terms used in this Consent and Reaffirmation and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement. Without in any way establishing a course of dealing by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, each of the undersigned consents to the Amendment and reaffirms the terms and conditions of the Subsidiary Guaranty and any other Loan Document executed by it and acknowledges and agrees that such agreements and each and every such Loan Document executed by the undersigned in connection with the Credit Agreement remains in full force and effect and is hereby reaffirmed, ratified and confirmed. All references to the Credit Agreement contained in the above-referenced documents shall be a reference to the Credit Agreement as so modified by the Amendment and as the same may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified or restated.

Dated: April 25, 2008

[Signature Page Follows]


PHOTRONICS-TOPPAN TEXAS, INC. 
  
  
By: /s/ Sean T. Smith  
Name:  Sean T. Smith 
Title:  Vice President   

 

Signature Page to Consent and Reaffirmation to Amendment No. 1
Photronics, Inc.
Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007

     AMENDMENT NO. 1

Dated as of April 25, 2008

to

AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

Dated as of August 23, 2007

     THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 (“Amendment”) is made as of April 25, 2008 by and among Photronics, Inc. (the “Guarantor”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank (China) Company Limited, Shanghai Branch, as Administrative Agent (for and on behalf of itself and the Majority Lenders under the Restated Credit Agreement) (the “Administrative Agent”), under that certain Amended and Restated Guarantee Agreement dated as of August 23, 2007 by and among the Guarantor and the Administrative Agent (for and on behalf of itself and the other Finance Parties from time to time party to the Restated Credit Agreement) (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Guarantee Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Guarantee Agreement.

     WHEREAS, the Guarantor has requested that the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders agree to certain amendments to the Guarantee Agreement;

     WHEREAS, the Guarantor and the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders have agreed to such amendments on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms and conditions contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Guarantor and the Administrative Agent (for and on behalf of itself and the Majority Lenders under the Restated Credit Agreement) have agreed to enter into this Amendment.

     1. Amendments to Credit Agreement. Effective as of the date of satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2 below, the Guarantee Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

     (a) Clause (a) of Section 7.11 of the Guarantee Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

     (a) Maximum Senior Leverage Ratio. The Guarantor will not permit the ratio (the “Senior Leverage Ratio”), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters set forth below, of (i) Consolidated Senior Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of 4 consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, all calculated for the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be greater than the ratio set forth opposite such fiscal quarter:


      Fiscal Quarter Ending       Maximum Senior Leverage Ratio
April 29, 2007 through January 31, 2008  2.00 to 1.00 
  April 29, 2008 through July 27, 2008 2.25 to 1.00 
November 2, 2008 and thereafter  1.50 to 1.00 

     2. Conditions of Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to the conditions precedent that (a) the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Amendment duly executed by the Guarantor and the Administrative Agent (for and on behalf of itself and the Majority Lenders under the Restated Credit Agreement), (b) the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence of an amendment to the U.S. Credit Agreement on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to it and (c) the Guarantor shall have paid all of the fees of the Administrative Agent (including, to the extent invoiced, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent) in connection with this Amendment.

     3. Representations and Warranties of the Guarantor. The Guarantor hereby represents and warrants as follows:

     (a) This Amendment and the Guarantee Agreement, as amended hereby, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor and are enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

     (b) As of the date hereof and giving effect to the terms of this Amendment, (i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) the representations and warranties of the Guarantor set forth in the Guarantee Agreement, as amended hereby, are true and correct as of the date hereof.

     4.  Reference to and Effect on the Guarantee Agreement.

     (a) Upon the effectiveness hereof, each reference to the Guarantee Agreement in the Guarantee Agreement or any other Finance Document shall mean and be a reference to the Guarantee Agreement as amended hereby.

     (b) Except as specifically amended above, the Guarantee Agreement and all other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

     (c) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Guarantee Agreement or any other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith.

     5.  Governing Law. This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

     6.  Headings. Section headings in this Amendment are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment for any other purpose.

     7.  Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures delivered by facsimile or PDF shall have the same force and effect as manual signatures delivered in person.

[Signature Pages Follow]

2 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

PHOTRONICS, INC., 
as the Guarantor 
 
 
By: /s/  Sean T. Smith__________________________ 
Name:  Sean T. Smith 
Title:    Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer 

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1
Photronics, Inc.
Amended and Restated Guarantee Agreement dated as of August 23, 2007


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK (CHINA) COMPANY LIMITED, 
SHANGHAI BRANCH, 
as Administrative Agent (for and on behalf of itself and the 
Majority Lenders under the Restated Credit Agreement) 
 
 
By: /s/  Q. C. Hua___________________________ 
Name:   Q. C. Hua 
Title:     Managing Director & General Manager 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1
Photronics, Inc.
Amended and Restated Guarantee Agreement dated as of August 23, 2007