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

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended May 3, 2015
OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 

For the transition period from ___ to ___

Commission file number 0-15451
 

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

Connecticut
 
06-0854886
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

15 Secor Road, Brookfield, Connecticut
 
06804
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code
 
(203) 775-9000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter periods that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes   No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes   No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer
Accelerated Filer
Non-Accelerated Filer
Smaller Reporting Company

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes   No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class
 
Outstanding at May 29, 2015
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
 
66,668,408 Shares
 


Forward-Looking Statements
 
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Photronics, Inc. ("Photronics" or "the Company" or “we”). These statements are based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "projects," “could,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “will” and similar expressions, or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. In particular, any statement contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q or in other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in press releases or in the Company's communications and discussions with investors and analysts in the normal course of business through meetings, phone calls, or conference calls regarding, among other things, the consummation and benefits of joint venture transactions, divestitures and acquisitions, expectations with respect to future sales, financial performance, operating efficiencies, or product expansion, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Various factors may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Factors that might affect forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, overall economic and business conditions; adverse changes in legal or regulatory requirements; economic and political conditions in international markets; the demand for the Company's products; competitive factors in the industries and geographic markets in which the Company competes; federal, state and international tax requirements (including tax rate changes, new tax laws and revised tax law interpretations); interest rate and other capital market conditions, including changes in the market price of the Company's securities; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; changes in technology; the timing, impact, and other uncertainties relating to transactions and acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures as well as decisions the Company may make in the future regarding the Company’s business, capital and organizational structure and other matters; the seasonal and cyclical nature of the semiconductor and flat panel display industries; management changes; damage or destruction to the Company's facilities, or the facilities of its customers or suppliers, by natural disasters, labor strikes, political unrest, or terrorist activity; the ability of the Company to (i) place new equipment in service on a timely basis; (ii) obtain additional financing; (iii) achieve anticipated synergies and cost savings; (iv) fully utilize its tools; (v) achieve desired yields, pricing, product mix, and market acceptance of its products and (vi) obtain necessary export licenses. Any forward-looking statements should be considered in light of these factors. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Company's expectations will be realized. The Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements and does not assume an obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.
 
2

PHOTRONICS, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Page
   
 
Item 1.
4
     
 
4
     
 
5
     
 
6
     
 
7
     
 
8
     
Item 2.
20
     
Item 3.
25
     
Item 4.
26
     
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1A.
26
     
Item 6.
27
3

PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PHOTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

   
May 3,
2015
   
November 2,
2014
 
   
 
   
 
 
ASSETS
       
         
Current assets:
       
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
176,050
   
$
192,929
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,419 in 2015 and $3,078 in 2014
   
97,634
     
94,515
 
Inventories
   
23,233
     
22,478
 
Other current assets
   
24,705
     
26,570
 
                 
Total current assets
   
321,622
     
336,492
 
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
602,982
     
550,069
 
Investment in joint venture
   
93,059
     
93,122
 
Intangible assets, net
   
27,883
     
30,294
 
Deferred income taxes
   
11,520
     
11,036
 
Other assets
   
6,128
     
8,170
 
                 
Total assets
 
$
1,063,194
   
$
1,029,183
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
               
                 
Current liabilities:
               
Current portion of long-term borrowings
 
$
17,651
   
$
10,381
 
Accounts payable
   
119,624
     
86,495
 
Accrued liabilities
   
32,971
     
42,241
 
                 
Total current liabilities
   
170,246
     
139,117
 
                 
Long-term borrowings
   
119,784
     
131,805
 
Other liabilities
   
19,181
     
18,767
 
                 
Total liabilities
   
309,211
     
289,689
 
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Equity:
               
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 2,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
   
-
     
-
 
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 150,000 shares authorized, 66,298 shares issued and outstanding at May 3, 2015 and 65,930 shares issued and outstanding at November 2, 2014
   
663
     
659
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
522,873
     
520,182
 
Retained earnings
   
99,332
     
85,435
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
   
14,838
     
21,774
 
                 
Total Photronics, Inc. shareholders' equity
   
637,706
     
628,050
 
Noncontrolling interests
   
116,277
     
111,444
 
                 
Total equity
   
753,983
     
739,494
 
                 
Total liabilities and equity
 
$
1,063,194
   
$
1,029,183
 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
4


PHOTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
May 3,
2015
   
May 4,
2014
   
May 3,
2015
   
May 4,
2014
 
                 
Net sales
 
$
127,309
   
$
104,882
   
$
250,814
   
$
206,424
 
                                 
Costs and expenses:
                               
                                 
Cost of sales
   
(94,214
)
   
(82,692
)
   
(189,535
)
   
(161,352
)
                                 
Selling, general and administrative
   
(12,421
)
   
(13,419
)
   
(24,365
)
   
(25,697
)
                                 
Research and development
   
(5,809
)
   
(5,939
)
   
(10,490
)
   
(10,913
)
                                 
Operating income
   
14,865
     
2,832
     
26,424
     
8,462
 
                                 
Other income (expense):
                               
Gain on acquisition
   
-
     
16,372
     
-
     
16,372
 
Interest expense
   
(1,233
)
   
(1,816
)
   
(2,603
)
   
(3,800
)
Interest and other income (expense), net
   
(224
)
   
594
     
(137
)
   
1,705
 
                                 
Income before income tax provision
   
13,408
     
17,982
     
23,684
     
22,739
 
                                 
Income tax provision
   
(1,252
)
   
(2,032
)
   
(4,386
)
   
(4,747
)
                                 
Net income
   
12,156
     
15,950
     
19,298
     
17,992
 
                                 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
   
(2,096
)
   
(410
)
   
(5,401
)
   
(459
)
                                 
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders
 
$
10,060
   
$
15,540
   
$
13,897
   
$
17,533
 
                                 
Earnings per share:
                               
                                 
Basic
 
$
0.15
   
$
0.25
   
$
0.21
   
$
0.29
 
                                 
Diluted
 
$
0.14
   
$
0.22
   
$
0.21
   
$
0.27
 
                                 
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
                               
                                 
Basic
   
66,230
     
61,372
     
66,148
     
61,286
 
                                 
Diluted
   
78,228
     
77,705
     
72,624
     
77,632
 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
5

PHOTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
May 3,
2015
   
May 4,
2014
   
May 3,
2015
   
May 4,
2014
 
                 
Net income
 
$
12,156
   
$
15,950
   
$
19,298
   
$
17,992
 
                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax of $0:
                               
                                 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
   
12,507
     
11,630
     
(7,568
)
   
3,106
 
                                 
Amortization of cash flow hedge
   
32
     
32
     
64
     
64
 
                                 
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
   
12,539
     
11,662
     
(7,504
)
   
3,170
 
                                 
Comprehensive income
   
24,695
     
27,612
     
11,794
     
21,162
 
                                 
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
   
5,392
     
443
     
4,833
     
411
 
                                 
Comprehensive income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders
 
$
19,303
   
$
27,169
   
$
6,961
   
$
20,751
 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
6

PHOTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

   
Six Months Ended
 
   
May 3,
2015
   
May 4,
2014
 
         
Cash flows from operating activities:
       
Net income
 
$
19,298
   
$
17,992
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
   
40,318
     
36,782
 
Gain on acquisition
   
-
     
(16,372
)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
   
(4,244
)
   
3,552
 
Inventories
   
(985
)
   
(1,676
)
Other current assets
   
7
     
3,144
 
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other
   
3,513
     
(3,523
)
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
57,907
     
39,899
 
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
   
(67,935
)
   
(42,385
)
Cash from acquisition
   
-
     
4,508
 
Other
   
(218
)
   
(910
)
                 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(68,153
)
   
(38,787
)
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Repayments of long-term borrowings
   
(4,751
)
   
(25,100
)
Payments of deferred financing fees
   
-
     
(309
)
Proceeds from share-based arrangements
   
1,195
     
888
 
Other
   
(76
)
   
(543
)
                 
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(3,632
)
   
(25,064
)
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
   
(3,001
)
   
165
 
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
   
(16,879
)
   
(23,787
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
192,929
     
215,615
 
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
176,050
   
$
191,828
 
                 
Supplemental disclosure of noncash information:
               
                 
Accrual for property, plant and equipment purchased during the period
 
$
49,082
   
$
15,118
 
Noncash net assets from acquisition
   
-
     
110,211
 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
7

PHOTRONICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Three Months and Six Months Ended May 3, 2015 and May 4, 2014
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share amounts)

NOTE 1 - BASIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION

Photronics, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Photronics" or “the Company") is one of the world's leading manufacturers of photomasks, which are high precision photographic quartz plates containing microscopic images of electronic circuits. Photomasks are a key element in the manufacture of semiconductors and flat panel displays ("FPDs"), and are used as masters to transfer circuit patterns onto semiconductor wafers and flat panel substrates during the fabrication of integrated circuits ("ICs") and a variety of FPDs and, to a lesser extent, other types of electrical and optical components. The Company currently operates principally from nine manufacturing facilities, two of which are located in Europe, three in Taiwan, one in Korea, and three in the United States.

On April 4, 2014, DNP Photomask Technology Taiwan Co., Ltd. (“DPTT”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (“DNP”), merged into Photronics Semiconductor Mask Corporation (“PSMC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Photronics. All of the assets and liabilities of DPTT existing prior to the merger were assumed by the renamed surviving entity of the merger, Photronics DNP Mask Corporation (“PDMC”). Photronics and DNP own 50.01 percent and 49.99 percent of PDMC, respectively.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, adjustments, all of which are of a normal recurring nature, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The Company is typically impacted during its first fiscal quarter by the North American and European holiday periods, as some customers reduce their effective workdays and orders during these periods. Additionally, the Company can be impacted during its first or second quarter by the Asian New Year holiday period, which may also reduce customer orders. Operating results for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending November 1, 2015. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 2, 2014.

NOTE 2 – ACQUISITION OF DNP PHOTOMASK TECHNOLOGY TAIWAN CO., LTD.

On April 4, 2014, DPTT merged into PSMC, the Company’s IC manufacturing subsidiary located in Taiwan, to form PDMC. Throughout this report the merger of DPTT into PSMC is referred to as the “DPTT Acquisition.” In connection with the DPTT Acquisition, the Company transferred consideration with a fair value of $98.3 million. The Company owns 50.01 percent of PDMC and includes its financial results in its consolidated financial statements, while DNP owns the remaining 49.99 percent of PDMC. The Company also has the ability to appoint the majority of the directors of PDMC, including the chairman of its board of directors, select its management responsible for implementing its policies and procedures, and establish its operating and capital decisions and policies. Photronics determined it has control of PDMC by virtue of its tie-breaking voting rights within PDMC’s Board of Directors, thereby giving it the power to direct the activities of PDMC that most significantly impact its economic performance, including its decision making authority in the ordinary course of business. The DPTT Acquisition was the result of the Company’s desire to combine the strengths in logic and memory photomask technologies of PSMC and DPTT in order to enhance its capability with customers in the region.

The DPTT Acquisition met the conditions of a business combination as defined by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805 and, as such, is accounted for under ASC 805 using the acquisition method of accounting. ASC 805 defines the three elements of a business as Input, Process and Output. As a result of the DPTT Acquisition, Photronics acquired the machinery and equipment utilized in the processes to manufacture product, the building that houses the entire operation and the processes needed to manufacture the product, all previously owned by DPTT. The former DPTT employees hired by Photronics in connection with the acquisition brought with them the skills, experience and know-how necessary to provide the operational processes that, when applied to the acquired assets, represent processes being applied to inputs to create outputs. Having met all three elements of a business as defined in ASC 805, the Company determined that the DPTT Acquisition should be accounted for as a business combination.
 
8

The following table summarizes the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed of DPTT, the fair value of the noncontrolling interests and consideration for DPTT at the acquisition date.

Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
4,508
 
Accounts receivable (gross amount of $28,560, of which $500 is estimated to be uncollectable)
   
28,060
 
Inventory
   
1,279
 
Deferred tax asset
   
9,787
 
Other current assets
   
11,517
 
Property, plant and equipment
   
95,431
 
Identifiable intangible assets
   
1,552
 
Other long-term assets
   
1,328
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
(32,410
)
Deferred tax liability
   
(3,042
)
Other long-term liabilities
   
(3,291
)
         
Total net assets acquired
   
114,719
 
Noncontrolling interests retained by DNP
   
57,348
 
         
     
57,371
 
Consideration – 49.99% of fair value of PSMC
   
40,999
 
         
Gain on acquisition
 
$
16,372
 

In addition to recording the fair values of the net assets acquired, the Company also recorded a gain on acquisition of $16.4 million in the three month period ended May 4, 2014, in accordance with ASC 805 using the acquisition method of accounting. The gain on acquisition was primarily due to the difference between the market values of the acquired real estate and personal property exceeding the fair value of the consideration transferred. In addition, a deferred tax liability of $3.0 million was recorded in the opening balance sheet, which had the effect of reducing the gain on acquisition to $16.4 million. Prior to recording the gain, the Company reassessed whether it had correctly identified all of the assets acquired and all of the liabilities assumed. Additionally, the Company also reviewed the procedures used to measure the amounts of the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and consideration transferred.

The fair value of the first component of consideration represents 49.99 percent of the fair value of PSMC, and is based on recent prices paid by the Company to acquire outstanding shares of PSMC (prior to the acquisition). As a result of the merger, the Company acquired the net assets of DPTT having a fair value of $114.7 million, less noncontrolling interests of $57.3 million retained by DNP, and transferred consideration with a fair value of $41.0 million, resulting in a gain of $16.4 million. The fair value of the total consideration transferred as of the acquisition date was $98.3 million, comprised of the 49.99% noncontrolling interest in DPTT of $57.3 million, and 49.99% of the fair value of PSMC of $41.0 million (112.9 million shares, or 49.99% of the outstanding common stock of PSMC).

We estimated the $114.7 million fair value of DPTT as of the acquisition date by applying an income approach as our valuation technique. Our income approach followed a discounted cash flow method, which applied our best estimates of future cash flows and an estimated terminal value discounted to present value at a rate of return taking into account the relative risk of the cash flows. To confirm the reasonableness of the value derived from the income approach, we also analyzed the values of comparable companies which are publicly traded. The acquisition date fair value of the property, plant and equipment of DPTT was $95.4 million, which was determined by utilizing the cost and, to a lesser extent, the market approach, based on an in-use premise of value. Inputs utilized by the Company to determine fair values of DPTT’s property, plant and equipment included a cost approach, which was adjusted for depreciation and condition for equipment, and adjusted for depreciation and local market conditions for real property. The noncontrolling interest of DPTT was calculated using the 49.99% of its total fair value of $114.7 million. The Company also used a market approach to corroborate the enterprise value of DPTT. This fair value measurement is based on significant inputs that are not observable in the market and thus represents a fair value measurement categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Key assumptions include local and current construction replacement cost multipliers, amounts of ancillary replacement costs, physical deterioration, and economic and functional obsolescence to adjust the current replacement costs by, as well as the estimated economic lives of the assets.
 
9

Identifiable intangible assets acquired were primarily customer relationships, which represent the fair value of relationships and agreements DPTT had in place at the date of the merger. The customer relationships had a fair value of $1.5 million at the acquisition date, determined by using the multi-period excess earnings method, and are amortized over a twelve year estimated useful life. The acquisition date fair value of the remainder of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed were equivalent to, or did not materially differ from, their carrying values

Acquisition costs related to the merger were $2.0 million and $2.5 million for the three and six month periods ended May 4, 2014, respectively, and are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

NOTE 3 - CHANGES IN EQUITY

The following tables set forth the Company's consolidated changes in equity for the three and six month periods ended May 3, 2015 and May 4, 2014:

   
Three Months Ended May 3, 2015
       
   
Photronics, Inc. Shareholders
     
                   
Accumulated
         
   
Common Stock
   
Additional
       
Other
   
Non-
     
   
 
   
Paid-in
   
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
controlling
   
Total
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Earnings
   
Income
   
Interests
   
Equity
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Balance at February 1, 2015
   
66,209
   
$
662
   
$
521,580
   
$
89,272
   
$
5,595
   
$
110,936
   
$
728,045
 
                                                         
Net income
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
10,060
     
-
     
2,096
     
12,156
 
Other comprehensive income
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
9,243
     
3,296
     
12,539
 
Sale of common stock through employee stock option and purchase plans
   
73
     
1
     
331
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
332
 
Restricted stock awards vesting and expense
   
16
     
-
     
260
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
260
 
Share-based compensation expense
   
-
     
-
     
702
     
-
     
-
     
(51
)
   
651
 
                                                         
Balance at May 3, 2015
   
66,298
   
$
663
   
$
522,873
   
$
99,332
   
$
14,838
   
$
116,277
   
$
753,983
 

   
Three Months Ended May 4, 2014
       
   
Photronics, Inc. Shareholders
     
                   
Accumulated
         
   
Common Stock
   
Additional
       
Other
   
Non-
     
   
   
Paid-in
   
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
controlling
   
Total
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Earnings
   
Income
   
Interests
   
Equity
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Balance at February 2, 2014
   
61,325
   
$
613
   
$
500,409
   
$
61,432
   
$
17,980
   
$
770
   
$
581,204
 
                                                         
Net income
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
15,540
     
-
     
410
     
15,950
 
Other comprehensive income
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
11,628
     
34
     
11,662
 
Sale of common stock through employee stock option and purchase plans
   
66
     
1
     
282
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
283
 
Restricted stock awards vesting and expense
   
17
     
-
     
356
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
356
 
Share-based compensation expense
   
-
     
-
     
687
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
687
 
Acquisition of DPTT
   
-
     
-
     
(6,291
)
   
-
     
412
     
105,404
     
99,525
 
Redemption of common stock by subsidiary
   
-
     
-
     
73
     
-
     
(1
)
   
-
     
72
 
                                                         
Balance at May 4, 2014
   
61,408
   
$
614
   
$
495,516
   
$
76,972
   
$
30,019
   
$
106,618
   
$
709,739
 
 
10

   
Six Months Ended May 3, 2015
       
   
Photronics, Inc. Shareholders
     
                   
Accumulated
         
   
Common Stock
   
Additional
       
Other
   
Non-
     
   
   
Paid-in
   
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
controlling
   
Total
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Earnings
   
Income
   
Interests
   
Equity
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Balance at November 2, 2014
   
65,930
   
$
659
   
$
520,182
   
$
85,435
   
$
21,774
   
$
111,444
   
$
739,494
 
                                                         
Net income
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
13,897
     
-
     
5,401
     
19,298
 
Other comprehensive loss
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(6,936
)
   
(568
)
   
(7,504
)
Sale of common stock through employee stock option and purchase plans
   
239
     
3
     
856
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
859
 
Restricted stock awards vesting and expense
   
129
     
1
     
533
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
534
 
Share-based compensation expense
   
-
     
-
     
1,302
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
1,302
 
                                                         
Balance at May 3, 2015
   
66,298
   
$
663
   
$
522,873
   
$
99,332
   
$
14,838
   
$
116,277
   
$
753,983
 

   
Six Months Ended May 4, 2014
       
   
Photronics, Inc. Shareholders
     
                   
Accumulated
         
   
Common Stock
   
Additional
       
Other
   
Non-
     
   
 
   
Paid-in
   
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
controlling
   
Total
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Earnings
   
Income
   
Interests
   
Equity
 
                             
Balance at November 3, 2013
   
61,083
   
$
611
   
$
498,861
   
$
59,439
   
$
26,403
   
$
2,517
   
$
587,831
 
                                                         
Net income
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
17,533
     
-
     
459
     
17,992
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
3,217
     
(47
)
   
3,170
 
Sale of common stock through employee stock option and purchase plans
   
196
     
2
     
690
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
692
 
Restricted stock awards vesting and expense
   
129
     
1
     
564
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
565
 
Share-based compensation expense
   
-
     
-
     
1,583
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
1,583
 
Acquisition of DPTT
   
-
     
-
     
(6,291
)
   
-
     
412
     
105,404
     
99,525
 
Redemption of common stock by subsidiary
   
-
     
-
     
109
     
-
     
(13
)
   
(1,715
)
   
(1,619
)
                                                         
Balance at May 4, 2014
   
61,408
   
$
614
   
$
495,516
   
$
76,972
   
$
30,019
   
$
106,618
   
$
709,739
 

11

NOTE 4 - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:

   
May 3,
2015
   
November 2,
2014
 
         
Land
 
$
8,391
   
$
8,598
 
Buildings and improvements
   
124,083
     
124,787
 
Machinery and equipment
   
1,470,368
     
1,367,691
 
Leasehold improvements
   
20,026
     
20,165
 
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment
   
12,926
     
12,086
 
Construction in progress
   
52,888
     
81,351
 
                 
     
1,688,682
     
1,614,678
 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
1,085,700
     
1,064,609
 
                 
   
$
602,982
   
$
550,069
 

Equipment under capital leases are included in above property, plant and equipment as follows:

   
May 3,
2015
   
November 2,
2014
 
         
Machinery and equipment
 
$
56,245
   
$
56,245
 
Less accumulated amortization
   
13,242
     
10,430
 
                 
   
$
43,003
   
$
45,815
 

Depreciation and amortization expense for property, plant and equipment was $17.8 million and $37.0 million for the three and six month periods ended May 3, 2015, respectively, and $17.1 million and $33.1 million for the three and six month periods ended May 4, 2014, respectively.

NOTE 5 - JOINT VENTURE, TECHNOLOGY LICENSE AND OTHER AGREEMENTS WITH MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

In May 2006, Photronics and Micron Technology, Inc. ("Micron") entered into the MP Mask joint venture (“MP Mask”), which develops and produces photomasks for leading-edge and advanced next generation semiconductors. At the time of the formation of the joint venture, the Company also entered into both an agreement to license photomask technology developed by Micron and certain supply agreements.

This joint venture is a variable interest entity ("VIE") (as that term is defined in the ASC) because all costs of the joint venture are passed on to the Company and Micron through purchase agreements they have entered into with the joint venture, and it is dependent upon the Company and Micron for any additional cash requirements. On a quarterly basis the Company reassesses whether its interest in MP Mask gives it a controlling financial interest in this VIE. The purpose of this quarterly reassessment is to identify the primary beneficiary (which is defined in the ASC as the entity that consolidates a VIE) of the VIE. As a result of the reassessment in the current quarter, the Company determined that Micron is still the primary beneficiary of the VIE, by virtue of its tie-breaking voting rights within MP Mask’s Board of Managers, thereby giving it the power to direct the activities of MP Mask that most significantly impact its economic performance, including its decision making authority in the ordinary course of business and its purchasing the majority of products produced by the VIE.

The Company has utilized MP Mask for both high-end IC photomask production and research and development purposes. MP Mask charges its variable interest holders based on their actual usage of its facility. MP Mask separately charges for any research and development activities it engages in at the requests of its owners. The Company recorded cost of sales of $2.2 million and $3.4 million and research and development expenses of $0.2 million and $0.5 million during the three and six month periods ended May 3, 2015. Cost of sales of $0.9 million and $1.9 million and research and development expenses of $0.2 million and $0.5 million were recorded during the three and six month periods ended May 4, 2014. As of May 3, 2015 and November 2, 2014, the Company owed MP Mask $5.1 million and $4.2 million, respectively, and had a receivable from Micron of $9.4 million and $6.8 million, respectively, both primarily related to the aforementioned supply agreements.
 
12

MP Mask is governed by a Board of Managers, appointed by Micron and the Company. Since MP Mask's inception, Micron, as a result of its majority ownership, has held majority voting power on the Board of Managers. The voting power held by each party is subject to change as ownership interests change. Under the MP Mask joint venture operating agreement, the Company may be required to make additional capital contributions to MP Mask up to the maximum amount defined in the operating agreement. However, should the Board of Managers determine that further additional funding is required, MP Mask shall pursue its own financing. If MP Mask is unable to obtain its own financing, it may request additional capital contributions from the Company. Should the Company choose not to make a requested contribution to MP Mask, its ownership percentage may be reduced.

The Company's investment in the VIE, which represents its maximum exposure to loss, was $93.1 million at May 3, 2015 and November 2, 2014. These amounts are reported in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets as "Investment in joint venture." The Company recorded a loss from its investment in the VIE of $0.1 million in the three and six month periods ended May 3, 2015. The Company did not record any income or loss from its investment in the VIE in the three and six month periods ended May 4, 2014.

On March 24, 2015 the Company announced that the MP Mask joint venture would not be renewed after May 5, 2016. The MP Mask operating agreement provides that Micron will make a payment to the Company to purchase the Company’s equity interest in MP Mask based on the Company’s ownership percentage of the net book value of MP Mask at that time, which was approximately $93 million as of March 5, 2015. The Company does not expect that it will incur a significant gain or loss on this transaction. Concurrently, the Company announced that it entered into supply and technology license agreements with Micron. This supply agreement, which commences on May 6, 2016 with a one-year term subject to mutually agreeable renewals, provides that the Company will be the majority outsource supplier of Micron’s photomasks and related services. This technology license agreement commenced in March 2015 and continues through the earlier of one year from the termination of the initial technology license agreement on May 5, 2016 or when Micron certifies that it has transferred certain defined technology to the Company. The Company forevermore has the rights to use the technology obtained under these technology license agreements.

NOTE 6 - LONG-TERM BORROWINGS
 
Long-term borrowings consist of the following:

   
May 3,
2015
   
November 2,
2014
 
         
3.25% convertible senior notes due in April 2016
 
$
57,500
   
$
115,000
 
                 
3.25% convertible senior notes due in April 2019
   
57,500
     
-
 
                 
2.77% capital lease obligation payable through July 2018
   
17,931
     
20,481
 
                 
3.09% capital lease obligation payable through March 2016
   
4,504
     
6,705
 
                 
     
137,435
     
142,186
 
Less current portion
   
17,651
     
10,381
 
                 
   
$
119,784
   
$
131,805
 

The Company’s credit facility, which expires in December 2018, has a $50 million limit with an expansion capacity to $75 million, and is secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets located in the United States and common stock the Company owns in certain of its foreign subsidiaries. The credit facility is subject to a minimum interest coverage ratio, total leverage ratio and minimum unrestricted cash balance financial covenants, all of which the Company was in compliance with at May 3, 2015. The Company had no outstanding borrowings against the credit facility at May 3, 2015, and $50 million was available for borrowing. The interest rate on the credit facility (1.69% at May 3, 2015) is based on the Company’s total leverage ratio at LIBOR plus a spread, as defined in the credit facility.
 
In January 2015 the Company privately exchanged $57.5 million in aggregate principal amount of its 3.25% convertible senior notes with a maturity date of April 1, 2016, for new 3.25% convertible senior notes with an aggregate principal amount of $57.5 million with a maturity date of April 1, 2019. The conversion rate of the new notes is the same as that of the exchanged notes, which were issued in March 2011 with a conversion rate of approximately 96 shares of common stock per $1,000 note principal, equivalent to a conversion price of $10.37 per share of common stock, and is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, which are described in the indenture dated January 22, 2015. Note holders may convert each $1,000 principal amount of notes at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding April 1, 2019, and the Company is not required to redeem the notes prior to their maturity date. Interest on the notes accrues in arrears, and is paid semiannually through the notes’ maturity date. The Company intends to repay $50 million of its outstanding 3.25% convertible senior notes due in April 2016 with borrowings against its credit facility, and therefore, has classified $50 million of these notes that were outstanding as of May 3, 2015 as long term.
 
13

In August 2013 a $26.4 million principal amount, five year capital lease commenced to fund the purchase of a high-end lithography tool. Payments under the capital lease, which bears interest at 2.77%, are $0.5 million per month through July 2018.  Under the terms of the lease agreement, the Company must maintain the equipment in good working order, and is subject to a cross default with cross acceleration provision related to certain nonfinancial covenants incorporated in its credit facility. As of May 3, 2015, the total amount payable through the end of the lease term was $18.8 million, of which $17.9 million represented principal and $0.9 million represented interest.
 
In April 2011 the Company entered into a five year, $21.2 million capital lease for manufacturing equipment. Payments under the lease, which bears interest at 3.09%, are $0.4 million per month through March 2016. The lease agreement provides that the Company must maintain the equipment in good working order, and includes a cross default with cross acceleration provision related to certain non-financial covenants incorporated in the Company's credit facility agreement. As of May 3, 2015, the total amount payable through the end of the lease term was $4.6 million, of which $4.5 million represented principal and $0.1 million represented interest.

NOTE 7 - SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company has a share-based compensation plan ("Plan"), under which options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance stock, performance units, and other awards based on, or related to, shares of the Company's common stock may be granted from shares authorized but unissued or shares previously issued and reacquired by the Company. The maximum number of shares of common stock approved by the Company’s shareholders to be issued under the Plan was increased from six million shares to nine million shares during fiscal year 2014. Awards may be granted to officers, employees, directors, consultants, advisors, and independent contractors of the Company or its subsidiaries. In the event of a change in control (as defined in the Plan), the vesting of awards may be accelerated. The Plan, aspects of which are more fully described below, prohibits further awards from being issued under prior plans. Total share-based compensation costs for the three and six month periods ended May 3, 2015, were $0.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively, and $1.0 million and $2.1 million for the three and six month periods ended May 4, 2014, respectively. The Company received cash from option exercises of $0.3 million and $1.0 million for the three and six month periods ended May 3, 2015, respectively, and $0.3 million and $0.7 million for the three and six month periods ended May 4, 2014, respectively. No share-based compensation cost was capitalized as part of an asset and no related income tax benefits were recorded during the periods presented.

Stock Options

Option awards generally vest in one to four years, and have a ten-year contractual term. All incentive and non-qualified stock option grants have an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The grant date fair values of options are based on closing prices of the Company’s common stock on the dates of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company's stock. The Company uses historical option exercise behavior and employee termination data to estimate expected term, which represents the period of time that the options granted are expected to remain outstanding. The risk-free rate of return for the estimated term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the date of grant.

The weighted-average inputs and risk-free rate of return ranges used to calculate the grant date fair value of options issued during the three and six month periods ended May 3, 2015 and May 4, 2014, are presented in the following table.

   
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
   
May 3,
2015
 
May 4,
2014
 
May 3,
2015
 
May 4,
2014
                 
Expected volatility
 
54.9%
 
N/A
 
55.0%
 
61.1%
                 
Risk free rate of return
 
 1.3%
 
N/A
 
 1.3-1.6%
 
 1.4%
                 
Dividend yield
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
                 
Expected term
 
4.7 years
 
N/A
 
4.7 years
 
4.6 years
 
14

Information on outstanding and exercisable option awards as of May 3, 2015, is presented below.

 
 
 
 
Options
 
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
               
Outstanding at May 3, 2015
   
4,012,981
   
$
7.18
 
6.4 years
 
$
9,496
 
                           
Exercisable at May 3, 2015
   
2,500,681
   
$
6.82
 
5.1 years
 
$
7,856
 

There were 302,800 share options granted during the three month period ended May 3, 2015, with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $3.84 per share, and there were no share options granted during the three month period ended May 4, 2014. There were 604,800 share options granted during the six month period ended May 3, 2015, with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $3.86 per share and 612,500 share options granted during the six month period ended May 4, 2014, with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $4.45 per share. As of May 3, 2015, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested option awards was approximately $4.9 million. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average amortization period of 2.5 years.

Restricted Stock

The Company periodically grants restricted stock awards. The restrictions on these awards lapse over a service period that has ranged from less-than-one to four years. No restricted stock awards were granted during the three month period ended May 3, 2015, and 111,334 restricted stock awards were issued during the six month period ended May 3, 2015, with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $8.23 per share. No restricted stock awards were granted during the three month period ended May 4, 2014, and 111,667 restricted stock awards were issued during the six month period ended May 4, 2014, with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $8.86 per share. As of May 3, 2015, the total compensation cost not yet recognized related to unvested restricted stock awards was approximately $1.3 million. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average amortization period of 2.0 years. As of May 3, 2015, there were 217,776 shares of restricted stock outstanding.

NOTE 8 - INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate of 35% in the three and six month periods ended May 3, 2015 and May 4, 2014, primarily due to earnings being taxed at lower statutory rates in foreign jurisdictions, the partial reversal of a deferred tax asset valuation allowance, and various investment credits in foreign jurisdictions. Valuation allowances in jurisdictions with historic losses eliminate the effective rate impact of these jurisdictions.

As of May 3, 2015, the Company determined that deferred tax assets of $1.5 million in a foreign jurisdiction, whose realization was previously not considered to be more likely than not, are realizable and, therefore, reduced the related valuation allowance.

Unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions were $5.3 million at May 3, 2015, and $5.1 million at November 2, 2014, of which $5.2 million and $5.0 million, respectively, would, if recognized, favorably impact the Company's effective tax rate. Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits was $0.2 million at May 3, 2015, $0.1 million of which was accrued during the three month period ended May 3, 2015, and $0.1 million at November 2, 2014. As of May 3, 2015, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits is not expected to significantly increase or decrease in the next twelve months.

PKLT, the Company's FPD manufacturing facility in Taiwan, has been accorded a tax holiday that started in 2012 and expires in 2017. The PKLT tax holiday had no dollar or per share effect on the financial results of the three or six month periods ended May 3, 2015 and May 4, 2014.  PDMC, as a result of the DPTT Acquisition, acquired an IC manufacturing facility in Taiwan that has been accorded a tax holiday that commenced in 2015 and expires in 2019. The Company realized a $0.1 million tax benefit from this tax holiday for the six month period ended May 3, 2015. The tax holiday had no per share effect in the three or six month periods ended May 3, 2015 and May 4, 2014.
 
15

NOTE 9 - EARNINGS PER SHARE

The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share is presented below.

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
May 3,
2015
   
May 4,
2014
   
May 3,
2015
   
May 4,
2014
 
                 
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders
 
$
10,060
   
$
15,540
   
$
13,897
   
$
17,533
 
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
Interest expense on convertible notes, net of related tax effects
   
1,071
     
1,542
     
1,071
     
3,084
 
                                 
Earnings for diluted earnings per share
 
$
11,131
   
$
17,082
   
$
14,968
   
$
20,617
 
                                 
Weighted-average common shares computations:
                               
Weighted-average common shares used for basic earnings per share
   
66,230
     
61,372
     
66,148
     
61,286
 
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
Convertible notes
   
11,084
     
15,423
     
5,542
     
15,423
 
Share-based payment awards
   
914
     
910
     
934
     
923
 
                                 
Potentially dilutive common shares
   
11,998
     
16,333
     
6,476
     
16,346
 
                                 
Weighted-average common shares used for diluted earnings per share
   
78,228
     
77,705
     
72,624
     
77,632
 
                                 
Basic earnings per share
 
$
0.15
   
$
0.25
   
$
0.21
   
$
0.29
 
Diluted earnings per share
 
$
0.14
   
$
0.22
   
$
0.21
   
$
0.27
 

The table below shows the outstanding weighted-average share-based payment awards that were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because their exercise price exceeded the average market value of the common shares for the period, and convertible notes that, if converted, would have been antidilutive.

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
May 3,
2015
   
May 4,
2014
   
May 3,
2015
   
May 4,
2014
 
                 
Share-based payment awards
   
1,654
     
2,105
     
1,621
     
2,131
 
Convertible notes
   
-
     
-
     
5,542
     
-
 
                                 
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded
   
1,654
     
2,105
     
7,163
     
2,131
 
 
16

NOTE 10 - CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME BY COMPONENT

The following tables set forth the changes in the Company's accumulated other comprehensive income by component (net of tax of $0) for the three and six month periods ended May 3, 2015 and May 4, 2014:

   
Three Months Ended May 3, 2015
 
   
Foreign Currency
Translation
Adjustments
   
Amortization
of Cash
Flow Hedge
   
Other
   
Total
 
                 
Balance at February 1, 2015
 
$
6,424
   
$
(402
)
 
$
(427
)
 
$
5,595
 
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
   
12,532
     
-
     
(25
)
   
12,507
 
Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income
   
-
     
32
     
-
     
32
 
                                 
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
   
12,532
     
32
     
(25
)
   
12,539
 
Less: other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
   
(3,308
)
   
-
     
12
     
(3,296
)
                                 
Balance at May 3, 2015
 
$
15,648
   
$
(370
)
 
$
(440
)
 
$
14,838
 

   
Three Months Ended May 4, 2014
 
   
Foreign Currency
Translation
Adjustments
   
Amortization
of Cash
Flow Hedge
   
Other
   
Total
 
                 
Balance at February 2, 2014
 
$
19,326
   
$
(530
)
 
$
(816
)
 
$
17,980
 
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
   
11,635
     
-
     
(5
)
   
11,630
 
Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income
   
-
     
32
     
-
     
32
 
                                 
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
   
11,635
     
32
     
(5
)
   
11,662
 
Other comprehensive income allocated to noncontrolling interests
   
-
     
-
     
412
     
412
 
Less: other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
   
(33
)
   
-
     
(2
)
   
(35
)
                                 
Balance at May 4, 2014
 
$
30,928
   
$
(498
)
 
$
(411
)
 
$
30,019
 
 
17

   
Six Months Ended May 3, 2015
 
   
Foreign Currency
Translation
Adjustments
   
Amortization
of Cash
Flow Hedge
   
Other
   
Total
 
                 
Balance at November 2, 2014
 
$
22,651
   
$
(434
)
 
$
(443
)
 
$
21,774
 
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
   
(7,574
)
   
-
     
6
     
(7,568
)
Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income
   
-
     
64
     
-
     
64
 
                                 
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
   
(7,574
)
   
64
     
6
     
(7,504
)
Less: other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
   
571
     
-
     
(3
)
   
568
 
                                 
Balance at May 3, 2015
 
$
15,648
   
$
(370
)
 
$
(440
)
 
$
14,838
 

   
Six Months Ended May 4, 2014
 
   
Foreign Currency
Translation
Adjustments
   
Amortization
of Cash
Flow Hedge
   
Other
   
Total
 
                 
Balance at November 3, 2013
 
$
27,797
   
$
(562
)
 
$
(832
)
 
$
26,403
 
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications
   
3,084
     
-
     
22
     
3,106
 
Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income
   
-
     
64
     
-
     
64
 
                                 
Net current period other comprehensive income
   
3,084
     
64
     
22
     
3,170
 
Less: other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
   
47
     
-
     
-
     
47
 
Other comprehensive income allocated to noncontrolling interests
   
-
     
-
     
412
     
412
 
Redemption of common stock by subsidiary
   
-
     
-
     
(13
)
   
(13
)
                                 
Balance at May 4, 2014
 
$
30,928
   
$
(498
)
 
$
(411
)
 
$
30,019
 

The amortization of the cash flow hedge is included in cost of sales in the condensed consolidated statements of income for all periods presented.
 
NOTE 11 - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The accounting framework for determining fair value includes a hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to measure fair value, which enables the reader of the financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those measurements. The fair value hierarchy consists of three tiers as follows: Level 1, defined as quoted market prices in active markets for identical securities; Level 2, defined as inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

The Company did not have any assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring or a nonrecurring basis at May 3, 2015 or November 2, 2014.
 
18

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The fair values of the Company's cash and cash equivalents (Level 1 measurements), accounts receivable, accounts payable, and certain other current assets and current liabilities (Level 2 measurements) approximate their carrying value due to their short-term maturities. The fair value of the Company’s convertible senior notes is a Level 2 measurement that is determined using recent bid prices.

The table below presents the fair and carrying values of the Company's convertible senior notes at May 3, 2015 and November 2, 2014.

   
May 3, 2015
   
November 2, 2014
 
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying Value
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying Value
 
                 
3.25% convertible senior notes due 2016
 
$
60,766
   
$
57,500
   
$
122,544
   
$
115,000
 
3.25% convertible senior notes due 2019
 
$
62,048
   
$
57,500
   
$
-
   
$
-
 

NOTE 12 - SUBSIDIARY SHARE REPURCHASE

In January 2014 the Company increased its ownership percentage in PSMC, a subsidiary of the Company based in Taiwan, to 100% at a cost of $1.7 million for the then remaining 3.0 million shares that were not owned by the Company. In April 2014 DPTT merged into PSMC to form PDMC. See Note 2 for further discussion relating to this transaction.

The table below presents the effect of the change in the Company’s ownership interest in PDMC on the Company's equity for the three and six month periods ended May 4, 2014, (3.0 million shares of common stock acquired and 112.9 million shares of common stock issued, respectively).

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
May 4,
2014
   
May 4,
2014
 
         
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders
 
$
15,540
   
$
17,533
 
                 
Increase in Photronics, Inc.'s additional paid-in capital
   
(6,218
)
   
(6,182
)
                 
Decrease in Photronics, Inc. shareholders’ accumulated other comprehensive income
   
411
     
399
 
                 
Change from net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders and transfer from noncontrolling interest
 
$
9,733
   
$
11,750
 

NOTE 13 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

As of May 3, 2015, the Company had commitments outstanding for capital expenditures of approximately $6 million.

The Company is subject to various claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes such claims, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 14 - RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In April 2015 the FASB issued ASU 2015-03 – “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.” This update requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from that debt liability, consistent with the presentation of a debt discount. This ASU will be effective for the Company in its first quarter of fiscal 2017. Upon adoption, all prior periods presented should be restated to reflect the amendments in this update. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.
 
19

In May 2014 the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 – “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of this ASU is that revenue should be recognized for the amount of consideration expected to be received for promised goods or services transferred to customers. This ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments, and assets recognized for costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. This ASU will be effective for the Company in its first quarter of fiscal 2018. Early adoption is not permitted. The ASU allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption. The Company is evaluating the transition method that will be elected and the potential effects of the adoption of this ASU on its financial statements.

Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

Management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") of the Company's financial condition, results of operations and outlook should be read in conjunction with its condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes. Various segments of this MD&A contain forward-looking statements, all of which are presented based on current expectations and may be adversely affected by uncertainties and risk factors (presented throughout this filing and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal 2014 year), that may cause actual results to materially differ from these expectations. On April 4, 2014, DNP Photomask Technology Taiwan Co., Ltd. (“DPTT”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (“DNP”), merged into Photronics Semiconductor Mask Corporation (“PSMC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Photronics. All of the assets and liabilities of DPTT existing prior to the merger were assumed by the renamed surviving entity of the merger, Photronics DNP Mask Corporation (“PDMC”). Photronics and DNP own 50.01 percent and 49.99 percent of PDMC, respectively, and the results of DPTT are included in the condensed consolidated financial statements since the date of the acquisition. Throughout this report the merger of DPTT into PSMC is referred to as the “DPTT Acquisition.”

The Company sells substantially all of its photomasks to semiconductor designers and manufacturers, and manufacturers of FPDs. Photomask technology is also being applied to the fabrication of other higher performance electronic products such as photonics, micro-electronic mechanical systems and certain nanotechnology applications. Thus, the Company's selling cycle is tightly interwoven with the development and release of new semiconductor designs and flat panel applications, particularly as it relates to the semiconductor industry's migration to more advanced design methodologies and fabrication processes. The Company believes that the demand for photomasks primarily depends on design activity rather than sales volumes from products produced using photomask technologies. Consequently, an increase in semiconductor or FPD sales does not necessarily result in a corresponding increase in photomask sales. However, the reduced use of customized ICs, reductions in design complexity, other changes in the technology or methods of manufacturing or designing semiconductors, or a slowdown in the introduction of new semiconductor or FPD designs could reduce demand for photomasks even if demand for semiconductors and FPDs increases. Advances in semiconductor, FPD and photomask design and semiconductor production methods could also reduce the demand for photomasks. Historically, the semiconductor industry has been volatile, with sharp periodic downturns and slowdowns. These downturns have been characterized by, among other things, diminished product demand, excess production capacity and accelerated erosion of selling prices.

The global semiconductor industry, including mobile displays, is driven by end markets which have been closely tied to consumer driven applications of high performance semiconductor devices including, but not limited to, mobile communications and computing solutions. The Company is typically required to fulfill its customer orders within a short period of time, sometimes within 24 hours. This results in the Company having a minimal level of backlog orders, typically one to two weeks for IC photomasks and two to three weeks for FPD photomasks. The Company cannot predict the timing of the industry's transition to volume production of next generation technology nodes or the timing of up and down cycles with precise accuracy, but believes that such transitions and cycles will continue into the future, beneficially and adversely affecting its business, financial condition and operating results in the near term. The Company believes its ability to remain successful in these environments is dependent upon achieving its goals of being a service and technology leader and efficient solutions supplier, which it believes should enable it to continually reinvest in its global infrastructure.
 
20

Material Changes in Results of Operations
Three and Six Months ended May 3, 2015 and May 4, 2014

The following table represents selected operating information expressed as a percentage of net sales.

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
May 3,
2015
   
May 4,
2014
   
May 3,
2015
   
May 4,
2014
 
                 
Net sales
   
100.0
%
   
100.0
%
   
100.0
%
   
100.0
%
Cost of sales
   
(74.0
)
   
(78.8
)
   
(75.6
)
   
(78.2
)
                                 
Gross margin
   
26.0
     
21.2
     
24.4
     
21.8
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
   
(9.7
)
   
(12.8
)
   
(9.7
)
   
(12.4
)
Research and development expenses
   
(4.6
)
   
(5.7
)
   
(4.2
)
   
(5.3
)
                                 
Operating income
   
11.7
     
2.7
     
10.5
     
4.1
 
Gain on acquisition
   
-
     
15.6
     
-
     
7.9
 
Other income (expense), net
   
(1.2
)
   
(1.2
)
   
(1.1
)
   
(1.0
)
                                 
Income before income tax provision
   
10.5
     
17.1
     
9.4
     
11.0
 
Income tax provision
   
(1.0
)
   
(1.9
)
   
(1.7
)
   
(2.3
)
                                 
Net income
   
9.5
     
15.2
     
7.7
     
8.7
 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
   
(1.6
)
   
(0.4
)
   
(2.2
)
   
(0.2
)
                                 
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders
   
7.9
%
   
14.8
%
   
5.5
%
   
8.5
%

Note: All of the following tabular comparisons, unless otherwise indicated, are for the three months ended May 3, 2015 (Q2-15) and May 4, 2014 (Q2-14) and for the six months ended May 3, 2015 (YTD-15) and May 4, 2014 (YTD-14), in millions of dollars.

Net Sales

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
Q2-15
   
Q2-14
   
Percent
Change
   
YTD-15
   
YTD-14
   
Percent
Change
 
                                 
IC
 
$
103.8
   
$
76.6
     
35.6
%
 
$
205.3
   
$
152.8
     
34.4
%
FPD
   
23.5
     
28.3
     
(17.1
)%
   
45.5
     
53.6
     
(15.2
)%
                                                 
Total net sales
 
$
127.3
   
$
104.9
     
21.4
%
 
$
250.8
   
$
206.4
     
21.5
%

Net sales for Q2-15 increased 21.4% to $127.3 million as compared to $104.9 million for Q2-14. The increase was primarily a result of increased high-end IC sales in Taiwan, which was partially offset by lower high-end FPD sales. Revenues attributable to high-end products increased by $18.8 million to $56.6 million in Q2-15 as compared to $37.8 million in Q2-14. High-end photomask applications include mask sets for 45 nanometer and below for IC products, and G8 and above and active matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display screen technologies for FPD products. By geographic area, net sales in Q2-15, as compared to Q2-14, increased (decreased) by $13.8 million or 38.5% to $49.5 million in Taiwan, $7.3 million or 28.4% to $32.8 million in the United States, $2.8 million or 8.5% to $35.6 million in Korea and $(1.4) million or (14.1)% to $8.8 million in Europe.

Net sales for YTD-15 increased to $250.8 million as compared to $206.4 million for YTD-14, as a result of increased IC sales of $52.5 million, principally associated with the acquisition of DPTT in Taiwan, as discussed in Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Revenues attributable to high-end products increased by $38.4 million to $108.4 million in YTD-15 as compared to $70.0 million in YTD-14, primarily due to increased high-end IC sales in Taiwan, which was partially offset by lower high-end FPD sales.
 
21

The Company’s quarterly revenues can be affected by the seasonal purchasing of its customers. Demand for the Company's products is typically negatively impacted during the first six months of its fiscal year by the North American, European and Asian holiday periods, as some customers reduce their effective workdays and orders during this period.

Gross Margin

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
Q2-15
   
Q2-14
   
Percent
Change
   
YTD-15
   
YTD-14
   
Percent
Change
 
                                 
Gross margin
 
$
33.1
   
$
22.2
     
49.1
%
 
$
61.3
   
$
45.1
     
36.0
%
Percentage of net sales
   
26.0
%
   
21.2
%
           
24.4
%
   
21.8
%
       

Gross margin percentage increased to 26.0% in Q2-15 from 21.2% in Q2-14 and to 24.4% in YTD-15 from 21.8% in YTD-14. These increases were primarily due to increased sales, including high-end, and reduced variable costs, principally materials. The Company operates in a high fixed cost environment and, to the extent that the Company's revenues and utilization increase or decrease, gross margin will generally be positively or negatively impacted.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
Q2-15
   
Q2-14
   
Percent
Change
   
YTD-15
   
YTD-14
   
Percent
Change
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
$
12.4
   
$
13.4
     
(7.4
)%
 
$
24.4
   
$
25.7
     
(5.2
)%
Percentage of net sales
   
9.7
%
   
12.8
%
           
9.7
%
   
12.4
%
       
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $12.4 million in Q2-15 and $13.4 million in Q2-14, and were $24.4 million in YTD-15 and $25.7 million in YTD-14. These decreases were primarily the result of expenses related to the acquisition of DPTT of $2.0 million in Q2-14 and $2.5 million in YTD-14, as discussed in Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Research and Development

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
Q2-15
   
Q2-14
   
Percent
Change
   
YTD-15
   
YTD-14
   
Percent
Change
 
                                 
Research and development
 
$
5.8
   
$
5.9
     
(2.2
)%
 
$
10.5
   
$
10.9
     
(3.9
)%
Percentage of net sales
   
4.6
%
   
5.7
%
           
4.2
%
   
5.3
%
       

Research and development expenses consist primarily of global development efforts related to high-end process technologies for advanced sub-wavelength reticle solutions for IC technologies. Research and development expenses decreased by $0.1 million to $5.8 million in Q2-15, as compared to $5.9 million in Q2-14, and by $0.4 million to $10.5 million in YTD-15, as compared to $10.9 million in YTD-14. The decrease in research and development expenses in Q2-15 and YTD-15 as compared to the same periods in the prior year was primarily due to decreased activities at advanced nanometer technology nodes for IC photomasks.
 
22

Other Income (Expense), net

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
Q2-15
   
Q2-14
   
YTD-15
   
YTD-14
 
                         
Gain on acquisition
 
$
-
   
$
16.4
   
$
-
   
$
16.4
 
Interest expense
   
(1.3
)
   
(1.8
)
   
(2.6
)
   
(3.8
)
Interest and other income (expense), net
   
(0.2
)
   
0.6
     
(0.1
)
   
1.7
 
                                 
Other income (expense), net
 
$
(1.5
)
 
$
15.2
   
$
(2.7
)
 
$
14.3
 

  In April 2014 DNP Photomask Technology Taiwan Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP), merged into PSMC and operates under the name of Photronics DNP Mask Corporation (PDMC). The acquisition resulted in the Company recording a gain of $16.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014. See Note 2 of the condensed consolidated financial statements for more information.

Interest expense decreased by $0.5 million in Q2-15, as compared to Q2-14, and by $1.2 million in YTD-15, as compared to YTD-14, primarily as a result of reduced outstanding borrowing balances.

Interest and other income (expense), net decreased in Q2-15 as compared to Q2-14 by $0.8 million, and in YTD-15 as compared to YTD-14 by $1.8 million as a result of reduced interest income on lower cash balances, lower net foreign currency gains and financing expenses related to the Company’s exchange of convertible debt incurred in Q1-15.

Income Tax Provision

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
Q2-15
   
Q2-14
   
YTD-15
   
YTD-14
 
                         
Income tax provision
 
$
1.3
   
$
2.0
   
$
4.4
   
$
4.7
 
                                 
Effective income tax rate
   
9.3
%
   
11.3
%
   
18.5
%
   
20.9
%

The Company’s effective income tax rate is sensitive to the jurisdictional mix of earnings, due in part to the non-recognition of tax benefits on losses in jurisdictions in which the Company has established valuation allowances for such benefits.

The effective income tax rate decrease in Q2-15 and YTD-15, as compared with Q2-14 and YTD-14, was primarily attributable to a reduction of a deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which was offset in part by a lower percentage of income before income taxes being earned in jurisdictions where the Company maintains valuation allowances and, therefore, does not recognize a tax expense or benefit.

As of each reporting date, the Company considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact management’s views with regards to future realization of deferred tax assets. As of May 3, 2015, the Company determined that sufficient positive evidence existed in a foreign jurisdiction that it was more likely than not that additional deferred taxes of $1.5 million were realizable and, therefore, reduced the valuation allowance accordingly.

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased $1.7 million to $2.1 million in Q2-15, as compared to $0.4 million in Q2-14, and by $4.9 million to $5.4 million in YTD-15, as compared to $0.5 million in YTD-14, primarily as a result of changes in the ownership structure of the Company’s IC manufacturing facility located in Taiwan. During Q2-14, the Company exchanged a 49.99% noncontrolling interest in this subsidiary in return for the net assets of an acquiree. See Notes 2 and 12 of the condensed consolidated financial statements for further information.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company's working capital was $151.4 million at May 3, 2015, and $197.4 million at November 2, 2014. The decrease in working capital was primarily related to planned capital equipment purchases. Cash and cash equivalents were $176.1 million at May 3, 2015, and $192.9 million at November 2, 2014. Net cash provided by operating activities was $57.9 million for the six month period ended May 3, 2015, as compared to $39.9 million for the six month period ended May 4, 2014, the increase primarily due to increased net income in 2015, as well as net income in 2014 included a $16.4 million noncash acquisition gain as discussed in Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Net cash used in investing activities for the six month period ended May 3, 2015, was $68.2 million, which was comprised primarily of capital expenditure payments. Net cash used in financing activities of $3.6 million for the six month period ended May 3, 2015, was primarily comprised of repayments of long-term borrowings. The Company may use its cash available on hand for operations, capital expenditures, debt repayments, strategic opportunities, stock repurchases or other corporate uses, any of which may be material.
 
23

As of May 3, 2015 and November 2, 2014, the Company’s total cash and cash equivalents include $93.3 million and $105.9 million, respectively, held by its foreign subsidiaries. A repatriation of these funds to the U.S., in certain jurisdictions, may be subject to U.S. federal income taxes and local country withholding tax. The majority of earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are considered to be indefinitely reinvested. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries continue to grow through the reinvestment of earnings in additional manufacturing capacity and capability, particularly in the high-end IC and FPD areas.

In January 2015 the Company privately exchanged $57.5 million in aggregate principal amount of its 3.25% convertible senior notes with a maturity date of April 1, 2016, for new 3.25% convertible senior notes with an aggregate principal amount of $57.5 million with a maturity date of April 1, 2019. The conversion rate of the new notes is the same as that of the exchanged notes, which were issued in March 2011 with a conversion rate of approximately 96 shares of common stock per $1,000 note principal, equivalent to a conversion price of $10.37 per share of common stock, and is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, which are described in the indenture dated January 22, 2015. Note holders may convert each $1,000 principal amount of notes at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding April 1, 2019, and the Company is not required to redeem the notes prior to their maturity date. Interest on the notes accrues in arrears, and is paid semiannually through the notes’ maturity date.

In April 2014 the Company acquired DPTT, which was a non-cash transaction that resulted in the Company owning 50.01% and DNP owning 49.99% of PDMC, whose financial results are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. PDMC is expected to generate sufficient cash flows to fund its operating and capital requirements. See Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements for more information.

The Company’s credit facility, which expires in December 2018, has a $50 million limit with an expansion capacity to $75 million, and is secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets located in the United States and common stock the Company owns in certain of its foreign subsidiaries. The credit facility is subject to a minimum interest coverage ratio, total leverage ratio and minimum unrestricted cash balance financial covenants, all of which the Company was in compliance with at May 3, 2015. The Company had no outstanding borrowings against the credit facility at May 3, 2015, and $50 million was available for borrowing. The interest rate on the credit facility (1.69% at May 3, 2015) is based on the Company’s total leverage ratio at LIBOR plus a spread, as defined in the credit facility.

In January 2014 the Company acquired all of the 3.0 million shares of PSMC that were then held by noncontrolling interests at a cost of $1.7 million.
 
As of May 3, 2015, the Company had capital equipment commitments outstanding of approximately $6 million. The Company believes that its currently available resources, together with its capacity for growth, and its access to equity and other financing sources, will be sufficient to satisfy its currently planned capital expenditures, as well as its anticipated working capital requirements for the next twelve months. However, the Company cannot assure that additional sources of financing would be available to the Company on commercially favorable terms should the Company's capital requirements exceed cash available from operations, existing cash, and cash available under its credit facility.

The Company's liquidity is highly dependent on its sales volume, cash conversion cycle, and the timing of its capital expenditures (which can vary significantly from period to period), as it operates in a high fixed cost environment. Depending on conditions in the semiconductor and FPD markets, the Company's cash flows from operations and current holdings of cash may not be adequate to meet its current and long-term needs for capital expenditures, operations and debt repayments. However, the Company believes its cash on hand, cash generated from its operations and cash committed under its credit facility will allow it to fund its operations through at least the next twelve months. Historically, in certain years, the Company has used external financing to fund these needs. Due to conditions in the credit markets, some financing instruments used by the Company in the past may not be currently available to it. The Company continues to evaluate further cost reduction initiatives. However, the Company cannot assure that additional sources of financing would be available to it on commercially favorable terms, should its cash requirements exceed cash available from operations, existing cash, and cash available under its credit facility.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Under the MP Mask joint venture operating agreement, in order to maintain its 49.99% ownership interest, the Company may be required to make additional capital contributions to the joint venture up to the maximum amount specified in the operating agreement. Cumulatively through May 3, 2015, the Company has contributed $32.5 million to the joint venture and has received distributions from the joint venture totaling $10.0 million.
 
24

Under the PDMC operating agreement the shareholders of PDMC may be requested to make additional contributions to PDMC. In the event that PDMC requests additional capital from its shareholders, the Company may be required to make additional capital contributions to PDMC in order to maintain its 50.01% ownership. The PDMC operating agreement limits the amount of contributions that may be requested during both the first four years of PDMC and during any individual year within those first four years.

The Company leases certain office facilities and equipment under operating leases that may require it to pay taxes, insurance and maintenance expenses related to the properties. Certain of these leases contain renewal or purchase options exercisable at the end of the lease terms.

Business Outlook

A majority of the Company's revenue growth is expected to continue to come from the Asian region, as customers increase their use of manufacturing foundries located outside of North America and Europe. Additional revenue growth is also anticipated in North America, as the Company expects to continue to benefit from advanced technology it may utilize under its technology license with Micron.

The Company continues to assess its global manufacturing strategy and monitor its market capitalization, sales volume and related cash flows from operations. This ongoing assessment could result in future facility closures, asset redeployments, additional impairments of intangible or long-lived assets, workforce reductions, or the addition of increased manufacturing facilities, all of which would be based on market conditions and customer requirements.

Effect of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See “Note 14 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements” to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

The Company conducts business in several major international currencies through its worldwide operations and its financial performance may be affected by fluctuations in the exchange rates of these currencies. Changes in exchange rates can positively or negatively affect the Company's sales, operating margins, assets, liabilities, and equity. The functional currencies of the Company's Asian subsidiaries are the Korean won, the New Taiwan dollar, and the Singapore dollar. The functional currencies of the Company's European subsidiaries are the British pound and the euro.

The Company attempts to minimize its risk of foreign currency transaction losses by producing its products in the same country in which the products are sold (thereby generating revenues and incurring expenses in the same currency), and by managing its working capital. However, in some instances, the Company sells products in a currency other than the functional currency of the country where it was produced or purchases products in a currency that differs from the functional currency of the purchasing manufacturing facility. There can be no assurance that this approach will continue to be successful, especially in the event of a significant adverse movement in the value of any foreign currency against the U.S. dollar.

The Company's primary net foreign currency exposures as of May 3, 2015, included the Korean won, the Japanese yen, the New Taiwan dollar, the Singapore dollar, the British pound, and the euro. As of May 3, 2015, a 10% adverse movement in the value of these currencies against the U.S. dollar would have resulted in a net unrealized pre-tax loss of $3.6 million. The Company does not believe that a 10% change in the exchange rates of other non-U.S. dollar currencies would have a material effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Interest Rate Risk

At May 3, 2015, the Company did not have any variable rate borrowings. A 10% change in interest rates would not have had a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows in the three or six month periods ended May 3, 2015.
 
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Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company has established and currently maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its reports filed under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company's chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

The Company's management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the Company's second quarter of fiscal 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes to risks relating to the Company's business as disclosed in Part 1, Item 1A of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended November 2, 2014.
 
26

Item 6.
 
EXHIBITS
   
 
(a)
 
Exhibits
   
           
     
Exhibit
Number
 
 
Description
           
       
Bridge License Agreement between Micron and Photronics dated March 24, 2015#
           
       
Outsource Supply Agreement between Micron and Photronics dated March 24, 2015#
           
       
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
           
       
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
           
       
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
           
       
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
           
     
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
           
     
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
           
     
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
           
     
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
           
     
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
           
     
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

#
Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 
Photronics, Inc.
 
 
(Registrant)
 
     
By:
/s/ SEAN T. SMITH
 
 
Sean T. Smith
 
 
Senior Vice President
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Duly Authorized Officer and
 
 
Principal Financial Officer)
 

Date:  June 4, 2015
 
 
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Exhibit 10.16 #

BRIDGE LICENSE AGREEMENT

THIS BRIDGE LICENSE AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of March 24, 2015 (the “Execution Date”) by and between Micron Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Micron”), and Photronics, Inc., a Connecticut corporation (“Photronics”).  Micron and Photronics are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party.”

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Micron and Photronics formed a joint venture known as MP Mask Technology Center, LLC (“MP Mask”) governed in accordance with that certain Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement dated as of May 5, 2006 (the “Operating Agreement”), by and among Micron, Photronics and MP Mask, for the purpose of developing, producing and manufacturing photomasks and prototypes for photomasks for leading edge and next generation semiconductors; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the formation of MP Mask, Micron and Photronics also entered into a Technology License Agreement (the “Technology License Agreement”), as well as certain supply agreements and other related agreements; and

WHEREAS, Micron and Photronics have mutually agreed to terminate the MP Mask joint venture, as contemplated by the Operating Agreement, as of May 5, 2016; and

WHEREAS, the parties have begun, but may not complete by May 5, 2016, the transfer of the Technology associated with the * DRAM node to Photronics pursuant to the Technology License Agreement; and

WHEREAS, in order to attempt to complete the transfer of the Technology associated with the * DRAM node to Photronics that was initiated under the Technology License Agreement, the Parties have agreed to enter into this Bridge License Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and other terms and conditions contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

Definitions: For purposes of this Agreement all capitalized terms set forth herein and not otherwise defined will have the meaning as set forth in the Technology License Agreement, notwithstanding any termination of the Technology License Agreement.

For purposes of this Agreement, “Photronics Facility” shall mean a facility that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is at least ninety percent (90%) owned by Photronics unless otherwise agreed upon by Micron in writing on a case-by-case basis.

For purposes of this Agreement, “Certification” shall mean the date upon which Micron certifies that the transfer of the Technology associated with the * DRAM node has been transferred to Photronics consistent with the transfer of the most-recent previous node under the Technology License Agreement.

*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
 

Article 1.1                Notwithstanding termination of the Technology License Agreement pursuant to Article 9.3 therein, subject to the terms of this Agreement, Micron hereby agrees to continue the transfer of the Technology necessary to achieve Certification of the Designated Facility (Photronics’ facility in Boise, Idaho) for the * DRAM node, to the extent such technology transfer is not completed prior to the termination of the Technology License Agreement.

Article 1.2                Furthermore, Micron will continue such transfer under the terms and conditions of the Technology License Agreement applicable thereto and using the same effort and collaborative spirit as the most-recent previous technology transfer under the Technology License Agreement.

Article 1.3                This Bridge License Agreement will be effective as of the date last signed below and continue until the earlier of:  one year from the termination of the Technology License Agreement; or the date of Certification.

Article 1.4                Except as modified by the definitions in this Agreement, the rights, obligations, and licenses that survive the termination of the Technology License Agreement pursuant to Paragraph 9.5 therein (other than Section 4.4), shall also survive with respect to the Technology transferred pursuant to this Agreement to the same extent as if such Technology had been transferred during the term of the Technology License Agreement.  For clarification and avoidance of doubt, the Technology transferred under this Agreement shall be subject to the same confidentiality obligations as the Technology previously transferred under the Technology License Agreement.

Article 1.5                Nothing in this Bridge License Agreement shall modify, amend, or in any way extend the Technology License Agreement except with respect to the Technology transferred hereunder and only as explicitly set forth herein.

Article 1.6                Micron’s obligations under this Agreement are contingent upon Photronics maintaining a matched tool set, facility, and processes to Micron’s facility (the facility utilized by MP Mask as of the Execution Date) at the Designated Facility.  If Photronics fails to maintain the matched status during the term of this Agreement, Micron may terminate this Agreement upon notice to Photronics.

Article 1.7                The terms of Article 11 of the Technology License Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth, and shall survive any termination of this Bridge License Agreement.

[Signature page follows]

*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
 
 
Photronics, Inc.
     
 
By:
                     
 
Name:
                 
 
Title:
                  
 
Date:
                     
     
 
Micron Technology, Inc.
     
 
By:
                
 
Name:
                  
 
Title:
                   
 
Date:
                    

*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


Exhibit 10.18#

OUTSOURCE SUPPLY AGREEMENT

THIS OUTSOURCE SUPPLY AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of March 24, 2015 (the “Execution Date”) by and between Micron Technology, Inc. a Delaware corporation (“MTI”), and Photronics, Inc., a Connecticut corporation (“Photronics”).  MTI and Photronics are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party.”

RECITALS

WHEREAS, MTI and Photronics formed a joint venture known as MP Mask Technology Center, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MP Mask”), governed in accordance with that certain Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement dated as of May 5, 2006 (the “Operating Agreement”), by and among MTI, Photronics and MP Mask, for the purpose of developing, producing and manufacturing photomasks and prototypes for photomasks for leading edge and next generation semiconductors;

WHEREAS, after a successful ten year relationship the Parties have mutually agreed to dissolve, liquidate and terminate MP Mask in response to changing business needs of both Parties; and

WHEREAS, in order to continue the ongoing strategic and collaborative relationship between the Parties, Photronics will continue to supply photomasks to Micron (as hereinafter defined) pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and other terms and conditions contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Agreement, the definitions set forth in this Section 1 shall apply to the respective capitalized terms.

“Dead-on-Arrival” shall mean any Products that are discovered to contain a Material Defect within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of shipment of the Products.

“Material Defect” shall mean any malfunction, error or other defect in Products that constitutes a material nonconformity with the Specifications for such Products under conditions of normal and proper use.

“Micron” shall mean, collectively, MTI and Micron’s Affiliates.

“Micron’s Affiliates” shall mean any entity which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, MTI.  The term “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any entity, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.  An entity shall be deemed an Affiliate of MTI only so long as such control relationship exists.  *.

*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

1

“Outsourcing Requirements” shall mean photomask for Micron that Micron does not manufacture within its own mask facility.

“Photronics Facility” *.

“Products” mean photomasks, photomask module services or photomask prototypes excluding repells that are to be manufactured by Photronics at a Photronics Facility in accordance with Micron’s Specifications and requirements.

“Purchase Commitment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.

“Purchase Order” shall mean a written purchase order or blanket purchase order that is delivered to Photronics in accordance with Section 4.

“Qualified” shall mean, with respect to Products for a specific semiconductor device family (e.g., DRAM, NAND Flash and image sensors) and process node, that (i) the Photronics Facility at which Products will be manufactured has passed Micron’s facility audits, as conducted by Micron from time to time; and (ii) Micron has determined in its sole discretion that such Products meet Micron’s Specifications and all of its requirements relating to factors such as cycle times, plate priority, material type, etc., provided that such Specifications and requirements are not more stringent than Micron’s specifications and requirements to other third party photomask product suppliers in connection with the manufacture of the same products by such suppliers.

“Specifications” shall mean the specifications provided by Micron to Photronics for each Product in accordance with Micron’s photomask ordering procedures and node requirements.

“Warranty Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.a.

2. SCOPE OF AGREEMENT

As long as Photronics continues to remain a Micron supplier in good standing for the technology nodes for which Photronics is currently Qualified or may be Qualified during the term of this Agreement, Micron will purchase from Photronics a minimum of * on a purchase dollar basis of Micron’s Outsourcing Requirements (the “Purchase Commitment”).  This Agreement does not constitute a purchase order.  Purchases made by Micron under this Agreement shall be made only with a Purchase Order.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any Outsourcing Requirements of Inotera (photomask product requests from Inotera to Micron that Micron does not manufacture within its own mask facility) purchased from Photronics shall be counted towards the Purchase Commitment.
 
*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
2

3. TERM

This Agreement will be valid for a period of twelve (12) months effective May 6, 2016 through May 5, 2017 (the “Term”), except that Purchase Orders may call for delivery after expiration of this Agreement up to a maximum of *.  The Term may be extended for additional one year periods upon the mutual written agreement of both Parties.

4. PURCHASE ORDERS

a.            Purchase Orders.  Micron shall purchase Products from Photronics by issuing a Purchase Order or a release to a blanket Purchase Order issued to Photronics that references this Agreement.  The Parties agree that a Purchase Order sent to Photronics by confirmed facsimile or electronic transmission shall constitute a writing for all legal purposes.  All Purchase Orders submitted to Photronics shall be governed by the terms of this Agreement.  Nothing contained in any Purchase Order or the Parties’ other documents of purchase or sale shall in any way modify the terms of purchase or add any additional terms or conditions except as specifically agreed in writing by the Parties.

b.            Acknowledgment of Purchase Orders.  For Micron’s Purchase Orders from Photronics Facilities, Photronics shall notify Micron of the receipt and acceptance of a Purchase Order or releases thereto and of the mutually agreed upon price and delivery date for accepted orders within two (2) business days after receipt of the Purchase Order.

c.            Revision of Purchase Orders.  Micron shall have the right, without charge, to issue change orders to Purchase Orders by providing written notice to Photronics prior to the beginning of the production of the Products impacted by such change order.  Photronics shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to accommodate Micron’s revised Purchase Order in accordance with the lead times in effect at the time the Purchase Order change is requested.

d.            Cancellations.  Micron may cancel all or any part of a Purchase Order, without charge, by providing written notice to Photronics prior to the beginning of the production of the Products impacted by such cancellation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Micron may cancel Purchase Orders after the beginning of production, but agrees in such instance to pay Photronics all verified, reasonable out-of-pocket costs for raw materials and work in process incurred by Photronics for the ordered Products under the cancelled Purchase Order, provided that such raw materials and work in process may not be reasonably used by Photronics in fulfilling subsequent Purchase Orders.

e.            Reschedules.  Micron may reschedule the delivery of any Purchase Order or portion thereof for Products, without charge, upon notice to Photronics.

5. SHIPPING; DELIVERY; ACCEPTANCE

a.            Packaging Requirements.  All shipments shall be packed in packaging that complies with Micron’s packaging requirements provided to Photronics and the Specifications.  In addition, all shipments shall be accompanied by a detailed packing list which will reference the Products, Purchase Order number, and the quantity in each shipment covered by the packing list.
 
*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
3


b.            Shipping.  Orders will be shipped to the delivery address set forth in the applicable Purchase Order and delivered on the applicable delivery date(s).

c.            Delivery.  Photronics’ liability for delivery shall cease and title and all risk of loss or damage shall transfer to Micron when the Products are delivered to Micron’s designated receiving facility as specified in the Purchase Order.  Micron shall be the importer of record and pay all related duties, fees and charges. Photronics shall immediately notify Micron in writing of any anticipated delays in meeting the delivery schedule, stating the reasons for the delay.  No shipment will be deemed complete until all ordered units have been delivered.

d.            Dead on Arrival.  In the event that any Products are found by Micron to be Dead-on-Arrival, Photronics shall use reasonable efforts at Photronics’ sole expense, to replace Products to the site designated by Micron within fourteen (14) business days of receipt of notice from Micron.

6. PRICE; PAYMENTS; TAXES; AUDIT

a.            Purchase Price for Products.  The purchase price for Products sold to Micron hereunder shall be mutually agreed to between the Parties and set forth in the Purchase Order acknowledgement.

b.            Payments Terms.  Photronics shall issue and deliver an invoice to Micron for any amounts payable to Photronics pursuant to this Agreement.  Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, payments for Products delivered hereunder, and any other payments required hereunder, shall be made within sixty (60) days after the receipt of a correct final invoice.  Payment does not constitute acceptance.  In no event shall Photronics deliver an invoice before shipping the Products to which such invoice relates.  Photronics may suspend performance hereunder if Micron fails to make any material overdue and undisputed payment hereunder within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from Photronics that such payment is overdue.

c.            Taxes.  All amounts payable for Products sold by Photronics to Micron hereunder are exclusive of any taxes. Micron shall be responsible for and shall pay any applicable sales, use, excise or similar taxes, including value added taxes and customs duties due on the importation of Products and arising from purchases made by Micron under this Agreement, excluding any taxes based on Photronics’ income. All such taxes shall be determined based upon the final shipment designation of the items identified on the invoice.

d.            Audit and Inspection Rights.  Upon Micron’s request from time to time (not to exceed two (2) times per year) Micron shall, upon reasonable advanced written notice to Photronics, have the right to have an independent auditor reasonably acceptable to Photronics to (i) inspect Photronics’ Facilities used to manufacture the Products, (ii) inspect equipment and materials used in the manufacture of Products, and (iii) perform an audit of Photronics’s books and records to verify Photronics compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Purchase Order and any Purchase Order specific terms.
 
*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
4

7. WARRANTIES

a.            Product Warranty.  Photronics represents and warrants to Micron that the Products sold to Micron hereunder will comply with Micron’s Specifications and will be free from defects in materials and workmanship.  Photronics’ warranty is for * after acceptance or delivery of the Products (such * period, the “Warranty Period”).  This warranty does not apply to any Product failures resulting from any misuse, abuse, neglect, alteration, modification, improper installation of or repairs to the Products by anyone other than Photronics.

b.            Remedies.  In the event that Micron notifies Photronics during the applicable Warranty Period that any Products do not conform to the warranty provisions set forth in this Section 7, Photronics shall, at Micron’s option, (a) replace such defective Products at no cost to Micron in accordance with Photronics’ Products return material authorization procedures within ten (10) days of Photronics’ receipt of the defective Products, (b) repair such defective Products at no cost to Micron, or (c) provide a refund of any amounts paid by Micron for such defective Product.  Photronics shall bear all packing, transportation, insurance and other costs incurred in connection with the replacement or repair of defective Products.  Except for resulting personal injury or property damage, this paragraph states the exclusive remedy of Micron for failure of any Product to conform to the warranty provisions set forth in this Section 7.

c.            Disclaimer.  EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, NEITHER PARTY MAKES (AND EACH PARTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS) ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTIES THAT MAY ARISE FROM COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.

8. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

All information provided, disclosed or obtained in connection with this Agreement or the performance of either of the Parties’ activities under this Agreement shall be subject to all applicable provisions of the Nondisclosure Agreement between Micron and Photronics dated January 19, 2010, as amended (the “Nondisclosure Agreement”).  Furthermore, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be considered “Confidential Information” under the Nondisclosure Agreement for which each Party is considered a “Receiving Party” under such agreement.  To the extent there is a conflict between this Agreement and the Nondisclosure Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control.  If the Nondisclosure Agreement is terminated or expires and is not replaced, such Nondisclosure Agreement shall continue with respect to confidential information provided in connection with this Agreement, notwithstanding such expiration or termination, for the duration of the Term and any and all extension periods or until a new nondisclosure agreement is entered into between the Parties.
 
*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
5

9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

EXCEPT FOR BREACHES OF CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATIONS, IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY OR ANY THIRD PARTY CLAIMING THROUGH OR UNDER EACH SUCH PARTY, FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, EQUIPMENT DOWNTIME, OR FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER IN AN ACTION IN CONTRACT OR TORT, BASED ON A WARRANTY, SALE OF PRODUCT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF EACH SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  Each Party acknowledges that the foregoing limitations are an essential element of the Agreement between the Parties and that in the absence of such limitations the pricing and other terms set forth in this Agreement would be substantially different. In no event shall Photronics be liable for “cover” damages claimed by Micron arising out of any failure by Photronics to supply Products hereunder after expiration or termination of this Agreement. Each Party shall have a duty to mitigate any damages hereunder in accordance with applicable law.

10. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INFRINGEMENT INDEMNIFICATION.

a.            Micron Indemnity.  Micron shall defend Photronics at Micron’s expense, subject to the limits contained herein, against any third party suits, actions, claims or proceedings alleging that Products manufactured by Photronics strictly in accordance with Micron Specifications at Photronics Facilities for sale to Micron hereunder infringe such third party’s patent rights, copyrights or trademarks, or misappropriate such third party’s trade secrets, and Micron agrees to indemnify Photronics and hold Photronics harmless from and against any damages, losses, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) awarded by a court or in settlement against Photronics in connection with any such third party claim, up to a dollar cap equal to amounts paid by Micron to Photronics under this Agreement for the * preceding the claims; provided that (i) Photronics notifies Micron promptly in writing of the claim; (ii) Micron has sole control of the defense and all related settlement negotiations; and (iii) Photronics provides Micron (at Micron’s request and reasonable expense) with all necessary assistance, information, and authority to perform these duties.

b.            Photronics Indemnity.  Photronics shall defend Micron at Photronics’ expense, subject to the limits contained herein, against any third party suits, actions, claims or proceedings alleging that any Products  manufactured by Photronics at a Photronics Facilities, infringe such third party’s patent rights, copyrights or trademarks, or misappropriate such third party’s trade secrets, and Photronics agrees to indemnify Micron and hold Micron harmless from and against any damages, losses, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) awarded by a court or in settlement against Micron in connection with any such third party claim up to a dollar cap equal to amounts paid by Micron to Photronics under this Agreement for the * preceding the claim; provided that (i) Micron notifies Photronics promptly in writing of the claim; (ii) Photronics has sole control of the defense and all related settlement negotiations; and (iii) Micron provides Photronics (at Photronics’ request and reasonable expense) with all necessary assistance, information, and authority to perform these duties.

c.            Exclusions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Photronics shall not indemnify Micron against claims, and shall have no liability for any claims, of infringement with respect to which Photronics is indemnified by Micron above, or based on or arising from any claims that the customer products produced as a result of using the photomasks specified and purchased by Micron infringe or misappropriate the intellectual property rights of any third party.
 
*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
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11. MISCELLANEOUS TERMS.

a.            Amendments.  This Agreement may not be amended without the prior written consent of both Parties.

b.            No Waiver.  Any provision of this Agreement may be waived if, and only if, such waiver is in writing and is duly executed by the Party against whom the waiver is to be enforced. No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial waiver or exercise thereof preclude the enforcement of any other right, power or privilege.

c.            Notices and Other Communications.  All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall reference this Agreement and will be deemed given: (a) when sent by confirmed facsimile; (b) five (5) business days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (c) three (3) business days after deposit with an internationally recognized commercial overnight carrier specifying next-day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All such notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be addressed as follows:

Photronics, Inc.
15 Secor Road
Brookfield, CT 06804
Attention: Richelle Burr Vice President and General Counsel
Facsimile: (203) 775-5601

If to Micron:

Micron Technology, Inc.
8000 S. Federal Way
Boise, Idaho 83716
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (208) 368-4540

or to such other address or facsimile number as a Party may have specified to the other Parties in writing delivered in accordance with this Section.

d.            Governing Law.  This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, as applied to agreements among Delaware residents entered into and wholly to be performed within the State of Delaware (without reference to any choice or conflicts of laws rules or principles that would require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction).
 
e.            Construction; Interpretation.  Certain Terms. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The term “including” is not limited and means “including without limitation.”
 
*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
7

f.             Section References; Titles and Subtitles.  Unless otherwise noted, all references to Sections and Schedules herein are to Sections and Schedules of this Agreement.  The titles, captions and headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

g.            Reference to Persons, Agreements, Statutes.  Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references to a Person include its successors and permitted assigns, (ii) references to agreements (including this Agreement) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements and other modifications thereto or supplements thereof and (iii) references to any statute or regulation are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such statute or regulation.

h.            Presumptions.  No party, nor its counsel, shall be deemed the drafter of this Agreement for purposes of construing the provisions of this Agreement, and all provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with their fair meaning, and not strictly for or against any party.

i.             Rights and Remedies Cumulative.  Except as provided in set forth herein and subject to the limitations of liability provided herein, above, all remedies provided for in this Agreement shall be cumulative and in addition to and not in lieu of any other remedies available to any Party at law, in equity or otherwise.

j.             No Assignment; Binding Effect.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, neither Party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder to any third party, whether by assignment, transfer, change in control, or other means, without the prior written consent of the other Party.

k.            Relationship of the Parties; Non-exclusivity.  In the exercise of their respective rights and the performance of their respective obligations hereunder the Parties are, and will remain independent contractors. Nothing in this Agreement will be construed to constitute the Parties as partners or principal and agent for any purpose whatsoever.  Neither Party will bind, or attempt to bind, the other Party hereto to any contract or other obligation, and neither Party will represent to any third party that it is authorized to act on behalf of the other Party to this Agreement.

l.              Severability.  If any provision in this Agreement will be found or be held to be invalid or unenforceable, then the meaning of said provision will be construed, to the extent feasible, so as to render the provision enforceable, and if no feasible interpretation would save such provision, it will be severed from the remainder of this Agreement which will remain in full force and effect unless the severed provision is essential and material to the rights or benefits received by any Party.  In such event, the Parties will use their respective best efforts to negotiate, in good faith, a substitute, valid and enforceable provision or agreement which most nearly affects the Parties’ intent in entering into this Agreement.

m.           Execution.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which so executed will be deemed to be an original and such counterparts together will constitute one and the same agreement.  Execution and delivery of this Agreement by exchange of facsimile or .pdf copies of the manual signature of a Party shall constitute a valid and binding execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Party.
 
*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
8


n.            Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, together with the other documents, exhibits and schedules referred to herein and therein, constitute the entire agreement among the Parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof, and supersede any and all prior oral and written, and all contemporaneous oral, agreements or understandings pertaining thereto.  There are no agreements, understandings, restrictions, warranties or representations relating to such subject matter between the Parties other than those set forth herein and in the other documents, exhibits and schedules referred to herein and therein.

o.            No Third Party Beneficiaries.  The terms and provisions of this Agreement are intended solely for the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and the Parties do not intend to confer third party beneficiary rights upon any other Entity or person.

p.            Force Majeure.  Neither Party shall be deemed in default if its performance or obligations hereunder are delayed or become impossible or impractical due to causes beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, war, fire, earthquake, flood, riot and acts of civil or military authority.  Force majeure events shall not include delays in transportation, shortages of material or delays by subcontractors or suppliers, unless such delay by a subcontractor or a supplier was caused by an event that would qualify as a force majeure event under this item (o).  Under no circumstances shall delays in payment, economic considerations or economic impossibilities or inefficiencies delay performance or be considered a force majeure.  The time for performance of any such obligation shall be extended for the time period lost by reason of the delay.  During any period in which Photronics is unable to fulfill Micron purchase orders due to a force majeure event and for ninety (90) days after the effect of the force majeure event ends, Micron shall be relieved of its purchase commitment pursuant to Section 2.

[Signature page follows]
 
*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

9

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the Execution Date.
 
 
Photronics, Inc.
     
 
By:
                     
 
Name:
                  
 
Title:
               
     
 
Micron Technology, Inc.
     
 
By:
                    
 
Name:
                     
 
Title:
                   

Accepted and Agreed to:

Micron Semiconductor Asia Pte. Ltd.
 
By:
                    
 
Name:
                       
 
Title:
                         
 
 
*Material omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act of 1934. Material filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
 
10


EXHIBIT 31.1

I, Peter S. Kirlin, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Photronics, Inc.

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report.

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report.

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

  a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

  b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

  c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

  d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

  a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

  b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
/s/  PETER S. KIRLIN
Peter S. Kirlin
Chief Executive Officer
June 4, 2015
 
 


EXHIBIT 31.2

I, Sean T. Smith, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Photronics, Inc.

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report.

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report.

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
/s/  SEAN T. SMITH
Sean T. Smith
Chief Financial Officer
June 4, 2015

 


EXHIBIT 32.1

Section 1350 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer

I, Peter S. Kirlin, Chief Executive Officer of Photronics, Inc. (the "Company"), certify, to my knowledge, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

(1) The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended May 3, 2015, (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

The foregoing certification is being furnished pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 and will not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.

/s/  PETER S. KIRLIN
Peter S. Kirlin
Chief Executive Officer
June 4, 2015

 


EXHIBIT 32.2

Section 1350 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

I, Sean T. Smith, Chief Financial Officer of Photronics, Inc. (the "Company"), certify, to my knowledge, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

(1) The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended May 3, 2015, (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

The foregoing certification is being furnished pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 and will not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.

/s/  SEAN T. SMITH
Sean T. Smith
Chief Financial Officer
June 4, 2015