EXPANSION INTO CHINA	12 Months Ended
Oct. 29, 2017
EXPANSION INTO CHINA [Abstract]
EXPANSION INTO CHINA	NOTE 19 – EXPANSION INTO CHINA Expansion of IC Manufacturing into China In August 2016, Photronics Singapore Pte, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary, signed an investment agreement with the Administrative Committee of Xiamen Torch Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Xiamen Torch) to establish an IC manufacturing facility in Xiamen, China. Under the terms of the agreement, we will build and operate an IC facility to engage in research and development, manufacture and sale of photomasks, in return for which Xiamen Torch will provide certain investment incentives and support. This expansion is also substantially supported by customer commitments for its output. The total investment per the agreement is $160 million to be funded over the next five years in cash, transferred equipment and potential local borrowings. Construction began in 2017 and production is anticipated to start in early 2019. In the third quarter of fiscal 2017, we agreed to create a joint venture with DNP to encompass the Xiamen project. Under the agreement, our wholly-owned Singapore subsidiary will own 50.01% of the joint venture, which will be named Photronics DNP Mask Corporation Xiamen (PDMCX), and a subsidiary of DNP will own the remaining 49.99%. The financial results of the joint venture will be included in Photronics’ consolidated financial statements. Expansion of FPD Manufacturing into China In August 2017, we announced that Photronics UK Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary, signed an investment agreement with Hefei State Hi-tech Industry Development Zone to establish a manufacturing facility in Hefei, China. Under the terms of the agreement, through our subsidiary, we will invest a minimum of $160 million, a portion of which may be funded with local borrowings, to build and operate a research and development and manufacturing facility for high-end and mainstream FPD photomasks. Hefei State Hi-tech Industry Development Zone will provide certain investment incentives and support for this facility, which will have initial capability to produce up to G10.5 large area masks and AMOLED products. Construction began in late 2017 and production is anticipated to commence in early 2019.

NOTE 19 – EXPANSION INTO CHINA

Expansion of IC Manufacturing into China

In August 2016, Photronics Singapore Pte, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary, signed an investment agreement with the Administrative Committee of Xiamen Torch Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Xiamen Torch) to establish an IC manufacturing facility in Xiamen, China. Under the terms of the agreement, we will build and operate an IC facility to engage in research and development, manufacture and sale of photomasks, in return for which Xiamen Torch will provide certain investment incentives and support. This expansion is also substantially supported by customer commitments for its output. The total investment per the agreement is $160 million to be funded over the next five years in cash, transferred equipment and potential local borrowings. Construction began in 2017 and production is anticipated to start in early 2019.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2017, we agreed to create a joint venture with DNP to encompass the Xiamen project. Under the agreement, our wholly-owned Singapore subsidiary will own 50.01% of the joint venture, which will be named Photronics DNP Mask Corporation Xiamen (PDMCX), and a subsidiary of DNP will own the remaining 49.99%. The financial results of the joint venture will be included in Photronics’ consolidated financial statements.

Expansion of FPD Manufacturing into China

In August 2017, we announced that Photronics UK Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary, signed an investment agreement with Hefei State Hi-tech Industry Development Zone to establish a manufacturing facility in Hefei, China. Under the terms of the agreement, through our subsidiary, we will invest a minimum of $160 million, a portion of which may be funded with local borrowings, to build and operate a research and development and manufacturing facility for high-end and mainstream FPD photomasks. Hefei State Hi-tech Industry Development Zone will provide certain investment incentives and support for this facility, which will have initial capability to produce up to G10.5 large area masks and AMOLED products. Construction began in late 2017 and production is anticipated to commence in early 2019.