DUPONT PHOTOMASKS INC
S-1/A, 1996-06-10
SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC
Previous: BAYCORP HOLDINGS LTD, S-4/A, 1996-06-10
Next: DONNA KARAN INTERNATIONAL INC, S-1/A, 1996-06-10



<PAGE>
   
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 10, 1996
    
 
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 333-3386
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                           --------------------------
 
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 2
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-1
    
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
                            DUPONT PHOTOMASKS, INC.
              (Exact name of registrant, specified in its charter)
 
                           --------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>                            <C>
           DELAWARE                          3559                  74-2238819
 (State or other jurisdiction    (Primary Standard Industrial   (I.R.S. Employer
              of                    Classification Number)       Identification
incorporation or organization)                                        No.)
</TABLE>
 
                                100 TEXAS AVENUE
                            ROUND ROCK, TEXAS 78664
                                 (512) 244-0024
         (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
            area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
 
                           --------------------------
 
                              J. MICHAEL HARDINGER
               CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                            DUPONT PHOTOMASKS, INC.
                                100 TEXAS AVENUE
                            ROUND ROCK, TEXAS 78664
                                 (512) 244-0024
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
 
                           --------------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>                                       <C>
       VAN H. LEICHLITER, ESQ.                      JOHN W. WARD, ESQ.                     FRANCIS J. MORISON, ESQ.
       DUPONT PHOTOMASKS, INC.             E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY             DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL
           100 TEXAS AVENUE                         1007 MARKET STREET                       450 LEXINGTON AVENUE
         ROUND ROCK, TX 78664                      WILMINGTON, DE 19898                       NEW YORK, NY 10017
            (512) 244-0024                            (302) 774-1000                            (212) 450-4000
</TABLE>
 
                           --------------------------
 
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
  As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 
                           --------------------------
 
    If  any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to  Rule 415 under the Securities Act  of
1933, check the following box. / /
 
                           --------------------------
 
    If  this Form  is filed  to register  additional securities  for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration statement  number  of  the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.
/ / _____________________
                           --------------------------
 
    If  this Form  is a post-effective  amendment filed pursuant  to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act,  check the following box  and list the Securities  Act
registration  statement number  of the earlier  effective registration statement
for the same offering. / / _____________________
                           --------------------------
 
    If the delivery of the  prospectus is expected to  be made pursuant to  Rule
434, please check the following box. / /
 
                           --------------------------
 
   
    THE  REGISTRANT HEREBY  AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION  STATEMENT ON  SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A  FURTHER  AMENDMENT  THAT  SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT  SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN  ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT  OF 1933, OR  UNTIL THE REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL  BECOME
EFFECTIVE  ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                            DUPONT PHOTOMASKS, INC.
 
                             CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
 
        CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET PURSUANT TO ITEM 501(b) OF REGULATION S-K
           SHOWING THE LOCATION IN THE PROSPECTUS OF THE INFORMATION
                       REQUIRED BY THE ITEMS OF FORM S-1
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                REGISTRATION STATEMENT ITEM AND CAPTION                                 LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------
<C>        <S>        <C>                                                 <C>
       1.  Forepart of the Registration Statement and Outside Front
           Cover Page of Prospectus.....................................  Outside Front Cover Page
       2.  Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages of Prospectus......  Inside Front Cover Page; Outside Back Cover Page
       3.  Summary Information, Risk Factors and Ratio of Earnings to
           Fixed Charges................................................  Prospectus Summary; Risk Factors; Selected
                                                                           Combined Financial Data
       4.  Use of Proceeds..............................................  Prospectus Summary; Use of Proceeds
       5.  Determination of Offering Price..............................  Outside Front Cover Page; Underwriters
       6.  Dilution.....................................................  Dilution
       7.  Selling Security Holders.....................................  *
       8.  Plan of Distribution.........................................  Outside Front Cover Page; Underwriters
       9.  Description of Securities to be Registered...................  Outside Front Cover Page; Prospectus Summary;
                                                                           Description of Capital Stock; Underwriters
      10.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.......................  *
      11.  Information With Respect to the Registrant:
           (a)        Description of Business...........................  Prospectus Summary; Risk Factors; Management's
                                                                           Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
                                                                           and Results of Operations; Business
           (b)        Description of Property...........................  Business
           (c)        Legal Proceedings.................................  Business
           (d)        Market    Price   of   and    Dividends   on   the
                       Registrant's   Common    Equity    and    Related
                       Stockholder Matters..............................  Outside Front Cover Page; Dividend Policy;
                                                                           Principal Stockholder and Stock Ownership; Shares
                                                                           Eligible for Future Sale; Underwriters
           (e)        Financial Statements..............................  Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements; Combined
                                                                           Financial Statements
           (f)        Selected Financial Data...........................  Selected Combined Financial Data
           (g)        Supplementary Financial Information...............  *
           (h)        Management's    Discussion    and    Analysis   of
                       Financial Condition and Results of
                       Operations.......................................  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                                                                           Condition and Results of Operations
           (i)        Changes in and Disagreements with
                       Accountants   on    Accounting   and    Financial
                       Disclosure.......................................  *
           (j)        Directors and Executive Officers..................  Management
           (k)        Executive Compensation............................  Management
           (l)        Security    Ownership   of    Certain   Beneficial
                       Owners and Management............................  Management; Principal Stockholder and Stock
                                                                           Ownership
           (m)        Certain Relationships and Related
                       Transactions.....................................  Management; Transactions and Relationship Between
                                                                           the Company and DuPont; Shares Eligible for
                                                                           Future Sale
      12.  Disclosure of Commission Position on Indemnification for
           Securities Act Liabilities...................................  *
</TABLE>
 
- --------------------------
*  Item is omitted because response is negative or item is inapplicable.
<PAGE>
INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT  RELATING TO  THESE SECURITIES  HAS BEEN  FILED WITH  THE
SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES  MAY NOT BE  SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR  TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT  BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  SHALL  NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER  TO  SELL  OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE  SECURITIES
IN  ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,  SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
   
PROSPECTUS (SUBJECT TO COMPLETION)
ISSUED JUNE 10, 1996
    
 
                                4,000,000 SHARES
                            DUPONT PHOTOMASKS, INC.
                                  COMMON STOCK
                               -----------------
ALL OF THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY ARE BEING SOLD BY THE COMPANY.
PRIOR TO THE OFFERING, THERE HAS BEEN NO PUBLIC MARKET FOR THE COMMON STOCK
       OF THE COMPANY. IT IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED THAT THE INITIAL PUBLIC
       OFFERING PRICE WILL BE BETWEEN $14.00 AND $16.00 PER SHARE. SEE
       "UNDERWRITERS" FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN
                 DETERMINING THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE.
 
PRIOR TO THE OFFERING, E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY ("DUPONT") INDIRECTLY
OWNED 100% OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK, AND UPON
       COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, DUPONT WILL INDIRECTLY OWN 72% OF THE
       OUTSTANDING SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK (OR 70% IF THE
         UNDERWRITERS' OVERALLOTMENT OPTION IS EXERCISED IN FULL) AND
              WILL CONTINUE TO CONTROL THE COMPANY. SEE "PRINCIPAL
           STOCKHOLDER AND STOCK OWNERSHIP" AND "TRANSACTIONS AND
                 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND DUPONT."
 
                            ------------------------
 
        THE COMMON STOCK HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR QUOTATION ON THE NASDAQ  NATIONAL
                        MARKET UNDER THE SYMBOL "DPMI."
 
                            ------------------------
 
  THIS OFFERING INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE RISK FACTORS COMMENCING ON
                                 PAGE 7 HEREOF.
                               -----------------
 
THESE  SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
  EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS  THE
    SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
      PASSED UPON  THE  ACCURACY  OR ADEQUACY  OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS.  ANY
       REPRESENTATION   TO   THE   CONTRARY   IS   A   CRIMINAL  OFFENSE.
                              -------------------
 
                              PRICE $     A SHARE
                              -------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                UNDERWRITING
                                                                    PRICE TO    DISCOUNTS AND   PROCEEDS TO THE
                                                                     PUBLIC    COMMISSIONS (1)    COMPANY (2)
                                                                    ---------  ---------------  ---------------
<S>                                                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
Per Share.........................................................      $             $                $
Total (3).........................................................      $             $                $
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
  (1) THE COMPANY AND DUPONT HAVE  AGREED TO INDEMNIFY THE UNDERWRITERS  AGAINST
      CERTAIN  LIABILITIES, INCLUDING  LIABILITIES UNDER  THE SECURITIES  ACT OF
      1933.
  (2) BEFORE DEDUCTING EXPENSES PAYABLE BY THE COMPANY ESTIMATED AT $660,000.
  (3) THE COMPANY HAS GRANTED TO THE UNDERWRITERS AN OPTION, EXERCISABLE  WITHIN
      30  DAYS OF  THE DATE HEREOF,  TO PURCHASE  UP TO AN  AGGREGATE OF 600,000
      ADDITIONAL SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AT THE PRICE TO PUBLIC LESS UNDERWRITING
      DISCOUNTS AND COMMISSIONS FOR THE  PURPOSE OF COVERING OVERALLOTMENTS,  IF
      ANY.  IF THE UNDERWRITERS EXERCISE SUCH OPTION IN FULL, THE TOTAL PRICE TO
      PUBLIC, UNDERWRITING DISCOUNTS AND COMMISSIONS AND PROCEEDS TO THE COMPANY
      WILL BE $             ,  $           AND $            , RESPECTIVELY.  SEE
      "UNDERWRITERS."
 
                            ------------------------
    THE  SHARES ARE OFFERED, SUBJECT TO PRIOR  SALE, WHEN, AS AND IF ACCEPTED BY
THE UNDERWRITERS NAMED HEREIN AND SUBJECT  TO APPROVAL OF CERTAIN LEGAL  MATTERS
BY  DAVIS POLK  & WARDWELL,  COUNSEL FOR THE  UNDERWRITERS. IT  IS EXPECTED THAT
DELIVERY OF THE SHARES WILL  BE MADE ON OR  ABOUT                , 1996, AT  THE
OFFICE  OF MORGAN  STANLEY & CO.  INCORPORATED, NEW YORK,  N.Y., AGAINST PAYMENT
THEREFOR IN IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FUNDS.
                              -------------------
 
MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
               INCORPORATED
 
                                COWEN & COMPANY
 
                                                         NEEDHAM & COMPANY, INC.
 
                , 1996
<PAGE>





               [Graphic description of photomask process and uses]




<PAGE>
    NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION
WITH  ANY  OFFERING  MADE  HEREBY  TO  GIVE  ANY  INFORMATION  OR  TO  MAKE  ANY
REPRESENTATION OTHER THAN  AS CONTAINED  IN THIS  PROSPECTUS, AND,  IF GIVEN  OR
MADE,  SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY  THE  COMPANY  OR  THE  UNDERWRITERS.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  DOES  NOT
CONSTITUTE  AN OFFER TO SELL  OR A SOLICITATION OF AN  OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITY
OTHER THAN THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY, NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE  AN
OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED
HEREBY TO ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH AN
OFFER  OR SOLICITATION TO  SUCH PERSON. NEITHER THE  DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS
NOR ANY  SALE  MADE  HEREUNDER  SHALL UNDER  ANY  CIRCUMSTANCE  IMPLY  THAT  THE
INFORMATION  CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT  AS OF ANY DATE  SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE
HEREOF.
                            ------------------------
 
    UNTIL        , 1996 (25 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS), ALL DEALERS
EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS
DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS DELIVERY REQUIREMENT
IS IN ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN  ACTING
AS UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
                            ------------------------
 
    THE COMPANY INTENDS TO FURNISH TO ITS STOCKHOLDERS ANNUAL REPORTS CONTAINING
AUDITED  CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  CERTIFIED  BY  INDEPENDENT  PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS AND QUARTERLY  REPORTS CONTAINING  UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL
DATA  FOR THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF EACH FISCAL YEAR FOLLOWING THE END OF EACH
SUCH QUARTER.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                PAGE
                                                                                                                -----
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
Prospectus Summary.........................................................................................           4
Risk Factors...............................................................................................           7
Use of Proceeds............................................................................................          12
Dividend Policy............................................................................................          13
Dilution...................................................................................................          13
Capitalization.............................................................................................          14
Selected Combined Financial Data...........................................................................          15
Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements....................................................................          17
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations......................          23
Business...................................................................................................          33
Management.................................................................................................          48
Transactions and Relationship Between the Company and DuPont...............................................          56
Principal Stockholder and Stock Ownership..................................................................          60
Description of Capital Stock...............................................................................          62
Shares Eligible for Future Sale............................................................................          64
Underwriters...............................................................................................          66
Legal Matters..............................................................................................          67
Experts....................................................................................................          67
Additional Information.....................................................................................          67
Index to Combined Financial Statements.....................................................................         F-1
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
    IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING,  THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVERALLOT OR  EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK AT
A  LEVEL  ABOVE THAT  WHICH MIGHT  OTHERWISE  PREVAIL IN  THE OPEN  MARKET. SUCH
TRANSACTIONS  MAY  BE  EFFECTED  ON  THE  NASDAQ  NATIONAL  MARKET  OR  IN   THE
OVER-THE-COUNTER  MARKET OR  OTHERWISE. SUCH  STABILIZING, IF  COMMENCED, MAY BE
DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
    THE  FOLLOWING SUMMARY  IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION,  INCLUDING  "RISK  FACTORS,"  AND  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  APPEARING
ELSEWHERE  IN  THIS  PROSPECTUS.  ALL  REFERENCES  HEREIN,  UNLESS  THE  CONTEXT
OTHERWISE REQUIRES, TO (I) THE "COMPANY"  OR "DPI" MEAN DUPONT PHOTOMASKS,  INC.
AND  ASSUME  THE  COMPLETION  OF  THE  COMPANY'S  ACQUISITION  OF  THE PHOTOMASK
BUSINESSES AS DESCRIBED HEREIN UNDER "TRANSACTIONS AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN  THE
COMPANY  AND DUPONT  -- REALIGNMENT OF  PHOTOMASK BUSINESS;"  (II) "DUPONT" MEAN
E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY;  AND (III) "DCEO" MEAN DUPONT CHEMICAL  AND
ENERGY OPERATIONS, INC., A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF DUPONT. UNLESS THE CONTEXT
OTHERWISE  REQUIRES,  THE  INFORMATION  IN  THIS  PROSPECTUS  ASSUMES  THAT  THE
UNDERWRITERS DO NOT EXERCISE THEIR OVERALLOTMENT OPTION. SEE "UNDERWRITERS." THE
COMPANY'S FISCAL YEAR ENDS JUNE 30.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    Based on  worldwide  sales, DuPont  Photomasks,  Inc. is  the  largest  U.S.
photomask manufacturer and one of the two largest photomask manufacturers in the
world.  Photomasks are high-purity  quartz or glass  plates containing precision
images  of  integrated  circuits  and  are  used  as  masters  by  semiconductor
manufacturers  to optically transfer these images onto semiconductor wafers. The
Company develops and uses  advanced technology to manufacture  a broad range  of
photomasks  based on  customer-supplied design  data, including  photomasks that
meet the tightest design specifications required by semiconductor  manufacturers
today.  Since  1991, DPI  has operated  globally with  established manufacturing
facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is the only  photomask
manufacturer  in the world  that also manufactures  and markets both photoblanks
and  pellicles,  the  principal  components  of  photomasks,  facilitating   the
Company's  ability  to  ensure an  adequate  supply of  quality  components. The
Company sells  its  products to  approximately  200 customers  in  20  different
countries.  The Company  believes that  it is  the principal  merchant photomask
supplier for  many  of  its  customers,  including  AMD,  Delco/General  Motors,
Digital,  Hyundai, LG Semicon, Lucent  Technologies Inc. (formerly AT&T), Micron
Technology, Motorola,  National  Semiconductor, Philips,  Samsung,  Seagate  and
SGS-Thomson.  The  Company  serves  its  global  customer  base  from  eight ISO
9002-qualified manufacturing facilities and numerous customer service centers.
 
    The market for photomasks consists primarily of semiconductor  manufacturers
in North America, Europe and Asia. Growth in the photomask market has not always
correlated  with increases in semiconductor sales. During the mid-1980's through
the early 1990's, the photomask industry experienced an extended period of  slow
growth, primarily as a result of several advances in semiconductor and photomask
design  and production methods that significantly reduced the number of masks as
well as the precision requirements of masks required to produce a  semiconductor
device. The Company believes that the efficiencies gained from these advances in
semiconductor  and  photomask design  and production  methods have  been largely
realized. In the last  two years, growth in  demand for photomasks has  resumed.
The Company expects that growth in semiconductor design activity, which has been
driven by accelerating trends in the semiconductor industry toward customization
of  semiconductor designs  and the proliferation  of semiconductor applications,
will substantially increase the  demand for photomasks. Furthermore,  increasing
device  complexity  and decreasing  feature  size of  semiconductor  designs are
changing the nature of the photomask industry and its role in the  semiconductor
manufacturing  process. The Company believes that photomasks are reemerging as a
critical and enabling technology in the semiconductor manufacturing process.
 
    According to industry sources, the total worldwide market for photomasks was
approximately $1.3  billion in  1995.  The photomask  market in  North  America,
Europe  and non-Japan Asia  is estimated to  have been approximately  50% of the
worldwide market over the last five years, and merchant photomask sales in these
regions are estimated to have been in excess of $375 million in 1995.
 
    DuPont entered  the  photomask  market  in 1986.  Its  strategy  focused  on
establishing  a global presence that would enable  it to respond to the needs of
multinational semiconductor manufacturers. As part of this strategy, DuPont  (i)
purchased  assets  of  numerous  captive  photomask  operations,  (ii)  acquired
merchant  photomask  companies  and  (iii)  constructed  its  own   "greenfield"
manufacturing sites in Round Rock, Texas
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
and  Ichon, Republic  of Korea ("Korea").  DPI is  also the majority  owner of a
joint venture that  is constructing  a new photomask  manufacturing facility  in
Shanghai,  China, which will expand the  Company's capacity to serve the growing
needs of  semiconductor  manufacturers in  Asia.  In addition,  the  Company  is
planning  to construct a photomask manufacturing facility on a "greenfield" site
near Glasgow,  Scotland primarily  to meet  the growing  needs of  semiconductor
manufacturers  in the  United Kingdom and  the Republic of  Ireland. The Company
believes that it is one of the  two largest merchant suppliers in North  America
and  the largest merchant supplier in Europe and non-Japan Asia. The Company has
consistently been an industry leader in developing the most advanced  photomasks
and  believes it is  the principal merchant supplier,  outside Japan, of leading
edge photomasks. The  Company intends to  strengthen its position  as a  leading
supplier  of  photomasks  by  providing the  finest  service  and  most advanced
technology. To achieve this objective, the Company intends to capitalize on  its
global  manufacturing  presence,  advance its  technological  leadership, expand
strategic relationships with its customers, leverage its integrated position and
pursue strategic relationships with key suppliers.
 
                            RELATIONSHIP WITH DUPONT
 
    DuPont, through its wholly owned subsidiary DCEO, currently owns 100% of the
Company's outstanding Common Stock. Upon completion of the Offering, DuPont will
continue to  own  indirectly approximately  72%  (or 70%  if  the  Underwriters'
overallotment  option is exercised in full), of the Company's outstanding Common
Stock. See  "Principal Stockholder  and Stock  Ownership." As  a result  of  its
ownership  interest, DuPont  will be  able to control  the vote  on most matters
submitted to stockholders, including the election of directors and the  approval
of  extraordinary corporate  transactions. See "Risk  Factors --  Control by and
Relationship with DuPont."  DuPont has advised  the Company that  it expects  to
reduce  its ownership interest  in the Company over  time, subject to prevailing
market and other conditions. See "Risk Factors -- Effect of Sales of Substantial
Amounts of Common Stock"  and "Shares Eligible  for Future Sale."  Historically,
the  Company has derived  certain tangible and intangible  benefits from being a
subsidiary of  DuPont. The  Company and  DuPont have  entered into  a number  of
agreements  for the purpose of defining  their ongoing relationship. While these
agreements will  continue to  provide  the Company  with certain  benefits,  the
Company  is only entitled to the ongoing assistance of DuPont for a limited time
and it may not enjoy benefits from its relationship with DuPont beyond the  term
of  the agreements. See "Risk Factors  -- No Independent Operating History Prior
to the  Offering" and  "Transactions and  Relationship Between  the Company  and
DuPont."
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                   <C>
Common Stock offered................  4,000,000 shares
 
Common Stock to be outstanding after
 the Offering.......................  14,500,000 shares (1)
 
Use of Proceeds.....................  The   Company  will   retain  an   amount,  currently
                                      estimated at  $9.1  million,  of  the  estimated  net
                                      proceeds   of  the  Offering;  such  that,  upon  the
                                      consummation  of   the   Offering,   it   will   have
                                      approximately   $18   million   in   cash   and  cash
                                      equivalents, which  will  be  available  for  general
                                      corporate  purposes,  including  working  capital and
                                      capital  expenditures.  The  Company  will  use   the
                                      remaining  $46.0 million as well  as the net proceeds
                                      from any exercise of the Underwriters'  overallotment
                                      option  to repay indebtedness owed  to DCEO. See "Use
                                      of Proceeds."
Nasdaq Symbol.......................  DPMI
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Excludes shares of Common Stock granted under the Company's employee benefit
    plans.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
                        SUMMARY COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                        PRO FORMA, AS
                                                                                         PRO FORMA, AS  ADJUSTED, FOR
                                                                    NINE MONTHS ENDED    ADJUSTED, FOR    THE NINE
                                        YEAR ENDED JUNE 30               MARCH 31          THE YEAR     MONTHS ENDED
                                  -------------------------------  --------------------   ENDED JUNE      MARCH 31,
                                    1993       1994       1995       1995       1996     30, 1995 (1)     1996 (1)
                                  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  -------------
<S>                               <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>            <C>
                                                         (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Total Sales.....................  $ 118,896  $ 134,548  $ 161,514  $ 116,670  $ 152,192    $ 161,514      $ 152,192
Cost of Goods Sold..............    112,224    107,456    117,022     85,745     98,717      115,368         97,724
Selling, General and
 Administrative Expense.........     18,630     20,750     21,803     16,017     18,164       22,585         19,214
Research and Development Expense
 -- Net.........................      8,337      8,131      8,777      6,385      6,955        7,260          6,113
Other Operating (Income) Expense
 -- Net.........................      8,497      2,940      3,490      2,317      3,219        3,156          2,941
                                  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  -------------
Operating Profit (Loss).........    (28,792)    (4,729)    10,422      6,206     25,137       13,145         26,200
Interest Expense................      9,196      5,814      6,957      5,054      5,091           59            102
Exchange (Gain) Loss............       (430)       322       (493)      (476)       228         (665)           (68)
                                  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  -------------
Income (Loss) Before Income
 Taxes and Minority Interest....    (37,558)   (10,865)     3,958      1,628     19,818       13,751         26,166
Provision for Income Taxes......         --         --         --         --      1,899        3,712          9,158
                                  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  -------------
Income (Loss) Before Minority
 Interest.......................    (37,558)   (10,865)     3,958      1,628     17,919       10,039         17,008
Minority Interest in Income
 (Loss) of Majority Owned Joint
 Venture........................         --         --       (161)       (82)      (483)        (161)          (483)
                                  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  -------------
Net Income (Loss)...............  $ (37,558) $ (10,865) $   4,119  $   1,710  $  18,402    $  10,200      $  17,491
                                  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  -------------
                                  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  -------------
Pro Forma Net Income Per Share..                                                           $    0.70      $    1.20
Pro Forma Weighted Average
 Shares Outstanding.............                                                              14,620         14,620
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       MARCH 31, 1996
                                                                          ----------------------------------------
                                                                                                    PRO FORMA, AS
                                                                           ACTUAL    PRO FORMA (1)   ADJUSTED (1)
                                                                          ---------  -------------  --------------
<S>                                                                       <C>        <C>            <C>
                                                                                       (IN THOUSANDS)
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION DATA:
Cash and Cash Equivalents...............................................  $   8,891    $   8,891      $   18,000
Working Capital.........................................................     13,250       25,818          34,927
Net Property, Plant and Equipment.......................................    114,231      114,231         114,231
Total Assets............................................................    190,347      194,849         203,958
Long Term Borrowings....................................................      8,987        8,987           8,987
DuPont Master Notes.....................................................    162,320       46,031              --
Owner's Net Investment/Shareholders' Equity.............................    (36,472)      86,517         141,657
Unrealized Holding Gains................................................      9,350        9,350           9,350
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
(1)  The Summary  Combined  Pro  Forma  Financial  Data  are  derived  from  the
     Company's  Pro Forma  Combined Financial Statements  appearing elsewhere in
     this Prospectus. The Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements were  prepared
     by  the Company  to illustrate  the estimated  effects of  the Offering and
     related transactions  described in  the  Notes to  the Pro  Forma  Combined
     Financial  Statements  as if  they  had occurred  as  of July  1,  1994 for
     purposes of the pro forma combined statements of operations and as of March
     31, 1996 for  purposes of  the pro  forma combined  statement of  financial
     position. See "Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements."
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    PROSPECTIVE  PURCHASERS OF THE COMMON  STOCK OFFERED HEREBY SHOULD CAREFULLY
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING  RISK FACTORS IN  ADDITION TO THE  OTHER INFORMATION  SET
FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE; CAPITAL INTENSIVE INDUSTRY
 
    The  photomask industry is  characterized by rapid  technological change and
new  product  introduction  and   enhancements  that  have  required   photomask
manufacturers   to  make   significant  and  ongoing   capital  investments.  In
particular, as semiconductor pattern sizes continue to decrease, the demand  for
more  technologically  advanced  photomasks  is  likely  to  increase, including
photomasks using optical proximity correction and phase-shift technologies. As a
result, the  Company must  continue  to enhance  its  existing products  and  to
develop  and manufacture new  products and upgrades  with improved capabilities.
The  Company's  inability  to  anticipate,   respond  to  or  utilize   changing
technologies  could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and
results of operations.
 
    The development  and  manufacture of  future  generations of  photomasks  is
expected   to   require   additional  research   and   development  expenditures
significantly greater than those required in the past. If the Company is  unable
to generate sufficient funds from its operations, borrowings or outside sources,
the  Company may be forced  to reduce the amount  of its investments in research
and development of new technologies, which could hinder the Company's ability to
maintain its technological leadership  and could eventually  lead to a  material
adverse  effect on the Company's business or results of operations. In addition,
technological changes  leading  to  the  commercial  availability  of  alternate
methods  of transferring circuit  designs onto semiconductor  wafers without the
use of photomasks,  including direct  write lithography, would  have an  adverse
effect  on the  Company's business  or results  of operations.  See "Business --
Industry Background" and "-- Products and Technology."
 
RELATIONSHIP WITH AND DEPENDENCE ON SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY
 
    Substantially all the  Company's sales  are derived  from semiconductor  and
electronic component manufacturers that correspondingly depend on the demand for
end-products  or systems that use such  semiconductors and components. Growth in
the demand for semiconductors, however, may not necessarily lead to an  increase
in  the demand for photomasks. Changes in semiconductor designs or applications,
such as  a  reduction  in  customization,  increased  standardization  or  other
technological  and manufacturing  advances, could  reduce demand  for photomasks
even if the demand for  semiconductors increases. Throughout the mid-1980's  and
the  early 1990's, the photomask industry experienced an extended period of slow
growth despite overall growth in the semiconductor market, primarily as a result
of several advances in semiconductor and photomask design and production methods
that significantly  reduced  the  number  of masks  as  well  as  the  precision
requirements  of masks required to produce  a semiconductor device. There can be
no assurance that technological and manufacturing advances in the  semiconductor
industry  will not have a material adverse  effect on the demand for photomasks.
See "Business -- Industry Background."
 
    In addition, contractions  or downturns in  the semiconductor industry  will
likely  lead  to a  decrease  in the  demand  for photomasks.  The semiconductor
industry is  highly  cyclical  and  has been  subject  to  significant  economic
downturns  at various times, characterized by  reduced product demand and excess
production capacity. Prior semiconductor  downturns have adversely affected  the
Company's operating results. There can be no assurance that any future downturns
will  not be severe or that any such  downturn would not have a material adverse
effect on  the Company's  business  or results  of  operations. See  "--  Recent
Losses" and "Business -- Industry Background."
 
CONCENTRATION OF CUSTOMERS
 
    In  fiscal 1995,  the Company's  four largest  customers, in  the aggregate,
accounted for approximately  41% of  the Company's  sales and  the Company's  10
largest  customers, in the aggregate, accounted  for approximately 66% of sales.
The loss of, or  a significant reduction  of orders from,  any of the  Company's
major  customers could have a material  adverse effect on the Company's business
or results of operations. See "Business -- Customers" and Note 4 to the Combined
Financial Statements.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
CONCENTRATION OF AND DEPENDENCE ON SUPPLIERS
 
    The Company relies on a limited number of photomask equipment  manufacturers
to develop and supply the equipment used in the photomask manufacturing process.
There  are currently lead times  of approximately nine to  18 months between the
order and the delivery  of certain photomask  imaging and inspection  equipment,
including  electron beam and laser beam  photomask imaging systems. There can be
no assurance that equipment manufacturers  will successfully develop or  deliver
on a timely basis such imaging and inspection equipment. Failure to develop on a
timely  basis  such  equipment  could  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the
Company's business or results of operations.  In addition, the Company does  not
have long term supply agreements with any of its raw materials suppliers, and it
has  historically relied primarily on one supplier for the quartz plates used in
the manufacture of photoblanks, which are a key component in the manufacture  of
photomasks.  Any disruption in the Company's  supply relationships or any delays
in the shipment  of supplies  or equipment,  particularly the  supply of  quartz
plates, could result in delays or reductions in product shipments by the Company
or  increases in product costs that could  have a material adverse effect on the
Company's  operating  results  in  any  given  period.  In  the  event  of  such
disruption, there can be no assurance that the Company could develop alternative
sources  within reasonable time frames or, if developed, that such sources would
provide such supplies or  equipment at prices comparable  with those charged  by
the  Company's suppliers prior to such disruption. See "Business -- Products and
Technology --  Photoblanks  and  Pellicles" and  "--  Global  Manufacturing  and
Operations."
 
COMPETITION; REVERSAL OF CONSOLIDATION TREND
 
    The  photomask  industry is  highly  competitive. The  Company's  ability to
compete in  this market  is  primarily based  on  product quality,  delivery  to
schedule performance, pricing, technical capabilities, the location and capacity
of  its manufacturing facilities and  technical service. Significant competitors
include other  independent manufacturers  of photomasks,  including  Photronics,
Inc.  ("Photronics"), Compugraphics  International Limited  ("Compugraphics") in
Europe and  Dai  Nippon Printing  Co.  Ltd.  ("DNP"), Hoya  Corp.,  Taiwan  Mask
Corporation  and Toppan Printing Company, Ltd. ("Toppan") in Asia. The Company's
competitors can  be  expected to  continue  to  develop and  introduce  new  and
enhanced  products, any of which  could cause a decline  in market acceptance of
the Company's products or  a reduction in  the Company's prices  as a result  of
intensified  price competition. The Company and its competitors have in the past
had excess production  capacity resulting  from a number  of factors,  including
improved semiconductor and photomask design and manufacturing efficiencies, that
led  to  depressed  prices.  Although the  demand  for  photomasks  has recently
increased, there  can be  no assurance  that  demand will  not decline  or  that
pressure  to reduce prices will not resume,  each of which could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business or results of operations. See "Business
- -- Industry Background."
 
    In addition, Photronics has indicated in its filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission that it intends  to increase its international presence.  To
that  end, it has made, among other undertakings, certain acquisitions in Europe
and is  constructing a  manufacturing facility  in Singapore.  There can  be  no
assurance  that increased competition on  an international level from Photronics
or any other photomask manufacturer will  not have a material adverse effect  on
the  Company's  business  or  results of  operations.  See  "Business  -- Global
Manufacturing and Operations" and "-- Competition."
 
    The Company  also  competes  with  a limited  number  of  captive  photomask
operations   when  such  operations  have  excess  capacity.  Beginning  in  the
mid-1980's, a  trend developed  toward  the divestiture  or closing  of  captive
photomask  operations by semiconductor manufacturers.  There can be no assurance
that this trend will  continue or that it  will not reverse, thereby  increasing
competition  and  reducing the  demand  for photomasks  produced  by independent
photomask suppliers like the Company.  In particular, as photomasks continue  to
reemerge   as  a   critical  and   enabling  technology   in  the  semiconductor
manufacturing  process,   there  can   be   no  assurance   that   semiconductor
manufacturers  will  not  form  new  captive  operations  to  ensure  that their
photomask needs are met, particularly for advanced and leading edge  photomasks.
See "Business -- Competition."
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
GROWTH BY ACQUISITION
 
    The  Company's  growth  has  been  achieved,  in  large  part,  by  means of
acquisitions.  The  Company  from  time  to  time  evaluates  and  enters   into
negotiations  with respect to  potential acquisitions, and  the Company may make
additional acquisitions  in the  future.  There can  be  no assurance  that  the
Company  will be able to locate suitable acquisition opportunities, that it will
be able to obtain the necessary  financing for any future acquisitions, that  it
will  be  able to  effectively  and profitably  integrate  into the  Company any
operations that are acquired in the future or that any future acquisitions  will
not  have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results or on the
market price  of the  Company's Common  Stock, particularly  during the  periods
immediately  following such  acquisitions. In addition,  to the  extent that the
Company is unable to locate suitable acquisition opportunities, future  revenues
will  depend  upon  the Company's  existing  business. See  "--  Recent Losses,"
"Management's Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition and  Results  of
Operations" and "Business -- DuPont Photomasks."
 
MANUFACTURING RISKS
 
    The Company's manufacturing processes are highly complex, require the use of
expensive  and  technologically sophisticated  equipment  and materials  and are
continuously subject  to  modification in  an  effort to  improve  manufacturing
yields  and  product quality.  Minute impurities  or  other difficulties  in the
manufacturing  process  can  lower   manufacturing  yields  and  make   products
unmarketable. Moreover, manufacturing leading edge photomasks is relatively more
complex   and  time-consuming  than  manufacturing  high-volume,  less  advanced
photomasks, which may lead to general delays in the manufacturing of all  levels
of   photomasks.  The  Company  has,   on  occasion,  experienced  manufacturing
difficulties and capacity limitations that have delayed the Company's ability to
deliver products within the  time frames contracted  for by some  or all of  its
customers.  There can be no assurance that the Company will not experience these
or other  manufacturing difficulties,  increased  costs or  production  capacity
constraints  in the future, any of which could  result in a loss of customers or
could otherwise have  a material  adverse effect  on the  Company's business  or
results of operations. See "Business -- Global Manufacturing and Operations."
 
DEPENDENCE ON MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL PERSONNEL
 
    The  Company's  continued success  depends  upon, in  part,  key managerial,
engineering and  technical  personnel,  as  well as  the  Company's  ability  to
continue  to attract  and retain additional  personnel. The loss  of certain key
personnel could have  a material  adverse effect  on the  Company's business  or
results of operations. There can be no assurance that the Company can retain its
key managerial, engineering and technical employees. The Company's growth may be
dependent  on its ability to attract new highly skilled and qualified personnel.
There can be no assurance that its recruiting efforts to attract and retain such
personnel will  be successful.  In  addition, there  can  be no  assurance  that
modification  of employee compensation  plans from those  previously provided by
DuPont to  those  currently provided  by  the  Company will  not  cause  certain
employees  to  terminate their  employment with  the  Company. See  "Business --
Employees" and "Management -- Compensation of Company Employees."
 
SIGNIFICANT INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
 
    Approximately 44% of the  Company's sales in  fiscal 1995 and  approximately
42% of the Company's sales for the nine months ended March 31, 1996 were derived
from sales in foreign markets. The Company expects sales from foreign markets to
continue to represent a significant portion of total sales. The Company operates
three  manufacturing facilities as  well as sales  and technical support service
centers in Europe and Asia. In  addition, DPI is currently participating in  the
construction  of a manufacturing facility in Shanghai,  China as part of a joint
venture arrangement with  the Shanghai  Institute of Metallurgy  and intends  to
construct  a  photomask  manufacturing  facility  on  a  "greenfield"  site near
Glasgow, Scotland.  Certain  risks  are inherent  in  international  operations,
including  exposure  to  currency  exchange  rate  fluctuations,  political  and
economic conditions, unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, exposure  to
different  legal standards, particularly with  respect to intellectual property,
future import and  export restrictions,  difficulties in  staffing and  managing
operations,  difficulties in collecting receivables  and potentially adverse tax
consequences. There can be no assurance that  the above factors will not have  a
material  adverse effect on the Company's business or results of operations. See
"Business -- Global Manufacturing and Operations."
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
    Prior to the Offering, DuPont managed the Company's exposure to fluctuations
in foreign currency  exchange rates as  part of DuPont's  overall management  of
exchange  rate exposure  for DuPont  and its  subsidiaries, as  a whole,  and no
separate hedging  of  the  Company's  foreign  currency  exchange  exposure  was
undertaken.  However, following the Offering, the Company plans to independently
monitor its foreign currency  exchange rate exposure and  may attempt to  reduce
such  exposure in  the future  by hedging.  There can  be no  assurance that the
Company will establish foreign currency  exchange rate exposure controls, or  if
established, that such controls will be adequate to eliminate, or even mitigate,
the  impact of  foreign currency  exchange rate  fluctuations. See "Management's
Discussion and  Analysis of  Financial Condition  and Results  of Operations  --
Other Matters."
 
NO INDEPENDENT OPERATING HISTORY PRIOR TO THE OFFERING
 
    Prior  to the Offering,  the Company has  been a wholly  owned subsidiary of
DuPont, through DCEO, and has had no independent operating history. As a result,
following the  Offering, the  Company  will be  required to  develop  financial,
management,  administrative, research and other resources previously provided by
DuPont, which are  necessary to  operate successfully as  an independent  public
company.  In  addition, the  Company  will have  to  develop its  own  system of
internal controls to ensure the reliability of its financial reporting. Although
the Company and DuPont have entered  into several agreements that are, in  part,
intended  to ease  the Company's  transition to  an independent  public company,
there can  be no  assurance  that the  Company will  be  able to  develop  these
resources  and controls. In particular, as  a wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont,
the Company has benefited from its ability to finance its operations and growth,
in part, through  funding provided by  DuPont at favorable  rates. Although  the
Company will have access, subject to certain conditions, to a $30 million credit
facility  provided by DuPont, there can be no assurance that alternative sources
of financing will be available upon  the expiration of such facility in  January
1998 or that alternative sources of funding will be available if DPI's borrowing
requirements  exceed the amount  of the facility.  In addition, there  can be no
assurance that even  if funding  is available, that  the terms  thereof will  be
attractive  to the Company. If such financing  is not available, the Company may
be materially limited  in its  ability to  fund capital  expenditures and  other
investments.  See "--  Rapid Technological Change;  Capital Intensive Industry,"
"-- Control by and Relationship with DuPont" and "Transactions and  Relationship
Between the Company and DuPont -- Credit Facility."
 
    Following the Offering, the Company will need to manage the risks associated
with  the  operation of  its  business, including  general  liability, property,
workers' compensation, catastrophic medical and business interruption. To manage
these risks, the Company intends to  obtain insurance prior to the  consummation
of  the Offering. However,  there can be  no assurance that  the Company will be
able to obtain insurance adequate to cover its risks and failure to secure  such
insurance  could  have  a  material  adverse effect  on  the  Company  should an
uninsured event occur.
 
FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL EARNINGS
 
    The Company's quarterly and annual operating results are affected by a  wide
variety of factors that could adversely affect sales or profitability or lead to
significant  variability of  operating results,  which in  turn could  result in
volatility in the  market price  of the  Company's Common  Stock. These  factors
include the volume and timing of orders shipped. Since the Company's business is
characterized  by short term orders and shipment schedules without a significant
backlog for products, substantially  all of the Company's  sales in any  quarter
are  dependent  upon  orders  received during  that  quarter,  which  limits the
Company's ability to respond  to a changing  business environment. In  addition,
changes  in the mix of products sold, market acceptance of the Company's and its
customers' products,  competitive pricing  pressures, the  Company's ability  to
meet  increasing demand  and delivery  schedules, fluctuations  in manufacturing
yields, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, cyclical semiconductor industry
conditions, the Company's access to advanced process technologies and the timing
and extent of product and process development costs could also affect  operating
results. Moreover, the Company is limited in its ability to reduce costs quickly
in  response  to any  revenue shortfalls  due to  the need  to make  ongoing and
significant capital investments. As a result of the foregoing and other factors,
there can be no assurance that the Company will not experience material  adverse
fluctuations in future operating results on a quarterly or annual basis. Results
of operations in any period therefore should not be considered indicative of the
results to be expected for any future period, and
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
fluctuations  in operating results may also result in fluctuations in the market
price of the Company's Common Stock. See "-- Rapid Technological Change; Capital
Intensive Industry"  and  "Management's  Discussion and  Analysis  of  Financial
Condition and Results of Operations -- Quarterly Results of Operations."
 
RECENT LOSSES
 
    Although  the Company had net income of $4.1 million for the year ended June
30, 1995, and net income  of $18.4 million for the  nine months ended March  31,
1996, the Company reported losses before income taxes of $10.9 million and $37.6
million  for fiscal 1994  and 1993, respectively. An  important reason for these
losses was that  fixed costs increased  faster than sales  as the Company  added
capacity  in the  early 1990's. The  Company anticipates adding  capacity in the
near future. There can be no assurance that sales will increase  correspondingly
as   fixed  costs  increase  or  that  the  Company  will  be  able  to  sustain
profitability in  the  future.  See  "--  Rapid  Technological  Change;  Capital
Intensive  Industry"  and  "Management's Discussion  and  Analysis  of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations."
 
CONTROL BY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH DUPONT
 
    Upon the  completion  of  the  Offering,  DuPont,  through  DCEO,  will  own
approximately  72% of the outstanding Common  Stock (or 70% if the Underwriters'
overallotment option  is exercised  in  full). As  a  result, DuPont  will  have
sufficient  voting power to  control the direction and  policies of the Company,
including mergers, consolidations, the sale of  all or substantially all of  the
assets of the Company and the election of the Board of Directors of the Company,
and  to prevent  or cause  a change  in control  of the  Company. See "Principal
Stockholder and Stock Ownership."
 
    Historically, the  Company  has  derived  certain  tangible  and  intangible
benefits  from being a  subsidiary of DuPont. Subsequent  to the consummation of
this Offering, the relationship between the  Company and DuPont will be  defined
pursuant  to  several  transitional  agreements.  While  these  agreements  will
continue to  provide the  Company with  certain benefits,  the Company  is  only
entitled  to the ongoing assistance of DuPont for  a limited time and it may not
enjoy benefits  from  its  relationship  with DuPont  beyond  the  term  of  the
agreements,  including benefits  derived from DuPont's  reputation, research and
development, supply  of raw  materials, trade  names and  trademarks and  credit
support.  There can be  no assurance that  the Company upon  termination of such
assistance from  DuPont  will  be  able  to  provide  adequately  such  services
internally  or obtain favorable arrangements from  third parties to replace such
services. See "-- No  Independent Operating History Prior  to the Offering"  and
"Transactions and Relationship Between the Company and DuPont."
 
EFFECT OF SALES OF SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF COMMON STOCK
 
    Subject  to  the restrictions  described herein  under "Shares  Eligible for
Future Sale" and applicable law, DuPont will be free to sell any and all of  the
shares  of  Common Stock  of the  Company  that it  indirectly owns.  DuPont has
advised the Company  that it  expects to reduce  its ownership  interest in  the
Company  over  time,  subject  to prevailing  market  and  other  conditions. No
predictions can be  made as to  the effect, if  any, that market  sales of  such
shares,  or the availability  of such shares  for future sale,  will have on the
market price of the Common Stock. Sales  of a significant number of such  shares
in  the public  market could adversely  affect prevailing market  prices for the
Common Stock and  could impair  the Company's  future ability  to raise  capital
through  an offering of equity securities,  which in turn could adversely affect
the Company's business or  results of operations. Each  of the Company and  DCEO
has  agreed not to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock for a
period of 180 days after the date  of this Prospectus without the prior  written
consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, subject to certain exceptions. See
"Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and "Underwriters."
 
ABSENCE OF PRIOR PUBLIC TRADING MARKET; POSSIBLE VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE
 
    Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock.
Although the Common Stock has been approved for quotation on the Nasdaq National
Market,  there can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop or
be sustained after the Offering, or that purchasers of Common Stock will be able
to resell their  Common Stock at  prices equal  to or greater  than the  initial
public offering price.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
The  initial public offering price will  be determined by negotiations among the
Company and the Underwriters and  may not be indicative  of the prices that  may
prevail  in the public market. See "Underwriters." Furthermore, the market price
of the Common  Stock may be  highly volatile. Factors  such as announcements  of
fluctuations  in the Company's or its  competitors' operating results and market
conditions for  growth stocks  or  technology stocks  in  general could  have  a
significant  impact on the future price of  the Common Stock. In particular, the
common stock of  many technology  companies have experienced  extreme price  and
volume  fluctuations,  which  have  at times  been  unrelated  to  the operating
performance of such companies whose stock prices were affected.
 
DILUTION INCURRED BY INVESTORS
 
    The offering price is substantially higher than the net tangible book  value
per  share of Common Stock. Accordingly, investors participating in the Offering
will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the amount of $4.87 per  share,
assuming a public offering price of $15.00 per share. See "Dilution."
 
NO ANTICIPATED DIVIDENDS
 
    The  Company does not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future.
See "Dividend Policy."
 
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
 
    The Company believes that the success  of its business depends primarily  on
its  proprietary technology, information and processes and know-how, rather than
on patents  or trademarks.  Much of  the Company's  proprietary information  and
technology  relating to manufacturing  processes is not patented  and may not be
patentable. There  can  be  no  assurance  that the  Company  will  be  able  to
adequately  protect its technology, that competitors will not be able to develop
similar technology independently, that the claims allowed on any patents held by
the Company will be  sufficiently broad to protect  the Company's technology  or
that  foreign intellectual property  laws will adequately  protect the Company's
intellectual property  rights. In  addition,  any litigation  in the  future  to
enforce  patents issued  to the  Company, to  protect trade  secrets or know-how
possessed by the Company or to  defend the Company against claimed  infringement
of  the rights of others  could have a material  adverse effect on the Company's
business or operating results. See "Business -- Intellectual Property."
 
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
 
    Federal, state,  local  and  foreign laws  and  regulations  impose  various
environmental  controls on, among other things, the discharge of pollutants into
the air and water and the handling, use, storage, disposal and clean-up of solid
and hazardous wastes. As a result, the  Company will incur costs, on an  ongoing
basis,  associated with  environmental regulatory compliance.  In addition, more
stringent environmental laws and regulations may be enacted in the future, which
may require the Company to expend additional amounts on environmental compliance
or may require  modifications in the  Company's operations. Any  failure by  the
Company  to adequately comply  with such laws and  regulations could subject the
Company to  significant  future  liabilities.  See  "Business  --  Environmental
Matters."
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    The estimated net proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock offered hereby,
assuming  an  initial  offering  price  of  $15.00  per  share,  after deducting
estimated offering  expenses  and  the underwriting  discounts  and  commissions
payable  by the Company, are approximately  $55 million. The Company will retain
an amount, currently  estimated at $9.1  million, of such  proceeds; such  that,
upon the consummation of the Offering, it will have approximately $18 million in
cash  and  cash  equivalents,  which will  be  available  for  general corporate
purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures.
 
    The Company will use the remaining  $46.0 million of such proceeds to  repay
indebtedness  owed to DCEO  under a master  note agreement, which  is payable on
demand  and  currently  bears  interest  at  5.38%  (the  "Master  Note").   The
indebtedness incurred by the Company from time to time under the Master Note was
used  for  acquisitions,  capital  expenditures  and  working  capital.  If  the
Underwriters' overallotment option is exercised  in full, the net proceeds  from
the  sale  of  such shares  of  Common Stock  by  the Company,  estimated  to be
approximately $8 million, will also be  used to repay indebtedness owed to  DCEO
under the
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
Master  Note. The remaining balance owed  under the Master Note, upon completion
of the repayment described above, will  be contributed as equity capital to  the
Company  by DCEO.  See "Transactions  and Relationship  Between the  Company and
DuPont -- Realignment of Photomask Business."
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
    The Company  currently intends  to  retain its  earnings to  finance  future
growth  and  therefore does  not  anticipate paying  any  cash dividends  in the
foreseeable future. The declaration  and payment of dividends,  if any, will  be
subject to the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors and will depend on
the  Company's  earnings, capital  requirements, financial  condition, statutory
restrictions and other factors deemed to be relevant by the Board of  Directors.
See "Risk Factors -- No Anticipated Dividends."
 
                                    DILUTION
 
    The  net tangible book value of the Company as of March 31, 1996 was $(31.3)
million, or $(2.98) per outstanding share of Common Stock after giving effect to
the issuance of one million shares to DCEO for nominal consideration  subsequent
to  March 31, 1996. The net tangible  book value per share represents the amount
of total tangible assets less total  liabilities of the Company, divided by  the
number  of shares of  Common Stock outstanding following  the realignment of the
photomask business as described herein but  prior to the Offering. After  giving
effect  to the sale  by the Company of  4,000,000 shares of  Common Stock in the
Offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share,  after
deduction  of  underwriting  discounts and  commissions  and  estimated offering
expenses and following the capital contribution by DCEO described under "Use  of
Proceeds,"  the pro forma  net tangible book  value of the  Company at March 31,
1996, would have been $146.9 million, or $10.13 per outstanding share of  Common
Stock. This represents an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $4.87
per  share to the purchasers of shares of Common Stock in the Offering. Dilution
is determined by subtracting net tangible  book value per share of Common  Stock
after the Offering from the amount of cash paid by a new investor for a share of
Common  Stock. The following table illustrates  the dilution per share of Common
Stock:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>        <C>
Assumed initial public offering price per share...........             $   15.00
Net tangible book value per share.........................  $   (2.98)
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable
 to capital contributions by DCEO.........................      11.71
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable
 to investors in the Offering.............................       1.40
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after the
 Offering.................................................                 10.13
                                                                       ---------
Dilution to new investors.................................             $    4.87
                                                                       ---------
                                                                       ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The following table summarizes, on the basis of the assumptions referred  to
above,  the number of shares to be retained by DuPont and to be purchased by new
investors in the Offering, and the total consideration and the average price per
share paid by DuPont and the new investors:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       SHARES PURCHASED           TOTAL CONSIDERATION        AVERAGE
                                   -------------------------  ---------------------------   PRICE PER
                                      NUMBER       PERCENT        AMOUNT        PERCENT       SHARE
                                   ------------  -----------  --------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                <C>           <C>          <C>             <C>          <C>
DuPont...........................    10,500,000         72%   $   95,867,000         63%    $    9.13
New Investors....................     4,000,000         28        55,140,000         37     $   13.79
                                   ------------        ---    --------------        ---
    Total (1)....................    14,500,000        100%   $  151,007,000        100%
                                   ------------        ---    --------------        ---
                                   ------------        ---    --------------        ---
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Excludes shares of Common Stock granted under the Company's employee benefit
    plans.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
    The following table sets forth the combined capitalization of the Company as
of March  31,  1996,  pro forma  as  of  March 31,  1996  assuming  the  capital
contributions  by DCEO  and as  adjusted to reflect  the Offering  at an assumed
public offering price of $15.00 per  share and the application of the  estimated
net proceeds as described herein under "Use of Proceeds."
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    PRO FORMA, AS
                                                                           ACTUAL    PRO FORMA (1)   ADJUSTED (1)
                                                                         ----------  -------------  --------------
                                                                             (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                                      <C>         <C>            <C>
Short Term Borrowings (2)..............................................  $    4,691   $     4,691    $      4,691
                                                                         ----------  -------------  --------------
                                                                         ----------  -------------  --------------
Long Term Borrowings (2)...............................................  $    8,987   $     8,987    $      8,987
DuPont Master Notes (3)................................................     162,320        46,031         --
Owner's Net Investment/Shareholders' Equity:
  Owner's Net Investment...............................................     (36,472)       86,517         --
  Common Stock, $.01 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized;
   14,500,000 shares issued and outstanding for pro forma, as adjusted
   (4).................................................................      --           --                  145
  Additional Paid-in Capital...........................................      --           --              141,512
  Unrealized Holding Gains.............................................       9,350         9,350           9,350
                                                                         ----------  -------------  --------------
Total Capitalization...................................................  $  144,185   $   150,885    $    159,994
                                                                         ----------  -------------  --------------
                                                                         ----------  -------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) See "Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements."
 
(2) For  a description of the Company's borrowings,  see Note 15 to the Combined
    Financial Statements for the nine months ended March 31, 1996.
 
(3) For a description of the Master Note, see "Use of Proceeds."
 
(4) Excludes shares of Common Stock granted under the Company's employee benefit
    plans.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
                        SELECTED COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The following tables set  forth selected combined  historical and pro  forma
financial  data of the Company. The  historical statement of operations data for
the three years ended June 30, 1995 and the nine months ended March 31, 1996 and
the historical statement of financial position data as of June 30, 1995 and 1994
and March 31,  1996 have  been derived  from the  Combined Financial  Statements
audited  by Price Waterhouse  LLP, independent accountants.  The results for the
nine months ended March 31, 1995  have been derived from the unaudited  combined
financial  statements also  appearing herein.  The unaudited  combined financial
statements, in the  opinion of management,  include all adjustments,  consisting
only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the
results  for the unaudited period.  The results for the  nine months ended March
31, 1996 are not necessarily indicative of  results to be expected for the  full
fiscal  year. The pro forma financial data  have been derived from the Pro Forma
Combined Financial Statements which were  prepared by the Company to  illustrate
the  estimated effects of the Offering and related transactions described in the
Notes to the  Pro Forma  Combined Financial Statements  as if  the Offering  and
related  transactions had occurred  as of July  1, 1994 for  purposes of the pro
forma combined statements of operations and as of March 31, 1996 for purposes of
the pro forma combined statement of  financial position. The Pro Forma  Combined
Financial  Statements do not purport to represent what the results of operations
or financial position of  the Company would actually  have been if the  Offering
and  related transactions had in  fact occurred on such  dates or to project the
results of operations or financial position of the Company for any future period
or date.  The  following  data should  be  read  in conjunction  with,  and  are
qualified  by reference  to, the  Combined Financial  Statements, the  Pro Forma
Combined Financial  Statements  and  "Management's Discussion  and  Analysis  of
Financial  Condition  and  Results  of Operations"  included  elsewhere  in this
Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                PRO FORMA,
                                                                                                PRO FORMA, AS  AS ADJUSTED,
                                                                          NINE MONTHS ENDED     ADJUSTED, FOR  FOR THE NINE
                                            YEAR ENDED JUNE 30                 MARCH 31           THE YEAR     MONTHS ENDED
                                    ----------------------------------  ----------------------   ENDED JUNE     MARCH 31,
                                       1993        1994        1995        1995        1996     30, 1995 (1)     1996 (1)
                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ------------
                                                             (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                 <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Total Sales.......................  $  118,896  $  134,548  $  161,514  $  116,670  $  152,192   $   161,514    $  152,192
Cost of Goods Sold................     112,224     107,456     117,022      85,745      98,717       115,368        97,724
Selling, General and
 Administrative Expense...........      18,630      20,750      21,803      16,017      18,164        22,585        19,214
Research and Development Expense
 -- Net...........................       8,337       8,131       8,777       6,385       6,955         7,260         6,113
Other Operating (Income) Expense
 -- Net...........................       8,497       2,940       3,490       2,317       3,219         3,156         2,941
                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ------------
Operating Profit (Loss)...........     (28,792)     (4,729)     10,422       6,206      25,137        13,145        26,200
Interest Expense..................       9,196       5,814       6,957       5,054       5,091            59           102
Exchange (Gain) Loss..............        (430)        322        (493)       (476)        228          (665)          (68)
                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ------------
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
 and Minority Interest............     (37,558)    (10,865)      3,958       1,628      19,818        13,751        26,166
Provision for Income Taxes........          --          --          --          --       1,899         3,712         9,158
                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ------------
Income (Loss) Before Minority
 Interest.........................     (37,558)    (10,865)      3,958       1,628      17,919        10,039        17,008
Minority Interest in Income (Loss)
 of Majority Owned Joint
 Venture..........................          --          --        (161)        (82)       (483)         (161)         (483)
                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ------------
Net Income (Loss).................  $  (37,558) $  (10,865) $    4,119  $    1,710  $   18,402   $    10,200    $   17,491
                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ------------
                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ------------
Pro Forma Net Income Per Share....                                                               $      0.70    $     1.20
Pro Forma Weighted Average Shares
 Outstanding......................                                                                    14,620        14,620
</TABLE>
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     MARCH 31, 1996
                                                       JUNE 30          -----------------------------------------
                                                ----------------------                             PRO FORMA, AS
                                                   1994        1995       ACTUAL    PRO FORMA (1)   ADJUSTED (1)
                                                ----------  ----------  ----------  -------------  --------------
                                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                             <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION DATA:
Cash and Cash Equivalents.....................  $    3,924  $    8,412  $    8,891   $     8,891    $     18,000
Working Capital...............................      22,853      16,405      13,250        25,818          34,927
Net Property, Plant and Equipment.............     112,043     113,124     114,231       114,231         114,231
Total Assets..................................     160,901     171,701     190,347       194,849         203,958
Long Term Borrowings..........................       6,704       4,265       8,987         8,987           8,987
DuPont Master Notes...........................     140,846     125,570     162,320        46,031              --
Owner's Net Investment/Shareholders' Equity...      (7,229)      5,082     (36,472)       86,517         141,657
Unrealized Holding Gains......................          --          --       9,350         9,350           9,350
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) The Selected  Combined  Pro  Forma  Financial  Data  are  derived  from  the
    Company's  Pro Forma  Combined Financial  Statements appearing  elsewhere in
    this Prospectus. The Pro Forma  Combined Financial Statements were  prepared
    by  the  Company to  illustrate the  estimated effects  of the  Offering and
    related transactions  described  in the  Notes  to the  Pro  Forma  Combined
    Financial Statements as if they had occurred as of July 1, 1994 for purposes
    of  the Pro Forma Combined Statements of Operations and as of March 31, 1996
    for purposes of the Pro Forma Combined Statement of Financial Position.  See
    "Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements."
 
                            SELECTED FIVE-YEAR DATA
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  AS OF OR FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30
                                                       ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                          1991        1992        1993        1994        1995
                                                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                                    <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Total Sales..........................................  $  105,229  $  119,522  $  118,896  $  134,548  $  161,514
Net Income (Loss)....................................     (33,725)    (35,429)    (37,558)    (10,865)      4,119
Total Assets.........................................     189,935     185,298     176,953     160,901     171,701
Third Party Borrowings...............................      34,621      35,533       3,731       8,090       7,225
DuPont Master Notes..................................     126,236     136,786     142,841     140,846     125,570
</TABLE>
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
                    PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
    The  following tables set  forth Pro Forma  Combined Financial Statements of
the Company for the year ended June 30,  1995 and as of and for the nine  months
ended  March 31, 1996. The  pro forma financial statements  were prepared by the
Company to  illustrate  the  estimated  effects  of  the  Offering  and  related
transactions  described in the Notes to  Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements
as if  they had  occurred as  of July  1, 1994  for purposes  of the  pro  forma
combined  statements of operations and as of  March 31, 1996 for purposes of the
pro forma  combined statement  of  financial position.  The Pro  Forma  Combined
Financial  Statements do not purport to represent what the results of operations
or financial position of  the Company would actually  have been if the  Offering
and  related transactions had in  fact occurred on such  dates or to project the
results of operations or financial position of the Company for any future period
or date. The  Pro Forma Combined  Financial Statements should  be read  together
with  the  Combined  Financial  Statements  of  the  Company  and  "Management's
Discussion and  Analysis  of  Financial Condition  and  Results  of  Operations"
included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
    PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF MARCH 31, 1996
                                  (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                              OFFERING
                                                         HISTORICAL   PRO FORMA ADJUSTMENTS     PRO FORMA   ADJUSTMENTS
                                                         ----------   ---------------------     ---------   ------------
                                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                      <C>          <C>                       <C>         <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and Cash Equivalents..............................   $  8,891    $                         $  8,891    $  9,109(2)
Accounts Receivable, Trade -- Net......................     29,580                                29,580
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties...................      2,331                                 2,331
Accounts and Notes Receivable, Miscellaneous...........      3,405                                 3,405
Inventories............................................      8,158                                 8,158
Deferred Income Taxes..................................                     2,484(3)               2,484
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets..............        472                                   472
                                                         ----------    ----------               ---------   ------------
Total Current Assets...................................     52,837          2,484                 55,321       9,109
Net Property, Plant and Equipment......................    114,231                               114,231
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties -- Non-Current....      1,835                                 1,835
Deferred Income Taxes..................................      2,156          2,018(3)               4,174
Other Assets...........................................     19,288                                19,288
                                                         ----------    ----------               ---------   ------------
    Total Assets.......................................   $190,347    $     4,502               $194,849    $  9,109
                                                         ----------    ----------               ---------   ------------
                                                         ----------    ----------               ---------   ------------
LIABILITIES, DUPONT MASTER NOTES AND
 OWNER'S NET INVESTMENT / SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts Payable, Trade................................   $  4,791    $                         $  4,791    $
Accounts Payable, Related Parties......................     15,867         (8,129)(4)              7,738
Accounts Payable, Miscellaneous........................      1,740                                 1,740
Short Term Borrowings..................................      4,691                                 4,691
Other Accrued Liabilities..............................     12,498         (1,955)(1)             10,543
                                                         ----------    ----------               ---------
    Total Current Liabilities..........................     39,587        (10,084)                29,503
Long Term Borrowings...................................      8,987                                 8,987
Deferred Income Taxes..................................                     7,886(3)               7,886
Other Liabilities......................................      5,526                                 5,526
Minority Interest in Net Assets of Majority Owned
 Joint Venture.........................................      1,049                                 1,049
DuPont Master Notes....................................    162,320       (116,289)(4)             46,031     (46,031)(2)
Owner's Net Investment / Shareholders' Equity..........    (36,472)       122,989 (1)(3)(4)       86,517      55,140(2)
Unrealized Holding Gains...............................      9,350                                 9,350
                                                         ----------    ----------               ---------   ------------
    Total Liabilities, DuPont Master Notes and Owner's
     Net Investment / Shareholders' Equity.............   $190,347    $     4,502               $194,849    $  9,109
                                                         ----------    ----------               ---------   ------------
                                                         ----------    ----------               ---------   ------------
 
<CAPTION>
                                                         PRO FORMA,
                                                         AS ADJUSTED
                                                         -----------
 
<S>                                                      <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and Cash Equivalents..............................   $ 18,000
Accounts Receivable, Trade -- Net......................     29,580
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties...................      2,331
Accounts and Notes Receivable, Miscellaneous...........      3,405
Inventories............................................      8,158
Deferred Income Taxes..................................      2,484
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets..............        472
                                                         -----------
Total Current Assets...................................     64,430
Net Property, Plant and Equipment......................    114,231
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties -- Non-Current....      1,835
Deferred Income Taxes..................................      4,174
Other Assets...........................................     19,288
                                                         -----------
    Total Assets.......................................   $203,958
                                                         -----------
                                                         -----------
LIABILITIES, DUPONT MASTER NOTES AND
 OWNER'S NET INVESTMENT / SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts Payable, Trade................................   $  4,791
Accounts Payable, Related Parties......................      7,738
Accounts Payable, Miscellaneous........................      1,740
Short Term Borrowings..................................      4,691
Other Accrued Liabilities..............................     10,543
                                                         -----------
    Total Current Liabilities..........................     29,503
Long Term Borrowings...................................      8,987
Deferred Income Taxes..................................      7,886
Other Liabilities......................................      5,526
Minority Interest in Net Assets of Majority Owned
 Joint Venture.........................................      1,049
DuPont Master Notes....................................     --
Owner's Net Investment / Shareholders' Equity..........    141,657
Unrealized Holding Gains...............................      9,350
                                                         -----------
    Total Liabilities, DuPont Master Notes and Owner's
     Net Investment / Shareholders' Equity.............   $203,958
                                                         -----------
                                                         -----------
</TABLE>
 
        See Notes to Pro Forma Combined Statement of Financial Position
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
          NOTES TO PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
 
1.  Adjustment  reflects  the  retention  of  certain  Company  related  payroll
    liabilities by DuPont.
 
2.  Adjustments reflect  the Offering  and the  repayment of  a portion  of  the
    Master  Note with the net  proceeds of the Offering.  The Company intends to
    retain sufficient proceeds  to have  approximately $18 million  in cash  and
    cash equivalents after the Offering.
 
3.  Adjustments reflect deferred taxes arising from the fact that, following the
    Offering,  DPI's tax return will not  be consolidated with that of DuPont's.
    As a result, net operating losses, which were previously utilized by  DuPont
    and  were assumed  to be  available solely  for determining  taxes under the
    separate taxpayer approach  in SFAS  109, will  not be  available to  offset
    deferred  tax  liabilities. Certain  future  tax benefits,  aggregating $3.6
    million, are  included  in  Accounts Payable,  Related  Parties  since  such
    amounts  will be paid to  DuPont when utilized pursuant  to the terms of the
    Tax  Indemnification  Agreement  described  herein.  See  "Transactions  and
    Relationship   Between  the  Company  and   DuPont  --  Tax  Indemnification
    Agreement."
 
4.  Adjustments to the Master Note and Accounts Payable, Related Parties reflect
    the contribution to capital  by DCEO of  the balances remaining  outstanding
    under  the Master Note  and Accounts Payable, Related  Parties that were not
    repaid with the proceeds of the Offering.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
                     PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                              YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1995
                                    (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              PRO FORMA                        OFFERING     PRO FORMA,
                                                HISTORICAL   ADJUSTMENTS      PRO FORMA      ADJUSTMENTS    AS ADJUSTED
                                                ----------  -------------  ----------------  ------------  -------------
                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                             <C>         <C>            <C>               <C>           <C>
Sales.........................................  $  155,146  $              $    155,146      $             $  155,146
Sales to Related Parties......................       6,368                        6,368                         6,368
                                                ----------                 ----------------                -------------
Total Sales...................................     161,514                      161,514                       161,514
Cost of Goods Sold............................     117,022     (1,654)(1)       115,368                       115,368
                                                ----------  -------------  ----------------                -------------
Gross Profit..................................      44,492      1,654            46,146                        46,146
Selling, General and Administrative Expense...      21,803        782(2)         22,585                        22,585
Research and Development Expense -- Net.......       8,777     (1,517)(3)         7,260                         7,260
Other Operating (Income) Expense -- Net.......       3,490       (334)(4)         3,156                         3,156
                                                ----------  -------------  ----------------                -------------
Operating Profit..............................      10,422      2,723            13,145                        13,145
Interest Expense..............................       6,957     (4,444)(5)         2,513         (2,454)(5)         59
Exchange (Gain) Loss..........................        (493)      (172)(6)          (665)                         (665)
                                                ----------  -------------  ----------------  ------------  -------------
Income Before Income Taxes and Minority
 Interest.....................................       3,958      7,339            11,297          2,454         13,751
Provision for Income Taxes....................      --          3,050(7)          3,050(7)         662(7)       3,712
                                                ----------  -------------  ----------------  ------------  -------------
Income Before Minority Interest...............       3,958      4,289             8,247          1,792         10,039
Minority Interest in Income (Loss) of Majority
 Owned Joint Venture..........................        (161)                        (161)                         (161)
                                                ----------  -------------  ----------------  ------------  -------------
Net Income....................................  $    4,119  $   4,289      $      8,408      $   1,792     $   10,200
                                                ----------  -------------  ----------------  ------------  -------------
                                                ----------  -------------  ----------------  ------------  -------------
Pro Forma Net Income Per
 Common Share.................................                                                             $     0.70
Pro Forma Weighted Average Shares
 Outstanding..................................                                                                 14,620(8)
</TABLE>
 
            See Notes to Pro Forma Combined Statements of Operations
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
                   PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                        NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               PRO FORMA                     OFFERING       PRO FORMA,
                                                 HISTORICAL   ADJUSTMENTS     PRO FORMA     ADJUSTMENTS    AS ADJUSTED
                                                 ----------  -------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
                                                                  (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                              <C>         <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
Sales..........................................  $  145,471  $              $  145,471     $              $  145,471
Sales to Related Parties.......................       6,721                      6,721                         6,721
                                                 ----------                 -------------                 --------------
Total Sales....................................     152,192                    152,192                       152,192
Cost of Goods Sold.............................      98,717       (993)(1)      97,724                        97,724
                                                 ----------  -------------  -------------                 --------------
Gross Profit...................................      53,475        993          54,468                        54,468
Selling, General and Administrative Expense....      18,164      1,050(2)       19,214                        19,214
Research and Development Expense -- Net........       6,955       (842)(3)       6,113                         6,113
Other Operating (Income) Expense -- Net........       3,219       (278)(4)       2,941                         2,941
                                                 ----------  -------------  -------------                 --------------
Operating Profit...............................      25,137      1,063          26,200                        26,200
Interest Expense...............................       5,091     (3,574)(5)       1,517        (1,415)(5)         102
Exchange (Gain) Loss...........................         228       (296)(6)         (68)                          (68)
                                                 ----------  -------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Income Before Income Taxes and Minority
 Interest......................................      19,818      4,933          24,751         1,415          26,166
Provision for Income Taxes.....................       1,899      6,764(7)        8,663(7)        495(7)        9,158
                                                 ----------  -------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Income before Minority Interest................      17,919     (1,831)         16,088           920          17,008
Minority Interest in Income (Loss) of Majority
 Owned Joint Venture...........................        (483)                      (483)                         (483)
                                                 ----------  -------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Net Income.....................................  $   18,402  $  (1,831)     $   16,571     $     920      $   17,491
                                                 ----------  -------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
                                                 ----------  -------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Pro Forma Net Income Per
 Common Share..................................                                                           $     1.20
Pro Forma Weighted Average Shares
 Outstanding...................................                                                               14,620(8)
</TABLE>
 
            See Notes to Pro Forma Combined Statements of Operations
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
              NOTES TO PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             YEAR ENDED    NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                            JUNE 30, 1995    MARCH 31, 1996
                                                                                            -------------  ------------------
<C>        <S>                                                                   <C>        <C>            <C>
       1.  Adjustments to cost of goods sold reflect the following:
           Changes in benefit plans............................................  (a)          $    (567)       $     (335)
           Elimination of DuPont allocated overhead expenses...................  (b)             (3,086)           (1,761)
           Additional contracted services and employees........................  (c)              1,999             1,103
                                                                                            -------------         -------
                                                                                              $  (1,654)       $     (993)
                                                                                            -------------         -------
                                                                                            -------------         -------
 
       2.  Adjustments to selling, general and administrative expense reflect the following:
           Changes in benefit plans............................................  (a)          $    (111)       $     (100)
           Elimination of DuPont allocated overhead expenses...................  (b)             (6,573)           (3,572)
           Additional contracted services and employees........................  (c)              6,566             4,047
           Stock Performance Plan..............................................  (d)                900               675
                                                                                            -------------         -------
                                                                                              $     782        $    1,050
                                                                                            -------------         -------
                                                                                            -------------         -------
 
       3.  Adjustments to research and development expense reflect the following:
           Changes in benefit plans............................................  (a)          $     (34)       $      (29)
           Elimination of DuPont allocated overhead expenses...................  (b)             (1,966)           (1,063)
           Additional contracted services and employees........................  (c)                483               250
                                                                                            -------------         -------
                                                                                              $  (1,517)       $     (842)
                                                                                            -------------         -------
                                                                                            -------------         -------
 
       4.  Adjustments to other operating expense reflect the following:
           Elimination of DuPont allocated overhead expenses...................  (b)          $    (560)       $     (396)
           Additional contracted services and employees........................  (c)                226               118
                                                                                            -------------         -------
                                                                                              $    (334)       $     (278)
                                                                                            -------------         -------
                                                                                            -------------         -------
</TABLE>
 
5. Adjustment to interest expense, at a weighted average interest rate of 5% and
   4% for the year ended June 30, 1995 and the nine months ended March 31, 1996,
   respectively, reflects  the reductions  in the  DuPont Master  Note from  the
   contribution  to capital by DCEO of the balance of the Master Note not repaid
   with proceeds of the  Offering and the partial  repayment of the Master  Note
   with estimated net proceeds from the Offering.
 
6. Adjustment  to  exchange (gain)  loss reflects  the  payment of  dividends to
   DuPont de Nemours (Deutschland) GmbH by  DuPont Photomasks GmbH & Co. KG  and
   the  refinancing of  DuPont Photomasks  (France) S.A.'s  Master Note  to U.S.
   Dollars.
 
7. Federal, state and foreign income taxes have been computed using an estimated
   combined effective rate of 27% for the  year ended June 30, 1995 and 35%  for
   the  nine months ended March 31, 1996. For  the year ended June 30, 1995, the
   estimated combined  effective  rate  differs from  the  U.S.  statutory  rate
   primarily  due to  the Company's  tax exemption  in Korea.  See "Management's
   Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
8. The number  of  shares have  been  computed based  on  the Offering  and  the
   realignment  of the photomask  business as described  under "Transactions and
   Relationship Between  the  Company and  DuPont  -- Realignment  of  Photomask
   Business"  in this  Prospectus. The number  of shares  includes the estimated
   number of  shares  of  restricted  stock  to  be  issued  under  DPI's  Stock
   Performance Plan.
- ------------------------
Footnotes:
 
a.  CHANGES IN BENEFIT PLANS.  The Company will not continue to provide DuPont's
    postretirement  or  postemployment benefits  to  employees and  will replace
    DuPont's defined benefit pension plan with a
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
    defined contribution  retirement  plan.  The  impact  of  these  changes  in
    benefits will be the elimination of benefits expense related to discontinued
    DuPont  plans of $1,491 for the year ended  June 30, 1995 and $1,145 for the
    nine months ended March 31, 1996, and the addition of expense related to the
    Company's defined contribution retirement  plan of $779  for the year  ended
    June  30,  1995 and  $681  for the  nine months  ended  March 31,  1996. See
    "Management -- Compensation of Company Employees."
 
b.  ELIMINATION  OF  DUPONT  ALLOCATED   OVERHEAD  EXPENSES.    Represents   the
    elimination  of DuPont allocated overhead expenses  that are not expected to
    be incurred by the Company following the Offering.
 
c.  ADDITIONAL CONTRACTED SERVICES  AND EMPLOYEES.   Represents the addition  of
    services  to be provided by third parties or DuPont pursuant to transitional
    administrative services  agreements with  DuPont  and its  subsidiaries  and
    additional  employees assumed  to be hired  by the Company  to replace those
    services previously provided by  DuPont. See "Transactions and  Relationship
    Between the Company and DuPont -- Administrative Services Agreements."
 
d.  STOCK  PERFORMANCE PLAN.   Represents  the compensation  expense the Company
    will  recognize  related  to  restricted  stock  granted  under  its   Stock
    Performance Plan. The Company estimates that it will recognize approximately
    $1,800  of expense related  to the Plan  during the two  years following the
    Offering.  See  "Management   --  Compensation  of   Company  Employees   --
    Compensation of DPI Employees in 1996 -- Stock Performance Plan."
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    The  following discussion and analysis  of the Company's financial condition
and results  of operations  should  be read  in  conjunction with  the  Combined
Financial  Statements  of the  Company appearing  elsewhere in  this Prospectus.
Prior to the Offering, DPI was reincorporated in Delaware, and DuPont's  foreign
photomask  operations were realigned so that these operations would be conducted
by wholly owned subsidiaries of DPI. See "Transactions and Relationship  Between
the  Company and  DuPont --  Realignment of  Photomask Business."  The pro forma
information, which is presented herein to facilitate additional analysis, should
be read  in  conjunction  with  the  Pro  Forma  Combined  Financial  Statements
appearing  elsewhere in this Prospectus.  Unless the context otherwise requires,
references to  years  with respect  to  the Company's  financial  condition  and
results of operations in this "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" are to fiscal years.
 
OVERVIEW
 
    Based  on  worldwide  sales, DuPont  Photomasks,  Inc. is  the  largest U.S.
photomask manufacturer and one of the two largest photomask manufacturers in the
world. Photomasks are  high-purity quartz or  glass plates containing  precision
microscopic   images  of  integrated  circuits  and   are  used  as  masters  by
semiconductor  manufacturers   to   optically   transfer   these   images   onto
semiconductor  wafers.  The Company  develops  and uses  advanced  technology to
manufacture a broad range of photomasks based on customer-supplied design  data,
including   photomasks  that   meet  the   tightest  design   specifications  by
semiconductor manufacturers today. The Company  serves its global customer  base
from  eight ISO  9002-qualified manufacturing  facilities and  numerous customer
service centers.
 
    DuPont, which currently owns, through  DCEO, 100% of the outstanding  Common
Stock  of DPI, entered the photomask market  in 1986 with the acquisition of Tau
Laboratories, a  merchant  photomask  supplier whose  principal  customers  were
Delco/General Motors and Motorola. From this base, DuPont embarked on a strategy
to  establish a global presence that would enable  it to respond to the needs of
multi-national semiconductor manufacturers. As part of this strategy, DuPont (i)
purchased  assets  of  numerous  captive  photomask  operations,  (ii)  acquired
merchant  photomask companies and (iii)  constructed "greenfield" sites in Round
Rock, Texas  (1987)  and  Ichon,  Korea (1991).  In  addition,  the  Company  is
currently  participating  in the  construction  of a  manufacturing  facility in
Shanghai, China  as part  of a  joint  venture arrangement  and is  planning  to
construct  a "greenfield" site  near Glasgow, Scotland.  See "Business -- DuPont
Photomasks."
 
    During the late 1980's and early 1990's, the photomask market was relatively
flat. While growth in semiconductor manufacturing and new semiconductor  designs
generated demand for new photomasks throughout this period, the Company believes
that  this  underlying  growth  was  offset  by  advances  in  semiconductor and
photomask design and production methods that significantly reduced the number of
photomasks required to manufacture a  semiconductor device, thereby slowing  the
growth  of  photomask unit  sales. See  "Business  -- Industry  Background." The
Company believes that the  weak market conditions during  this period, in  part,
led   to  the   poor  financial   performance  of   several  merchant  photomask
manufacturers, including the Company, which had net losses of $10.9 million  and
$37.6  million  in 1994  and  1993, respectively.  See  "Risk Factors  -- Recent
Losses."
 
    Since 1993, growth in the photomask market has resumed. The Company's  total
sales  grew from $118.9 million in 1993 to $161.5 million in 1995. This increase
of approximately 36% was  primarily the result of  an accelerating trend in  the
semiconductor   industry  toward   semiconductor  device   customization,  which
generates demand for new photomasks, and semiconductor device complexity,  which
increases  the  value  and  number  of  photomask  layers  needed  to  produce a
semiconductor device. In  addition, the proliferation  of semiconductor  devices
into  new products and markets  contributed to the increase  in total sales. See
"Business  --  Industry  Background."  The  Company's  sales  also  became  more
diversified  internationally. North American sales amounted to approximately 65%
of the Company's total  sales in 1993  compared to 56% in  1995, while sales  in
Europe  and Asia accounted for approximately 20% and 15% of sales, respectively,
in 1993 compared to 26% and 18% in 1995. Sales in Europe grew approximately  73%
from 1993 to
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
1995  from $24.2 million  to $42.0 million.  The increase in  European sales was
primarily attributable to increased growth  from certain of the Company's  major
customers  and the  impact of a  full year of  sales to an  affiliate of Philips
Electronics N.V.  ("Philips") following  the acquisition  of selected  photomask
manufacturing  assets from Philips in mid-1993. Sales in Asia grew approximately
69% from 1993 to 1995 from $17.4 million in 1993 to $29.5 million in 1995, as  a
result  of the growth  experienced by semiconductor  manufacturers in Korea. The
Company expects  net sales  from  foreign markets  to  continue to  represent  a
significant  portion of total sales. Certain risks are inherent in international
operations, including exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations. See "Risk
Factors -- Significant International Operations" and "-- Other Matters."
 
    Due to the capital intensive  nature of photomask manufacturing  operations,
at  a given level of manufacturing capacity,  a high proportion of the Company's
operating costs  remains  relatively  constant  as  sales  volumes  increase  or
decrease.  To the extent that the Company has underutilized production capacity,
profit margins increase or decrease significantly, as sales volumes increase  or
decrease.  In the early  1990's, the Company had  excess capacity; therefore, as
total  sales  increased  from  1993   to  1995,  fixed  costs  associated   with
manufacturing  remained relatively  unchanged, and  the Company's  gross margins
over the period benefited from this operating leverage. In addition, fixed costs
were reduced by the closure of two of the Company's photomask facilities and the
subsequent consolidation of production into  other facilities. The Company  has,
for  the most part,  fully utilized its existing  capacity, and anticipates that
fixed operating costs will increase as  it adds capacity to position itself  for
future  growth.  See  "Risk  Factors  --  Rapid  Technological  Change;  Capital
Intensive Industry," "Risk Factors --  Recent Losses" and "Business --  Industry
Background."
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    The   following  table  sets  forth  the  Company's  combined  statement  of
operations data as a percentage of sales for the periods indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH
                                                                   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30                   31
                                                              -------------------------------------  ------------------------
                                                                 1993         1994         1995         1995         1996
                                                              -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Total Sales.................................................      100.0%       100.0%       100.0%       100.0%       100.0%
Cost of Goods Sold..........................................       94.4         79.9         72.5         73.5         64.9
                                                                  -----        -----        -----        -----        -----
Gross Profit................................................        5.6         20.1         27.5         26.5         35.1
Selling, General and Administrative Expense.................       15.7         15.4         13.5         13.7         11.9
Research and Development Expense -- Net.....................        7.0          6.0          5.4          5.5          4.6
Other Operating (Income) Expense -- Net.....................        7.1          2.2          2.2          2.0          2.1
                                                                  -----        -----        -----        -----        -----
Operating Profit (Loss).....................................      (24.2)        (3.5)         6.4          5.3         16.5
Interest Expense............................................        7.7          4.3          4.2          4.3          3.3
Exchange (Gain) Loss........................................       (0.4)         0.2         (0.3)        (0.4)         0.2
                                                                  -----        -----        -----        -----        -----
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes and Minority Interest.....      (31.5)        (8.0)         2.5          1.4         13.0
Provision for Income Taxes..................................      --           --           --           --             1.2
                                                                  -----        -----        -----        -----        -----
Income (Loss) Before Minority Interest......................      (31.5)        (8.0)         2.5          1.4         11.8
Minority Interest in Income (Loss) of Majority Owned Joint
 Venture....................................................      --           --           --            (0.1)        (0.3)
                                                                  -----        -----        -----        -----        -----
Net Income (Loss)...........................................      (31.5)%       (8.0)%        2.5%         1.5%        12.1%
                                                                  -----        -----        -----        -----        -----
                                                                  -----        -----        -----        -----        -----
</TABLE>
 
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1994
 
    TOTAL SALES.   Total  sales is  comprised primarily  of photomask  sales  to
semiconductor  manufacturers and,  to a  lesser extent,  photoblank and pellicle
sales to  other photomask  manufacturers.  Total sales  also includes  sales  to
related parties, including sales to DuPont operations acting as distributors and
a  partnership with DNP.  These related party  sales have historically accounted
for less than 5% of total sales. Total
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
sales increased 20.0% from $134.5 million in 1994 to $161.5 million in 1995.  Of
the  total sales  in 1995,  less than  10% represents  sales of  photoblanks and
pellicles  to  other  photomask  suppliers.  Overall,  sales  in  North  America
increased  from $81.7 million in 1994 to  $90.1 million in 1995; sales in Europe
increased from $31.1 million in 1994 to $42.0 million in 1995; and sales in Asia
increased from $21.7 million in 1994 to $29.5 million in 1995. In addition to  a
general  increase in demand for most types  of photomasks, the increase in total
sales reflects a shift in demand toward the Company's more advanced  photomasks,
which  tend to have higher average selling prices. This shift in demand reflects
the trend toward greater utilization of more complex semiconductor devices  with
finer line-widths. See "Business -- Industry Background."
 
    COST  OF  GOODS SOLD.    Cost of  goods  sold consists  of  material, labor,
depreciation  and  manufacturing  and  service  overhead.  Cost  of  goods  sold
increased  from $107.5 million in 1994 to  $117.0 million in 1995. However, as a
percentage of total sales, cost  of goods sold decreased  from 79.9% in 1994  to
72.5%  in  1995.  As a  result,  gross profit  as  a percentage  of  total sales
increased from  20.1%  in 1994  to  27.5%  in 1995.  The  improvement  primarily
reflects  the Company's improved capacity  utilization. In addition, the Company
increased the proportion of internally-sourced photoblanks and pellicles used in
its  photomask  manufacturing,  which  improved  capacity  utilization  in   the
manufacture  of these materials. As a result, photoblank and pellicle costs as a
percentage of  sales were  reduced  and margins  on photomasks  improved.  Gross
profit  was also improved  by lower depreciation and  amortization costs of $1.3
million and $1.2 million, respectively, as equipment and intangibles  associated
with acquisitions in the late 1980's became fully depreciated and amortized. The
Company  does  not  anticipate  that benefits  from  decreased  depreciation and
amortization costs will recur in the near future, as the Company invests in  new
capacity  to meet anticipated  growth in photomask demand.  See "Risk Factors --
Rapid Technological Change; Capital Intensive Industry" and "-- Recent Losses."
 
    SELLING,  GENERAL  AND  ADMINISTRATIVE   EXPENSE.    Selling,  general   and
administrative  expense includes salaries of sales personnel, marketing expense,
general and administrative  expense and finished  product distribution  expense.
Selling, general and administrative expense increased from $20.8 million in 1994
to  $21.8 million in 1995. However,  selling, general and administrative expense
decreased as a  percentage of sales  from 15.4% in  1994 to 13.5%  in 1995.  The
percentage decrease resulted primarily from greater efficiencies associated with
sales  volume increases. General and  administrative expense principally include
allocated costs for services provided by centralized DuPont organizations. These
allocated costs are not necessarily indicative of the costs that would have been
incurred by the Company if the Company had been an independent company. See Note
2 to the Pro Forma Combined Statements of Operations and Note 3 to the  Combined
Financial Statements appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSE.  Research and development expense consists
primarily   of  employee  cost,  cost  of  material  consumed,  depreciation  of
equipment, engineering  related  costs  and the  Company's  allocated  share  of
DuPont's  central  research  and  development  costs.  Research  and development
expense for 1995 was $8.8 million  compared to $8.1 million in 1994,  reflecting
the  Company's continuing focus on developing advanced photomasks. However, as a
percentage of sales, research and development expense declined slightly compared
to the prior year, reflecting increased sales. Research and development  expense
is  net of funds  the Company received  from customers, industry  groups such as
SEMATECH Inc. ("SEMATECH") and the Joint European Submicron Strategic Initiative
("JESSI") and  governmental sources  in  the amount  of  $1.6 million  and  $0.5
million  for  1994  and 1995,  respectively.  The Company's  allocated  share of
DuPont's central  research  and development  costs  was $2.4  million  and  $2.0
million  in 1994 and  1995, respectively. The  Company anticipates that research
and development  expense will  continue to  increase in  absolute terms  in  the
future,  reflecting  the  Company's  strategy  of  advancing  its  technological
leadership. See "Risk Factors --  Rapid Technological Change; Capital  Intensive
Industry" and "Business -- Research and Development."
 
    OTHER OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSE.  Other operating (income) expense consists
primarily  of miscellaneous costs not directly related to the manufacture of the
Company's products. Historically, a  significant portion of  this item has  been
the  expense associated  with the early  retirement of  equipment resulting from
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
technological obsolescence.  The  timing and  amount  of these  retirements  are
uncertain  and difficult to  predict. Other operating expense  for 1994 was $2.9
million compared  to $3.5  million in  1995. This  increase reflects  additional
pre-production  costs associated with  the Company's joint  venture in Shanghai,
China.
 
    INTEREST EXPENSE.    The  Company's interest  expense  increased  from  $5.8
million  in 1994 to $7.0 million in  1995, reflecting higher interest rates. The
primary source of  interest expense  is the Company's  Master Notes  arrangement
with  DuPont. As  part of  the Realignment  of DuPont's  photomask business, the
DuPont  Master  Notes  were  consolidated   into  a  single  Master  Note.   See
"Transactions  and Relationship Between the Company and DuPont -- Realignment of
Photomask Business." A  portion of the  net proceeds from  the Offering will  be
used  to repay indebtedness  under the Master Note.  Any remaining balance under
the Master Note will be  contributed as equity capital  to the Company by  DCEO.
See  "Use of Proceeds,"  "-- Liquidity and  Capital Resources" and "Transactions
and Relationship Between the  Company and DuPont  -- Credit Facility."  Interest
expense  also includes amounts  paid pursuant to  other long-term borrowings and
capital leases. See Notes 8, 15 and 16 to the Combined Financial Statements.
 
    EXCHANGE (GAIN) LOSS.   Exchange (Gain)  Loss consists of  gains and  losses
resulting   from  the  remeasurement  of   the  Company's  monetary  assets  and
liabilities denominated in foreign  currencies into U.S.  Dollars, which is  the
Company's functional currency. The Company incurred a $0.3 million exchange loss
in  1994  compared to  a $0.5  million exchange  gain in  1995 primarily  due to
fluctuations of the U.S.  Dollar compared to the  German Mark and French  Franc.
The  Company does not currently hedge  against foreign exchange risks. See "Risk
Factors -- Significant International Operations" and "-- Other Matters."
 
    PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES.  Tax expense has been allocated by applying  the
asset  and  liability method  set forth  in SFAS  109 to  each of  the Company's
operations as if it were a separate taxpayer. Under this approach the  Company's
effective  tax rate was 0% in  1994 and 1995, as a  result of net operating loss
carryforwards in the  U.S. and Europe  and a Korean  tax exemption, pursuant  to
which  the Company is exempt from paying  taxes on earnings arising from current
investments in Korea. In actuality, the  Company's results were included in  the
consolidated  tax returns filed  by DuPont and  the tax benefits  of prior years
losses  were  realized  by  DuPont.  See  Note  10  to  the  Combined  Financial
Statements.  The Company  will continue  to enjoy the  full benefits  of the tax
exemption in Korea  until 2001 and  a partial benefit  thereafter until the  tax
exemption terminates in 2003.
 
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1994 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1993
 
    TOTAL  SALES.  Total  sales increased 13.2%  from $118.9 million  in 1993 to
$134.5 million in 1994, reflecting generally  stronger demand for most types  of
photomasks. Overall, sales in North America increased from $77.3 million in 1993
to  $81.7 million in 1994; sales in  Europe increased from $24.2 million in 1993
to $31.1 million in 1994; and sales in Asia increased from $17.4 million in 1993
to $21.7 million in 1994. An increase in the sales of more advanced  photomasks,
which  have higher average  selling prices, also contributed  to the total sales
increase in  this period.  This shift  in demand  for more  advanced  photomasks
reflects  the  trend toward  greater utilization  of more  complex semiconductor
devices with  finer  line-widths.  See "Business  --  Industry  Background."  In
addition,  total sales  increased approximately  $5 million  from the  full year
impact of sales to Philips pursuant  to a supply agreement executed in  mid-1993
in  connection with the  purchase of selected  photomask manufacturing equipment
from Philips.
 
    COST OF GOODS SOLD.   Cost of  goods sold decreased  from $112.2 million  in
1993 to $107.5 million in 1994. The principal reasons for this decrease were the
retirement of assets and staff reductions associated with the Company's shutdown
of   its   Danbury,  Connecticut   and   Nijmegen,  The   Netherlands  photomask
manufacturing facilities in  1993. In  addition, lower  amortization charges  of
$1.3  million relating to  intangibles associated with  acquisitions in the late
1980's that became fully amortized contributed  to the decrease. As a result  of
the foregoing and the benefits of improved capacity utilization described above,
cost of goods sold, as a percentage of total sales, decreased from 94.4% in 1993
to  79.9% in 1994, and gross profits as a percentage of net sales increased from
5.6% in 1993 to 20.1% in 1994. See "-- Overview."
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
    SELLING,  GENERAL  AND  ADMINISTRATIVE   EXPENSE.    Selling,  general   and
administrative  expense increased from $18.6 million in 1993 to $20.8 million in
1994.  However,  as  a   percentage  of  total   sales,  selling,  general   and
administrative expense decreased from 15.7% in 1993 to 15.4% in 1994, reflecting
greater efficiencies associated with sales volume increases.
 
    RESEARCH   AND  DEVELOPMENT  EXPENSE.    Research  and  development  expense
decreased slightly from  $8.3 million  in 1993  to $8.1  million in  1994. As  a
percentage of sales, research and development expense declined from 7.0% in 1993
to 6.0% in 1994, reflecting increased sales. Research and development expense is
net   of  funds  the  Company  received  from  customers,  industry  groups  and
governmental sources in the amount of $1.9 million and $1.6 million for 1993 and
1994, respectively. The Company's allocated  share of DuPont's central  research
and  development  costs was  $2.3 million  and  $2.4 million  in 1993  and 1994,
respectively.
 
    OTHER OPERATING (INCOME)  EXPENSE.  Other  operating expense decreased  from
$8.5  million in 1993 to $2.9 million in 1994. The decrease was primarily due to
a  $5.2  million  expense  in  1993   related  to  the  shutdown  of   photomask
manufacturing facilities in Danbury, Connecticut and Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
 
    INTEREST  EXPENSE.  Interest expense decreased  from $9.2 million in 1993 to
$5.8 million in 1994 primarily due to  a decrease in external borrowings by  the
Company's Korean operations.
 
    EXCHANGE  (GAIN) LOSS.  The Company incurred a $0.3 million exchange loss in
1994 compared to a $0.4  million exchange gain in  1993. The major component  of
the loss in 1993 was a weakening of the U.S. Dollar against the German Mark.
 
    PROVISION  FOR INCOME TAXES.  Tax expense has been allocated by applying the
asset and  liability method  set forth  in SFAS  109 to  each of  the  Company's
operations  as if it were a separate taxpayer. Under this approach the Company's
effective tax rate was 0%  in 1993 and 1994, as  a result of net operating  loss
carryforwards  in the  U.S. and  Europe and  the Korean  tax exemption described
above. In actuality, the Company's results were included in the consolidated tax
returns filed  by  DuPont and  the  tax benefits  of  prior years'  losses  were
realized by DuPont. See Note 10 to the Combined Financial Statements.
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 COMPARED TO NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995
 
    TOTAL  SALES.  Total sales  increased 30.4% from $116.7  million in the nine
months ended March 31, 1995 to $152.2 million in the nine months ended March 31,
1996. Overall, sales  in North  America, Europe  and Asia  increased from  $65.5
million, $30.3 million and $20.9 million, respectively, in the nine months ended
March  31, 1995 to $88.8 million, $37.5 million and $25.9 million, respectively,
in the nine months ended March 31, 1996. A continued increase in the demand  for
more  advanced photomasks,  which have  higher average  selling prices,  was the
primary contributor to  the increase  in total  sales during  this period.  This
shift  in demand for more advanced  photomasks reflects the trend toward greater
utilization of more  complex semiconductor devices  with finer line-widths.  See
"Business  --  Industry Background."  The increase  in  total sales  during this
period also reflects the overall increase in demand for photomasks. In addition,
approximately $7 million  of photomask  sales to  Lucent Technologies  (formerly
AT&T)  were generated during the nine months ended March 31, 1996 as a result of
a supply  agreement  executed  in  connection  with  the  purchase  of  selected
photomask   manufacturing  equipment  from  an  affiliate  of  AT&T  (the  "AT&T
Acquisition").
 
    COST OF GOODS SOLD.  Cost of  goods sold increased 15.2% from $85.7  million
in  the nine  months ended March  31, 1995 to  $98.7 million in  the nine months
ended March 31, 1996, resulting primarily from increased sales. As a  percentage
of sales, cost of goods sold decreased from 73.5% in the nine months ended March
31,  1995 to  64.9% in the  nine months ended  March 31, 1996.  The decrease was
primarily due to  continued improvements in  capacity utilization and  increased
use  of internally sourced photoblanks and  pellicles. As a result, gross profit
as a percentage of  total sales increased  from 26.5% in  the nine months  ended
March 31, 1995 to 35.1% in the nine months ended March 31, 1996.
 
    SELLING,   GENERAL  AND  ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENSE.     Selling,  general  and
administrative expense increased  13.8% from  $16.0 million in  the nine  months
ended    March   31,    1995   to   $18.2    million   in    the   nine   months
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
ended March  31, 1996.  The increase  was due  largely to  increases in  selling
expenses  corresponding to increased sales.  Selling, general and administrative
expense as a percentage of total sales was 11.9% for the nine months ended March
31, 1996 compared with 13.7% for the corresponding period of the prior year.
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSE.  Research and development expense for  the
nine  months ended  March 31,  1996 increased to  $7.0 million  compared to $6.4
million in the same period in the prior year. As a percentage of sales, research
and development expense declined  from 5.5% in the  nine months ended March  31,
1995  to 4.6%  in the  nine months  ended March  31, 1996,  reflecting increased
sales. Research and  development expense is  net of funds  the Company  received
from  customers, industry  groups and government  sources in the  amount of $0.4
million and $0.1 million for the nine  months ended March 31, 1995 and the  nine
months  ended March 31,  1996, respectively. The  Company's allocated or charged
share of DuPont's  central research and  development was $1.4  million and  $1.1
million  for the nine months  ended March 31, 1995  and 1996, respectively. Such
allocations terminated on  December 31,  1995, and the  Company will  thereafter
only  incur such  charges pursuant to  the Research,  Development and Consulting
Agreement with DuPont.  See "Transactions and  Relationship Between the  Company
and DuPont -- Research, Development and Consulting Agreement."
 
    OTHER  OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSE.   Other operating  expense increased from
$2.3 million in the nine months ended March 31, 1995 to $3.2 million in the nine
months ended March  31, 1996.  The increase  was due  largely to  pre-production
costs associated with the Company's joint venture in Shanghai, China.
 
    INTEREST EXPENSE.  Interest expense was essentially flat at $5.1 million for
both  the nine months ended  March 31, 1995 and the  nine months ended March 31,
1996.
 
    EXCHANGE (GAIN) LOSS.   Exchange loss was $0.2  million for the nine  months
ended  March 31,  1996 compared  to a  $0.5 million  exchange gain  for the same
period  in  the  prior  year.  The  loss  in  the  current  year  was  primarily
attributable to the fluctuation of the U.S. Dollar against the German Mark.
 
    PROVISION  FOR INCOME TAXES.   The Company's provision  for income taxes was
$1.9 million  for the  nine months  ended March  31, 1996.  The Company  had  no
provision for income taxes for the nine months ended March 31, 1995.
 
    MINORITY  INTEREST IN  INCOME (LOSS) OF  MAJORITY OWNED JOINT  VENTURE.  The
Minority Interest  impact  of the  Company's  joint venture  with  the  Shanghai
Institute  of Metallurgy was ($0.5 million) for  the nine months ended March 31,
1996 compared  to  ($0.1  million)  for  the same  period  in  the  prior  year,
reflecting  increased  pre-operating losses  from, and  partner funding  of, the
joint venture.
 
QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATION
 
    The following table  sets forth certain  unaudited quarterly financial  data
for  each of the last eight fiscal quarters  ended March 31, 1996, and such data
as a percentage of the Company's  total sales. Such information is derived  from
the  unaudited combined financial statements of the Company that include, in the
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
opinion of management,  all normal  recurring adjustments necessary  for a  fair
presentation  of the  information set forth  therein. Operating  results for any
quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              THREE MONTHS ENDED
                           -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           JUNE 30    SEPT. 30    DEC. 31    MARCH 31    JUNE 30    SEPT. 30    DEC. 31    MARCH 31
                             1994       1994        1994       1995        1995       1995        1995       1996
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
                                                                (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                        <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 DATA:
Total Sales..............  $35,537    $ 38,715    $ 37,617   $ 40,338    $44,844    $ 46,039    $ 50,279   $ 55,874
Cost of Goods Sold.......   27,152      28,132      28,185     29,428     31,277      32,192      31,151     35,374
Selling, General and
 Administrative
 Expense.................    5,144       5,136       5,058      5,823      5,786       5,869       6,316      5,979
Research and Development
 Expense -- Net..........    1,747       2,018       2,026      2,341      2,392       2,458       2,450      2,047
Other Operating (Income)
 Expense -- Net..........      732         507       1,107        703      1,173         633       1,614        972
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
Operating Profit.........      762       2,922       1,241      2,043      4,216       4,887       8,748     11,502
Interest Expense.........    1,438       1,597       1,660      1,797      1,903       1,832       1,634      1,625
Exchange (Gain) Loss.....      314          49        (137)      (388)       (17)        230          78        (80)
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
Income (Loss) Before
 Income Taxes and
 Minority Interest.......     (990)      1,276        (282)       634      2,330       2,825       7,036      9,957
Provision for Income
 Taxes...................    --          --          --         --         --            454         472        973
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
Income (Loss) Before
 Minority Interest.......     (990)      1,276        (282)       634      2,330       2,371       6,564      8,984
Minority Interest in
 Income (Loss) of
 Majority Owned Joint
 Venture.................    --          --             (6)       (76)       (79)        (55)      --          (428)
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
Net Income (Loss)........  $  (990)   $  1,276    $   (276)  $    710    $ 2,409    $  2,426    $  6,564   $  9,412
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
 
AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL
 SALES:
Total Sales..............    100.0%      100.0%      100.0%     100.0%     100.0%      100.0%      100.0%     100.0%
Cost of Goods Sold.......     76.4        72.7        74.9       73.0       69.8        69.9        61.9       63.3
Selling, General and
 Administrative
 Expense.................     14.5        13.3        13.5       14.4       12.9        12.8        12.6       10.7
Research and Development
 Expense -- Net..........      4.9         5.2         5.4        5.8        5.3         5.3         4.9        3.7
Other Operating (Income)
 Expense -- Net..........      2.1         1.3         2.9        1.7        2.6         1.4         3.2        1.7
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
Operating Profit.........      2.1         7.5         3.3        5.1        9.4        10.6        17.4       20.6
Interest Expense.........      4.0         4.1         4.4        4.5        4.2         3.9         3.2        3.0
Exchange (Gain) Loss.....      0.9         0.1        (0.4)      (1.0)     --            0.5         0.2       (0.2)
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
Income (Loss) Before
 Income Taxes and
 Minority Interest.......     (2.8)        3.3        (0.7)       1.6        5.2         6.2        14.0       17.8
Provision for Income
 Taxes...................    --          --          --         --         --            1.0         0.9        1.7
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
Income (Loss) Before
 Minority Interest.......     (2.8)        3.3        (0.7)       1.6        5.2         5.2        13.1       16.1
Minority Interest in
 Income (Loss) of
 Majority Owned Joint
 Venture.................    --          --          --          (0.2)      (0.2)       (0.1)      --          (0.7)
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
Net Income (Loss)........     (2.8)%       3.3%       (0.7)%      1.8%       5.4%        5.3%       13.1%      16.8%
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
                           --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Quarterly sales have increased sequentially  in every quarter over the  last
five  quarters primarily because of stronger demand for photomasks and the shift
in demand toward advanced photomasks as  described above. The Company derives  a
significant  portion  of  its  sales  revenues  from  sales  to  relatively  few
semiconductor manufacturers. The loss of,  or a significant reduction of  orders
from,  any of the Company's major customers could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business or results of operations, particularly on a  quarterly
basis.  See  "Risk  Factors --  Concentration  of Customers."  In  addition, the
Company's quarterly and annual operating results are affected by a wide  variety
of  factors that affect sales or profitability. These factors include the volume
and timing of orders shipped. Since  the Company's business is characterized  by
short  term  orders and  shipment schedules  without  a significant  backlog for
products, substantially all of the Company's sales in any quarter are  dependent
upon  orders received during that quarter.  See "Risk Factors -- Fluctuations in
Quarterly and Annual Earnings."
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
    Cash used  by operations  was $2.4  million in  1993, and  cash provided  by
operations  was $12.4 million in  1994, $29.0 million in  1995 and $36.3 million
for the nine  months ended March  31, 1996. These  increases were primarily  the
result  of higher sales  volume, which led  to improved net  income. The Company
believes that cash provided by operations  will be the Company's primary  source
of liquidity.
 
    The  Company's working  capital was  $22.9 million  at June  30, 1994, $16.4
million at June 30, 1995  and $13.3 million at March  31, 1996. The decrease  in
working    capital    for   the    nine    months   ended    March    31,   1996
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
principally reflects higher related party payables for amounts paid by DuPont on
behalf of the Company and  billed to the Company  on a monthly basis,  partially
offset  by increases in trade receivables  and inventory, all resulting from the
increased level of sales and business  activity during the period. The  decrease
in  1995 was partially caused by lower  prepaid expenses resulting from a change
in the manner in which the Company  pays one of its suppliers for its  services.
Prior  to June 1995, the Company prepaid  certain amounts owed to such supplier;
however, since such time, the  Company has paid such  supplier on a monthly,  as
billed,  basis. In addition, accounts payable  increased by $6.0 million in 1995
as a result of a deferred payment to AT&T pursuant to the AT&T Acquisition.
 
    Cash flows used for investing activities  were $22.1 million in 1993,  $11.7
million  in 1994, $18.6  million in 1995  and $18.8 million  for the nine months
ended March 31, 1996. The Company's  most significant use of cash for  investing
activities  was for purchases of property and equipment. Such purchases totalled
$18.1 million in 1993,  $5.0 million in  1994, $14.9 million  in 1995 and  $13.7
million  for the nine  months ended March  31, 1996. See  "Risk Factors -- Rapid
Technological Change; Capital Intensive Industry."
 
    Cash provided by financing  activities was $24.5 million  in 1993, and  cash
used for financing activities was $2.9 million in 1994, $7.0 million in 1995 and
$16.7  million for  the nine months  ended March  31, 1996. As  a participant in
DuPont's central cash management system, the  Company has used cash provided  by
operations  to repay borrowings from  DuPont pursuant to the  Master Note. As of
March 31, 1996, the  Company had borrowings of  $162.3 million under the  Master
Note.  Part  of  the  net proceeds  from  the  Offering will  be  used  to repay
indebtedness under the Master Note, and  any remaining balance under the  Master
Note  will be contributed as equity capital to  the Company by DCEO. See "Use of
Proceeds."
 
    Cash and cash equivalents were $3.9  million at June 30, 1994, $8.4  million
at  June 30, 1995 and $8.9 million at March 31, 1996. The Company will retain an
amount, currently  estimated  at  $9.1  million, of  the  net  proceeds  of  the
Offering;  such that, at the date the  Offering is consummated, the Company will
have cash and cash equivalents totalling approximately $18 million. The  Company
intends  to use these proceeds for general corporate purposes, including capital
expenditures and working capital. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
    The Company's ongoing  cash requirement  will be  for capital  expenditures,
research  and  product development  and working  capital. The  Company's capital
expenditures  for  1995  were  $18.9   million.  The  Company  expects   capital
expenditures to be approximately $30 million in 1996, $19.7 million of which has
been   spent,  and  it  expects  that  capital  expenditures  in  1997  will  be
approximately $42 million. The  capital expenditures for 1996  and 1997 will  be
used  primarily to expand  the Company's manufacturing  capacity and advance the
Company's technical capability.  The Company expects  that cash from  operations
and  the  credit  agreement  with  DCEO  will  be  sufficient  to  fund  capital
expenditures, product development  and working capital  requirements. See  "Risk
Factors  --  Rapid  Technological  Change;  Capital  Intensive  Industry," "Risk
Factors --  No  Independent Operating  History  Prior to  the  Offering,"  "Risk
Factors -- Recent Losses" and "-- Overview."
 
    The  Company  and  DCEO  have  entered  into  a  two-year  credit agreement,
effective as of January 1, 1996, pursuant  to which DCEO has agreed, subject  to
certain  conditions, to provide a revolving  credit/ working capital facility to
the Company in an  aggregate amount of  up to $30  million. The credit  facility
will  serve  as a  back-up to  cash  from operations  and provide  financing for
general capital  spending and  corporate purposes  and ongoing  working  capital
needs.  The credit agreement contains, among other things, covenants restricting
the Company's ability to  incur additional debt above  a certain threshold.  See
"Transactions  and  Relationship  Between  the  Company  and  DuPont  --  Credit
Facility."
 
    The Company believes that its available funds following the Offering and its
access to the credit facility will  be sufficient to meet its cash  requirements
through  at least fiscal 1997. See  "Risk Factors -- Rapid Technological Change;
Capital Intensive Industry."
 
OTHER MATTERS
 
    The Company is currently negotiating an agreement with three other companies
that, if  consummated, would  result in  the formation  of a  limited  liability
company  that  would develop  advanced  photomask fabrication  technologies. The
Company believes that through its participation it will be able to help meet the
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
future technology needs of the  semiconductor industry for advanced  photomasks.
There  can be no  assurance that final  agreements will be  executed or that, if
executed, will yield results that are favorable to the Company. See "Business --
Strategy --  Advance  Technological Leadership"  and  "Business --  Strategy  --
Expand Strategic Relationships with Customers."
 
    Foreign  operations  are subject  to  certain risks  inherent  in conducting
business abroad, including price and currency exchange controls, fluctuation  in
the  relative value of currencies  and restrictive governmental actions. Changes
in the relative value of currencies occur from time to time and may, in  certain
instances,  have a material  effect on the Company's  results of operations. The
Combined  Financial  Statements   reflect  remeasurements   of  monetary   items
denominated  in  foreign currencies  to U.S.  Dollars, the  Company's functional
currency. Monetary assets and liabilities  are remeasured at the exchange  rates
in  effect at  the end of  the applicable  period. Exchange gains  or losses are
included in Exchange (Gain) Loss  in income in the  period in which they  occur.
Non-monetary  assets, which are principally  inventories and plant, property and
equipment, are remeasured at historical exchange rates, and income and  expenses
are remeasured at average exchange rates in effect during the applicable period,
except  for expenses related to balance  sheet amounts, which are measured using
historical exchange rates.
 
    Prior to the Offering, DuPont managed the Company's exposure to fluctuations
in foreign currency exchange rates as part of its overall management of exchange
rate exposure  of DuPont  and its  subsidiaries,  as a  whole, and  no  separate
hedging  of  the  Company's  foreign  exchange  rate  exposure  was  undertaken.
Accordingly, the  Combined  Financial  Statements do  not  reflect  any  hedging
activities.  However, following the Offering, the Company plans to independently
monitor its  foreign exchange  rate  exposure and  may  attempt to  reduce  such
exposure  in the future by hedging. The risks associated with foreign operations
have not, to date, had a material adverse impact on the Company's liquidity  and
results  of operations. There can, however, be no assurance that such risks will
not have a  material adverse impact  on the Company's  liquidity and results  of
operations  in the future. See Note 17  to the Combined Financial Statements for
the three years ended June 30,  1995 for geographical financial data  concerning
the  Company's  operations.  See  "Risk  Factors  --  Significant  International
Operations."
 
    The effects of inflation are experienced by the Company through increases in
the cost of labor, services and raw materials. In general, these costs have been
anticipated by periodic increases in the prices of its products.
 
DISCUSSION OF PRO FORMA
 
   
    The Pro Forma Combined Statement of Financial Position estimates the  effect
that  the  following  transactions would  have  had on  the  Company's financial
position had they occurred as of March 31, 1996: (i) the Offering and the use of
net proceeds as described under "Use of Proceeds"; (ii) the contribution by DCEO
of the remaining balance outstanding under the Master Note and certain  accounts
payable  relating to the  Master Note; and (iii)  other adjustments described in
the Notes to the Combined Pro Forma Financial Statements. The principal  effects
on  the Company's financial position would have  been (i) a net increase in cash
and cash equivalents of  $9.1 million resulting from  the Company's retaining  a
portion  of the net  proceeds of the  Offering sufficient to  ensure that it has
approximately $18 million of cash  and cash equivalents following the  Offering;
(ii)  a decrease in amounts outstanding under the Master Note resulting from the
use of the  net proceeds from  the Offering to  repay $46.0 million  outstanding
under  the Master  Note; (iii)  an increase of  $3.4 million  in deferred income
taxes arising  from  the  fact  that  the  Company's  tax  return  will  not  be
consolidated  with DuPont's following the Offering;  and (iv) an increase in the
Owner's Net Investment/Shareholder's Equity of $123.0 million, which  represents
the  contribution by DCEO of the  remaining balance outstanding under the Master
Note and certain  accounts payable described  above and retention  by DuPont  of
certain payroll liabilities. See "Use of Proceeds."
    
 
    The  Pro Forma Combined  Statements of Operations  estimate the effects that
the following would  have had on  the Company's results  of operations had  they
occurred  as of July 1, 1994: (i) the discontinuance of DuPont's post-retirement
and post-employment benefits  and the  replacement of  DuPont's defined  benefit
pension  plan with  the Company's  defined contribution  pension plan;  (ii) the
elimination of DuPont allocated
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
overhead expenses that are not expected to be incurred by the Company  following
the  Offering; (iii)  the cost of  services to  be provided by  third parties or
DuPont pursuant to transitional  administrative services agreements with  DuPont
and its subsidiaries and additional employees assumed to be hired by the Company
to replace those services previously provided by DuPont; and (iv) recognition of
expenses  relating to the  Company's Stock Performance  Plan. See "Management --
Compensation  of  DPI  Employees  in   1996  --  Stock  Performance  Plan"   and
"Transactions  and Relationship Between the Company and DuPont -- Administrative
Services Agreements." The principal effect of these adjustments would have  been
a  decrease in  costs of goods  sold by,  and a corresponding  increase in gross
profit of, $1.7  million for 1995  and $1.0  million for the  nine months  ended
March  31, 1996. In addition, selling,  general and administrative expense would
have increased by $0.8  million for 1995  and $1.1 million  for the nine  months
ended  March 31, 1996, and research and development expense would have decreased
by $1.5 million for 1995  and $0.8 million for the  nine months ended March  31,
1996. As a result of these adjustments, operating profit would have increased by
$2.7 million for 1995 and $1.1 million for the nine months ended March 31, 1996.
Furthermore,  because of  the repayment and  contribution of the  Master Note as
described above, interest expense would have decreased $6.9 million for 1995 and
$5.0 million for the nine months ended March 31, 1996. Consequently, net  income
(offset by increases in provision for income taxes) would have been increased by
$6.1  million for 1995 and  decreased by $0.9 million  for the nine months ended
March 31, 1996.
 
    The Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements do not purport to represent what
the results of operations  or financial position of  the Company would  actually
have  been had  the events  described above in  fact occurred  on the applicable
dates or  to project  the results  of operations  or financial  position of  the
Company  for  any future  period. See  Pro  Forma Combined  Financial Statements
appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
    Based on  worldwide  sales, DuPont  Photomasks,  Inc. is  the  largest  U.S.
photomask manufacturer and one of the two largest photomask manufacturers in the
world.  Photomasks are high-purity  quartz or glass  plates containing precision
microscopic  images  of  integrated  circuits   and  are  used  as  masters   by
semiconductor   manufacturers   to   optically   transfer   these   images  onto
semiconductor wafers.  The  Company develops  and  uses advanced  technology  to
manufacture  a broad range of photomasks based on customer-supplied design data,
including photomasks that  meet the tightest  design specifications required  by
semiconductor  manufacturers today. Since  1991, DPI has  operated globally with
established manufacturing  facilities in  North America,  Europe and  Asia.  The
Company  is the only photomask manufacturer  in the world that also manufactures
and  markets  both  photoblanks  and  pellicles,  the  principal  components  of
photomasks,  facilitating the Company's ability to  ensure an adequate supply of
quality  components.  The  Company  sells  its  products  to  approximately  200
customers  in  20  different countries.  The  Company  believes that  it  is the
principal merchant photomask supplier for many of its customers, including  AMD,
Delco/General  Motors, Digital,  Hyundai, LG  Semicon, Lucent  Technologies Inc.
(formerly AT&T), Micron Technology,  Motorola, National Semiconductor,  Philips,
Samsung,  Seagate and SGS-Thomson.  The Company serves  its global customer base
from eight  ISO 9002-qualified  manufacturing facilities  and numerous  customer
service centers.
 
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
 
    Semiconductors  are the basic  building blocks used  to create an increasing
variety  of  electronic  products   and  systems.  Continuous  improvements   in
semiconductor  processing  and design  technologies  have led  to  smaller, more
complex and more reliable devices at  a lower cost per function. As  performance
has  increased and  size and cost  have decreased,  semiconductors have expanded
beyond their original primary applications, such as computer systems, to a  wide
array  of additional applications such as telecommunications systems, automotive
products, consumer  goods  and industrial  automation  and control  systems.  In
addition,  systems users  and designers  have demanded  semiconductors with more
functionality, higher  levels of  performance, greater  reliability and  shorter
design  cycles,  all  in  smaller  packages  at  lower  costs.  The  demand  for
semiconductors has  also  expanded  geographically with  the  emergence  of  new
markets,  particularly in Asia. As a  result, semiconductor sales have increased
substantially over time, though with  significant cyclical variations in  growth
rates.  According to  industry sources, worldwide  semiconductor sales increased
from approximately $30 billion in 1985 to  over $150 billion in 1995. See  "Risk
Factors -- Relationship with and Dependence on Semiconductor Industry."
 
    The   market  for   photomasks  is  primarily   comprised  of  semiconductor
manufacturers in North America, Europe and Asia. Growth in the photomask  market
has  not always correlated  with increases in  semiconductor sales, since demand
for photomasks is driven  principally by new  semiconductor designs rather  than
sales. While growth in semiconductor manufacturing and new semiconductor designs
generated  demand  for  new photomasks  from  the mid-1980's  through  the early
1990's,  the  Company  believes  that  this  underlying  growth  was  offset  by
semiconductor  and  photomask  design  and  manufacturing  efficiencies.  First,
cost-effective and  powerful  workstations  and  CAD  tools  enabled  integrated
circuit  designers to perfect semiconductor designs through computer simulation,
thereby significantly  reducing  the  need to  produce  numerous  iterations  of
photomasks.  Second, ultra-thin protective  covers called pellicles  began to be
widely used in the mid-1980's to protect photomask surfaces from  contamination,
thereby  prolonging the life of photomasks. Third, the need for backup photomask
sets was significantly reduced  by improved production  cycle time that  enabled
lead times for replacement photomasks to fall from several days to 24 hours. See
"Risk Factors -- Relationship with and Dependence on Semiconductor Industry."
 
    Photomask  manufacturers increased production  capacity significantly in the
mid-1980's, failing to anticipate the offsetting effect of these efficiencies on
the growing underlying demand for new photomasks. The resulting excess  capacity
created  a  competitive  environment that  led  to depressed  prices.  See "Risk
Factors -- Competition;  Reversal of Consolidation  Trend." The excess  capacity
was  further  exacerbated by  the advent  of  reduction photolithography  in the
mid-1980's. Reduction photolithography, which allowed the
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
use of photomasks with  features five times larger  than the image being  etched
onto  the semiconductor wafer, resulted in a significant relaxation of photomask
specifications and,  consequently,  extended  the  life  of  existing  photomask
technology and manufacturing facilities.
 
    Partly as a result of the excess capacity and depressed prices caused by the
factors  described above, the merchant photomask market in the United States and
Europe began in 1985 to consolidate  as a number of merchant suppliers  acquired
other  merchant  photomask manufacturers.  Concurrently with  this consolidation
trend, semiconductor  manufacturers  began  to divest  their  captive  photomask
operations  by  selling  such  operations  to  independent  photomask merchants.
Consequently, the  share  of the  market  served by  the  remaining  independent
merchants   has  increased   significantly.  The   Company  believes   that  the
consolidation of photomask manufacturers was primarily caused by the significant
capital requirements and competitive pricing  pressures of the photomask  market
as a whole as well as the poor financial performance of some merchant suppliers.
The  number of significant independent manufacturers in North America and Europe
decreased from approximately 14 in the  mid-1980's to five in 1994. The  Company
believes that, in addition to excess capacity and competitive pricing, the other
cause  of  the  divestiture  trend was  the  emergence  of  reliable independent
photomask  manufacturers,   such   as  the   Company,   enabling   semiconductor
manufacturers  to divest or limit new  investment in their photomask facilities.
See "Risk Factors -- Rapid Technological Change; Capital Intensive Industry" and
"-- Competition; Reversal of Consolidation Trend."
 
    The Company  believes  that in  the  last two  years  growth in  demand  for
photomasks  has  resumed. According  to  industry sources,  the  total worldwide
market for  photomasks was  approximately $1.3  billion in  1995. The  photomask
market  in North America,  Europe and non-Japan  Asia is estimated  to have been
approximately 50% of the worldwide market over the last five years, and merchant
photomask sales in these regions  are estimated to have  been in excess of  $375
million in 1995.
 
    The   Company   believes  that   the  impact   of  CAD   efficiencies,  mask
pelliclization, reduced  cycle time  and reduction  photolithography  technology
that negatively affected photomask industry growth throughout the mid-1980's and
the early 1990's has largely dissipated, and consequently, prices for photomasks
have  stabilized. As a result, the  Company expects that growth in semiconductor
design activity and demand will drive current photomask industry growth  without
the  offsetting influences  that previously  existed. The  following factors are
expected to be particularly important:
 
    -CUSTOMIZATION  OF   SEMICONDUCTOR   DESIGNS.      Increasing   demand   for
     semiconductors  including application specific integrated circuits (ASICs),
     application specific standard  products (ASSPs), embedded  microcontrollers
     and  a  growing  variety  of  memory  products  has  generated  demand  for
     photomasks as each new type of semiconductor device requires additional new
     photomasks.
 
    -INCREASING DEVICE COMPLEXITY.  As  the complexity of semiconductor  devices
     has increased in response to continued efforts to improve the functionality
     of  these devices through greater  transistor densities and smaller feature
     sizes, the  number  of photomasks  used  in  the manufacture  of  a  single
     integrated   circuit  has  also  increased.  For  example,  the  number  of
     photomasks typically  required for  the manufacture  of microprocessors  in
     1991  was 14 as compared  to 22 photomasks for  the currently most advanced
     generation of microprocessors.
 
    -DECREASING SIZE  OF SEMICONDUCTOR  DESIGNS.   The semiconductor  industry's
     growth  is  driven by  its  ability to  produce  smaller and  more powerful
     semiconductor chips  at  lower  costs. Development  of  increasingly  small
     design  features  is likely  to generate  increased demand  for high-value,
     advanced photomasks that  can accurately and  reliably replicate  intricate
     design features.
 
    -NEW   WAFER  FABRICATION  FACILITIES.    Semiconductor  manufacturers  have
     announced   plans   to   increase    investment   significantly   in    new
     state-of-the-art  wafer  fabrication  facilities and  upgrades  of existing
     facilities. New wafer fabrication facilities are likely to utilize improved
     lithography equipment which typically increases demand for  technologically
     advanced photomasks.
 
    -PROLIFERATION  OF SEMICONDUCTOR APPLICATIONS.  Semiconductor devices of all
     types are continuing to proliferate  into new products, including  cellular
     telephones, pagers, automobiles, medical products,
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
     household  appliances and other electronic  consumer products. In addition,
     the demand  for  semiconductor devices  from  traditional markets  such  as
     personal  computers is  growing significantly  as semiconductor  content in
     electronic systems  increases and  as personal  computers expand  into  new
     market segments such as home use.
 
    The Company believes that certain of these trends are changing the nature of
the  photomask industry  and its  importance in  the semiconductor manufacturing
process. Photomasks are reemerging as a critical and enabling technology in  the
semiconductor  manufacturing process,  and the  photomask market  is expected to
experience greater growth as a result. Semiconductor design rules have  recently
advanced  so that even  "5X" reduction ratios  require photomasks with submicron
features. Future semiconductor  devices are expected  to require features  below
the  resolution limit of existing photolithography equipment. Advanced photomask
technologies such  as phase  shift and  optical proximity  correction masks  can
extend  the optical  resolution of existing  photolithography equipment, thereby
delaying the significant investment required for new semiconductor manufacturing
equipment. In addition,  as semiconductor  line widths  become as  small as  the
wavelength of the illumination sources in optical lithography, the semiconductor
manufacturing   process   becomes  increasingly   dependent   on  high-precision
photomasks with  tighter specifications  and tolerances.  Future generations  of
wafer lithography equipment are expected to increase the need for high precision
photomasks,  thereby further increasing demand for advanced photomasks that have
tighter specifications. All of these  changes in the semiconductor industry  are
increasing the already important role of photomasks and driving the need for the
continuing development of advanced photomasks.
 
DUPONT PHOTOMASKS
 
    DuPont  entered the  photomask market  in 1986  with the  acquisition of Tau
Laboratories, a  merchant  photomask  supplier whose  principal  customers  were
Delco/General Motors and Motorola. From this base, DuPont embarked on a strategy
to  establish a global presence that would enable  it to respond to the needs of
multi-national semiconductor  manufacturers. As  part of  this strategy,  DuPont
purchased  assets of numerous captive  photomask operations and acquired several
merchant photomask companies. Such acquisitions include Gould AMI (1987), Master
Images  (1987),  Motorola  (1987),   Symbios  Logic  (1988),  Nanomask   (1988),
SGS-Thomson/Texas   (1989),  National   Semiconductor  (1990),  Philips/Nijmegen
(1990),  Rexotech   (1990),  Perkin   Elmer   ALO  (1990),   Tektronix   (1991),
Philips/Hamburg  (1993) and  AT&T (1995). In  addition, DPI  constructed its own
"greenfield" sites in  Round Rock,  Texas (1987)  and Ichon,  Korea (1991).  The
Company  is  currently  participating  in the  construction  of  a manufacturing
facility in  Shanghai, China  as part  of a  joint venture  and is  planning  to
construct  a  photomask  manufacturing  facility  on  a  "greenfield"  site near
Glasgow, Scotland. The Company has established a large, worldwide  manufacturing
structure  that  can  supply  the  needs  of  the  leading  global semiconductor
manufacturers. Based on sales in North America, the Company believes that it  is
one  of the two  largest photomask suppliers  in North America,  and the Company
believes that it is the largest photomask supplier in Europe and non-Japan  Asia
based  on sales in such  regions. See "Risk Factors  -- Competition; Reversal of
Consolidation Trend" and "-- Growth by Acquisition."
 
    DPI's  photomask   technology  spans   the  full   array  of   semiconductor
requirements,    including   dynamic   and   static   memory,   microprocessors,
microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs),  application
specific  standard products (ASSPs) and analog and discrete devices. The Company
also manufactures photomasks for thin film heads used in disk drives,  multichip
modules   and  flat  panel  displays.   Customers  for  these  products  include
Micromodule,  Philips,  Seagate  and  Xerox.   In  addition,  the  Company   has
consistently been an industry leader in developing the most advanced photomasks.
In  order to maintain and enhance  its technological leadership, the Company has
strategic relationships with key customers in developing leading edge photomasks
and with leading equipment suppliers such as Etec Systems Inc. ("Etec") and  KLA
Instruments  Corporation ("KLA")  in developing  equipment capable  of producing
such leading edge  photomasks. Outside Japan,  the Company believes  that it  is
currently  the  principal  independent  supplier  of  leading  edge  photomasks,
including phase shift, optical  proximity correction and advanced  specification
photomasks.  See "Risk Factors --  Rapid Technological Change; Capital Intensive
Industry."
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
    The  Company believes that it is the principal photomask supplier of many of
the leading, global semiconductor manufacturers. The Company sells its  products
to  approximately 200 customers in 20 different countries, and its customers are
among  the  largest  worldwide  semiconductor  and  electronics   manufacturers,
including  AMD,  Delco/General Motors,  Digital,  Fujitsu, Hyundai,  LG Semicon,
Lucent Technologies  (formerly  AT&T),  Micron  Technology,  Motorola,  National
Semiconductor, Philips, Samsung, Seagate, SGS-Thomson and Texas Instruments. The
Company  believes that  its customers  have come  to rely  on DPI  to meet their
photomask  needs  on  a  timely  basis  and  to  make  mask  production  process
improvements  necessary to keep pace with their own technological advances. As a
result, the Company believes that  most of its primary  customers view DPI as  a
strategic  partner in the semiconductor manufacturing process. See "Risk Factors
- -- Concentration of Customers."
 
    The Company  is the  only  photomask manufacturer  in  the world  that  also
manufactures and markets the principal components of photomasks: photoblanks and
pellicles.  The  Company  produces  and  supplies between  70%  and  80%  of the
photoblanks and the pellicles  it uses to manufacture  photomasks. As a  result,
the  Company believes it has  a competitive advantage because  of its ability to
manage the supply,  quality and costs  of these component  materials. See  "Risk
Factors -- Concentration of and Dependence on Suppliers."
 
STRATEGY
 
    The Company's objective is to be the world's premier supplier of photomasks,
providing   superior  service  and  advanced  technology,  by  implementing  the
following strategies.
 
    CAPITALIZE  ON  GLOBAL  MANUFACTURING   PRESENCE.    The  Company's   global
manufacturing presence enables it to respond to the needs of its customers, many
of which have facilities located throughout the world. The Company believes that
delivery  of photomasks on a timely basis  is important to its customers because
it reduces their cycle  times. Photomask suppliers  that have global  operations
should  have  a  competitive  advantage because  proximity  to  their customers'
worldwide facilities makes  rapid delivery  more feasible. Since  1991, DPI  has
operated  globally with  established manufacturing facilities  in North America,
Europe and Asia.  The Company  intends to  capitalize on  this global  strategic
position by continuing to invest in each of these regions in order to expand its
existing manufacturing base and participate in regional market growth.
 
    ADVANCE  TECHNOLOGICAL LEADERSHIP.   To meet  the demands  of leading global
semiconductor manufacturers, the  Company has continually  invested in  research
and  development and  the advanced equipment  necessary to  produce leading edge
photomasks. The Company intends to  continue to develop leading edge  photomasks
and  advance  its technological  leadership  by beta  testing  new manufacturing
equipment and developing manufacturing processes to produce the next  generation
of  photomasks.  For example,  the Company's  facility in  Round Rock,  Texas is
specifically designed to pioneer the most advanced technologies at the  earliest
stage   of  development.  As  a  result,   this  facility  operates  both  as  a
manufacturing and  research  and  development  facility.  The  Company  cascades
technological  advancements  from  Round Rock  to  its other  facilities  as the
customers served by  these facilities  begin to demand  these advancements.  The
Company's  other  facilities often  enhance  the processes  that  were initially
developed in Round Rock and subsequently  share these enhancements with all  the
Company's  facilities, thereby enabling  the Company to  reduce redundancies and
inconsistencies in  manufacturing development.  The  Company also  is  currently
negotiating  an agreement with three other companies that, if consummated, would
result in  the formation  of  a limited  liability  company that  would  develop
advanced  photomask fabrication  technologies. See  "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of  Results  of Operations  --  Other  Matters." DPI  also  intends  to
continue  to  participate  in  research and  development  projects  supported by
SEMATECH, JESSI  and  other  organizations focused  on  advancing  semiconductor
technology.  DPI believes that by advancing its technological leadership it will
strengthen its position  as a  strategic partner  to its  primary customers.  In
addition,  DPI believes that by manufacturing  and selling advanced products, it
should be able to increase sales of other types of photomasks. Typically, a  set
of photomasks for each semiconductor device contains one or two advanced levels,
which  are considered critical by the customer. The photomasks that comprise the
rest of the set are
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
typically less critical. In order to obtain proper alignment of the  photomasks,
however,  the entire set  is typically manufactured  by a single  supplier. As a
result, DPI  believes that  the ability  to manufacture  critical levels  should
generate additional photomask sales.
 
    EXPAND  STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH  CUSTOMERS.  The  Company has developed
strategic relationships with certain of its customers, and it intends to  expand
these relationships by increasing its shared activities with some of the world's
leading  semiconductor manufacturers, including joint investment in the research
and development of advanced photomasks. DPI believes that the expansion of these
relationships will enable it to share  the risks and benefits of developing  the
next generation of photomasks. In addition, relationships with customers provide
the  Company with valuable know-how and position it as the key supplier to these
customers.
 
    LEVERAGE  INTEGRATED  POSITION.     The  Company   is  the  only   photomask
manufacturer  in the world that also manufactures photoblanks and pellicles, the
principal components of photomasks. As a  result, the Company believes it has  a
competitive  advantage because of its ability  to manage the supply, quality and
costs of  these  component materials.  In  addition,  DPI intends  to  use  this
capability  to develop the advanced photoblanks  and pellicles necessary for the
production of the  next generation of  photomasks. For example,  the Company  is
currently   developing  numerous  component   material  enhancements,  including
embedded attenuated photoblanks and  improved deep ultraviolet (DUV)  pellicles,
as part of an integrated effort to develop more advanced photomasks.
 
    PURSUE  STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS  WITH KEY  SUPPLIERS.   The Company believes
that its strategic  relationships with leading  equipment suppliers help  ensure
that  it  can provide  its  customers with  early  access to  the  most advanced
photomasks. As a result,  delays between any  advances in semiconductor  devices
and  advances in photomasks  can be minimized. DPI  works closely with equipment
suppliers, including Etec and KLA, and  with materials suppliers, in some  cases
under  the auspices of  Sematech. For example, the  Company regularly beta tests
new  pattern   generation   and   inspection  equipment,   providing   it   with
"time-to-market" advantages.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY
 
    PHOTOMASKS.   Photomasks are  high-purity quartz or  glass plates containing
precision, microscopic images of  integrated circuits that  are used as  masters
(equivalent to "negatives" in a photographic process) to optically transfer such
microscopic  images  of circuit  patterns onto  semiconductor wafers  during the
fabrication of  semiconductor  integrated  circuits  and  discrete  devices.  In
producing  a semiconductor, a photomask is  usually placed in a photolithography
tool, called a stepper, to make  numerous reproductions of the pattern image  on
semiconductor   wafers.   This   reproduction  is   typically   accomplished  by
transferring light through the photomask onto a photoresist that was spin-coated
onto the surface of the semiconductor  wafer. The areas of the photoresist  that
have  been  exposed  to light  are  then  dissolved by  chemical  developers and
subjected to further  processing, such  as etching, ion  implantation and  metal
deposition. Successive steps of lithography, deposition and processing gradually
create the multiple layers of conducting, semiconducting and insulating patterns
that make up the millions of transistors found in a modern semiconductor device.
 
           [Diagram of use of photomask in semiconductor lithography]
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
    Photomasks  are manufactured by the Company in accordance with semiconductor
design data provided on a confidential basis by its customers. The final  design
of  each  integrated circuit  results  in a  set  of precise  individual circuit
patterns to be imaged  onto a series  of typically 10  to 22 separate  photomask
levels.  The complete set of patterned photomasks is required to manufacture the
customer's integrated  circuit  design. Upon  receipt  of a  customer's  circuit
design,  the Company  converts the  design to  pattern data,  which are  used to
control an electron or laser beam that  exposes the circuit pattern onto a  thin
layer  of  photosensitive polymer,  called  a photoresist,  covering  the opaque
chrome layer of  the photoblank.  The exposed  areas are  dissolved by  chemical
developers,  and the thin chrome layer of  the photoblank is etched to replicate
the customer design  pattern on  the photomask. Subsequently,  the photomask  is
inspected for defects, its critical dimensions are confirmed and any defects are
repaired. Pellicles are then mounted onto the masks, and the masks are delivered
to the customer.
 
            [Flow chart of typical photomask manufacturing process]
 
    The  Company manufactures a  broad range of  photomasks for varying customer
applications,  including  applications  requiring   the  use  of  leading   edge
photomasks.  The  Company produces  4"  by 4"  through  7" by  7"  photomasks at
reduction ratios ranging from 1:1 to 10:1,  which can be used on 1:1  projection
aligners and steppers, 5:1 reduction steppers and 4:1 step and scan systems. The
Company's  products  are compatible  with  nearly all  semiconductor lithography
technologies, ranging  from  G-Line and  I-Line  to DUV  lithography,  which  is
expected  by the Company to become the principal advanced lithography technology
during the next decade. The  Company manufactures these products using  multiple
production  techniques, including  electron beam and  laser exposure  as well as
lower cost optical exposure techniques.
 
    The Company has  developed advanced photomask  products for customers  using
leading  edge  lithography  technologies  in three  categories:  (i)  masks with
extremely tight  specifications, (ii)  phase shift  masks and  (iii) masks  with
optical  proximity  correction.  Advanced  specification  photomasks  permit the
customer to use
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
a  variety  of  lithography  technologies  since  the  high  quality  and  tight
tolerances  of  the photomask  permit greater  flexibility in  the semiconductor
manufacturing process.  Phase  shift  mask  and  masks  with  optical  proximity
correction   typically  require  extremely  tight  specifications  coupled  with
additional unique characteristics. Phase shift  masks are photomasks that  alter
the  phase of the light passing  through the photomask permitting improved depth
of focus and  resolution on the  wafer. Optical proximity  correction masks  are
photomasks with submicron features that help minimize optical distortions on the
wafer  and  therefore  permit  improved image  fidelity.  The  demand  for these
products has  grown during  the past  two  years as  customers search  for  cost
effective,  less capital  intensive methods for  improving current semiconductor
fabrication yields  and shrinking  feature  sizes. All  three of  these  product
categories provide opportunities for semiconductor manufacturers to produce more
advanced products with existing lithography equipment. Therefore, these advanced
photomasks  are expected by the Company to enable semiconductor manufacturers to
delay significant capital  investment in  new generation  steppers. The  Company
estimates  that sales of these three product categories was less than 15% of the
Company's total sales  for fiscal 1995,  but the Company  expects that sales  of
these  products will  increase. The Company's  current product  offerings are as
follows:
 
                [Chart showing the Company's photomask products]
 
    PHOTOBLANKS AND PELLICLES.   Photomasks are  manufactured from  photoblanks,
which  are highly polished quartz or  glass plates coated with ultra-thin layers
of  chrome  and   photoresist.  The   photomask  is   protected  from   particle
contamination  by  an  ultra-thin,  frame-mounted  transparent  film,  called  a
pellicle.  The  pellicle  when  mounted  on  the  photomask  creates  a   sealed
contamination-free environment for the photomask pattern. Because the Company is
the  only  photomask  manufacturer  that  also  manufactures  and  markets  both
photoblanks and pellicles, it  believes that it has  a competitive advantage  in
managing  the supply,  quality and  cost of  its principal  component materials.
Photoblanks and pellicles  constitute approximately 80%  of the materials  costs
associated  with  photomask production.  Between 70%  and  80% of  the Company's
demand for these  critical components  is internally  supplied. Photoblanks  and
pellicles  are also sold to customers  that include Fujitsu, Intel, Motorola and
Siemens AG.  The  Company  is  currently one  of  the  major  quartz  photoblank
suppliers  worldwide, and it believes that it is the only commercial supplier of
quartz photoblanks outside Japan.  The Company believes that  it is also one  of
the  three  largest  pellicle  suppliers  worldwide.  In  1992,  DPI transferred
pellicle production from its Poughkeepsie, New York facility, where  photoblanks
are  manufactured, to  a new manufacturing  facility in  Danbury, Connecticut in
order to better meet the quality requirements for future product generations.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
    The production  of  photoblanks requires  ultra  pure chrome  deposition  on
highly  polished  and extremely  flat quartz  or  glass substrates.  The Company
purchases virgin quartz substrates primarily from Shin Etsu Handotai Co.,  which
is  the world's largest  producer of these substrates.  In addition, the Company
recycles quartz substrates which  have been repolished in  order to reduce  cost
and  dependence on external suppliers. The  Company acquires between 20% and 30%
of the photoblanks it uses to manufacture photomasks from Hoya Corp. and  others
that  serve  as  a backup  to  the  Company's own  production.  The  quality and
properties of photoblanks strongly affect  the yield and quality of  photomasks.
The  Company's research and development of photoblanks is focused on the optimum
balance of  properties among  the quartz  substrate, the  chrome layer  and  the
resist  layer  and on  contamination-free manufacturing  techniques in  order to
achieve the  characteristics that  are needed  for the  manufacture of  advanced
photomasks.  This  work  has  resulted  in two  patents,  including  one  for an
attenuated embedded shifter  blank, and  a third  patent is  pending. See  "Risk
Factors -- Concentration of and Dependence on Suppliers."
 
    Pellicles  are produced from nitrocellulose  or other polymer solutions that
the Company prepares or  purchases. The ultra thin  film is typically  precision
coated   with   an  anti-reflective   layer   to  improve   optical  performance
characteristics. Material properties and manufacturing conditions are  carefully
tuned   to  match  the   pellicle's  light  transmission   properties  with  the
requirements of the specific semiconductor lithography application. The  Company
has  introduced  proprietary pellicle  films that  are specifically  designed to
withstand the  powerful  DUV  radiation  found in  the  emerging  generation  of
advanced   steppers.  In  addition,  the  Company  is  developing  contamination
resistant features  for the  pellicle  frame assembly.  The Company  holds  five
patents  covering  various  aspects  of pellicle  technology,  with  two patents
pending. To assure a backup supply,  the Company purchases approximately 20%  to
30%  of  the pellicles  it  uses to  manufacture  photomasks from  several other
suppliers.
 
GLOBAL MANUFACTURING AND OPERATIONS
 
    In order to meet the increasing  global demand for their products,  original
equipment  manufacturers (OEMs)  are constructing  new factories  throughout the
world. Semiconductor  manufacturers  are similarly  building  wafer  fabrication
facilities  located near their  OEM customers. Semiconductors  produced at these
facilities are designed either locally or at separate design centers, which  are
sometimes  located  on different  continents. The  Company believes  that global
semiconductor manufacturers prefer  photomask suppliers that  can accept  orders
and  manufacture photomasks in  close proximity to their  facilities in order to
ensure a more stable and dependable photomask supply. This preference creates  a
competitive  advantage for  photomask companies  that have  global manufacturing
facilities as  well  as a  telecommunications  network capable  of  rapidly  and
securely   transmitting  semiconductor   design  data.  See   "Risk  Factors  --
Competition; Reversal of Consolidation Trend."
 
    Since  1991,  DPI  has  operated  globally  with  established  manufacturing
facilities  in North  America, Europe  and Asia.  In North  America, the Company
operates photomask manufacturing facilities in  Round Rock, Texas; Santa  Clara,
California;   and  Kokomo,  Indiana.  In  Europe,  the  Company's  manufacturing
facilities are  located in  Rousset,  France and  Hamburg,  Germany, and  it  is
planning to construct a third photomask manufacturing facility on a "greenfield"
site  near  Glasgow,  Scotland.  In  Asia,  the  Company  currently  operates  a
manufacturing facility in Ichon, Korea and is participating in the  construction
of  a facility with  its joint venture  partner in Shanghai,  China. The Company
believes that its global presence is  important for meeting the supply needs  of
multi-national  customers  as it  facilitates  the Company's  ability  to supply
quality products to its customers' worldwide locations on a timely basis.  Close
proximity  to customers is important because  of rapid delivery requirements and
the need for  frequent personal  interactions. As a  result, each  manufacturing
facility primarily supplies local semiconductor manufacturers. Moreover, each of
the  Company's  manufacturing facilities  is  connected by  a  data transmission
network, which allows these facilities to transfer confidential customer  design
data   and  manufacturing  instructions  rapidly  and  coordinate  manufacturing
responsibility with the Company's  other facilities. By  being able to  transfer
information  throughout  the world  with this  network, the  Company is  able to
optimize capacity utilization, thereby lowering production costs while providing
effective customer service on a local level. In addition, a trend is  developing
whereby   semiconductor  manufacturers  in  certain  regions  are  beginning  to
specialize in certain technologies. For example, semiconductor manufacturers  in
Korea are rapidly assuming global leadership in
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
DRAMS.  Because of  its global  network, the  Company believes  that it  is well
positioned to  flexibly  manage  its  capacity,  enabling  it  to  use  all  its
manufacturing  facilities in order to  take advantage of regional opportunities.
See "Risk Factors -- Significant International Operations."
 
    Approximately 26% of the Company's sales in fiscal 1995 were in Europe where
the Company believes  that it  is the  largest photomask  supplier. Through  its
manufacturing  facilities in Germany and France, the Company supplies photomasks
to the  major European  semiconductor manufacturers,  including  Alcatel-Mietec,
Atmel/ES(2),   Austria   Mikrosysteme  International   AG,   Motorola,  National
Semiconductor, Philips, SGS-Thomson, TEMIC  and Texas Instruments. In  addition,
through  its planned facility in Glasgow, Scotland,  the Company will be able to
serve numerous  semiconductor customers  of DPI  that have  established, or  are
planning  to establish, manufacturing  operations in the  United Kingdom and the
Republic of Ireland.  In addition, this  facility will also  serve customers  in
other European countries.
 
    The  Company's photomask  sales in Asia  have grown  significantly. Sales in
Asia grew  approximately  69% from  fiscal  1993  to fiscal  1995.  The  Company
supplies   photomasks  to  semiconductor  manufacturers  principally  in  Korea,
including Daewoo, Hyundai, LG Semicon and Samsung through its facility in Ichon,
Korea. This facility also serves customers  located in Japan, Hong Kong,  Taiwan
and  Singapore. In  addition, the Company  is expanding its  Asian operations to
China. As  part  of  a  joint  venture, the  Company  is  participating  in  the
construction  of a manufacturing facility, which it expects will begin producing
photomasks in  fiscal  1997. The  Company  is a  majority  owner of  this  joint
venture,  and upon  completion, this facility  will be the  first local facility
capable of meeting the high-end  photomask needs of semiconductor  manufacturers
in China.
 
    The photomask market in Japan is estimated to have been approximately 50% of
the  worldwide  market  over  the  last  five  years.  The  Japanese  market  is
predominantly served by captive Japanese  suppliers and three significant  local
independent   suppliers.  The  Company  is   beginning  to  serve  semiconductor
manufacturers in Japan through its facility in Ichon, Korea.
 
    In 1988, the  Company formed  a partnership, DuPont  Dai Nippon  Engineering
("DDE"),  with DNP, Japan's largest photomask manufacturer. DDE supplies certain
Japanese semiconductor manufacturers' facilities in the United States, including
Matsushita Ltd., NEC  Corp., Sony and  Toshiba with photomasks  produced at  the
Company's facilities in the United States.
 
    The  Company's management is committed to  the highest quality standards for
its products, a standard  maintained in part by  continuous improvements to  its
production  processes and upgrades  to its manufacturing  equipment. Each of the
Company's manufacturing sites  is ISO-9002 qualified.  The Company  manufactures
photomasks  in clean rooms designed to provide a contamination-free, temperature
and humidity controlled environment. These clean rooms are similar to those used
in the  manufacture  of semiconductors.  The  Company's historical  emphasis  on
product  research and development has carried over to process technology and has
resulted in the development of  world class production facilities equipped  with
state-of-the-art  manufacturing equipment. The Company  believes that it has the
world's largest installed base of photomask  equipment. It operates some of  the
most   advanced   types   of  equipment   currently   available,   including  an
ALTA-Registered Trademark- laser pattern generator from Etec as well as  301/331
Series  and Starlight-Registered  Trademark- inspection equipment  from KLA. See
"Risk Factors -- Manufacturing Risks."
 
CUSTOMERS
 
    The Company is  the principal  photomask supplier  of many  of the  leading,
global semiconductor manufacturers. The Company believes that its customers have
come  to rely on DPI to meet their photomask needs on a timely basis and to make
mask   production   process   improvements   necessary   to   keep   pace   with
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
their own technological advances. As a result, the Company believes that most of
its  primary  customers view  DPI as  a strategic  partner in  the semiconductor
manufacturing process. The following table  lists the Company's current  primary
customers.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                    <C>
Alcatel-Mietec                         Maxim
AMD*                                   Micron Technology*
AMI*                                   Motorola*
Atmel/ES(2)                            National Semiconductor*
Delco/General Motors*                  Philips*
Digital*                               Samsung*
Hexfet/IRC*                            Seagate*
Hyundai*                               SGS-Thomson*
Intel                                  Symbios Logic
LG Semicon*                            Texas Instruments
LSI Logic                              VLSI Technology
Lucent Technologies (formerly AT&T)*
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
*The  Company believes it is the principal merchant photomask supplier for these
 customers.
 
    In fiscal  1995, the  Company's four  largest customers,  in the  aggregate,
accounted  for  approximately  41% of  the  Company's sales,  and  the Company's
largest 10  customers, in  the  aggregate, accounted  for approximately  66%  of
sales.  The customers listed in the table above accounted for, in the aggregate,
approximately 80% of sales in fiscal 1995. See "Risk Factors -- Concentration of
Customers" and Note 4 to the Combined Financial Statements.
 
   
    The Company  has entered  into multi-year,  non-exclusive supply  agreements
with  some  of its  customers,  including Lucent  Technologies  (formerly AT&T),
Motorola, Philips and SGS-Thomson. Each  agreement is separately negotiated  and
therefore  specific terms vary. See Note 13 to the Combined Financial Statements
for the Fiscal Year Ended  June 30, 1995 and Note  12 to the Combined  Financial
Statements for Nine Months Ended March 31, 1996.
    
 
WORLDWIDE SALES AND SUPPORT
 
    Because  each  photomask  is unique,  the  Company works  closely  with each
customer to define and communicate precisely the specifications required by  the
customer.  The Company sells and services  its products in North America, Europe
and non-Japan Asia  principally through  its own  employees based  at its  eight
manufacturing  sites throughout the  world and the  facility in Shanghai, China,
which is  currently  under  construction.  The Company  has  sales  and  service
employees  located in Agrate,  Italy; Austin, Texas;  Beaverton, Oregon; Dallas,
Texas; Edinburgh,  Scotland;  Fort  Collins, Colorado;  Lille,  France;  Munich,
Germany; Orange, California; and Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, the Company uses
DuPont distributors in Taipei, Taiwan and Tokyo, Japan.
 
    DPI   has  established  customer  service  centers  inside  several  of  its
customers'  design   centers  and   wafer  fabrication   facilities,   including
SGS-Thomson  (Agrate, Italy and  Dallas, Texas); Maxim  (Beaverton, Oregon); and
Texas Instruments  (Dallas,  Texas).  DPI employees  located  at  these  centers
routinely  interact  with  customer engineers  to  improve the  accuracy  of the
customers' design data and  documentation and ensure  that the customers'  order
receives the appropriate priority at the manufacturing facility and that routine
problems  are resolved promptly. The Company believes that these centers located
in customers' facilities reduce errors and returns and improve on time delivery,
each of which improves customer satisfaction.
 
COMPETITION
 
    The photomask  industry is  highly competitive,  and most  of the  Company's
customers  utilize  more  than one  photomask  supplier. Because  of  its global
presence, the Company competes with different independent manufacturers in  each
local  geographic region in which  it operates. The Company  believes that it is
one of the two largest photomask suppliers  in North America and that it is  the
largest  photomask supplier in Europe and  non-Japan Asia. In North America, the
Company competes primarily with Photronics and,  to a lesser extent, with  other
smaller  independent  photomask  suppliers.  In  Europe,  the  Company  competes
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
primarily with Compugraphics and Photronics, and in Asia, the Company  primarily
competes  with DNP, Hoya Corp., Taiwan  Mask Corporation and Toppan. The Company
expects that some  of its  competitors will expand  operations to  international
markets  in order to better  meet the needs of  international customers and take
advantage of new growth opportunities. For example, Photronics has, among  other
undertakings,  made certain  acquisitions in  Europe and  has announced  that it
plans to construct a manufacturing facility in Singapore. The Company expects to
face continued  competition  from  these  and other  suppliers  in  the  future,
including  P.K. Ltd. (formerly Anam S&T Co. Ltd.) in Korea. See "Risk Factors --
Competition; Reversal of Consolidation Trend."
 
    Captive operations served approximately 45% of the total worldwide photomask
market during  1995. The  Company  competes with  a  limited number  of  captive
operations  when  such  operations  sell excess  capacity  on  the  open market.
Beginning in the mid-1980s, a trend developed toward the divestiture or  closing
of  captive photomask  operations by semiconductor  manufacturers. As photomasks
continue to reemerge as a critical and enabling technology in the  semiconductor
manufacturing   process,  semiconductor  manufacturers   may  form  new  captive
operations to  ensure  that their  photomask  needs are  met,  particularly  for
advanced  and leading edge photomasks. The  Company believes that its ability to
develop the most advanced photomasks provides a more cost effective  alternative
to  the  formation  of  captive operations,  which  require  significant capital
investments  and  operating  costs   to  develop  the  requisite   manufacturing
expertise. See "Risk Factors -- Competition; Reversal of Consolidation Trend."
 
    On   time  delivery   of  defect-free   photomasks  at   competitive  prices
historically has  been the  important competitive  factor in  the industry.  The
Company  believes that with the increasing  importance of leading edge photomask
technology  in  the   semiconductor  manufacturing  process,   the  ability   to
manufacture  these  advanced photomasks  will also  be an  important competitive
factor. See "-- Industry Background."
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    The  photomask  industry  has  been  and  is  expected  to  continue  to  be
characterized by rapid technological change. In order to remain competitive, the
Company  expects that it will be  required to continually anticipate, respond to
and utilize changing technologies. The Company has historically made significant
investments in research and development  in order to maintain its  technological
leadership.  See "Risk Factors --  Rapid Technological Change; Capital Intensive
Industry."
 
    The Company intends  to continue to  invest in research  and development  in
order  to  ensure  its technological  leadership.  The Company  is  focusing its
research and  development  in  three  areas: (i)  the  enhancement  of  existing
products  by  improving  manufacturing  techniques  and  technologies;  (ii) the
development of leading edge photomask products such as phase shift masks,  masks
with  optical proximity correction  and advanced specification  masks; and (iii)
the development of advanced materials needed for the manufacture of leading edge
photomasks. In addition, the Company is currently negotiating an agreement  with
three  other companies that, if consummated, would  result in the formation of a
limited liability  company that  would  develop advanced  photomask  fabrication
technologies. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations
- -- Other Matters."
 
    The  Company is enhancing its existing products through worldwide integrated
engineering, capital  investment for  improved capability  and beta  testing  of
leading  edge equipment. Product enhancements in the past led to the development
of technology currently used  to produce photomasks  compatible with 0.5  micron
semiconductor  lithography. This  technology is  providing the  platform for the
development  of   manufacturing  technologies   consistent  with   0.35   micron
semiconductor  lithography at high yields and  rapid cycle time. The Company has
been a leader  in the development  of leading edge  photomask products, such  as
phase  shift, optical proximity and advanced specification masks. In addition to
its internal  development  efforts,  the Company  has  participated  in  several
development  programs supported  by SEMATECH in  the United States  and JESSI in
Europe with respect to advanced products. The Company's research and development
of photomask component materials is also responding to the technology demands of
semiconductor manufacturers through the development of improved materials needed
to produce advanced photomasks. Recent  examples of such materials  developments
include  low stress chrome blanks, pellicles with contamination-control features
and attenuated embedded chrome  blanks for phase shift  masks. See "--  Products
and Technology."
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
    The  Company has established a research  and development group that consists
of  highly  trained  and  experienced  personnel  who  focus  on  research   and
development  issues. The capabilities  of this group have  been augmented by its
access to  DuPont's  corporate  science and  engineering  resources.  There  are
certain  elements  of DuPont's  material  science expertise  and  its analytical
capabilities that are relevant to photomask research and development.  Following
the  Offering, the  Company will continue  to have access  to DuPont's corporate
science and  engineering for  a period  of five  years pursuant  to a  research,
development  and consulting agreement between the Company and DuPont, which will
provide the  Company with  a supplement  to its  core research  and  development
program.  See "Transactions and  Relationship between the  Company and DuPont --
Research, Development and Consulting Agreement."
 
    An alternative to photomask  lithography is direct-write lithography,  which
writes the circuit pattern directly onto the semiconductor wafer without the use
of  a photomask. The direct-write method  generates patterns onto a wafer slowly
and therefore  is  not  currently  useful  for  high-volume,  commercial  device
manufacturing.  A significant advance in this  technology, however, would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business and results of operations. See
"Risk Factors -- Rapid Technological Change; Capital Intensive Industry."
 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
 
    Much of the  Company's proprietary  information and  technology relating  to
manufacturing  processes  is not  patented and  may  not be  patentable. Certain
aspects of the  Company's photoblanks and  pellicles technologies are,  however,
protected  by ten patents  or patent applications.  They include product patents
for certain types of attenuated, embedded phase shift blanks and DUV  pellicles.
While  the Company  considers its  patents to  be valuable  assets, it  does not
believe that its competitive position is dependent on patent protection or  that
its  operations are  dependent on  any individual  patent. The  Company believes
instead that the  success of its  business depends primarily  on its ability  to
maintain  lead time  in developing  its proprietary  technology, information and
processes and  know-how.  Nevertheless,  the Company  attempts  to  protect  its
intellectual  property  rights with  respect to  its products  and manufacturing
processes through patents, trademarks and trade secrets when appropriate as part
of its ongoing research, development  and manufacturing activities. The  Company
also  relies on non-disclosure agreements with  employees and vendors to protect
its proprietary processes.
 
    There can  be  no assurance  that  the  Company's means  of  protecting  its
proprietary  rights will be adequate or  that the Company's competitors will not
independently develop similar processes. In addition, there can be no  assurance
that  third parties will not claim that the Company's current or future products
infringe on their  proprietary rights. Any  such claim, with  or without  merit,
could  result in costly  litigation or might  require the Company  to enter into
licensing agreements.  Such agreements,  if required,  may not  be available  on
terms  acceptable to  the Company  or at all.  See "Risk  Factors -- Proprietary
Information and Intellectual Property."
 
EMPLOYEES
 
    As of  March  31,  1996,  the  Company  had  approximately  1,100  employees
worldwide,  of  whom approximately  10% have  engineering or  technical degrees,
including Ph.D. degrees. The  Company had, as of  March 31, 1996,  approximately
110  sales, marketing and customer support  employees. The Company believes that
it has a good relationship  with its employees. There  can be no assurance  that
the  Company can retain its key  managerial, engineering and technical employees
or that it  can attract similar  additional employees in  the future. See  "Risk
Factors -- Dependence on Management and Technical Personnel."
 
    The  Company has no employees who are  represented by a union. The Company's
German subsidiary,  however, is  subject to  German law,  which binds  it, as  a
member  of  a  selected  industry  group,  to  agreements  reached  by  industry
management and employee representatives.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    The Company is not currently involved in any material legal proceedings.
 
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
 
    The operations of the Company and its ownership of real property are subject
to federal, state,  local and  foreign environmental laws  and regulations  that
govern,    among   other    things,   the    discharge   of    pollutants   into
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
the air and water and the handling, use, storage, disposal and clean-up of solid
and hazardous wastes.  Compliance with  such laws and  regulations requires  the
Company to incur capital expenditures and operating costs in connection with its
ongoing   operations.  In  addition,  such   laws  and  regulations  may  impose
liabilities on  owners and  operators of  businesses and  real property  without
regard  to fault and  may be joint  and several with  other parties. The Company
estimates that capital  expenditures relating to  environmental matters will  be
approximately  $260,000 in each of fiscal 1996,  1997 and 1998. In addition, the
Company  expects  to  incur  expenses  relating  to  environmental  matters   of
approximately  $1 million in each of fiscal  1996, 1997 and 1998. More stringent
environmental laws  and regulations  may be  enacted in  the future,  which  may
require  the Company to expend additional amounts on environmental compliance or
may require modifications in the  Company's operations. Although the Company  is
unable  to  predict the  extent  of its  future  liability with  respect  to any
environmental matters,  the Company  believes, based  upon current  information,
that  environmental liabilities will not be  material to its financial condition
or results  of operations.  See "Risk  Factors --  Environmental Matters."  With
respect   to   any  environmental   contamination   present  on   the  Company's
manufacturing sites at the time of the Offering or present at any such site as a
result of the  Company's manufacturing  operations due to  the generation,  use,
treatment,  storage, or disposal of hazardous waste or hazardous materials prior
to the date of the Offering, the Company will be indemnified by DuPont  pursuant
to  an  agreement between  DuPont  and the  Company  effective the  date  of the
Offering.  The  Company  will  be  solely  responsible  for  any   environmental
liabilities  resulting  from its  operations following  the consummation  of the
Offering. See "Transactions and Relationship  Between the Company and DuPont  --
Environmental Indemnification Agreement."
 
FACILITIES
 
    The  Company conducts manufacturing operations throughout the world. Each of
these operations  is  ISO-9002  qualified.  The  table  below  presents  certain
information  (as  of  March  31,  1996)  relating  to  the  Company's  principal
manufacturing and support facilities.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LOCATION                                                FLOOR SPACE SQUARE FEET  TYPE OF INTEREST     PRODUCTS
- ------------------------------------------------------  -----------------------  ----------------  --------------
<S>                                                     <C>                      <C>               <C>
NORTH AMERICA
  Round Rock, Texas...................................          54,000                Owned          Photomasks
  Santa Clara, California.............................          38,000                Leased         Photomasks
  Kokomo, Indiana.....................................          42,000                Owned          Photomasks
  Poughkeepsie, New York..............................          23,000                Owned         Photoblanks
  Danbury, Connecticut................................          55,000                Owned          Pellicles
EUROPE
  Rousset, France.....................................          24,000                Leased         Photomasks
  Hamburg, Germany....................................          22,000                Leased         Photomasks
ASIA
  Ichon, Korea........................................          102,000               Owned          Photomasks
  Shanghai, China.....................................   (under construction)     Jointly Owned      Photomasks
</TABLE>
 
    The facility  in Round  Rock, Texas  not only  operates as  a  manufacturing
facility  but also is the Company's primary research and development center. The
Company owns  most  of  the  manufacturing  equipment  at  its  facilities.  The
executive  offices of the Company  are located at 100  Texas Avenue, Round Rock,
Texas 78664, and its telephone number is (512) 244-0024.
 
    The Company  is  the majority  owner  of the  joint  venture that  owns  the
facility  in Shanghai, China, which is currently under construction. The Company
expects that this facility will be completed and operational in fiscal 1997.  In
addition,  the  Company  is  planning  to  construct  a  photomask manufacturing
facility on a "greenfield" site near Glasgow, Scotland.
 
    Facilities and property located in Santa Clara and Hamburg are leased  under
leases that expire in March 1997 and October 2022, respectively. The facility at
Rousset  is leased under a  lease that expires in April  1998 at which point the
Company has an option to  take ownership of the  facility upon payment of  taxes
and  expenses relating to the conveyance.  The Company's Santa Clara facility is
in a seismically  active area.  Although the  Company plans  to obtain  business
interruption insurance, a major catastrophe (such as an
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
earthquake  or other  natural disaster) at  any of  its sites could  result in a
prolonged interruption of the Company's North American business. The Company  is
currently  negotiating an  extension of  the lease  covering the  facilities and
property located  in Santa  Clara  and anticipates  reaching an  agreement  with
respect  to such lease extension prior to  the termination of the present lease.
There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will obtain an extension of
the current  lease. In  the  event that  the Company  is  required to  move  its
equipment  from the facilities at Santa Clara,  the costs associated with such a
move would likely be significant.
 
    The  Company  also  maintains  customer  service  data  centers  in   leased
facilities in Beaverton, Oregon and Dallas, Texas.
 
    The Company believes that its facilities are adequate and suitable for their
respective uses.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
    The  following table  sets forth the  name, age  (as of March  31, 1996) and
position with the Company of each person who is an executive officer or director
of DPI.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           NAME                 AGE                                POSITION WITH DPI
- --------------------------      ---      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>          <C>
J. Michael Hardinger                49   Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Preston M. Adcox                    52   President and Chief Operating Officer
Gerard Cognie                       51   Executive Vice President -- European Operations
David S. Gino                       38   Executive Vice President -- Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Van H. Leichliter                   51   Executive Vice President -- General Counsel and Secretary
Kenneth A. Rygler                   52   Executive Vice President -- Marketing and Sales
John L. Doyle                       64   Director
John C. Hodgson                     52   Director
Charles O. Holliday, Jr.            47   Director
Peter G. Kehoe                      52   Director
Gary W. Pankonien                   45   Director
John C. Sargent                     57   Director
Marshall C. Turner                  54   Director
Susan A. Vladuchick                 48   Director
</TABLE>
 
    J. MICHAEL HARDINGER.  Mr. Hardinger  is Chairman of the Board of  Directors
and  Chief Executive Officer of  the Company, positions he  assumed as a part of
the global realignment of the photomask  business. He joined DuPont in 1970  and
has  served  in a  number of  management positions  with DuPont,  including Vice
President and  General  Manager  of  DuPont's  Acrylics  and  Consumer  Products
Business  from  1990  until 1993.  He  was  Vice President  --  DuPont Corporate
Sourcing prior to assuming his position with the Company.
 
    PRESTON M. ADCOX.  Mr. Adcox is President and Chief Operating Officer of the
Company. He joined DuPont  in 1967 and  has held a  number of manufacturing  and
technology  management positions  including Business  Director of  DuPont's high
performance films business from 1982 to  1988. He became a Managing Director  in
DuPont's   Semiconductor  Materials  Business   in  1988  and   has  had  global
responsibility for DuPont's Photomask Business since that time. He was a  member
of  the Board of Directors  of Etec Systems Inc. from  1990 to early 1995. Since
1988, he has served on the Board of Directors of Semi-Sematech, an  organization
representing   U.S.  equipment  and  material  suppliers  to  the  semiconductor
manufacturing industry.
 
    GERARD  COGNIE.    Mr.  Cognie  is  Executive  Vice  President  --  European
Operations of the Company. He joined DuPont in 1968 and since 1988 has served as
the  Director  of Photomask  Europe  and the  Chairman  of the  Board  of DuPont
Photomask (France). He has also served as the Director of Electronics for DuPont
France since 1985.
 
    DAVID S. GINO.   Mr.  Gino is Executive  Vice President,  Finance and  Chief
Financial  Officer of  the Company.  He joined DuPont  in 1987  after serving as
Chief Financial  Officer and  Controller of  Master Images,  Inc. until  it  was
acquired  by DuPont  in 1987.  He has  held a  number of  financial and business
management positions with DuPont's semiconductor materials, imaging systems  and
printing  and publishing businesses. He was  the North American Business Manager
- -- Pressroom Systems for DuPont's  Printing and Publishing Business  immediately
prior  to  rejoining  the  Company  in  August 1995  as  a  part  of  the global
realignment of the photomask business.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
    VAN H. LEICHLITER.  Mr. Leichliter  is Executive Vice President and  General
Counsel  of the Company. He also serves as Corporate Secretary. He joined DuPont
in 1970 as a commercial lawyer and served as Vice President and General  Counsel
of DuPont's Endo Laboratories subsidiary from 1978 until 1983. Since then he has
held  a number of  legal advisory positions with  DuPont including most recently
serving as Senior Counsel to DuPont's Fibers Business.
 
    KENNETH A. RYGLER.  Mr. Rygler is Executive Vice President -- Marketing  and
Sales  of the  Company. He  joined DuPont  in 1964  and held  numerous sales and
management positions  in DuPont's  Fabrics and  Finishes Department.  He held  a
number  of  marketing,  sales,  planning  and  business  development  management
positions in DuPont's Electronic Materials Strategic Business Unit from 1985  to
1991,  when he became the Company's Vice  President for Marketing and Sales. Mr.
Rygler's involvement in the electronics industry began in 1969.
 
    JOHN L. DOYLE.  Mr. Doyle is  a private consultant, having retired from  the
Hewlett-Packard Company in 1991. At the time of his retirement, he was Executive
Vice  President, Business Development  with responsibility for Hewlett-Packard's
integrated circuit  facilities  as  well  as  acquisitions,  mergers,  planning,
corporate purchasing, manufacturing and engineering. He was also a member of the
Executive  Committee. Mr. Doyle  was Co-Chief Executive  Officer of Hexcel Corp.
from July 1993 to December 1993. Hexcel Corp. filed for bankruptcy under Chapter
11 of the  United States Bankruptcy  Code in  December 1993. He  is currently  a
director  of Xilinx, Inc., Analog Devices,  Inc. and Silicon Valley Research. He
became a director of the Company in April 1996.
 
    JOHN C. HODGSON.   Mr. Hodgson is the  Managing Director/General Manager  of
the  Electronic  Materials  Strategic Business  Unit  of DuPont,  a  position he
assumed in 1994.  He has  been with  DuPont for  29 years  and has  served in  a
variety  of  management  positions  in  the  X-Ray,  Electronics  and Diagnostic
businesses in the United States and in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1991, Mr. Hodgson
became the Business Director of  Microcircuit and Component Materials for  North
America,  and  from  1993 until  assuming  his  current position,  he  served as
Managing Director  of  Microcircuit  and  Component  Materials,  worldwide,  and
Electronic  Materials, Americas.  He became a  director of the  Company in April
1996.
 
    CHARLES O. HOLLIDAY, JR.  Since October 1995, Mr. Holliday has been a member
of the Office of the Chief Executive  of DuPont and an Executive Vice  President
with  global responsibility for  Electronic Materials, White  Pigments & Mineral
Products, Nonwovens, Advanced Fibers Systems, Printing and Publishing,  Polymers
and  Industrial  Packaging and  Agricultural Products.  He  is also  Chairman of
DuPont Asia Pacific.  Since joining DuPont  in 1970  as an engineer  at the  Old
Hickory,  Tennessee Fibers plant, he has  held a variety of management positions
in a number of DuPont's businesses. He became President -- Asia Pacific in  1990
and  was made Senior Vice  President -- DuPont Electronics  in 1992. He became a
director of the Company in April 1996.
 
    PETER G. KEHOE.   Mr. Kehoe is  a DuPont Business  Director who, since  June
1995,  has had responsibility for the  initial public offering of the photomasks
business. From 1988 until his current assignment, he was a Business Director  in
the  Advanced Fiber Systems  Strategic Business Unit  with global responsibility
for, at various times, Kevlar-Registered Trademark-, Nomex-Registered Trademark-
and Teflon-Registered  Trademark-.  He  joined  DuPont in  1973  as  a  Research
Engineer, and since then he has held a wide variety of technology, manufacturing
and  business  management  responsibilities  in  DuPont's  Chemicals  and Fibers
businesses. He became a director of the Company in December 1995.
 
    GARY W.  PANKONIEN.   Mr.  Pankonien is  the  Chairman and  Chief  Executive
Officer  of DarkHorse  Systems, Inc.  and 1st  Tech Corporation.  Both companies
engage in computer  engineering design  and manufacturing  activities. Prior  to
starting  1st  Tech  Corporation,  he  spent  seven  years  at  Compaq  Computer
Corporation where  he served  as  the Notebook  Computer Design  and  Operations
Manager  for three years. He co-developed and currently holds the patent for the
first notebook computer  as well  as several  other patents.  Mr. Pankonien  has
twenty  years  of  management experience  in  the electronics  industry  and has
extensive experience  in  off-shore operations.  He  became a  director  of  the
Company in April 1996.
 
    JOHN C. SARGENT.  Mr. Sargent is the Vice President and Treasurer of DuPont.
He  joined the Treasury Department  of Conoco in 1964 and  worked in a number of
financial management positions with Conoco
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
both in the United States and Europe. He became Vice President and Treasurer  of
Conoco  in  1981 and  also served  as  Assistant Treasurer  and Director  of the
Treasury Division of  DuPont after  Conoco was acquired  by DuPont  in 1982.  He
assumed  his present  position at DuPont  in 1992.  He became a  director of the
Company in December 1995.
 
    MARSHALL C. TURNER.  Mr. Turner is a venture capital investor and consultant
specializing in technology companies. He is  General Partner of Taylor &  Turner
Associates,  Ltd.,  Principal of  Turner Venture  Associates  and a  director of
Alliance  Technology  Fund,  Inc.,  Remanco  International,  Inc.,  the   Public
Broadcasting  Service  and the  George Lucas  Educational Foundation.  From 1983
until 1995, he  was a director  of six privately  held technology companies,  in
which  Taylor & Turner  was an investor, and  from 1987 to 1992,  he served as a
director and two years as Chairman  of the Corporation For Public  Broadcasting.
He  has taught  entrepreneurial management as  an adjunct faculty  member at the
Stanford University School of Engineering. Mr. Turner became a director in April
1996.
 
    SUSAN A. VLADUCHICK.  Since March 1995, Ms. Vladuchick has been the Director
of Human Development,  Staffing and  Personnel Relations at  DuPont. She  joined
DuPont  as a chemist in  1969 and has worked  in research and development, human
resources and manufacturing during the course of her career. In 1989, she became
Plant Manager of the Cape Fear fibers plant, a position she held until 1992 when
she became  the Director  of Manufacturing  for Specialty  Chemicals. From  1993
until  1995 she served as  the Director of Operations  for Medical Products. She
became a director of the Company in April 1996.
 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
    The Bylaws of the Company (the "Bylaws") provide for a Board of Directors of
not less than one nor more than  fifteen directors, with the current number  set
at nine. Each member of the Board of Directors holds office until the expiration
of  his or  her term and  until his or  her successor is  elected and qualified.
Vacancies on  the Board  of Directors  may be  filled by  the majority  vote  of
directors  then in office  or by a  sole remaining director.  The members of the
Board of Directors were elected by DCEO.
 
    Directors who are officers of the Company receive no additional compensation
for serving  on the  Board  of Directors.  Non-employee  Directors who  are  not
affiliated with DuPont will receive an annual fee of $20,000.
 
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
    The   purpose  of  the  Non-Employee   Directors'  Stock  Option  Plan  (the
"Directors' Plan")  is to  allow the  Company to  recruit and  retain  qualified
outside  directors  to serve  on  the Company's  Board  of Directors.  Under the
Directors' Plan, each director who is not  an employee of the Company or any  of
its subsidiaries (and who is not precluded by his or her employer from receiving
such  grant) will receive a one-time grant  of options to purchase 10,000 shares
of the Company's  Common Stock  upon the  later of  first joining  the Board  of
Directors or the consummation of the Offering (the "IPO Date"). Thereafter, each
non-employee  director will receive, during his or  her tenure as a director, an
annual grant of options covering 3,000 shares  as of the first day of the  month
following  the annual meeting of stockholders  of the Company. Directors who are
first elected to  the Board within  the 60 day  period immediately preceding  an
annual  meeting of stockholders and  who at the time  of their election received
the one-time grant of  options to purchase 10,000  shares described above,  will
not, under the terms of the Plan, receive an additional grant of 3,000 shares as
of  the first of  the month following  such annual meeting.  Upon exercise of an
option, payments of  the purchase price  for the stock  subject to the  exercise
will  be made in cash. Under the terms  of the Directors' Plan, no more than 25%
of the  total  number  of  shares  of stock  granted  under  option  may  become
exercisable  in any  given year following  the grant.  Currently, 250,000 shares
have been  reserved for  issuance under  the Directors'  Plan. Each  of John  L.
Doyle,  Gary W.  Pankonien and  Marshall C.  Turner are  expected to  be granted
options to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock under this Plan effective upon
the IPO Date at an exercise price per share equal to the initial public offering
price of Common  Stock sold  in the Offering.  Stock options  granted under  the
Directors'  Plan following the Offering will be exercisable at a price per share
equal to the average  of the high and  low sale prices of  the Common Stock,  as
quoted on the NASDAQ National Market, on the date of the grant.
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
AUDIT COMMITTEE
 
    The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors will meet with the independent
public  accountants to discuss the scope and results of their examination of the
books and  records  of  the  Company.  It will  also  meet  with  the  Company's
independent  public  accountants  to  review  the  internal  audit  department's
activities, if  and  when  established,  and to  discuss  the  adequacy  of  the
Company's  accounting and  control systems. The  committee also  will review the
audit schedule and consider  any issues raised by  its members, the  independent
public  accountants, the  internal audit staff,  the legal  staff or management.
Each year  it will  recommend to  the full  Board of  Directors the  name of  an
accounting  firm to audit the financial statements  of the Company. No member of
the Audit Committee may be an employee or  officer of the Company or any of  its
subsidiaries.  The  Audit Committee  consists of  John L.  Doyle, who  serves as
chairman of the committee, Marshall C. Turner and John C. Sargent.
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
 
    The  Compensation   Committee  will   review  and   approve  the   corporate
organization  structure,  review  performance of  corporate  officers, establish
overall employee compensation policies and  recommend to the Board of  Directors
major  compensation  programs.  The  committee  also  will  review  and  approve
compensation of directors and corporate officers, including salary, bonus awards
and stock option and restricted stock award grants and administer the  Company's
employee  stock  option and  incentive plan  and  bonus plan.  No member  of the
Compensation Committee may be an  employee or officer of  the Company or any  of
its  subsidiaries. The Compensation  Committee consists of  Charles O. Holliday,
Jr., who serves  as chairman of  the committee, Gary  W. Pankonien, Marshall  C.
Turner and Susan A. Vladuchick.
 
COMPENSATION OF COMPANY EMPLOYEES
 
    The  Company's officers and employees have  been participants in the various
employee benefit  plans maintained  by  DuPont, including,  without  limitation,
savings  plans, health and welfare  plans and pension plans  and are expected to
continue such  participation until  the Company  adopts its  own benefit  plans,
anticipated to be effective July 1, 1996. The Company currently expects to adopt
plans  that are substantially similar to  the existing DuPont plans, except that
effective July  1,  1996, the  Company  will replace  DuPont's  defined  benefit
pension  plan with a  defined contribution retirement  plan and will discontinue
DuPont's post-retirement medical benefit plan.  Until July 1, 1996, the  Company
will  continue to be  charged by DuPont  for all amounts  contributed or paid by
DuPont on behalf  of DPI's employees  with respect  to the DuPont  plans. It  is
expected  that, beginning July  1, 1996, although employees  of the Company will
continue as participants in  the DuPont Savings and  Investment Plan, they  will
receive  contributions from the Company thereunder rather than DuPont. See "Risk
Factors -- Dependence on Management and Technical Personnel."
 
    COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS DURING 1995
 
    During fiscal  1995, the  executive officers  named in  the tables  included
under  this  caption  were  employees of  DuPont  and  participated  in DuPont's
executive benefit plans, as indicated in the tables.
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
   
    The following table sets forth the aggregate cash compensation earned by the
Company's chief  executive  officer  and  five  other  most  highly  compensated
executive  officers  (the  "Named  Officers") from  DuPont  or  its subsidiaries
between July 1, 1994 and June 30, 1995. While the Company's fiscal year ended on
June 30, 1995, DuPont pays salary and  awards bonuses on a calendar year  basis.
The  salary  and  bonus columns  include  amounts  paid by  DuPont  for services
rendered in the latter six-month period  of 1994 and the first six-month  period
of 1995, in order to coincide with the Company's 1995 fiscal year.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                ANNUAL COMPENSATION
                                                                ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        OTHER ANNUAL     ALL OTHER
                                                                  SALARY      BONUS     COMPENSATION   COMPENSATION
NAME                                                   YEAR        ($)         ($)           ($)          ($)(1)
- ---------------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ----------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                                  <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>
J. Michael Hardinger...............................       1995  $  194,000  $  157,000       --          $   5,824
Preston M. Adcox...................................       1995     152,920      66,000       --              4,579
Gerard Cognie (2)..................................       1995     156,573      42,933       --             13,315
David S. Gino......................................       1995     106,750      40,800       --              5,262
Kenneth A. Rygler..................................       1995     122,750      47,050       --              3,685
Van H. Leichliter..................................       1995     106,340      36,900       --              6,313
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
   
(1) Includes contributions made by DuPont to each of the Named Officer's Savings
    and Investment Plan.
    
 
   
(2) Mr.  Cognie  is  paid  in  French  Francs.  The  Dollar  figures  shown were
    calculated using the International Monetary  Fund average exchange rate  for
    1995 of 4.9915 Francs to the Dollar.
    
 
    The  compensation of  Messrs. Adcox,  Cognie and  Rygler is  included in the
Company's Combined  Financial Statements  herein. None  of Messrs.  Hardinger's,
Gino's  and Leichliter's 1995 compensation is included in the Company's Combined
Financial Statements. All executive officers became employees of the Company  on
January  1, 1996, except Gerard  Cognie who became an  employee of the Company's
French subsidiary on March 1, 1996.
 
                         DUPONT OPTION GRANTS FOR 1995
 
    The following table  sets forth  information regarding  options to  purchase
shares  of DuPont's  common stock  granted to  the Named  Officers during fiscal
1995.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                                                                                                 VALUE AT ASSUMED
                                                             INDIVIDUAL GRANTS                                ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
                                                         -------------------------                            PRICE APPRECIATION FOR
                                              OPTIONS       % OF TOTAL OPTIONS       EXERCISE                    OPTION TERM (5)
                                              GRANTED        GRANTED TO DUPONT         PRICE     EXPIRATION   ----------------------
NAME                                         (#)(1)(2)    EMPLOYEES FOR 1995 (3)    ($/SH) (4)      DATE          5%         10%
- ------------------------------------------  -----------  -------------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                         <C>          <C>                        <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>
J. Michael Hardinger......................       8,000              --               $   55.50     3/2/2005   $  279,270  $  705,960
Preston M. Adcox..........................       3,250              --                   55.50     3/2/2005      113,636     286,796
Gerard Cognie.............................         800              --                   55.50     3/2/2005       27,972      70,612
David S. Gino.............................         800              --                   55.50     3/2/2005       27,972      70,612
Kenneth A. Rygler.........................       1,700              --                   55.50     3/2/2005       59,440     150,656
Van H. Leichliter.........................      --                  --                  --           --           --          --
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Stock options become exercisable  twelve months after  their date of  grant.
    All  of these options were granted on March  3, 1995, and have a term of ten
    years.
 
(2) In January 1995, the DuPont Board  of Directors approved the worldwide  1995
    DuPont  Corporate Sharing Program and awarded to essentially all employees a
    grant of options, which is not included in this table, to acquire 100 shares
    of DuPont common stock at the fair market value ($57 per share) on the  date
    of grant.
 
(3) The  options granted to  any Named Officer  amounted to less  than 1% of the
    total number of options granted to all DuPont employees in 1995.
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
(4) The exercise price  is the  average of  the high  and low  prices of  DuPont
    common   stock  as  reported  on   the  New  York  Stock  Exchange-Composite
    Transactions Tape on the date of grant.
 
(5) Represents total potential  appreciation of approximately  63% and 159%  for
    assumed annual rates of appreciation of 5% and 10%, respectively, compounded
    annually for the ten-year option term.
 
                 AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES OF DUPONT STOCK IN
                        1995 AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
                              AS OF JUNE 30, 1995
 
    The  following table  sets forth  information regarding  the exercisable and
unexercisable options  to  acquire DuPont  common  stock granted  to  the  Named
Officers.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          VALUE OF IN-THE-MONEY
                                                                             NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED        UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT
                                                                              OPTIONS AT YEAR-END           JUNE 30, 1995 (1)
                                          SHARES ACQUIRED      VALUE      ----------------------------  --------------------------
                                            ON EXERCISE      REALIZED     EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE
NAME                                            (#)             ($)           (#)            (#)            ($)           ($)
- ----------------------------------------  ---------------  -------------  -----------  ---------------  -----------  -------------
<S>                                       <C>              <C>            <C>          <C>              <C>          <C>
J. Michael Hardinger....................           500       $  16,625        33,950          8,100      $ 931,833    $   107,175
Preston M. Adcox........................        --              --            13,750          3,350        340,216         44,238
Gerard Cognie...........................        --              --               100            900          3,050         11,775
David S. Gino...........................        --              --               600            900         11,175         11,775
Kenneth A. Rygler.......................        --              --             3,820          1,800         85,925         23,700
Van H. Leichliter.......................           580           8,736        --                100         --              1,175
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) The  closing price  per share of  DuPont common  stock on June  30, 1995 was
    $68.75.
 
                      ESTIMATED DUPONT RETIREMENT BENEFITS
 
    The following  table  shows estimated  annual  pension benefits  payable  to
officers  and other key employees of the Company assuming retirement from DuPont
on June 30,  1995 at  age 65  under the provisions  of the  DuPont Pension  Plan
currently in effect.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   ESTIMATED ANNUAL RETIREMENT
 SALARY AND                       BENEFITS BASED ON SERVICE OF:
  VARIABLE     --------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPENSATION   10 YEARS   15 YEARS    20 YEARS    25 YEARS    30 YEARS    35 YEARS
- -------------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>            <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
 $   150,000   $  18,000  $  28,000  $   39,000  $   50,000  $   60,000  $   71,000
     200,000      26,000     40,000      54,000      68,000      83,000      98,000
     250,000      33,000     51,000      69,000      87,000     105,000     124,000
     300,000      41,000     62,000      84,000     106,000     128,000     150,000
     350,000      48,000     73,000      99,000     125,000     150,000     176,000
     400,000      56,000     85,000     114,000     143,000     173,000     203,000
</TABLE>
 
   
    As  of June 30,  1995, the full  years of service  credited under the DuPont
Retirement Plan  for the  following  individuals were:  Mr. Hardinger,  24;  Mr.
Adcox,  28;  Mr.  Gino,  7;  Mr.  Rygler,  30;  and  Mr.  Leichliter,  24. These
individuals' participation in the  DuPont Retirement Plan  will terminate as  of
the  IPO  Date. Upon  termination, they  will either  receive a  reduced pension
immediately or receive a full pension at a deferred date. They will also receive
health benefits from DuPont, if eligible. Mr. Cognie has 30 years of service and
is covered by the DuPont France Pension Plan.
    
 
    COMPENSATION OF DPI EMPLOYEES IN 1996
 
    The Company  has  designed an  executive  compensation program  intended  to
attract  and motivate  officers and  key employees  of the  Company. The Company
believes that executive compensation should be  tied to the Company's long  term
performance  and benefit to its stockholders.  As such, a significant portion of
executive management's  compensation will  be  tied to  the performance  of  the
Company's long term total shareholder return. See "Risk Factors -- Dependence on
Management and Technical Personnel."
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
    BASE  SALARY.   At May  1, 1996,  the base  salaries for  Messrs. Hardinger,
Adcox, Cognie, Gino, Rygler and Leichliter were increased to $290,000, $225,000,
910,000  FFr  (approximately   $180,000),  $145,000,   $168,000  and   $138,000,
respectively.
 
    BONUS  PLAN.  The Company  will adopt, effective January  1, 1996, an annual
incentive plan (the "Bonus Plan") for officers and employees of the Company  and
its  subsidiaries. Beginning  in August 1996,  pursuant to the  Bonus Plan, cash
bonuses will be awarded for performance  following the close of the fiscal  year
for which the services were rendered.
 
    Employees   are  selected   by  the  Company's   Compensation  Committee  to
participate in the Bonus Plan based on the recommendation of the Chairman of the
Board of  Directors.  Target bonus  grants  will  be established  based  on  the
position  of the employee and computed as a percentage of the employee's salary.
A performance goal based primarily on the Company's earnings and cash flow  will
be  set by the  Board of Directors, and  the amount of  bonus will be calculated
based on  the employee's  target bonus  grant, the  performance of  the  Company
compared with the performance goal and individual contributions by the employee.
Although the Compensation Committee has the discretion to award what it believes
to  be appropriate bonus awards, the  Committee will primarily use the preceding
factors in determining the award amounts.
 
    STOCK PERFORMANCE PLAN.   The  Company will  adopt, effective  upon the  IPO
Date, a Stock Performance Plan to provide additional incentive to those officers
and  employees of the Company and its subsidiaries primarily responsible for the
success of the Company and to closely identify their interests with those of the
stockholders. Under  the  Stock  Performance  Plan,  grants  of  stock  options,
restricted  stock  or  combinations  of  the two  may  be  awarded  to employees
(including those who are directors of the Company) and to individuals performing
services for the Company on a  consulting basis. The aggregate number of  shares
of stock of the Company which may be made subject to option or restriction under
the  Stock  Performance Plan  will  not exceed  2,000,000  shares of  which only
300,000 shares may be subject to restricted stock grants. Grantees of restricted
stock awards will have the right to dividends (unless otherwise restricted).
 
    The  Stock  Performance  Plan  will  be  administered  by  the  Compensation
Committee  of the  Company which  will determine  the timing  and size  of stock
option or restricted  stock grants, the  individuals, if any,  who will  receive
grants  and the terms and conditions of such grants. Upon exercise of an option,
payment of the purchase price for the stock subject to the exercise will be made
in cash.  In certain  circumstances, the  Compensation Committee  may  establish
conditions  under  which the  Company may  elect to  make a  cash payment  to an
employee exercising an option equal to  the difference between the option  price
and  the fair market value  of the stock in lieu  of executing the option. Under
the terms of the Stock Performance Plan, no more than 25% of the total number of
shares of stock granted  under option may become  exercisable in any given  year
following  the grant. Restrictions  on restricted stock  granted under the Stock
Performance Plan may  not lapse  before the second  anniversary of  the date  of
grant.  Grants to individuals who are not members of the Board of Directors will
be made  by the  Compensation  Committee based  on  the recommendations  of  the
Chairman of the Board. Grants to eligible members of the Board of Directors will
be based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee and will be made in
the sole discretion of the Board of Directors whose members taking action on the
grant shall be ineligible for grants under the Plan.
 
    The  Compensation Committee  is expected to  grant, effective as  of the IPO
Date, restricted stock worth $1.8 million  to approximately 40 employees of  the
Company.  In addition,  the Compensation  Committee is  expected to  grant stock
options, with an  aggregate exercise price  of $10.6 million,  exercisable at  a
price equal to the initial public offering price to approximately 120 employees.
Messrs.  Hardinger,  Adcox, Cognie,  Gino,  Rygler and  Leichliter  will receive
restricted  stock  worth  $242,000,  $150,000,  $60,800,  $48,330,  $56,000  and
$46,000,  respectively, and  stock options with  an aggregate  exercise price of
$2,475,000, $1,500,000, $500,000, $600,000, $600,000 and $200,000, respectively.
In the case of Messrs. Hardinger,  Adcox, Cognie, Gino and Rygler, these  grants
represent  compensation expected  to be  paid under  the Stock  Performance Plan
during the two years following the IPO Date. In the case of Mr. Leichliter,  the
grant  of stock  options represents compensation  expected to be  paid under the
plan for the year following the IPO Date.
 
                                       54
<PAGE>
    FOUNDERS' STOCK OPTION  PLAN.   In 1996,  the Company's  Board of  Directors
approved  a  Founders'  Stock Option  Plan  pursuant to  which  the Compensation
Committee intends  to award  to nearly  all  employees of  the Company  and  its
subsidiaries,  worldwide, effective upon the IPO  Date, each a one-time grant of
options to acquire 252  shares of Common  Stock at an  exercise price per  share
equal to the initial public offering price of Common Stock in the Offering. Upon
exercise  of an option, payments of the  purchase price for the stock subject to
the exercise will be  made in cash.  Each of the Named  Officers is expected  to
receive  a grant under this  Plan. Grants under the  Founders' Stock Option Plan
will vest over  a four-year period  at the rate  of 25% of  the total grant  per
year.
 
    EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENT.  DuPont entered into an employment agreement with Mr.
Hardinger dated as  of September 21,  1995, whereby  he agreed to  serve as  the
chairman  and chief executive officer of the Company. The agreement provides Mr.
Hardinger with: (i)  an annual base  salary of  at least $290,000;  and (ii),  a
restricted  stock grant of Common Stock valued at ten months' base salary at the
IPO Date and  $2,475,000 of  stock options priced  to equal  the initial  public
offering  price  of Common  Stock sold  in  the Offering,  both pursuant  to the
Company's Stock  Performance  Plan  described above.  These  options  will  vest
immediately in the event of termination without cause.
 
    In the event of termination without cause prior to the second anniversary of
the  IPO Date,  Mr. Hardinger  would receive from  DuPont the  equivalent of two
years' salary and target bonus and the  right to exercise all stock options.  In
the  event of termination  without cause thereafter,  Mr. Hardinger will receive
from DuPont a  payment equal  to one  year's base  salary and  target bonus.  In
addition, the other Named Officers and certain other senior management employees
will  receive from DuPont in  the event of termination  without cause within two
years of the IPO Date the equivalent of two years' salary and target bonus.  The
Company  has  no  change-in-control  arrangements  with  any  of  its  executive
officers.
 
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE
 
    The Certificate  and Bylaws  provide for  indemnification of  directors  and
officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law
(the  "DGCL") and, to the  extent permitted by such  law, eliminate or limit the
personal liability of directors and officers to the Company and its stockholders
for monetary damages for  certain breaches of fiduciary  duty. In addition,  the
Company  will enter into an indemnification agreement with each of its directors
to the fullest  extent permitted by  the DGCL,  pursuant to which  they will  be
entitled to advances for the costs of defending actions against them in addition
to that provided by the indemnification provisions in the Certificate and Bylaws
or  the Company's directors  and officers insurance  policy. See "Description of
Capital Stock -- Certain DGCL, Certificate and Bylaws Provisions."
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
          TRANSACTIONS AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND DUPONT
 
    The Company and  DuPont have  entered into a  number of  agreements for  the
purpose of defining the ongoing relationship between them. These agreements were
negotiated  in the context of a parent-subsidiary relationship and therefore are
not the result of negotiations between independent parties. It is the  intention
of the Company and DuPont that such agreements and the transactions provided for
therein, taken as a whole, should accommodate the parties' interests in a manner
that is fair to both parties, while continuing certain mutually beneficial joint
arrangements.  However, because of  the complexity of  the various relationships
between the Company and DuPont (including  their subsidiaries), there can be  no
assurance  that  each  of  such agreements,  or  the  transactions  provided for
therein, will be effected on terms at least as favorable to the Company as could
have been obtained from unaffiliated third parties. The agreements summarized in
this section have been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of  which
this Prospectus forms a part, and the following summaries are qualified in their
entirety  by reference to  the agreements as filed.  While these agreements will
provide the Company with certain benefits,  the Company is only entitled to  the
ongoing  assistance of DuPont for  a limited time and  it may not enjoy benefits
from its relationship with DuPont beyond  the term of the agreements. There  can
be no assurance that the Company upon termination of such assistance from DuPont
will  be able to provide adequately such services internally or obtain favorable
arrangements from third parties to replace  such services. See "Risk Factors  --
No  Independent Operating History Prior to the  Offering" and "-- Control by and
Relationship with DuPont."
 
   
    Additional or modified arrangements and transactions may be entered into  by
the  Company, DuPont and  their respective subsidiaries  after completion of the
Offering. Any  such  future arrangements  and  transactions will  be  determined
through   negotiation  between  the  Company  and  DuPont  or  their  respective
subsidiaries, as the  case may be.  The Company  has adopted a  policy that  all
future agreements between the Company and DuPont and its subsidiaries will be on
terms  that the Company believes  are no less favorable  to the Company than the
terms the Company believes would be available from unaffiliated parties. In that
regard, the Company intends  to follow the procedures  provided by the  Delaware
General  Corporation  Law  which  include  a  vote  to  affirm  any  such future
agreements by a  majority of the  Company's directors who  are not employees  of
DuPont  (even though such directors may be less  than a quorum). There can be no
assurance that any such  arrangements or transactions will  be the same as  that
which would be negotiated between independent parties.
    
 
    The  following  is  a  summary  of  certain  past,  present  and prospective
arrangements and transactions between the Company and DuPont.
 
REALIGNMENT OF PHOTOMASK BUSINESS
 
    Prior to the Realignment described below, DuPont's U.S. photomask operations
were conducted  by  DuPont  Photomasks,  Inc.,  a  Texas  corporation.  European
photomask  operations were  conducted by separate,  wholly-owned subsidiaries of
DuPont in  their  respective  countries.  Photomask  operations  in  Korea  were
conducted by a Korean subsidiary, which was 31% owned by DuPont Photomasks, Inc.
and  69% owned by  DuPont and which also  conducted DuPont's other non-photomask
business.
 
    In connection  with  the Offering,  DuPont  realigned its  global  photomask
business,  pursuant  to  which  certain  transactions  were  undertaken  so that
DuPont's foreign photomask operations would reside in subsidiaries wholly  owned
by  the Company (the "Realignment"). The  Company was reincorporated in Delaware
on December 31, 1995. On May 14,  1996, DPI issued one million shares of  Common
Stock to DCEO for a nominal amount.
 
    On  November 9, 1995, DPI incorporated  a new subsidiary in Delaware, DuPont
Photomasks Delaware Inc. ("Photomasks Delaware") and  as of March 29, 1996,  DPI
had  contributed approximately  $37 million  to Photomasks  Delaware. Photomasks
Delaware used such contribution  to make loans  to Photomasks Korea,  Photomasks
Germany and Photomasks France (each, as defined herein) in order to complete the
Realignment.  In  addition, the  amounts  owed to  DuPont  by the  Company under
several Master Note agreements  were consolidated into a  single Master Note  on
February    22,   1996.    The   proceeds    from   the    Offering   will,   in
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
part, be used  to repay a  portion of  the amount outstanding  under the  Master
Note.  The remaining balance under the Master Note will be contributed as equity
capital to the Company by DCEO. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
   
    On August 31, 1995, DPI incorporated a new wholly owned subsidiary in Korea,
DuPont Photomasks  Korea  Ltd., and  on  January  30, 1996,  DuPont  Korea  Ltd.
transferred  all  of its  assets  (except for  cash)  relating to  the photomask
business to DuPont Photomasks Korea Ltd. ("Photomasks Korea") for  approximately
$37 million, which was based upon an appraisal conducted by an independent third
party.  In  addition to  the transfer  of  the assets  related to  the photomask
business in Korea, Photomasks Korea also assumed all of the liabilities relating
to the photomask business, including trade payables, any liabilities relating to
photomask product  warranties, and  any employee  related liabilities  or  other
claims  with regard to  employees transferred by DuPont  Korea Ltd. to Photomask
Korea. While the manufacturing operations and the title to approximately 75%  of
the  real property at the Korean  manufacturing facility has been transferred to
Photomasks Korea, certain real property at  this manufacturing site that is  not
used  for  manufacturing  purposes  has  yet  to  be  transferred  pending local
government review. On May 31, 1996, DPI  sold its 31% equity interest in  DuPont
Korea  Ltd.  to  DuPont for  $26.6  million.  The proceeds  from  the  sale were
principally used to reduce the balance under the Master Note. In connection with
such sale, to the extent there is  a loss, any tax benefit attributable to  such
loss will, pursuant to the Tax Indemnification Agreement described below, be for
DuPont's  benefit  at such  time as  when DuPont's  beneficial ownership  of the
Company falls below 50%.
    
 
    On January 4, 1996,  DuPont purchased all the  outstanding shares of  DuPont
Photomasks  (France) S.A. ("Photomasks France")  from DuPont de Nemours (France)
S.A. for 81  million FFr (approximately  $16.2 million), which  was based on  an
appraisal by an independent third party. On January 11, 1996, DuPont contributed
such  shares to DCEO, and  on January 15, 1996,  DCEO contributed such shares to
DPI.
 
    In Germany, DuPont's  photomask business  had been  operated through  DuPont
Photomasks  GmbH & Co.  KG ("Photomasks KG") by  DuPont de Nemours (Deutschland)
GmbH ("DuPont  Germany") and  DuPont  Photomasks Verwaltungs  GmbH  ("Photomasks
Germany").  On  December  18, 1995,  Photomasks  KG distributed  DM  4.3 million
(approximately $2.95 million) to DuPont  Germany. On March 29, 1996,  Photomasks
KG  distributed DM 6.4  million (approximately $4.3  million) to DuPont Germany,
and Photomasks  Delaware and  DPI loaned  DM 30.2  million (approximately  $20.3
million)  to Photomasks KG. On April 1,  1996, Photomasks KG redeemed the equity
interest in Photomask KG held by DuPont Germany for DM 30.2 million. Pursuant to
German law, all of the assets and  liabilities of Photomasks KG were assumed  by
Photomasks  Germany. On April  4, 1996, DCEO contributed  all of the outstanding
shares  of  Photomasks  Germany   to  DPI.  In  April   1996,  DM  7.5   million
(approximately $5.2 million) of DPI's loan was converted into equity.
 
    On  February 8,  1996, DuPont  purchased a  60.5% equity  interest in DuPont
Photomasks Company  Limited, Shanghai  ("Photomasks  China") from  DuPont  China
Holding  Company Limited  ("DuPont China")  for RMB  11.8 million (approximately
$1.4 million). On February 8, 1996,  DuPont contributed such equity interest  to
DCEO,  and DCEO contributed such equity interest to DPI. In connection with this
equity contribution,  DPI agreed  to guarantee  for the  benefit of  DuPont  all
amounts  payable in the future by DuPont pursuant to a previous guarantee DuPont
made on behalf  of Photomasks China  for up  to $4.6 million  plus interest  and
expenses.
 
    On  August 28, 1995, DCEO contributed  50,000 shares of Etec preferred stock
to DPI,  and such  Etec  preferred stock  by its  terms  has been  converted  to
1,025,640 shares of Etec common stock.
 
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENTS
 
    The  Company and its subsidiaries,  on the one hand,  and DuPont and certain
DuPont subsidiaries, on  the other  hand, will enter  into several  transitional
administrative  services  agreements,  each  effective  as  of  January  1, 1996
(collectively, the  "Administrative  Services Agreements"),  pursuant  to  which
DuPont  will continue to provide various services to the Company, including cash
management, accounting, computer and information systems, telecommunications and
employee benefits administration.
 
                                       57
<PAGE>
   
    Each service under the Administrative Services Agreements is provided for  a
specified  time period, ranging from one to  two years. However, the Company and
its subsidiaries may  terminate any or  all services that  it receives under  an
Administrative  Services  Agreement  at any  time  upon 45  days'  prior written
notice. Each Administrative Services Agreement shall terminate upon the later of
(i) January 1, 1998 or (ii) the date upon which DuPont owns less than 50% of the
outstanding Common Stock of the Company.  See "Risk Factors -- Effects of  Sales
of  Substantial Amounts of Common Stock." As long as DuPont owns at least 50% of
the outstanding Common  Stock of the  Company, DPI or  its subsidiaries, as  the
case may be, may unilaterally extend the period during which DuPont provides any
service  for an additional twelve  months by providing DuPont  at least 45 prior
days' written notice. The Company and its subsidiaries are obligated to take all
steps necessary to obtain its own  administrative and support services prior  to
the termination of the Administrative Services Agreements.
    
 
   
    The  Company and its subsidiaries will  be obligated to pay fees established
in the Administrative  Services Agreements  based upon  the type  and amount  of
services  rendered. It  is estimated  that DuPont will  charge an  annual fee of
approximately $5 million for all of the services that it will provide under  the
Administrative   Services  Agreements.   In  addition,   the  Company   and  its
subsidiaries will reimburse DuPont for  any out-of-pocket expenses it incurs  in
connection with providing the services. With the exception of the administrative
services agreement entered into by the respective subsidiaries of DuPont and DPI
in  Korea, in the absence of gross negligence or willful or reckless misconduct,
DuPont's liability for  damages to DPI  for any breach  of DuPont's  obligations
under  the Administrative  Services Agreements  is limited  to payments  made to
DuPont  thereunder.  With  respect  to  the  administrative  services  agreement
covering the operations in Korea, DuPont's subsidiary is not required to provide
any  guarantee  or warranty  of any  nature and  cannot be  held liable  for any
claims, damages or liabilities of any kind resulting from the furnishing of  the
services thereunder.
    
 
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND CONSULTING AGREEMENT
 
   
    The  Company  and  DuPont  have entered  into  a  research,  development and
consulting agreement  (the  "Research, Development  and  Consulting  Agreement")
dated  as  of  January 1,  1996,  whereby  DuPont will  provide  to  the Company
supplemental  technical  assistance   and  consulting  with   respect  to:   (i)
state-of-the-art  analytical  support  and  consulting  on  an  as  needed basis
("Analytical Support") and (ii) research projects addressing specific DPI  needs
("Research  Project Support"). In exchange for  the Analytical Support, DPI will
pay DuPont $100,000 per calendar year. In the event the costs of these  services
are estimated to exceed $100,000, the Company can either agree to pay additional
projected  costs or elect not to  have DuPont provide these additional services.
Compensation for Research Project  Support will be determined  at the time  each
specific  project  relating thereto  is undertaken.  The  term of  the Research,
Development and Consulting Agreement is five years and shall continue on a  year
to  year basis thereafter  until terminated by  either of DuPont  or the Company
pursuant to  certain  procedures set  forth  in the  Research,  Development  and
Consulting  Agreement. The Company  believes that the  Research, Development and
Consulting Agreement will  provide the  Company with  a supplement  to its  core
research  and development program,  which is focussed on  the advancement of the
product design and manufacturing technologies specific to photomasks, blanks and
pellicles. The  core program  occasionally requires  a more  generic  laboratory
analysis  of materials that are used, or  considered for use, in the manufacture
of  these  products,  and  DuPont  Central  Research  and  Development  has  the
capability to supplement the Company's core program by providing this analytical
service,  or,  at  times,  by  pursuing a  specific  research  project  with the
objective of altering a certain material property. See "Business -- Research and
Development."
    
 
TAX INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
 
    The Company,  DuPont  and  DCEO  have entered  into  a  tax  indemnification
agreement  effective as of  the IPO Date  (the "Tax Indemnification Agreement"),
pursuant to which the Company will make a payment to DuPont, or DuPont will make
a payment to the Company, as appropriate, of an amount in respect of taxes shown
as due attributable to  the operations of the  Company on DuPont's  consolidated
federal  income tax return for the short period  ending on the date on which the
Company ceases to be a member of the DuPont consolidated group. DuPont and  DCEO
jointly  and  severally will  indemnify the  Company  and its  subsidiaries from
liability for certain matters, including, net of corresponding tax benefits, (i)
any federal, state or
 
                                       58
<PAGE>
local income or other taxes attributable to any affiliated or combined group  of
which  the Company was a member  at any time prior to  the IPO Date and (ii) any
federal, state or local income or other  tax for any period up to and  including
the  IPO  Date. The  Company  will indemnify  DuPont  and its  subsidiaries from
liability for certain matters, including any  federal, state or local income  or
other  taxes attributable  to the  operations of  the Company  following the IPO
Date.
 
    In connection with  DPI's sale of  its 31% equity  interest in DuPont  Korea
Ltd.  to DuPont, to the extent there is  a loss, any tax benefit attributable to
such loss will, pursuant to the  Tax Indemnification Agreement, be for  DuPont's
benefit  at such time as when DuPont's beneficial ownership of the Company falls
below 50%.
 
    The Tax Indemnification Agreement will require payments of claims to be made
within 30 days of the date a written demand for the claim is delivered. Interest
accrues on payments that are  not made within 10 days  of the final due date  at
the  rate applicable  to the underpayments  of the applicable  tax. Any disputes
concerning the calculation  or basis  of determination of  any payment  provided
under the Tax Indemnification Agreement will be resolved by a law firm or a "big
six" accounting firm selected jointly by the parties.
 
ENVIRONMENTAL INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
 
    The  Company and DuPont  have entered into  an environmental indemnification
agreement effective  as  of the  IPO  Date (the  "Environmental  Indemnification
Agreement"),  pursuant  to which  DuPont  will generally  indemnify  the Company
against substantially all contingent  liabilities relating to any  environmental
contamination  present  on  the  manufacturing  sites  of  the  Company  and its
subsidiaries as of the IPO Date or present on any other site as a result of  the
manufacturing  operations of the  Company and its subsidiaries  prior to the IPO
Date.
 
    In the event  that the  parties cannot determine  with reasonable  certainty
following  good  faith  negotiations  whether the  contamination  was  caused by
activities occurring before or after the IPO Date, the Agreement will provide  a
mechanism  whereby the  liability associated with  such claim  will be allocated
according to  the following:  DuPont  will bear  100  percent of  the  liability
associated  with claims filed  by the Company with  regard to such contamination
prior to the first  anniversary of the IPO  Date; DuPont's liability for  claims
filed  following the first anniversary of the  IPO Date will decline at the rate
of 20 percent per year; and DuPont will have no liability for such claims  filed
following the fifth anniversary of the IPO Date.
 
    The  Environmental  Indemnification  Agreement will  include  procedures for
notice and payment of indemnification claims and will generally provide that the
party bearing the  majority of  the liability will  assume the  defense of  such
claim and will control any negotiation or remediation activities.
 
CREDIT FACILITY
 
    The  Company and DCEO have  entered into a credit  agreement effective as of
January 1, 1996 (the "Credit Agreement"),  pursuant to which DCEO has agreed  to
provide  a revolving credit/working capital  facility (the "Credit Facility") to
the Company in an aggregate amount of up to $30 million. The Credit Facility has
a term  of  24 months,  and  any loans  thereunder  will bear  interest  at  the
six-month  London Interbank  Offered Rate  (LIBOR) plus  50 basis  points, which
shall be  adjusted  every  six  months. The  amounts  loaned  under  the  Credit
Agreement  are  secured  by  all  the  Company's  (i)  equipment,  (ii) accounts
receivable, (iii) instruments, documents and securities owned by DPI and in  the
possession  of DCEO and (iv) the proceeds  of the foregoing. The Credit Facility
will provide financing for general  capital spending and corporate purposes  and
ongoing  working  capital needs.  See "Management's  Discussion and  Analysis of
Financial  Condition  and  Results  of   Operation  --  Liquidity  and   Capital
Resources."
 
    The  Credit Agreement contains various representations, covenants and events
of default typical for financings of a  similar size and nature. In addition  to
restrictive  covenants limiting the ability of  the Company and its subsidiaries
to enter into leases  and pledge its assets,  the Credit Agreement contains  the
following  restrictive covenants. Without DCEO's prior written consent, DPI will
not incur,  create,  assume  or  permit to  exist  any  indebtedness,  including
guarantees  on indebtedness  (in addition to  the indebtedness  under the Credit
Facility), in  excess of  $30 million  in the  aggregate. In  addition,  without
DCEO's  prior written consent, which may  not be unreasonably withheld, DPI will
not (a) change its capital structure,
 
                                       59
<PAGE>
(b) merge or consolidate with any corporation, (c) amend or change its  articles
of  incorporation or bylaws or (d) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or
any substantial part  of its assets,  whether now owned  or hereafter  acquired,
except  for sales  of inventory  in the ordinary  course of  business. See "Risk
Factors -- No  Independent Operating History  Prior to the  Offering" and  "Risk
Factors -- Control by and Relationship with DuPont."
 
CORPORATE TRADENAME AND TRADEMARK AGREEMENT
 
    The Company and DuPont have entered into a corporate tradename and trademark
agreement  dated  as  of May  16,  1996 (the  "Corporate  Tradename Agreement"),
whereby DuPont will license to the Company (i) use of the tradename "DuPont"  as
part  of the Company's name and (ii) use of the trademark DuPont in Oval as part
of  the  Company's  corporate  logotype.  DuPont  may  terminate  the  Corporate
Tradename  Agreement upon 90 days  written notice in the  event that: (i) DuPont
and/or its affiliates cease to hold 51% of the total outstanding Common Stock of
DPI; (ii) DPI purports to assign  or otherwise transfer the Corporate  Tradename
Agreement  without DuPont's  written consent;  or (iii)  DPI uses  the tradename
"DuPont" other than  under the terms  of the Corporate  Tradename Agreement.  In
addition,  DuPont may terminate  the Corporate Tradename  Agreement upon 90 days
written notice for  any reason after  January 1, 2000.  Upon termination of  the
Corporate  Tradename Agreement, DPI will be obligated to: (i) change its name so
that the  tradename  "DuPont"  is  omitted therefrom;  (ii)  cease  to  use  the
tradename  "DuPont" or any similar tradename as part of its corporate name or in
any other  manner  whatsoever;  and  (iii)  cease to  use  the  DuPont  in  Oval
trademark.
 
DISTRIBUTOR AGREEMENTS
 
    DPI  has entered into separate distributor  agreements, each effective as of
January 1,  1996 (the  "Distributor Agreements")  with DuPont  K.K., a  Japanese
subsidiary  of  DuPont, and  DuPont Taiwan  Limited,  a Taiwanese  subsidiary of
DuPont  (collectively,  the   "Distributors").  Pursuant   to  the   Distributor
Agreements,  DPI has appointed the Distributors  to sell DPI's products in their
respective countries.  The  products will  be  sold  to the  Distributors  at  a
discount,  which shall permit the Distributors  to earn a pre-tax profit between
2% and  4%. The  Distributor Agreements  have a  term of  two years  but may  be
terminated   without  cause   upon  six   months'  prior   written  notice.  See
"Management's Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition and  Results  of
Operations  -- Year Ended June 30, 1994 Compared  to Year Ended June 30, 1995 --
Total Sales."
 
HISTORICAL TRANSACTIONS
 
    The Company  borrowed  funds  for  acquisitions,  capital  expenditures  and
working capital from DCEO pursuant to the Master Note. The interest rate charged
has  been equal to the  rate DuPont pays for  its commercial paper borrowings. A
portion of the net proceeds from the Offering will be used to repay indebtedness
owed under the Master  Note. Any remaining  balance on the  Master Note will  be
contributed  to the Company as equity capital by DCEO. See "Use of Proceeds" and
"Management's Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition and  Results  of
Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
    Prior  to the Realignment, DuPont  provided significant management functions
and services, including cash management, tax administration, accounting,  legal,
data  processing,  benefit administration  and other  support services.  DPI was
charged and/or allocated expenses  for the years ended  June 30, 1993, 1994  and
1995  of $12.0 million, $12.5 million  and $13.1 million, respectively, and $9.6
million and $8.4  million for the  nine months  ended March 31,  1995 and  1996,
respectively.  The costs  of these  services have  been directly  charged and/or
allocated using methods  that DuPont  management believes  are reasonable.  Such
charges  and allocations are not necessarily indicative of the costs the Company
would have been incurred to obtain these services had it been a separate entity.
Neither DuPont  nor the  Company  has made  a study  or  any attempt  to  obtain
estimates  from  third parties  to  determine what  the  cost of  obtaining such
services from  such parties  may have  been. See  Note 3  to Combined  Financial
Statements.
 
                   PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDER AND STOCK OWNERSHIP
 
    DuPont,  through its  wholly owned subsidiary  DCEO, currently  owns all the
shares of  Common Stock  of  the Company  outstanding.  Upon completion  of  the
Offering, DuPont will own approximately 72% of the
 
                                       60
<PAGE>
outstanding  Common Stock (or 70%, if  the Underwriters' overallotment option is
exercised in full). DuPont will, therefore, be able, acting alone, to elect  the
entire Board of Directors of the Company and to control the vote on most matters
submitted  to  a vote  of  the Company's  stockholders,  including extraordinary
corporate transactions. DuPont's address is  1007 Market Street, Wilmington,  DE
19898. See "Risk Factors -- Control by and Relationship with DuPont."
 
    The  following  table  furnishes  information, as  of  the  date  hereof and
adjusted to reflect the consummation of the Offering, with respect to shares  of
Common Stock beneficially owned by DuPont. In addition, the table sets forth the
number  of shares of DPI Common Stock and DuPont common stock beneficially owned
by (i) each executive officer of the Company, (ii) all directors of the  Company
as  a group and (iii)  all directors and executive officers  of the Company as a
group. The officers of the  Company are expected to  have sole voting power  and
investment power over the shares to be held by them.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              BEFORE THE OFFERING              AFTER THE OFFERING
                                         -----------------------------  --------------------------------
                                          DPI SHARES   PERCENT OF DPI    DPI SHARES       PERCENT OF      DUPONT SHARES
                NAME OF                  BENEFICIALLY      SHARES       BENEFICIALLY      DPI SHARES       BENEFICIALLY
           BENEFICIAL OWNER                 OWNED        OUTSTANDING     OWNED (1)     OUTSTANDING (1)      OWNED (2)
- ---------------------------------------  ------------  ---------------  ------------  ------------------  --------------
<S>                                      <C>           <C>              <C>           <C>                 <C>
DuPont ................................    10,500,000          100%       10,500,000            72%             --
 1007 Market Street
 Wilmington, DE 19898
J. Michael Hardinger...................       --             --              --               --                --
Preston M. Adcox.......................       --             --              --               --                --
Gerard Cognie..........................       --             --              --               --                --
David S. Gino..........................       --             --              --               --                --
Kenneth A. Rygler......................       --             --              --               --                --
Van H. Leichliter......................       --             --              --               --                --
All directors (9 persons) (3)..........       --             --              --               --                --
All directors and executives officers         --             --              --               --                --
 as a group (14 persons) (2)...........
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
   
(1) Excludes shares of Common Stock granted under the Company's employee benefit
    plans and any shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the Offering.
    
 
(2) The  directors and executive officers of the Company as a group beneficially
    own less than 1% of outstanding shares of DuPont's common stock.
 
(3) The Company's directors  are J. Michael  Hardinger; John L.  Doyle; John  C.
    Hodgson;  Charles O. Holliday, Jr.; Peter  G. Kehoe; Gary W. Pankonien; John
    C. Sargent; Marshall C. Turner; and Susan A. Vladuchick.
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
GENERAL
 
    In connection  with  the  Realignment, the  Company  was  reincorporated  in
Delaware.   Pursuant  to   the  Company's  Certificate   of  Incorporation  (the
"Certificate"), the Company is authorized  to issue 25,000,000 shares of  Common
Stock,  par value  $.01 per  share, of  which 10,500,000  shares are  issued and
outstanding.  The  Common  Stock  offered  hereby,  when  issued  and  sold   as
contemplated  by  this  Prospectus,  will  be  validly  issued,  fully  paid and
nonassessable. Upon completion of the Offering, there will be 14,500,000  shares
of Common Stock outstanding.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
    Each  holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share owned of
record on  all  matters voted  upon  by stockholders,  and  a majority  vote  is
generally  required for all actions to be taken by stockholders. Because holders
of Common Stock do not have cumulative  voting rights, holders of a majority  of
the  shares of Common Stock  represented at a meeting in  person or by proxy can
elect all of the directors. Accordingly, after the Offering, DuPont will be able
to control the  vote on most  matters submitted to  stockholders, including  the
election  of directors and approval of extraordinary corporate transactions. See
"Risk Factors -- Control  by and Relationship  with DuPont." In  the event of  a
liquidation,  dissolution or  winding-up of the  Company, the  holders of Common
Stock are entitled to share equally and ratably in the assets of the Company, if
any, remaining after the payment of all debts and liabilities of the Company and
the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock. The Common  Stock
has  no  preemptive  rights  and  no  redemptions,  sinking  fund  or conversion
provisions.
 
    The Common Stock  has been  approved for  quotation on  the Nasdaq  National
Market.  The transfer agent and registrar for  the Common Stock will be Chemical
Mellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
 
    Holders of Common Stock  are entitled to such  dividends as may be  declared
from  time to  time by  the Board  of Directors  out of  funds legally available
therefor, subject to the dividend and liquidation rights of any preferred  stock
that may be issued. See "Dividend Policy."
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
    The  Certificate authorizes the Board to provide for the issuance, from time
to time, of classes  or series of  preferred stock, to  establish the number  of
shares  to be included in any such class  or series and to fix the designations,
voting powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such class or series
and any qualifications, limitations or  restrictions thereof. Because the  Board
has  the power to establish the preferences and rights of the shares of any such
class or series of preferred stock, it may afford holders of any preferred stock
preferences, powers and rights (including  voting rights), senior to the  rights
of  holders of Common Stock, which could  adversely affect the rights of holders
of Common Stock. There are no  shares of preferred stock currently  outstanding,
and  the Company  currently has  no intention to  issue any  shares of preferred
stock.
 
CERTAIN DGCL, CERTIFICATE AND BYLAWS PROVISIONS
 
    The  DGCL  authorizes  corporations  to  limit  or  eliminate  the  personal
liability  of  directors to  corporations  and their  stockholders  for monetary
damages for  breach of  directors' fiduciary  duty  of care.  The duty  of  care
requires that, when acting on behalf of the corporation, directors must exercise
an  informed  business judgment  based  on all  material  information reasonably
available to them. Absent the limitations now authorized by the DGCL,  directors
are  accountable to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for
conduct constituting gross negligence in the exercise of their duty of care. The
DGCL enables corporations to limit  available relief to equitable remedies  such
as  injunction or rescission. The Certificate  limits the liability of directors
of the  Company  to  the Company  or  its  stockholders (in  their  capacity  as
directors but not in their capacity as officers) to the fullest extent permitted
by  the  DGCL. Specifically,  directors of  the Company  will not  be personally
liable for monetary damages for breach of a director's fiduciary duty other than
liability for breaches of  the duty of  loyalty, acts or  omissions not in  good
faith  or which  involve intentional misconduct  or a knowing  violation of law,
violations under  Section 174  of the  DGCL or  any transaction  from which  the
director    derived   an   improper   personal   benefit.   The   inclusion   of
 
                                       62
<PAGE>
these provisions  in  the  Certificate  may have  the  effect  of  reducing  the
likelihood  of  derivative litigation  against the  Company's directors  and may
discourage or deter stockholders or  management from bringing a lawsuit  against
the  Company's directors for breach  of their duty of  care, even though such an
action, if  successful,  might otherwise  have  benefited the  Company  and  its
stockholders.  Such provisions do not limit or affect a stockholder's ability to
seek and obtain relief under the Federal securities laws.
 
    In addition, Article VII of the Bylaws requires the Company to indemnify any
current or former  director or officer  to the fullest  extent permitted by  the
DGCL.  In addition,  the Company  has agreed to  indemnify each  director to the
fullest extent permitted by  the DGCL pursuant  to an Indemnification  Agreement
from  and against any and all  expenses, losses, claims, damages and liabilities
incurred by such director for or as a result of actions taken or not taken while
such director  or officer  was acting  in his  or her  capacity as  a  director,
officer,  employee or agent  of the Company. In  addition, the Company maintains
directors and  officers liability  insurance which  insures against  liabilities
that  directors and officers  of the Company  may incur in  such capacities. The
Company believes  that these  provisions  are necessary  to attract  and  retain
qualified  persons as directors and officers. See "Risk Factors -- Dependence on
Management and Technical Personnel."
 
    The Certificate contains a provision  expressly electing not to be  governed
by  Section 203 of DGCL.  In general, Section 203  of the DGCL restricts certain
business combinations involving interested  stockholders (defined as any  person
or entity that is the beneficial owner of at least 15% of a corporation's voting
stock  or is an affiliate  or associate of the corporation  and was the owner of
15% or more of the  outstanding voting stock of the  corporation at any time  in
the  past  three  years)  or  their affiliates  (as  defined).  Because  of such
election, Section 203 will not apply to the Company.
 
                                       63
<PAGE>
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
    Upon completion of the Offering, the Company will have 14,500,000 shares  of
Common  Stock outstanding.  Of these  shares, the  4,000,000 shares  sold in the
Offering (4,600,000 shares, if the  Underwriters' overallotment option is  fully
exercised)  will be  freely tradeable  without restriction  under the Securities
Act, unless they  are held  by an  "affiliate" of the  Company as  that term  is
defined  in Rule 144  under the Securities  Act of 1933  (the "Securities Act").
Shares purchased  by  affiliates  of  the  Company  may  generally  be  sold  in
compliance  with  the  volume limitation,  availability  of  public information,
manner of sale and notice of sale requirements of Rule 144.
 
    The 10,500,000 shares of Common Stock that will continue to be owned by DCEO
will be  "restricted"  securities within  the  meaning  of Rule  144  under  the
Securities  Act and  may not be  sold in  the absence of  registration under the
Securities Act or unless an exemption from registration is available,  including
the exemptions contained in Rule 144 and Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
 
    In  general,  under  Rule  144,  a  person  (or  persons  whose  shares  are
aggregated), including  any person  who  may be  deemed  an "affiliate"  of  the
Company,  who has  beneficially owned restricted  shares for at  least two years
would be entitled to sell within  any three-month period a number of  restricted
shares  that does not exceed the greater of 1% of the then outstanding shares of
Common Stock or the average weekly trading volume in the over-the-counter market
during the four  calendar weeks preceding  such sale, provided  that the  seller
files  a  Form  144  with  respect  to  such  sale,  and  complies  with certain
requirements concerning availability of public  information and manner of  sale.
In addition, under Rule 144(k), a person who is not an affiliate of the Company,
and  who has not been an affiliate of the Company at any time during the 90 days
preceding any sale, would be entitled  to sell restricted shares without  regard
to  the limitations  described above, provided  that the  restricted shares have
been beneficially owned for  at least three years.  The Securities and  Exchange
Commission  (the "Commission") has proposed reducing the three year and two year
restrictions described above to two and one year restrictions, respectively.  It
is  not known whether this proposal will  be adopted. In addition, DCEO would be
permitted to sell its existing shares of stock to qualified institutional buyers
pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144A.
 
    Each of the Company and DCEO has agreed not to sell or otherwise dispose  of
any  shares of the Common Stock held by them for 180 days after the date of this
Prospectus  without  the  prior  written   consent  of  Morgan  Stanley  &   Co.
Incorporated, subject to certain exceptions. See "Underwriters."
 
    DuPont  has  advised the  Company that  it expects  to reduce  its ownership
interest in  the Company  over  time, subject  to  prevailing market  and  other
conditions.  The Company is unable  to estimate the amount,  timing or nature of
future sales of outstanding Common Stock. Prior to the Offering, there has  been
no  market for the Common  Stock, and no precise predictions  can be made of the
effect, if any, that market  sales of shares or  the availability of shares  for
sale  will have on the market price  prevailing from time to time. Nevertheless,
sales of substantial amounts of the Common  Stock in the public market may  have
an  adverse effect on the  market price thereof. See  "Risk Factors -- Effect of
Sales of Substantial Amounts of Common Stock."
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
    Under a Registration  Rights Agreement dated  as of December  31, 1995  (the
"Registration  Rights Agreement")  between DCEO  and the  Company, DCEO  and its
assignees ("Holders") will  be entitled to  certain rights with  respect to  the
registration  of shares they  hold under the Securities  Act. Subject to certain
limitations (including a  minimum registration of  over 1,000,000 shares),  each
Holder  has the right to require the Company to register the sale of all or part
of the shares it holds under  the Securities Act (a "demand registration").  The
Holders,   in  the  aggregate,  are  entitled  to  request  up  to  five  demand
registrations. Each Holder  is also  entitled to  include the  shares of  Common
Stock it holds in a registered offering of securities by the Company for its own
account,  subject to certain  conditions and restrictions.  The Company will pay
all expenses  associated with  a registration  of shares  of Common  Stock by  a
Holder  pursuant to the  Registration Rights Agreement,  other than underwriting
discounts and  commissions,  Holders' out-of-pocket  expenses  or  underwriters'
counsel  fees and disbursements,  if any, relating to  such shares. In addition,
the Registration
 
                                       64
<PAGE>
Rights Agreement contains certain indemnification provisions (i) by the  Company
for  the benefit  of Holders as  well as  any potential underwriter  and (ii) by
Holders for  the  benefit of  the  Company and  related  persons. DCEO  and  its
assignees  may transfer  its registration  rights under  the Registration Rights
Agreement without the  prior approval  of the Company.  The Registration  Rights
Agreement also provides that while DCEO owns 50% or more of the Company's Common
Stock, the Company may not grant registration rights to any other person without
DCEO's prior consent. DCEO has no current intention to exercise its registration
rights under the Registration Rights Agreement.
 
                                       65
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITERS
 
    Under  the  terms and  subject to  conditions  contained in  an Underwriting
Agreement dated  the date  hereof (the  "Underwriting Agreement"),  each of  the
Underwriters  named below, for  whom Morgan Stanley &  Co. Incorporated, Cowen &
Company and  Needham  &  Company,  Inc.  are  acting  as  Representatives,  have
severally  agreed to purchase, and  the Company has agreed  to sell to them, the
respective number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite their  respective
names below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             NUMBER OF
NAME                                                                                           SHARES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<S>                                                                                          <C>
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated..........................................................
Cowen & Company............................................................................
Needham & Company, Inc.....................................................................
 
                                                                                             ----------
    Total..................................................................................   4,000,000
                                                                                             ----------
                                                                                             ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The  Underwriting  Agreement provides  that the  obligations of  the several
Underwriters to  pay for  and accept  delivery  of the  shares of  Common  Stock
offered  hereby are subject  to the approval  of certain legal  matters by their
counsel and to certain other conditions. The Underwriters are obligated to  take
and  pay for  all the shares  of Common  Stock offered hereby  (other than those
covered by the  overallotment option  described below)  if any  such shares  are
taken.
 
   
    The Underwriters have reserved up to 150,000 shares of Common Stock for sale
at  the  initial  public  offering  price  to  certain  employees,  officers and
directors of  the  Company,  as  such persons  have  expressed  an  interest  in
purchasing such shares of Common Stock in the Offering. The Company will pay all
fees  and disbursements  of counsel incurred  by the  Underwriters in connection
with offering the  shares to such  persons. The number  of shares available  for
sale  to the general public will be  reduced to the extent such persons purchase
such reserved shares. Any  reserved shares not so  purchased will be offered  by
the  Underwriters to the  general public on  the same basis  as the other shares
offered hereby.
    
 
    The Underwriters initially  propose to offer  part of the  shares of  Common
Stock directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover
page  hereof and part to certain dealers at a price that represents a concession
not in excess  of $            per share under  the public  offering price.  The
Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess
of  $        per  share to other Underwriters or to certain other dealers. After
the initial offering of the shares of Common Stock, the offering price and other
selling terms may from time to time be varied by the Underwriters.
 
    The Company  has granted  to  the Underwriters  an option,  exercisable  for
thirty  days  from  the date  of  this  Prospectus, to  purchase  up  to 600,000
additional shares of Common Stock at the public offering price set forth on  the
cover  page  hereof,  less  the  underwriting  discounts  and  commissions.  The
Underwriters may exercise  such option  to purchase  solely for  the purpose  of
covering  overallotments, if any,  made in connection with  the Offering. To the
extent that such option  is exercised, each  Underwriter will become  obligated,
subject  to certain conditions, to purchase approximately the same percentage of
such additional shares as the number  set forth next to such Underwriter's  name
in the preceding table bears to the total number of shares offered hereby.
 
    The Company, DuPont and the Underwriters have agreed to indemnify each other
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
    Each  of the Company and DCEO has  agreed in the Underwriting Agreement that
it will  not,  without  the  prior  written consent  of  Morgan  Stanley  &  Co.
Incorporated, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract
to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or
warrant   to  purchase,  or  otherwise  transfer  or  dispose  of,  directly  or
indirectly, any shares  of Common Stock  or any securities  convertible into  or
exercisable  or exchangeable for  Common Stock or  enter into any  swap or other
 
                                       66
<PAGE>
arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the  economic
consequences  of ownership of the  Common Stock, for a  period of 180 days after
the date of this Prospectus, except  under the Company's existing benefit  plans
and certain other circumstances.
 
    The  Underwriters have informed the Company that they do not intend sales to
discretionary accounts to exceed five percent  of the total number of shares  of
Common Stock offered by them.
 
    The Representatives of the Underwriters and certain of their affiliates from
time  to time  provide investment  banking and other  services to  DuPont and to
certain of its affiliates, for which they receive customary fees.
 
PRICING OF THE OFFERING
 
    Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock.
The initial public offering price has been determined by negotiations among  the
Company   and  the  Representatives  of  the  Underwriters.  Among  the  factors
considered in  determining the  initial public  offering price  were the  future
prospects  of  the Company  and  its industry  in  general, sales,  earnings and
certain other  financial and  operating  information of  the Company  in  recent
periods,  and the  price-earnings ratios,  price-sales ratios,  market prices of
securities and certain financial and operating information of companies  engaged
in  activities  similar to  those  of the  Company.  There can,  however,  be no
assurance that the  prices at which  the Common  Stock will sell  in the  public
market  after the Offering will not be lower  than the price at which it is sold
by the Underwriters.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    The validity of the Common Stock will be passed upon for the Company by  Van
H.  Leichliter, Executive Vice  President, General Counsel  and Secretary of the
Company. Certain legal matters  in connection with the  Offering will be  passed
upon for the Underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell of New York, New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The combined financial statements as of June 30, 1995 and 1994 and March 31,
1996  and for each of the three years in  the period ended June 30, 1995 and for
the nine months ended March 31, 1996, included in this Prospectus, have been  so
included  in  reliance  on  the reports  of  Price  Waterhouse  LLP, independent
accountants, given on  the authority  of said firm  as experts  in auditing  and
accounting.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
    The  Company has filed with the  Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-1 under the  Securities Act with  respect to the  Common Stock offered  hereby
(including   all   amendments   and  supplements   thereto,   the  "Registration
Statement"). As permitted by the rules  and regulations of the Commission,  this
Prospectus,  which is part  of the Registration Statement,  does not contain all
the information set  forth in the  Registration Statement and  the exhibits  and
schedules  thereto. For further information with  respect to the Company and the
Common Stock, reference is  hereby made to the  Registration Statement and  such
exhibits  and schedules  filed as  a part  of thereof,  which may  be inspected,
without charge, at the Public Reference Section of the Commission at Room  1024,
Judiciary  Plaza, 450  Fifth Street,  N.W., Washington,  D.C. 20549,  and at the
regional offices of  the Commission  located at  Seven World  Trade Center,  New
York,  New York 10048, and Room 3190,  Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street,
Suite 1400,  Chicago,  Illinois 60661.  Copies  of all  or  any portion  of  the
Registration  Statement may be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission, upon payment of prescribed fees or may be examined without charge at
the public reference facility of such office.
 
    Statements made  in this  Prospectus as  to the  contents of  any  contract,
agreement  or other document referred to are summaries of material terms of such
contract, agreement  or other  document.  With respect  to each  such  contract,
agreement  or other document filed as  an exhibit to the Registration Statement,
reference is made to the exhibit for  a more complete description of the  matter
involved,  and each such statement shall be  deemed qualified in its entirety by
such reference.
 
                                       67
<PAGE>
                     INDEX TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               PAGE
                                                                                                             ---------
 
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
Report of Independent Accountants..........................................................................        F-2
 
Combined Statement of Operations -- Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995........................        F-3
 
Combined Statement of Financial Position -- June 30, 1994 and 1995.........................................        F-4
 
Combined Statement of Cash Flows -- Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995........................        F-5
 
Notes to Combined Financial Statements.....................................................................        F-6
 
Report of Independent Accountants..........................................................................       F-20
 
Combined Statement of Operations -- Nine Months Ended March 31, 1995 (unaudited) and 1996..................       F-21
 
Combined Statement of Financial Position -- June 30, 1995 and March 31, 1996...............................       F-22
 
Combined Statement of Cash Flows -- Nine Months Ended March 31, 1995 (unaudited) and 1996..................       F-23
 
Notes to Combined Financial Statements.....................................................................       F-24
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
 
    In  our opinion, the  accompanying combined statement  of financial position
and the related  combined statements  of operations  and of  cash flows  present
fairly,  in all material  respects, the financial  position of DuPont Photomasks
Business, a division of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (the "Company"),  at
June 30, 1994 and 1995, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for
each  of the three years  in the period ended June  30, 1995, in conformity with
generally accepted  accounting principles.  These financial  statements are  the
responsibility  of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these  financial statements  based on  our audits.  We conducted  our
audits  of  these  statements  in accordance  with  generally  accepted auditing
standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain  reasonable
assurance   about  whether  the  financial   statements  are  free  of  material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence  supporting
the   amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements,  assessing  the
accounting principles used  and significant  estimates made  by management,  and
evaluating  the overall  financial statement  presentation. We  believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
 
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
April 4, 1996
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
                 COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (SEE NOTE 1)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30
                                                                                     ----------------------------------
 SEE NOTE                                                                               1993        1994        1995
   -----                                                                             ----------  ----------  ----------
<C>          <S>                                                                     <C>         <C>         <C>
             Sales.................................................................  $  115,295  $  130,497  $  155,146
         3   Sales To Related Parties..............................................       3,601       4,051       6,368
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
             Total Sales...........................................................     118,896     134,548     161,514
             Cost of Goods Sold....................................................     112,224     107,456     117,022
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
             Gross Profit..........................................................       6,672      27,092      44,492
       3,7   Selling, General and Administrative Expense...........................      18,630      20,750      21,803
         2   Research and Development Expense -- Net...............................       8,337       8,131       8,777
         8   Other Operating (Income) Expense -- Net...............................       8,497       2,940       3,490
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
             Operating Profit (Loss)...............................................     (28,792)     (4,729)     10,422
         9   Interest Expense......................................................       9,196       5,814       6,957
             Exchange (Gain) Loss..................................................        (430)        322        (493)
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
             Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes and Minority Interest...............     (37,558)    (10,865)      3,958
        10   Provision for Income Taxes............................................      --          --          --
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
             Income (Loss) Before Minority Interest................................     (37,558)    (10,865)      3,958
             Minority Interest in Income (Loss) of Majority Owned Joint Venture....      --          --            (161)
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
             Net Income (Loss).....................................................  $  (37,558) $  (10,865) $    4,119
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
       See pages F-6 to F-19 for Notes to Combined Financial Statements.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
             COMBINED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (SEE NOTE 1)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
                                     ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    JUNE 30
                                                                                            ------------------------
SEE NOTE                                                                                       1994         1995
- ---------                                                                                   -----------  -----------
<C>        <S>                                                                              <C>          <C>
           CURRENT ASSETS
        2  Cash and Cash Equivalents......................................................  $     3,924  $     8,412
        4  Accounts Receivable, Trade -- Net..............................................       23,273       27,696
        3  Accounts Receivable, Related Parties...........................................        3,268        1,846
           Accounts and Notes Receivable, Miscellaneous...................................        1,166        1,263
       11  Inventories....................................................................        6,812        6,830
           Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets......................................        2,951          695
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
           Total Current Assets...........................................................       41,394       46,742
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
       12  Property, Plant and Equipment..................................................      226,702      251,194
           Less: Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization................................     (114,659)    (138,070)
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
           Net Property, Plant and Equipment..............................................      112,043      113,124
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
           Accounts Receivable, Related Parties -- Non-Current............................          910        1,405
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
      2,3  Other Assets...................................................................        6,554       10,430
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
           Total Assets...................................................................  $   160,901  $   171,701
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                            LIABILITIES, DUPONT MASTER NOTES AND OWNER'S NET INVESTMENT
<C>        <S>                                                                              <C>          <C>
 
           CURRENT LIABILITIES
           Accounts Payable, Trade........................................................  $     3,745  $     2,923
        3  Accounts Payable, Related Parties..............................................        4,735        8,076
       13  Accounts Payable, Miscellaneous................................................          989        7,255
       16  Short Term Borrowings..........................................................        1,386        2,960
    13,14  Other Accrued Liabilities......................................................        7,686        9,123
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
           Total Current Liabilities......................................................       18,541       30,337
    15,16  Long Term Borrowings...........................................................        6,704        4,265
       13  Other Liabilities..............................................................        2,039        5,958
           Minority Interest in Net Assets of Majority Owned Joint Venture................      --               489
        9  DuPont Master Notes............................................................      140,846      125,570
           Owner's Net Investment.........................................................       (7,229)       5,082
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
               Total Liabilities, DuPont Master Notes, and Owner's Net Investment.........  $   160,901  $   171,701
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
       See pages F-6 to F-19 for Notes to Combined Financial Statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
                 COMBINED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (SEE NOTE 1)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30
                                                                                      ----------------------------------
 SEE NOTE                                                                                1993        1994        1995
   -----                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
<C>          <S>                                                                      <C>         <C>         <C>
             CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD.......................  $    6,981  $    5,867  $    3,924
                                                                                      ----------  ----------  ----------
             CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) OPERATIONS
             Net Income (Loss)......................................................     (37,558)    (10,865)      4,119
             Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used
              for) Operations:
             Depreciation...........................................................      23,958      25,504      24,179
             Asset Retirements......................................................       6,813       1,005         603
             Amortization...........................................................       3,324       1,988         761
             (Increase) Decrease in Operating Assets................................        (354)     (5,724)        486
             Increase (Decrease) in Operating Liabilities...........................      (1,193)        133      (1,159)
             Other Noncash Charges and Credits -- Net...............................       2,643         311          42
                                                                                      ----------  ----------  ----------
             Cash Provided by (Used for) Operations.................................      (2,367)     12,352      29,031
                                                                                      ----------  ----------  ----------
             INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES
             Purchases of Property, Plant and Equipment.............................     (18,067)     (4,953)    (14,853)
        13   Payments for Acquisitions..............................................      (4,010)     (7,109)     (4,000)
             Miscellaneous -- Net...................................................      --             378         272
                                                                                      ----------  ----------  ----------
             Cash (Used for) Investment Activities..................................     (22,077)    (11,684)    (18,581)
                                                                                      ----------  ----------  ----------
             FINANCING ACTIVITIES
             Increase (Decrease) in Borrowings......................................     (31,649)      1,354      (1,591)
             Cash Provided by (Paid to) DuPont -- Net...............................      56,150      (4,234)     (5,432)
                                                                                      ----------  ----------  ----------
             Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities.......................      24,501      (2,880)     (7,023)
                                                                                      ----------  ----------  ----------
             Effect of Exchange Rate Changes On Cash................................      (1,171)        269       1,061
                                                                                      ----------  ----------  ----------
             CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD.............................  $    5,867  $    3,924  $    8,412
                                                                                      ----------  ----------  ----------
             INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS.......................  $   (1,114) $   (1,943) $    4,488
                                                                                      ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                      ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
       See pages F-6 to F-19 for Notes to Combined Financial Statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
                     NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 1 -- BASIS OF PRESENTATION
    On June 8, 1995, E. I. du  Pont de Nemours and Company ("DuPont")  announced
its   intention  to  (i)  realign   its  worldwide  Photomasks  operations  (the
"Business") into a  stand-alone entity  and (ii)  sell shares  of the  realigned
Business  to the public  through an initial  public offering (See  Note 19). The
Business manufactures  photomasks  for  sale  to  semiconductor  and  electronic
component  manufacturers  and manufactures  photoblanks  and pellicles  for both
internal consumption and sale to other photomask producers.
 
    The Combined Financial Statements include the operations of the Business  in
the following countries:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NORTH AMERICA         EUROPE                  ASIA PACIFIC
- ---------------  -------------------  ------------------------------
<S>              <C>                  <C>
United States    France               Peoples Republic of China
                 Germany              Republic of Korea
                 The Netherlands
</TABLE>
 
    Throughout  the  period covered  by the  Combined Financial  Statements, the
Business's U.S. operations were conducted  by DuPont Photomasks, Inc., a  wholly
owned  subsidiary of DuPont. European operations  of the Business were conducted
by separate, wholly owned subsidiaries of DuPont in their respective  countries.
During  the  period June  30,  1992 to  April  20, 1993,  the  Business's Korean
operations were conducted  by a  wholly owned subsidiary  of DuPont  Photomasks,
Inc.  Subsequent to  this period, the  Business's operations in  the Republic of
Korea ("Korea") were  merged with DuPont's  non-Photomasks Korean operations  to
form a Korean subsidiary owned 31% by DuPont Photomasks, Inc. and 69% by DuPont.
The  Business's  operations in  China are  conducted by  a Joint  Venture formed
September, 1994, which is  owned 60.5% by a  DuPont wholly owned subsidiary  and
39.5% by SIMIC Electronic Company, Ltd., a state-owned enterprise in the Peoples
Republic  of China.  In this context,  no direct  ownership relationship existed
among all the various units comprising the Business; accordingly, DuPont and its
subsidiaries' net investment in the Business ("Owner's Net Investment") is shown
in lieu of Stockholder's Equity in the Combined Financial Statements.
 
    Throughout the  period covered  by the  Combined Financial  Statements,  the
Business  was accounted  for as  a division  within DuPont's  Electronics Group.
Financial statements have not been  previously prepared for the Business.  These
Combined  Financial  Statements  have  been  prepared  from  DuPont's historical
accounting records.
 
    The assets, liabilities and operating results of DuPont resale operations in
Japan and  Taiwan have  been excluded  from the  Combined Financial  Statements.
These  operations involve distributorships for the Business. Sales to the DuPont
operations in Japan and Taiwan are reported in the Combined Financial Statements
as Sales to Related Parties and are  accounted for as if the operations were  an
outside  distributor for which the Business  has guaranteed full recovery of all
costs plus a specified operating margin. Charges  of $608, $189 and $76 for  the
fiscal  years ended June 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively, were included in
Selling and Distribution Expense with respect to the payments by the Business to
DuPont under the terms of this guarantee.
 
    The Business's manufacturing  operations in  Korea are conducted  at a  site
where  other DuPont operations not included in the Business are present. At this
shared site, only  the assets  and liabilities expected  to be  included in  the
Business  after completion of the above  referenced realignments are included in
the Combined Statement of Financial Position.
 
    The Combined Statement of Operations includes all revenue and costs directly
attributable to  the Business,  including costs  for facilities,  functions  and
services  used by the Business  at shared sites and  costs for certain functions
and services performed by centralized  DuPont organizations outside the  defined
scope  of the Business and directly charged  to the Business based on usage. The
results of operations also include  allocations of (i) costs for  administrative
functions    and   services   performed   on   behalf   of   the   Business   by
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 1 -- BASIS OF PRESENTATION (CONTINUED)
centralized  staff  groups  within  DuPont,  (ii)  DuPont's  Electronics   Group
management  expense, (iii) DuPont's general corporate expenses, (iv) pension and
other retirement benefit costs and (v) interest expense. (See Notes 2, 3, 5,  6,
7  and 9 for  a description of  the allocation methodologies  employed). As more
fully described in Notes 2 and 10, current and deferred income taxes and related
tax expense  have  been allocated  to  the  Business by  applying  Statement  of
Financial  Accounting Standards No. 109 ("SFAS  109") to each Business operation
in each country as if it was a separate taxpayer.
 
    All charges and allocations of  cost for facilities, functions and  services
performed by DuPont organizations outside the defined scope of the Business have
been  deemed to have been paid by the Business to DuPont, in cash, in the period
in which the cost was recorded in the Combined Financial Statements. Allocations
of current  income  taxes  payable to  the  Business  are deemed  to  have  been
remitted, in cash, to DuPont in the period the related tax expense was recorded.
Allocations  to the  Business of current  income taxes receivable  are deemed to
have been remitted to the  Business, in cash, by DuPont  in the period to  which
the receivable applies only to the extent that a refund of such taxes could have
been  recognized by  the Business on  a stand-alone  basis under the  law of the
relevant taxing jurisdiction.
 
    All of the allocations  and estimates in  the Combined Financial  Statements
are  based on assumptions  that DuPont management  believes are reasonable under
the circumstances. However, these allocations and estimates are not  necessarily
indicative  of the costs and  expenses that would have  resulted if the Business
had been operated as a separate entity.
 
NOTE 2 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
    BASIS OF COMBINATION
 
    The Combined Financial  Statements include  the accounts of  the wholly  and
majority  owned individual members of the Business. The Business's interest in a
50% owned  joint venture  with Dai  Nippon Printing  Co., Ltd.,  located in  the
United   States,  is  accounted  for  under  the  equity  method.  All  material
transactions and  accounts between  individual members  comprising the  Business
have been eliminated in combination.
 
    INCOME RECOGNITION
 
    Sales  and related cost of goods sold  are included in income when goods are
shipped to the customer except in Korea, where sales and cost of goods sold  are
included in income upon customer acceptance in accordance with Korean law.
 
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
    The Business participated in DuPont's centralized cash management system. In
general, the cash funding requirements of the Business were met by, and all cash
generated  by the Business was  transferred to, DuPont. In  the U.S. and France,
this was  accomplished under  the terms  of interest-bearing  loan  arrangements
between  DuPont's  U.S. photomask  subsidiary  and DuPont  and  between DuPont's
French photomask subsidiary and DuPont  France, S.A. (collectively, the  "DuPont
Master  Notes"). As part of the realignment of the Business described in Note 1,
the DuPont Master Notes  were consolidated into a  single master note (See  Note
19).  Accordingly,  the only  cash and  cash  equivalents (cash  equivalents are
highly liquid investments  with maturities of  three months or  less at time  of
purchase),  other than petty cash amounts, included in the Combined Statement of
Financial Position  are  accounts pertaining  to  the Business's  operations  in
Germany,  the  Netherlands,  and,  prior  to April  20,  1993,  Korea  that were
conducted through wholly owned DuPont subsidiaries dedicated exclusively to  the
Business.
 
    INVENTORIES
 
    Inventories  are valued  at the  lower of  cost or  market, with  cost being
determined by the average cost method. Elements of cost in inventory include raw
materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead.
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 2 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT ("PP&E")
 
    PP&E is carried at  cost and is depreciated  using the straight-line  method
over   the  estimated  useful  lives  of   the  related  assets.  Buildings  and
improvements are depreciated over 20 years and machinery and equipment over 3 to
10 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated using the straight-line  method
over  the term  of the lease  or the life  of the equipment,  whichever is less.
Historical cost  for a  significant portion  of PP&E  was determined  under  the
principles set forth in Accounting Principles Board Opinion Number 16.
 
    The  gross carrying  value of PP&E  surrendered, retired,  sold or otherwise
disposed of  and  related  accumulated  depreciation  are  eliminated  from  the
accounts  at the date of disposal and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in
income.
 
    Maintenance  and  repairs  are  charged  to  operations;  replacements   and
betterments are capitalized.
 
    INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
    Purchased   identifiable   intangible   assets  are   amortized   using  the
straight-line method over their  estimated useful lives. Goodwill,  representing
the excess of cost over fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in
purchase   business  combinations,   is  amortized   over  5   years  using  the
straight-line method.  The future  economic  benefit of  the carrying  value  of
intangibles  is reviewed periodically through an undiscounted cash flow analysis
and any change in useful life or  impairment of value is recorded in the  period
such   determination  is  made.  Net   intangible  assets,  representing  supply
agreements, were $1,250 and $5,193 at June 30, 1994 and 1995, respectively,  and
are included in Other Assets (See Note 13).
 
    INCOME TAXES
 
    The  taxable income (loss)  of each member  of the Business  was included in
consolidated tax returns of the DuPont entity  of which it was a part. As  such,
separate  income tax returns were not prepared  or filed for the Business except
for the Business's operations in Korea prior to April 20, 1993.
 
    For all periods  presented, deferred  income taxes and  related tax  expense
have been allocated to the Business by applying the asset and liability approach
set  forth in SFAS 109 to  each member of the Business  as if it were a separate
taxpayer. Under this approach, deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the
expected future  tax consequences  of  carryforwards and  temporary  differences
between  the carrying amounts and the tax  bases of assets and liabilities. SFAS
109 generally requires that all expected future events, other than enactment  of
changes  in  tax  law or  tax  rates,  be considered  in  estimating  future tax
consequences. Valuation allowances are established to reduce deferred tax assets
by the amount of  any tax benefits  that, based on  available evidence, are  not
expected to be realized.
 
    Current  tax expense has been  determined as if each  member of the Business
was a separate taxpayer. Income taxes currently payable are deemed to have  been
remitted  by the  Business to  DuPont in  the period  that the  liability arose.
Income taxes  currently receivable  are  deemed to  have  been received  by  the
Business  from DuPont in the period that  a refund could have been recognized by
the Business had the Business been a separate taxpayer.
 
    Under the basis of presentation for these financial statements, no provision
has been made for taxes on cash remittances from the members of the Business  to
the DuPont entity of which they are a part. Generally, remittances from a wholly
owned subsidiary to its in-country parent are tax free.
 
    FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
 
    DuPont has determined that the U.S. Dollar is the functional currency of its
worldwide   operations  and  that  this  functional  currency  determination  is
appropriate to the economic  environment in which  the Business operated  during
the  period covered by  these Combined Financial  Statements. Monetary asset and
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 2 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
liability amounts denominated  in foreign  currencies are  remeasured into  U.S.
Dollars  at end-of-period  exchange rates; foreign  currency nonmonetary assets,
principally inventories and PP&E, are remeasured into U.S. Dollars at historical
exchange rates. Income and expenses are remeasured into U.S. Dollars at  average
exchange  rates  in effect  during the  period, except  for expenses  related to
balance sheet  amounts  that are  remeasured  using historical  exchange  rates.
Exchange  gains and losses from remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities
are included in income in the period they occur.
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    Research and development  costs are  expensed as incurred.  The Business  is
party to certain contracts which provide for partial funding of its research and
development  costs. Funding under these contracts  of $1,942, $1,625 and $451 in
the fiscal years  ended June 30,  1993, 1994, and  1995, respectively, has  been
recognized as an offset to Research and Development Expense.
 
    PENSIONS
 
    DuPont  has noncontributory defined benefit plans covering substantially all
U.S. employees, including the U.S. employees of the Business. The cost of  these
plans  for active employees  was allocated to  the Business (See  Note 5) and is
principally included  in  Cost of  Goods  Sold.  Amounts so  allocated  are  not
necessarily  indicative of the pension cost that would have been incurred if the
Business had been operated as a separate company.
 
    Pension  coverage  for  employees  of  DuPont's  non-U.S.  subsidiaries   is
provided,  to the extent deemed appropriate, through separate plans. Obligations
under such  plans  are systematically  provided  for by  depositing  funds  with
trustees,  under  insurance policies  or  by book  reserves.  The cost  of these
non-U.S. plans has  been allocated  to the  Business using  methods that  DuPont
believes are appropriate to the nature of the plans.
 
    U.S.  Pension cost allocated to the Business is deemed to have resulted in a
cash contribution between the Business and DuPont in the period the pension cost
was incurred and, in return, DuPont is deemed to have assumed all responsibility
for pension  payments to  retirees. Accordingly,  no pension  related assets  or
liabilities  related to  U.S. plans  are included  in the  Combined Statement of
Financial Position.
 
    OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
 
    DuPont and  certain of  its subsidiaries  provide medical,  dental and  life
insurance  benefits  to  pensioners and  survivors.  These  Other Postretirement
Benefits are accounted for under the  accrual provisions of SFAS 106. Under  the
terms  of the  benefit plans,  DuPont reserves  the right  to change,  modify or
discontinue the  plans.  The  cost  of these  plans  for  active  employees  was
allocated  to the Business (See  Note 6) and is  principally included in Cost of
Goods  Sold.  These  costs   are  not  necessarily   indicative  of  the   Other
Postretirement  Benefit costs that would have  been incurred if the Business had
operated as a separate entity.
 
    Other Postretirement Benefits cost  allocated to the  Business is deemed  to
have  resulted in  a cash  contribution between the  Business and  DuPont in the
period the cost was incurred  and, in return, DuPont  is deemed to have  assumed
all   responsibility   for   payments  to   retirees.   Accordingly,   no  other
postretirement benefit  related  assets  or  liabilities  are  included  in  the
Combined Statement of Financial Position.
 
    INSURANCE
 
    During  the period covered by the  Combined Financial Statements, DuPont did
not insure for property  damage losses. Liability  insurance was purchased  with
high  deductible limits. Costs included in  the Combined Statement of Operations
resulting from noninsured losses were not  material. Such costs are expensed  as
incurred.
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 2 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    ENVIRONMENTAL
 
    DuPont  accrues for certain environmental remediation activities relating to
past operations, including Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and
Liability Act ("CERCLA") cleanup and certain Resource Conservation and  Recovery
Act  ("RCRA") and related compliance activities, for which commitments have been
made, and reasonable  estimates are  possible. Where feasible,  these costs  are
assigned  to the business unit responsible  for the conditions being remediated.
During the  period covered  by the  Combined Financial  Statements, no  material
environmental remediation costs were assigned to the Business.
 
    USE OF ESTIMATES
 
    The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make reasonable  estimates
and  assumptions, based upon all known  facts and circumstances, that affect the
reported amounts of assets and  liabilities and disclosure of contingent  assets
and  liabilities at the  date of the financial  statements. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
 
NOTE 3 -- RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
    The Combined  Financial  Statements include  significant  transactions  with
other  DuPont  business units  involving functions  and  services (such  as cash
management, tax  administration, accounting,  legal, and  data processing)  that
were  provided to the  Business by centralized  DuPont organizations outside the
defined scope of the  Business. The costs of  these functions and services  have
been directly charged and/or allocated to the Business using methods that DuPont
management  believes  are  reasonable.  Such  charges  and  allocations  are not
necessarily indicative  of  the costs  that  would  have been  incurred  if  the
Business  had  been a  separate  entity. Amounts  charged  and allocated  to the
Business for these functions and services were $12,047, $12,518 and $13,106  for
the  fiscal years  ended June  30, 1993,  1994 and  1995, respectively,  and are
principally included in General and Administrative expenses.
 
    Sales to Related Parties include sales to DuPont distributor operations (see
Note 1) and sales to the Business's joint venture with Dai Nippon Printing  Co.,
Ltd. of $1,157, $887 and $815 for the fiscal years ended June 30, 1993, 1994 and
1995,  respectively.  Purchases of  products produced  by other  DuPont business
units were not material.
 
    Throughout the  period covered  by the  Combined Financial  Statements,  the
Business  held  an  approximate  8% ownership  interest  in  Etec  Systems, Inc.
("Etec"), the principal supplier to the Business of electron beam and laser beam
systems used to produce photomasks. The $5,000 original cost of this  investment
is  included  in Other  Assets  at the  lower of  cost  or market.  Purchases of
equipment and equipment maintenance services from Etec, including equipment  and
service  contracts, were $14,919,  $8,500 and $6,175 for  the fiscal years ended
June 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively (See Note 19).
 
    Accounts Receivable, Related Parties includes receivables from employees  of
the  Business of $952  (Current $42, Non-Current $910)  and $1,445 (Current $40,
Non-Current $1,405) at June 30, 1994 and 1995, respectively, principally related
to housing and automobile loans to non-U.S. employees. The remainder  represents
receivables  for goods sold to DuPont distributor operations and receivables for
sales to the Business's joint venture with Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
 
    Accounts Payable, Related Parties represents payables to DuPont for  payroll
and  benefits and vendor payments  paid by DuPont on  behalf of the Business and
billed to the business on a one-month-lag basis.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 4 -- SALES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, TRADE
    Essentially  all  of  the   Business's  sales  are   to  customers  in   the
semiconductor  manufacturing  industry.  The  Business  assesses  the  financial
strength of its customers to reduce the risk of loss.
 
    The Business's  sales  to  Motorola,  National  Semiconductor,  Philips  and
SGS-Thomson, individually represented more than 10% of combined sales in each of
the  years presented.  Accounts Receivable from  these parties  total $9,221 and
$8,422 at June 30, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
NOTE 5 -- PENSION COST
    Pension Cost for active employees (See  Note 2) was determined by  measuring
the Projected Benefit Obligation ("PBO") using a discount rate of 8.5%, 7.9% and
8.1%  for the fiscal years ended June 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively, and
an assumed long  term rate  of compensation  increase of  5%. The  PBO for  such
employees was determined using a discount rate of 7.2% and 9.0% at June 30, 1994
and  1995, respectively. The PBO so measured  was $11,800 and $8,600 at June 30,
1994 and 1995,  respectively. The PBO  was assumed  to be fully  funded by  plan
assets  with an assumed long term rate of return of 9% allocated from the DuPont
plan. The elements of pension cost  allocated to the Business using this  method
were:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30
                                                                   -------------------------------
                                                                     1993       1994       1995
                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                <C>        <C>        <C>
Service Cost.....................................................  $   1,165  $   1,405  $   1,320
Interest on PBO..................................................        637        742        742
Assumed Return on Assets.........................................       (669)      (862)      (846)
Amortization of Gains............................................        (42)       (93)      (142)
                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                   $   1,091  $   1,192  $   1,074
                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Pension  coverage  for  employees of  the  Business's  non-U.S. consolidated
subsidiaries is provided,  to the  extent deemed  appropriate, through  separate
plans.  Obligations under these plans are provided by book reserves. The PBO and
the pension  liability  were  $1,069 and  $1,210  at  June 30,  1994  and  1995,
respectively. The elements of pension cost allocated to the Business were:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30
                                                                        -------------------------------
                                                                          1993       1994       1995
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                     <C>        <C>        <C>
Service Cost..........................................................  $     103  $     109  $     111
Interest on PBO.......................................................         77         77         95
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                        $     180  $     186  $     206
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The  economic assumptions  used for the  non-U.S plans are  similar to those
used for the U.S. plans.
 
NOTE 6 -- OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT COST
    Other Postretirement  Benefit Cost  for active  employees (See  Note 2)  was
determined  by  measuring  the  Accumulated  Postretirement  Benefit  Obligation
("APBO") for such employees using a discount rate of 8.5%, 7.9% and 8.1% for the
fiscal years ended June 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively, and a health care
escalation rate  of 10%  decreasing  to 5%  over 10  years.  The APBO  for  such
employees was determined using
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 6 -- OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT COST (CONTINUED)
a  discount rate of 7.2%  and 9.0% at June 30,  1994 and 1995, respectively. The
APBO so measured was $4,900 and $3,500 at June 30, 1994 and 1995,  respectively.
The  elements of  Other Postretirement  Benefit Cost  allocated to  the Business
using this method were:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30
                                                                       -------------------------------
                                                                         1993       1994       1995
                                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                    <C>        <C>        <C>
Service Cost.........................................................  $     681  $     545  $     489
Interest on APBO.....................................................        360        316        308
Amortization of Prior Service Credit.................................        (54)      (107)      (109)
                                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                       $     987  $     754  $     688
                                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 7 -- SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE
    Selling, General and Administrative Expense consists of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30
                                                               -------------------------------
                                                                 1993       1994       1995
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                            <C>        <C>        <C>
Selling and Distribution Expense.............................  $  10,405  $  11,426  $  11,937
General and Administrative Expense...........................      8,225      9,324      9,866
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                               $  18,630  $  20,750  $  21,803
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    As  discussed  in  Note  3,  General  and  Administrative  Expense  consists
principally of amounts allocated and/or charged by DuPont. Allocations are based
on  factors such as head count and/or  investment depending on the nature of the
item being allocated. Amounts charged  to the Business are generally  determined
based  on usage. Such charges and/or  allocations are not necessarily indicative
of the costs and expenses that would have been incurred if the Business had been
operated as a separate entity.
 
NOTE 8 -- PLANT SHUTDOWNS
    In response to general industry overcapacity, the Business consolidated  its
manufacturing  operations during the  fiscal year ended June  30, 1993, and shut
down  mask  manufacturing  facilities  at  Danbury,  Connecticut  and  Nijmegen,
Netherlands.  A charge of $5,202 is included in Fiscal Year 1993 Other Operating
(Income) Expense -- Net for the retirement of property, plant and equipment  and
employee severance costs associated with these shutdowns.
 
NOTE 9 -- INTEREST EXPENSE
    Interest  expense includes interest expense under the DuPont Master Notes of
$5,271, $5,134 and $6,898  for the fiscal  years ended June  30, 1993, 1994  and
1995, respectively.
 
    The  interest  rate  charged  under the  DuPont  Master  Notes  is generally
equivalent to the  rate DuPont pays  for its commercial  paper borrowings.  Such
amounts are not necessarily indicative of the cost that would have been incurred
if the Business had been operated as a separate entity.
 
NOTE 10 -- PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
    Throughout  the period covered by  the Combined Financial Statements, DuPont
utilized various tax  planning strategies  and elections to  minimize its  total
income  tax expense.  It is  not practicable  to identify  the effects  of these
strategies and elections on the results of operations of the Business.
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 10 -- PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
 
    The results of the Business were included in DuPont consolidated tax returns
and  DuPont received tax benefits for operating losses reported by the Business.
The allocation of tax expense to the Business is set forth in Note 2.
 
    The Provision for Income Taxes consists of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30
                                                                      -------------------------------
                                                                        1993       1994       1995
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>
U.S. Federal:
  Current...........................................................  $  --      $  --      $  --
  Deferred..........................................................     --         --         --
U.S. State and Local:
  Current...........................................................     --         --         --
  Deferred..........................................................     --         --         --
Non-U.S.:
  Current...........................................................     --         --          1,554
  Deferred..........................................................     --         --         (1,554)
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
Provision for Income Taxes..........................................  $  --      $  --      $  --
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Deferred income taxes  result from temporary  differences between  financial
carrying  value and tax basis of the  Business's assets and liabilities. The tax
effects of these temporary differences included in deferred income taxes are  as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30
                                                                -------------------------------
                                                                  1993       1994       1995
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                             <C>        <C>        <C>
Depreciation..................................................  $  (4,203) $  (3,645) $   2,807
Inventories...................................................       (666)       201       (235)
Accrued Liabilities...........................................       (256)       162        (70)
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards..............................     (7,743)    (2,076)    (4,817)
Other.........................................................       (134)       165        187
Change in Valuation Allowance.................................     13,002      5,193        574
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
Total Deferred Tax Provision..................................  $  --      $  --      $  (1,554)
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 10 -- PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
 
    Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities) are comprised of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               JUNE 30
                                                                        ----------------------
                                                                           1994        1995
                                                                        ----------  ----------
<S>                                                                     <C>         <C>
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS
Inventories...........................................................  $      465  $      700
Depreciation -- Non-U.S...............................................       1,764       1,964
Accrued Liabilities...................................................       1,829       1,899
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards (1)..................................      59,205      62,468
Other.................................................................         149         197
                                                                        ----------  ----------
Total Deferred Tax Assets.............................................      63,412      67,228
                                                                        ----------  ----------
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES
Depreciation -- U.S...................................................      (9,320)    (12,326)
Other.................................................................        (117)       (121)
                                                                        ----------  ----------
Total Deferred Tax Liabilities........................................      (9,437)    (12,447)
                                                                        ----------  ----------
Valuation Allowance (1)...............................................     (53,975)    (54,781)
                                                                        ----------  ----------
Total Deferred Taxes..................................................  $   --      $   --
                                                                        ----------  ----------
                                                                        ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The  categorization of these deferred tax  assets and liabilities as current
and non-current is presented in the Combined Statement of Financial Position.
 
    An analysis  of the  U.S. federal  provision  to the  book provision  is  as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30
                                                              ---------------------------------
                                                                 1993        1994       1995
                                                              ----------  ----------  ---------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>         <C>
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes and Minority Interest.....  $  (37,558) $  (10,865) $   3,958
                                                              ----------  ----------  ---------
Tax at 35% Statutory U.S. Federal Tax Rate..................  $  (13,145) $   (3,803) $   1,385
Higher (Lower) Effective Tax Rate on Non-U.S. Operations....       1,000        (129)       485
Tax Exemption (2)...........................................      --            (962)    (2,340)
Changes in Valuation Allowance (1)..........................      13,002       5,193        574
State Taxes, Net of Federal.................................      (1,021)       (347)      (161)
Other -- Net................................................         164          48         57
                                                              ----------  ----------  ---------
Provision for Income Taxes..................................  $   --      $   --      $  --
                                                              ----------  ----------  ---------
                                                              ----------  ----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Net  operating  loss  carryforwards have  been  utilized by  DuPont,  as the
    Business was included in  consolidated tax returns of  the DuPont entity  of
    which it was a part. It is assumed that the net operating loss carryforwards
    are  available  solely for  determining  taxes under  the  separate taxpayer
    approach in SFAS 109 (See Note 2). Such amounts will not be available to the
    Business, and upon  consummation of the  Offering described in  Note 1,  the
    Business  will  record net  deferred tax  liabilities. Changes  in Valuation
    Allowance exclude the effects of currency remeasurement.
 
(2) The Business's operations in Korea  operated under a government granted  tax
    exemption throughout the period covered by the financial statements.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 11 -- INVENTORIES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   JUNE 30
                                                                             --------------------
                                                                               1994       1995
                                                                             ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                          <C>        <C>
Raw Materials, Stores and Supplies.........................................  $   5,935  $   4,598
Semi-Finished Product......................................................        329        380
Finished Product...........................................................        548      1,852
                                                                             ---------  ---------
                                                                             $   6,812  $   6,830
                                                                             ---------  ---------
                                                                             ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 12 -- PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              JUNE 30
                                                                      ------------------------
                                                                         1994         1995
                                                                      -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                   <C>          <C>
Construction In Progress............................................  $     3,109  $    23,644
Land................................................................        5,341        5,341
Buildings...........................................................       36,674       37,099
Equipment...........................................................      181,578      185,110
                                                                      -----------  -----------
    Total...........................................................      226,702      251,194
Less: Accumulated Depreciation......................................     (114,659)    (138,070)
                                                                      -----------  -----------
Net Property, Plant and Equipment...................................  $   112,043  $   113,124
                                                                      -----------  -----------
                                                                      -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 13 -- ACQUISITIONS
    On  February 1,  1993, the Business  purchased from an  affiliate of Philips
Electronics N.V.  ("Philips")  selected  photomask  manufacturing  equipment  at
Philips'  captive photomask  manufacturing facility located  in Hamburg, Germany
and entered  into  a  five-year supply  agreement  with  Philips  Semiconductors
International B.V. Consideration for the equipment was $9,292, and consideration
for  the supply agreement was  $1,808. Under the terms  of the supply agreement,
Philips agreed to  purchase certain  minimum quantities of  photomasks from  the
Business  each year during the  term of the agreement or  to refund a portion of
the purchase price if such minimum  quantities of photomasks were not  purchased
during  a given year. The supply agreement  also calls for the Business to grant
price discounts to Philips in the event that purchases by Philips during a given
year exceed specified limits. Through June  30, 1995, the Business had  received
$644  from Philips  due to  its failure  to purchase  specified minimum amounts.
These payments were applied to reduce the carrying amount assigned to the supply
agreement at the date of acquisition.
 
    On April 7,  1995, the Business  purchased from an  affiliate of AT&T  Corp.
("AT&T")  selected photomask manufacturing equipment at AT&T's captive photomask
manufacturing facility located  in Allentown,  Pennsylvania and  entered into  a
five-year  supply agreement  with Lucent  Technologies Inc.  ("Lucent," formerly
AT&T). Consideration for the  equipment was $10,000,  and consideration for  the
supply agreement was $5,000. Of these amounts, $4,000 was paid at closing and as
of June 30, 1995, $6,000 was included in Accounts Payable, Miscellaneous, $1,500
was  included in  Other Accrued Liabilities,  and the remainder  was included in
Other Liabilities. Under  the terms of  the supply agreement,  Lucent agreed  to
purchase  certain minimum quantities  of photomasks from  the Business each year
during the term of the agreement or to refund a portion of the purchase price if
such minimum  quantities were  not purchased  during a  given year.  The  supply
agreement  also calls for the Business to grant price discounts to Lucent in the
event that purchases by Lucent during a given year exceed specified limits.
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 14 -- OTHER ACCRUED LIABILITIES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   JUNE 30
                                                                             --------------------
                                                                               1994       1995
                                                                             ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                          <C>        <C>
Accrued Vacation Pay.......................................................  $   2,592  $   2,827
Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits....................................      2,569      2,417
Lucent Supply Agreement....................................................     --          1,500
Deferred Revenue...........................................................      1,088        838
Accrued Royalties..........................................................        263        420
Other......................................................................      1,174      1,121
                                                                             ---------  ---------
    Total..................................................................  $   7,686  $   9,123
                                                                             ---------  ---------
                                                                             ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 15 -- LEASES
       Minimum Lease Payments for Fiscal Years Ending June 30:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            CAPITAL    OPERATING
                                                                            LEASES      LEASES
                                                                           ---------  -----------
<S>                                                                        <C>        <C>
  1996...................................................................  $     745   $     891
  1997...................................................................        703         285
  1998...................................................................        505          61
  1999...................................................................        415          29
  2000...................................................................        415           5
  2001...................................................................        415      --
Remainder................................................................      1,455      --
                                                                           ---------  -----------
    Total Minimum Lease Payments.........................................      4,653   $   1,271
                                                                                      -----------
                                                                                      -----------
Less: Imputed Interest...................................................       (461)
                                                                           ---------
Present Value of Net Minimum Lease Payments..............................  $   4,192
                                                                           ---------
                                                                           ---------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 16 -- BORROWINGS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 JUNE 30
                                                                           --------------------
                                                                             1994       1995
                                                                           ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                        <C>        <C>
Non-Interest Bearing Notes Payable to Customers Due 1996 - 1997..........  $   2,500  $   2,921
Capital Lease Obligations................................................      5,590      4,192
6% Bank Borrowings Due 1998 - 2001.......................................     --            112
                                                                           ---------  ---------
  Total Borrowings.......................................................      8,090      7,225
    Less: Current Portion................................................     (1,386)    (2,960)
                                                                           ---------  ---------
Long Term Borrowings.....................................................  $   6,704  $   4,265
                                                                           ---------  ---------
                                                                           ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 17 -- GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
 
    The Business operates within a single industry segment:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        UNITED                 ASIA
FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30                                               STATES     EUROPE     PACIFIC    COMBINED
- --------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
<S>                                                                   <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>
1993
Sales to Unaffiliated Customers (1).................................  $   73,674  $  24,225  $  17,396  $  115,295
Sales to Related Parties............................................       3,601     --         --           3,601
Transfers Between Geographic Areas (2)..............................       3,616          1     --          --
                                                                      ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
    Total...........................................................  $   80,891  $  24,226  $  17,396  $  118,896
                                                                      ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                      ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Net (Loss)..........................................................  $  (29,158) $  (3,986) $  (4,153) $  (37,558)
Identifiable Assets at June 30......................................  $   93,807  $  34,223  $  48,923  $  176,953
 
1994
Sales to Unaffiliated Customers (1).................................  $   77,883  $  31,135  $  21,479  $  130,497
Sales to Related Parties............................................       3,866     --            185       4,051
Transfers Between Geographic Areas (2)..............................       7,397        838     --          --
                                                                      ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
    Total...........................................................  $   89,146  $  31,973  $  21,664  $  134,548
                                                                      ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                      ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Net Income (Loss)...................................................  $  (10,631) $  (2,825) $   2,692  $  (10,865)
Identifiable Assets at June 30......................................  $   82,948  $  31,755  $  46,198  $  160,901
 
1995
Sales to Unaffiliated Customers (1).................................  $   84,503  $  41,958  $  28,685  $  155,146
Sales to Related Parties............................................       5,592     --            776       6,368
Transfers Between Geographic Areas (2)..............................       9,710      4,130        187      --
                                                                      ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
    Total...........................................................  $   99,805  $  46,088  $  29,648  $  161,514
                                                                      ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                      ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Net Income (Loss) (3)...............................................  $   (5,518) $   3,426  $   6,167  $    4,119
Identifiable Assets at June 30......................................  $   84,107  $  37,685  $  49,909  $  171,701
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Sales outside the  United States  of products manufactured  in and  exported
    from  the United States totaled  $191, $483 and $3,396  for the fiscal years
    ended June 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
(2) Products are transferred  between geographic  areas on a  basis intended  to
    approximate the "market value" of such products.
 
(3) For  the fiscal  year ended June  30, 1995, Asia  Pacific operations include
    pre-production  costs  for  the  Business's  joint  venture  in  China;   no
    commercial operations were conducted in China during this period.
 
NOTE 18 -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
    The  Business has various  purchase commitments for  materials, supplies and
items of permanent investment incident to  the ordinary conduct of business.  In
the aggregate, such commitments are not at prices in excess of current market.
 
    Under  the terms  of certain equipment  purchase contracts,  the Business is
required to make  periodic, non-refundable  deposits during  the period  between
order placement and final delivery. Cancellation of such
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 18 -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)
orders prior to delivery results in forfeiture of the deposit. At June 30, 1995,
such  deposits totaled $1,070 and were included in Property, Plant and Equipment
under the caption, Construction  in Progress. The  aggregate purchase price  for
equipment to which these deposits relate was $11,000.
 
    The  Business is subject to various lawsuits and claims with respect to such
matters as  product  liabilities,  governmental regulations  and  other  actions
arising  in the  normal course  of business.  In the  opinion of  the Business's
General Counsel,  the  ultimate liabilities  resulting  from such  lawsuits  and
claims  will  not  have a  material  adverse  effect on  the  combined financial
position or results of operations, cash flows or liquidity of the Business.
 
NOTE 19 -- SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
    ETEC INVESTMENT  In October 1995, Etec completed an initial public  offering
of  its  common stock.  At  that date,  the  Business's investment  in  Etec was
classified as an "available for sale" security.
 
    REALIGNMENT   As  part  of  the realignment  described  in  Note  1,  DuPont
Photomasks,  Inc. ("DPI"  or the  "Company") was  reincorporated in  Delaware on
December 31, 1995,  pursuant to  which certain transactions  were undertaken  so
that  DuPont's foreign photomask operations  would reside in subsidiaries wholly
owned by the Company.
 
    On November 9, 1995, DPI incorporated  a new subsidiary in Delaware,  DuPont
Photomasks  Delaware, Inc. ("Photomasks Delaware") and as of March 29, 1996, DPI
had  contributed  approximately  $37,000  to  Photomasks  Delaware.   Photomasks
Delaware  used such contribution  to make loans  to Photomasks Korea, Photomasks
Germany and Photomasks France (each, as defined herein) in order to complete the
realignment. In addition, the  amounts owed to DuPont  by the Company under  the
DuPont  Master Notes  were consolidated into  a single master  note (the "Master
Note") on February 22, 1996.  The proceeds from the  offering will, in part,  be
used  to repay a  portion of the  amount outstanding under  the Master Note. The
remaining balance under the Master Note will be contributed as equity capital to
the Company by DCEO (as defined herein).
 
    On August 31, 1995, DPI incorporated a new wholly owned subsidiary in Korea,
DuPont Photomasks  Korea, Ltd.,  and on  January 30,  1996, DuPont  Korea,  Ltd.
transferred  all of its assets (except for cash) and liabilities relating to the
photomask business to DuPont Photomasks  Korea, Ltd. ("DPKL") for  approximately
$37,000.   Approximately  $18,000  was  borrowed  by  DPKL  to  effectuate  this
transaction. The borrowing was repaid with Master Note proceeds.
 
    On January 4, 1996,  DuPont purchased all the  outstanding shares of  DuPont
Photomasks  (France) S.A.  from DuPont de  Nemours (France) S.A.  for 81,000 FFr
(approximately $16,200). On January 11, 1996, DuPont contributed such shares  to
DuPont Chemical and Energy Operations, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont
("DCEO"), and on January 15, 1996, DCEO contributed such shares to DPI.
 
    In  Germany,  the  photomask  business  has  been  operated  through  DuPont
Photomasks GmbH & Co.  KG ("Photomasks KG") by  DuPont de Nemours  (Deutschland)
GmbH  ("DuPont  Germany") and  DuPont  Photomasks Verwaltungs  GmbH ("Photomasks
Germany").  On  December   18,  1995,   Photomasks  KG   distributed  DM   4,300
(approximately  $2,950)  to DuPont  Germany. On  March  29, 1996,  Photomasks KG
distributed DM 6,362  (approximately $4,309) to  DuPont Germany, and  Photomasks
Delaware  and DPI loaned DM 30,200  (approximately $20,300) to Photomasks KG. On
April 1, 1996, Photomasks KG redeemed the interest held by DuPont Germany for DM
30,200 and  pursuant  to  German  law  all of  the  assets  and  liabilities  of
Photomasks  KG  were  assumed by  Photomasks  Germany.  On April  4,  1996, DCEO
contributed all of the outstanding shares of Photomasks Germany to DPI. In April
1996, DM 7,500 (approximately $5,200) of DPI's loan was converted to equity.
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
 
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 19 -- SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS) (CONTINUED)
    On February 8,  1996, DuPont  purchased a  60.5% equity  interest in  DuPont
Photomasks  Company  Limited,  Shanghai  (Photomasks  China)  from  DuPont China
Holding Company Limited for  RMB 11,830 (approximately  $1,400). On February  8,
1996,  DuPont contributed such equity interest to DCEO and DCEO contributed such
equity interest to DPI. In connection with this equity contribution, DPI  agreed
to  guarantee for  the benefit of  DuPont all  amounts payable in  the future by
DuPont pursuant to  a previous  guarantee DuPont  made on  behalf of  Photomasks
China.
 
    CREDIT  FACILITY  The Company and DCEO  have entered into a credit agreement
effective as of January 1, 1996 (the "Credit Agreement"), pursuant to which DCEO
has  agreed  to  provide  a  revolving/working  capital  facility  (the  "Credit
Facility")  to the Company in  an aggregate amount of  up to $30,000. The Credit
Facility has a term of 24 months, and any loans thereunder will bear interest at
the six-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 50 basis points,  which
shall  be  adjusted  every  six  months. The  amounts  loaned  under  the Credit
Agreement are  secured  by  all  the  Company's  (i)  equipment,  (ii)  accounts
receivable,  (iii) instruments, documents and securities owned by DPI and in the
possession of DCEO and (iv) the  proceeds of the foregoing. The Credit  Facility
will  provide financing for general capital  spending and corporate purposes and
ongoing  working   capital  needs.   The  Credit   Agreement  contains   various
representations,  covenants and  events of default  typical for  financings of a
similar size  and nature.  In  addition to  restrictive covenants  limiting  the
ability  of the Company and its subsidiaries to enter into leases and pledge its
assets, the  Credit  Agreement  contains the  following  restrictive  covenants.
Without  DCEO's prior  written consent,  DPI will  not incur,  create, assume or
permit to  exist  any indebtedness,  including  guarantees of  indebtedness  (in
addition to the indebtedness under the Credit Facility), in excess of $30,000 in
the  aggregate. In addition, without DCEO's prior written consent, which may not
be unreasonably withheld,  DPI will not  (a) change its  capital structure,  (b)
merge  or consolidate with any corporation, (c)  amend or change its articles of
incorporation or bylaws or (d) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any
substantial part of its assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired,  except
for sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business.
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
 
    In  our opinion, the  accompanying combined statement  of financial position
and the related  combined statements  of operations  and of  cash flows  present
fairly,  in all material  respects, the financial  position of DuPont Photomasks
Business, a division of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (the "Company"), at
June 30, 1995 and March 31, 1996, and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for the  nine months ended  March 31, 1996,  in conformity with  generally
acccepted   accounting   principles.   These   financial   statements   are  the
responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express  an
opinion  on these  financial statements  based on  our audits.  We conducted our
audits of  these  statements  in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards  which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance  about  whether  the  financial   statements  are  free  of   material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements,  assessing   the
accounting  principles used  and significant  estimates made  by management, and
evaluating the overall  financial statement  presentation. We  believe that  our
audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
 
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 10, 1996
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
                 COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (SEE NOTE 1)
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                             MARCH 31
  SEE                                                            ---------------------------------
  NOTE                                                                                    1996
- --------                                                            1995               -----------
                                                                 -----------
                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<C>       <S>                                                    <C>                   <C>
          Sales.............................................     $  112,569            $   145,471
   3      Sales To Related Parties..........................          4,101                  6,721
                                                                 -----------           -----------
              Total Sales...................................        116,670                152,192
          Cost of Goods Sold................................         85,745                 98,717
                                                                 -----------           -----------
          Gross Profit......................................         30,925                 53,475
  3,7     Selling, General and Administrative Expense.......         16,017                 18,164
   2      Research and Development Expense -- Net...........          6,385                  6,955
          Other Operating (Income) Expense -- Net...........          2,317                  3,219
                                                                 -----------           -----------
          Operating Profit..................................          6,206                 25,137
   8      Interest Expense..................................          5,054                  5,091
          Exchange (Gain) Loss..............................           (476)                   228
                                                                 -----------           -----------
          Income Before Income Taxes and Minority
           Interest.........................................          1,628                 19,818
   9      Provision for Income Taxes........................         --                      1,899
                                                                 -----------           -----------
          Income Before Minority Interest...................          1,628                 17,919
          Minority Interest in Income (Loss) of Majority
           Owned Joint Venture..............................            (82)                  (483)
                                                                 -----------           -----------
          Net Income........................................     $    1,710            $    18,402
                                                                 -----------           -----------
                                                                 -----------           -----------
</TABLE>
 
       See Pages F-24 to F-38 for Notes to Combined Financial Statements
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
             COMBINED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (SEE NOTE 1)
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
                                     ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   SEE                                                                                        JUNE 30     MARCH 31
  NOTE                                                                                         1995         1996
- ---------                                                                                   -----------  -----------
<C>        <S>                                                                              <C>          <C>
           CURRENT ASSETS
    2      Cash and Cash Equivalents......................................................  $     8,412  $     8,891
    4      Accounts Receivable, Trade -- Net..............................................       27,696       29,580
    3      Accounts Receivable, Related Parties...........................................        1,846        2,331
           Accounts and Notes Receivable, Miscellaneous...................................        1,263        3,405
   10      Inventories....................................................................        6,830        8,158
           Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets......................................          695          472
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
               Total Current Assets.......................................................       46,742       52,837
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
   11      Property, Plant and Equipment..................................................      251,194      270,917
           Less: Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization................................     (138,070)    (156,686)
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
           Net Property, Plant and Equipment..............................................      113,124      114,231
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
    3      Accounts Receivable, Related Parties -- Non-Current............................        1,405        1,835
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
    9      Deferred Income Taxes -- Non-Current...........................................      --             2,156
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
   2,3     Other Assets...................................................................       10,430       19,288
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
               Total Assets...............................................................  $   171,701  $   190,347
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
 
                            LIABILITIES, DUPONT MASTER NOTES AND OWNER'S NET INVESTMENT
 
           CURRENT LIABILITIES
           Accounts Payable, Trade........................................................  $     2,923  $     4,791
    3      Accounts Payable, Related Parties..............................................        8,076       15,867
   12      Accounts Payable, Miscellaneous................................................        7,255        1,740
   15      Short Term Borrowings..........................................................        2,960        4,691
  12,13    Other Accrued Liabilities......................................................        9,123       12,498
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
               Total Current Liabilities..................................................       30,337       39,587
  14,15    Long Term Borrowings...........................................................        4,265        8,987
   12      Other Liabilities..............................................................        5,958        5,526
           Minority Interest in Net Assets of Majority Owned Joint Venture................          489        1,049
    8      DuPont Master Notes............................................................      125,570      162,320
           Owner's Net Investment.........................................................        5,082      (36,472)
   3,9     Unrealized Holding Gains.......................................................      --             9,350
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
               Total Liabilities, DuPont Master Notes, and Owner's Net Investment.........  $   171,701  $   190,347
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
       See Pages F-24 to F-38 for Notes to Combined Financial Statements
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
                 COMBINED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (SEE NOTE 1)
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                             MARCH 31
  SEE                                                            ---------------------------------
  NOTE                                                                                    1996
- --------                                                            1995               -----------
                                                                 -----------
                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<C>       <S>                                                    <C>                   <C>
          CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF
           PERIOD...........................................     $    3,924            $     8,412
                                                                 -----------           -----------
          CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATIONS
          Net Income........................................          1,710                 18,402
          Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Cash
           Provided by Operations:
            Depreciation....................................         18,060                 18,556
            Asset Retirements...............................            409                  1,166
            Amortization....................................            466                    873
            (Increase) Decrease in Operating Assets.........             51                 (6,934)
            Increase (Decrease) in Operating Liabilities....         (1,047)                 4,984
            Other Noncash Charges and Credits -- Net........           (340)                  (771)
                                                                 -----------           -----------
              Cash Provided by Operations...................         19,309                 36,276
                                                                 -----------           -----------
          INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES
          Purchases of Property, Plant and Equipment........        (12,611)               (13,690)
   12     Payments for Acquisitions.........................         --                     (6,000)
          Miscellaneous -- Net..............................            271                    920
                                                                 -----------           -----------
              Cash (Used for) Investment Activities.........        (12,340)               (18,770)
                                                                 -----------           -----------
          FINANCING ACTIVITIES
          Increase (Decrease) in Borrowings.................           (892)                 1,799
          Cash (Paid to) DuPont -- Net......................         (2,410)               (18,520)
                                                                 -----------           -----------
          Cash (Used for) Financing Activities..............         (3,302)               (16,721)
                                                                 -----------           -----------
          Effect of Exchange Rate Changes On Cash...........          1,142                   (306)
                                                                 -----------           -----------
          CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD........     $    8,733            $     8,891
                                                                 -----------           -----------
          INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS.............     $    4,809            $       479
                                                                 -----------           -----------
                                                                 -----------           -----------
</TABLE>
 
       See Pages F-24 to F-38 for Notes to Combined Financial Statements.
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
                     NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 1 -- BASIS OF PRESENTATION
    On  June 8, 1995, E. I. du  Pont de Nemours and Company ("DuPont") announced
its  intention  to  (i)  realign   its  worldwide  Photomasks  operations   (the
"Business")  into a  stand-alone entity  and (ii)  sell shares  of the realigned
Business to  the  public  through  an  initial  public  offering.  The  Business
manufactures  photomasks  for  sale to  semiconductor  and  electronic component
manufacturers and  manufactures  photoblanks  and pellicles  for  both  internal
consumption and sale to other photomask producers.
 
    The  Combined Financial Statements include the operations of the Business in
the following countries:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NORTH AMERICA     EUROPE             ASIA PACIFIC
- ---------------  ----------  ------------------------------
<S>              <C>         <C>
United States    France      Peoples Republic of China
                 Germany     Republic of Korea
</TABLE>
 
    Throughout the  period covered  by the  Combined Financial  Statements,  the
Business's  U.S. operations were conducted by DuPont Photomasks, Inc. ("DPI"), a
wholly owned subsidiary  of DuPont.  Prior to the  realignment transactions  set
forth  below, European  operations of the  Business were  conducted by separate,
wholly  owned  subsidiaries  of  DuPont  in  their  respective  countries;   the
Business's  operations  in the  Republic of  Korea  ("Korea") were  conducted by
DuPont Korea, Ltd., a DuPont subsidiary owned 31% by DPI, and 69% by DuPont; and
the Business's operations  in China  were conducted  by a  Joint Venture  formed
September,  1994, owned 60.5% by DuPont  China Holding Company Limited, a DuPont
wholly owned  subsidiary,  and  39.5%  by  SIMIC  Electronic  Company,  Ltd.,  a
state-owned  enterprise in  the Peoples Republic  of China. In  this context, no
direct ownership relationship existed among all the various units comprising the
Business; accordingly,  DuPont  and  its subsidiaries'  net  investment  in  the
Business  ("Owner's Net Investment") is shown in lieu of Stockholder's Equity in
the Combined Financial Statements.
 
    As part of the realignment noted  above, DPI was reincorporated in  Delaware
on  December 31, 1995, pursuant to which certain transactions were undertaken so
that DuPont's foreign photomask operations  would reside in subsidiaries  wholly
owned by DPI.
 
    On  November 9, 1995, DPI incorporated  a new subsidiary in Delaware, DuPont
Photomasks Delaware, Inc. ("Photomasks Delaware") and as of March 29, 1996,  DPI
had  contributed approximately  $37,000, principally  proceeds from  Master Note
borrowings, to Photomasks Delaware.  Photomasks Delaware used such  contribution
to  make loans  to Photomasks  Korea, Photomasks  Germany and  Photomasks France
(each, as defined herein) in order to complete the realignment. In addition, the
amounts owed  to DuPont  by the  Business  under the  DuPont Master  Notes  were
consolidated into a single master note (the "Master Note") on February 22, 1996.
 
    On August 31, 1995, DPI incorporated a new wholly owned subsidiary in Korea,
DuPont  Photomasks Korea,  Ltd., ("Photomasks Korea")  and on  January 30, 1996,
DuPont Korea,  Ltd.  transferred  all  of  its  assets  (except  for  cash)  and
liabilities  relating to  the photomask business  to Photomasks  Korea, Ltd. for
approximately $37,000. Approximately $18,000 was borrowed by Photomasks Korea to
effectuate this transaction. The borrowing was repaid with Master Note proceeds.
 
    On January 4, 1996,  DuPont purchased all the  outstanding shares of  DuPont
Photomasks  (France) S.A. ("Photomasks France")  from DuPont de Nemours (France)
S.A. for  81,000  FFr  (approximately  $16,200). On  January  11,  1996,  DuPont
contributed such shares to DuPont Chemical and Energy Operations, Inc., a wholly
owned  subsidiary of DuPont ("DCEO"), and  on January 15, 1996, DCEO contributed
such shares to DPI.
 
    In  Germany,  the  photomask  business  has  been  operated  through  DuPont
Photomasks  GmbH & Co.  KG ("Photomasks KG") by  DuPont de Nemours (Deutschland)
GmbH ("DuPont  Germany") and  DuPont  Photomasks Verwaltungs  GmbH  ("Photomasks
Germany"). On December 18, 1995, Photomasks KG
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 1 -- BASIS OF PRESENTATION (CONTINUED)
distributed  DM 4,300  (approximately $2,950)  to DuPont  Germany. On  March 29,
1996, Photomasks  KG  distributed  DM 6,362  (approximately  $4,309)  to  Dupont
Germany,  and  Photomasks  Delaware  and DPI  loaned  DM  30,200, (approximately
$20,300) to Photomasks KG. These funds were used by Photomasks KG to redeem  the
interest  held by DuPont Germany for DM 30,200 and pursuant to German law all of
the assets  and liabilities  of  Photomasks KG  will  be assumed  by  Photomasks
Germany.  After this  redemption, DCEO  will contribute  all of  the outstanding
shares of Photomasks Germany to DPI and DM 7,500 (approximately $5,200) of DPI's
loan will be converted to equity.
 
    On February 8,  1996, DuPont  purchased a  60.5% equity  interest in  DuPont
Photomasks  Company  Limited,  Shanghai  (Photomasks  China)  from  DuPont China
Holding Company Limited for  RMB 11,830 (approximately  $1,400). On February  8,
1996,  DuPont contributed such equity interest to DCEO and DCEO contributed such
equity interest to DPI. In connection with this equity contribution, DPI  agreed
to  guarantee for  the benefit of  DuPont all  amounts payable in  the future by
DuPont pursuant to  a previous  guarantee DuPont  made on  behalf of  Photomasks
China.
 
    Income and expenses arising from the above realignment transactions were not
associated  with  the operations  of the  Business and,  except for  Master Note
interest expense, have been excluded from the Combined Statement of  Operations.
Cash  and capital transactions  arising from the  above realignment transactions
are recorded in Owner's Net Investment, except for proceeds obtained from Master
Note borrowings. Cash flows associated  with the above realignment  transactions
are  included in the  Combined Statement of  Cash Flows under  the caption "Cash
(Paid to) DuPont -- Net".
 
    Throughout the  period covered  by the  Combined Financial  Statements,  the
Business  was accounted  for as  a division  within DuPont's  Electronics Group.
Financial statements have not been  previously prepared for the Business.  These
Combined  Financial  Statements  have  been  prepared  from  DuPont's historical
accounting records.
 
    The assets, liabilities and operating results of DuPont resale operations in
Japan and  Taiwan have  been excluded  from the  Combined Financial  Statements.
These  operations involve distributorships for the Business. Sales to the DuPont
operations in Japan and Taiwan are reported in the Combined Financial Statements
as Sales to Related Parties and are  accounted for as if the operations were  an
outside  distributor for which the Business  has guaranteed full recovery of all
costs plus a specified operating  margin. Charges of $58  and $196 for the  nine
months ended March 31, 1995 (unaudited) and 1996, respectively, were included in
Selling and Distribution Expense with respect to the payments by the Business to
DuPont under the terms of this guarantee.
 
    Prior  to  the  realignment described  above,  the  Business's manufacturing
operations in Korea were conducted at  a site where other DuPont operations  not
included  in the Business  were present. Only  the assets and  liabilities to be
included in the Business  after completion of the  realignment were included  in
the Combined Statement of Financial Position.
 
    The Combined Statement of Operations includes all revenue and costs directly
attributable  to  the Business,  including costs  for facilities,  functions and
services used by the  Business at shared sites  and costs for certain  functions
and  services performed by centralized  DuPont organizations outside the defined
scope of the Business and directly charged  to the Business based on usage.  The
results  of operations also include allocations  of (i) costs for administrative
functions and services performed on behalf of the Business by centralized  staff
groups  within DuPont, (ii) DuPont's Electronics Group management expense, (iii)
DuPont's general corporate expenses, (iv)  pension and other retirement  benefit
costs and (v) interest expense. (See Notes 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 for a description
of the allocation methodologies employed). As more
 
                                      F-25
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 1 -- BASIS OF PRESENTATION (CONTINUED)
fully  described in Notes 2 and 9, current and deferred income taxes and related
tax expense  have  been allocated  to  the  Business by  applying  Statement  of
Financial  Accounting Standards No. 109 ("SFAS  109") to each Business operation
in each country as if it was a separate taxpayer.
 
    All charges and allocations of  cost for facilities, functions and  services
performed by DuPont organizations outside the defined scope of the Business have
been  deemed to have been paid by the Business to DuPont, in cash, in the period
in which the cost was recorded in the Combined Financial Statements. Allocations
of current  income  taxes  payable to  the  Business  are deemed  to  have  been
remitted, in cash, to DuPont in the period the related tax expense was recorded.
Allocations  to the  Business of current  income taxes receivable  are deemed to
have been remitted to the  Business, in cash, by DuPont  in the period to  which
the receivable applies only to the extent that a refund of such taxes could have
been  recognized by  the Business on  a stand-alone  basis under the  law of the
relevant taxing jurisdiction.
 
    All of the allocations  and estimates in  the Combined Financial  Statements
are  based on assumptions  that DuPont management  believes are reasonable under
the circumstances. However, these allocations and estimates are not  necessarily
indicative  of the costs and  expenses that would have  resulted if the Business
had been operated as a separate entity.
 
NOTE 2 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
    BASIS OF COMBINATION
 
    The Combined Financial  Statements include  the accounts of  the wholly  and
majority  owned individual members of the Business. The Business's interest in a
50% owned  joint venture  with Dai  Nippon Printing  Co., Ltd.,  located in  the
United   States,  is  accounted  for  under  the  equity  method.  All  material
transactions and  accounts between  individual members  comprising the  Business
have been eliminated in combination.
 
    UNAUDITED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
    The  unaudited combined financial statements for the nine months ended March
31,  1995  include  all  adjustments,   consisting  only  of  normal   recurring
adjustments,  which management considers necessary  for the fair presentation of
the results for this period. Results for the interim period are not  necessarily
indicative of results for the entire year.
 
    INCOME RECOGNITION
 
    Sales  and related cost of goods sold  are included in income when goods are
shipped to the customer except in Korea, where sales and cost of goods sold  are
included in income upon customer acceptance in accordance with Korean law.
 
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
    Throughout  the  period covered  by the  Combined Financial  Statements, the
Business  participated  in  DuPont's  centralized  cash  management  system.  In
general, the cash funding requirements of the Business were met by, and all cash
generated  by the Business was  transferred to, DuPont. In  the U.S. and France,
this was  accomplished under  the terms  of interest-bearing  loan  arrangements
between  DPI and  DuPont and between  Photomasks France and  DuPont France, S.A.
(collectively, the "DuPont Master Notes"). As  a part of the realignment of  the
Business  described in Note 1, the DuPont  Master Notes were consolidated into a
single master note. Prior to the realignment, the only cash and cash equivalents
(cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with maturities of three  months
or  less at time  of purchase), other  than petty cash  amounts, included in the
Combined  Statement  of  Financial  Position  are  accounts  pertaining  to  the
Business's operations in Germany and China.
 
                                      F-26
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 2 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    INVENTORIES
 
    Inventories  are valued  at the  lower of  cost or  market, with  cost being
determined by the average cost method. Elements of cost in inventory include raw
materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead.
 
    PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT ("PP&E")
 
    PP&E is carried at  cost and is depreciated  using the straight-line  method
over   the  estimated  useful  lives  of   the  related  assets.  Buildings  and
improvements are depreciated over 20 years and machinery and equipment over 3 to
10 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated using the straight-line  method
over  the term  of the lease  or the life  of the equipment,  whichever is less.
Historical cost  for a  significant portion  of PP&E  was determined  under  the
principles set forth in Accounting Principles Board Opinion Number 16.
 
    The  gross carrying  value of PP&E  surrendered, retired,  sold or otherwise
disposed of  and  related  accumulated  depreciation  are  eliminated  from  the
accounts  at the date of disposal and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in
income.
 
    Maintenance  and  repairs  are  charged  to  operations;  replacements   and
betterments are capitalized.
 
    INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
    Purchased   identifiable   intangible   assets  are   amortized   using  the
straight-line method over their  estimated useful lives. Goodwill,  representing
the excess of cost over fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in
purchase   business  combinations,   is  amortized   over  5   years  using  the
straight-line method.  The future  economic  benefit of  the carrying  value  of
intangibles  is reviewed periodically through an undiscounted cash flow analysis
and any change in useful life or  impairment of value is recorded in the  period
such   determination  is  made.  Net   intangible  assets,  representing  supply
agreements, were  $5,193  and  $4,154 at  June  30,  1995 and  March  31,  1996,
respectively, and are included in Other Assets (See Note 12).
 
    INCOME TAXES
 
    The  taxable income (loss)  of each member  of the Business  was included in
consolidated tax returns of the DuPont entity  of which it was a part. As  such,
separate income tax returns were not prepared or filed for the Business.
 
    For  all periods  presented, deferred income  taxes and  related tax expense
have been allocated to the Business by applying the asset and liability approach
set forth in SFAS 109 to  each member of the Business  as if it were a  separate
taxpayer. Under this approach, deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the
expected  future  tax consequences  of  carryforwards and  temporary differences
between the carrying amounts and the  tax bases of assets and liabilities.  SFAS
109  generally requires that all expected future events, other than enactment of
changes in  tax  law  or tax  rates,  be  considered in  estimating  future  tax
consequences. Valuation allowances are established to reduce deferred tax assets
by  the amount of  any tax benefits  that, based on  available evidence, are not
expected to be realized.
 
    Current tax expense has  been determined as if  each member of the  Business
was  a separate taxpayer. Income taxes currently payable are deemed to have been
remitted by  the Business  to DuPont  in the  period that  the liability  arose.
Income  taxes  currently receivable  are  deemed to  have  been received  by the
Business from DuPont in the period that  a refund could have been recognized  by
the Business had the Business been a separate taxpayer.
 
    Under the basis of presentation for these financial statements, no provision
has  been made for taxes on cash remittances from the members of the Business to
the DuPont entity of which they are a part. Generally, remittances from a wholly
owned subsidiary to its in-country parent are tax free.
 
                                      F-27
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 2 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
 
    DuPont has determined that the U.S. Dollar is the functional currency of its
worldwide  operations  and  that  this  functional  currency  determination   is
appropriate  to the economic  environment in which  the Business operated during
the period covered by  these Combined Financial  Statements. Monetary asset  and
liability  amounts denominated  in foreign  currencies are  remeasured into U.S.
Dollars at end-of-period  exchange rates; foreign  currency nonmonetary  assets,
principally inventories and PP&E, are remeasured into U.S. Dollars at historical
exchange  rates. Income and expenses are remeasured into U.S. Dollars at average
exchange rates  in effect  during the  period, except  for expenses  related  to
balance  sheet  amounts that  are  remeasured using  historical  exchange rates.
Exchange gains and losses from remeasurement of monetary assets and  liabilities
are included in income in the period they occur.
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    Research  and development  costs are expensed  as incurred.  The Business is
party to certain contracts which provide for partial funding of its research and
development costs. Funding under  these contracts of $398  and $98 for the  nine
months  ended  March  31,  1995 (unaudited)  and  1996,  respectively,  has been
recognized as an offset to Research and Development Expense.
 
    PENSIONS
 
    DuPont has noncontributory defined benefit plans covering substantially  all
U.S.  employees, including the U.S. employees of the Business. The cost of these
plans for active employees  was allocated to  the Business (See  Note 5) and  is
principally  included  in  Cost of  Goods  Sold.  Amounts so  allocated  are not
necessarily indicative of the pension cost that would have been incurred if  the
Business had been operated as a separate company.
 
    Pension   coverage  for  employees  of  DuPont's  non-U.S.  subsidiaries  is
provided, to the extent deemed appropriate, through separate plans.  Obligations
under  such  plans  are systematically  provided  for by  depositing  funds with
trustees, under  insurance policies  or  by book  reserves.  The cost  of  these
non-U.S.  plans has  been allocated  to the  Business using  methods that DuPont
believes are appropriate to the nature of the plans.
 
    U.S. Pension cost allocated to the Business is deemed to have resulted in  a
cash contribution between the Business and DuPont in the period the pension cost
was incurred and, in return, DuPont is deemed to have assumed all responsibility
for  pension payments  to retirees.  Accordingly, no  pension related  assets or
liabilities related to  U.S. plans  are included  in the  Combined Statement  of
Financial Position.
 
    OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
 
    DuPont  and certain  of its  subsidiaries provide  medical, dental  and life
insurance benefits  to  pensioners  and survivors.  These  Other  Postretirement
Benefits  are accounted for under the accrual  provisions of SFAS 106. Under the
terms of  the benefit  plans, DuPont  reserves the  right to  change, modify  or
discontinue  the  plans.  The  cost  of these  plans  for  active  employees was
allocated to the Business (See  Note 6) and is  principally included in Cost  of
Goods   Sold.  These  costs   are  not  necessarily   indicative  of  the  Other
Postretirement Benefit costs that would have  been incurred if the Business  had
operated as a separate entity.
 
    Other  Postretirement Benefits cost  allocated to the  Business is deemed to
have resulted in  a cash  contribution between the  Business and  DuPont in  the
period  the cost was incurred  and, in return, DuPont  is deemed to have assumed
all  responsibility   for   payments   to  retirees.   Accordingly,   no   other
postretirement  benefit  related  assets  or  liabilities  are  included  in the
Combined Statement of Financial Position.
 
                                      F-28
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 2 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    INSURANCE
 
    During the period covered by  the Combined Financial Statements, DuPont  did
not  insure for property  damage losses. Liability  insurance was purchased with
high deductible limits. Costs included  in the Combined Statement of  Operations
resulting  from noninsured losses were not  material. Such costs are expensed as
incurred.
 
    ENVIRONMENTAL
 
    DuPont accrues for certain environmental remediation activities relating  to
past operations, including Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and
Liability  Act ("CERCLA") cleanup and certain Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act ("RCRA") and related compliance activities, for which commitments have  been
made,  and reasonable  estimates are possible.  Where feasible,  these costs are
assigned to the business unit  responsible for the conditions being  remediated.
During  the period  covered by  the Combined  Financial Statements,  no material
environmental remediation costs were assigned to the Business.
 
    USE OF ESTIMATES
 
    The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  generally
accepted  accounting principles requires management to make reasonable estimates
and assumptions, based upon all known  facts and circumstances, that affect  the
reported  amounts of assets and liabilities  and disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities at the  date of the financial  statements. Actual results  could
differ from those estimates.
 
NOTE 3 -- RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
    The  Combined  Financial  Statements include  significant  transactions with
other DuPont  business units  involving  functions and  services (such  as  cash
management,  tax administration,  accounting, legal,  and data  processing) that
were provided to the  Business by centralized  DuPont organizations outside  the
defined  scope of  the Business. Prior  to January  1, 1996, the  costs of these
functions and  services  have been  directly  charged and/or  allocated  to  the
Business  using  methods that  DuPont management  believes are  reasonable. Such
charges and allocations are not necessarily  indicative of the costs that  would
have  been incurred if the Business had  been a separate entity. Amounts charged
and allocated to the Business for  these functions and services were $9,550  for
the  nine months ended March 31, 1995 (unaudited) and $7,251 for the period July
1, 1995  to December  31, 1995,  and  are principally  included in  General  and
Administrative  expenses. Effective January  1, 1996, the  Business entered into
several Administrative  Services  Agreements  with  DuPont  and  certain  DuPont
subsidiaries  which set forth  services to be  provided to the  Business and the
fees to be paid by the Business for such services. Charges to the Business under
these agreements were $1,102 for the period January 1, 1996 to March 31, 1996.
 
    Sales to Related Parties include sales to DuPont distributor operations (see
Note 1) and sales to the Business's joint venture with Dai Nippon Printing  Co.,
Ltd.  of $495 and $434 for the nine  months ended March 31, 1995 (unaudited) and
1996, respectively.  Purchases of  products produced  by other  DuPont  business
units were not material.
    Prior  to  October  1995,  the Business  held  an  approximate  8% ownership
interest in Etec Systems, Inc. ("Etec"), the principal supplier to the  Business
of  electron beam and laser beam systems  used to produce photomasks. The $5,000
original cost of this  investment is included  in Other Assets  at the lower  of
cost  or market at  June 30, 1995.  In October, 1995,  Etec completed an initial
public offering  of its  common stock.  Upon completion  of the  offering ,  the
Business's  ownership interest in Etec was converted to 1,025,640 shares of Etec
common stock.  At  March  31,  1996,  the  Business's  investment  in  Etec  was
classified  as an available for sale  security. The $14,350 estimated fair value
(based on  the March  29,  1996 closing  market price  of  Etec stock)  of  this
investment  was included in Other Assets. The associated unrealized holding gain
 
                                      F-29
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 3 -- RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)
is reported as  a separate  component of  Owner's Net  Investment. Purchases  of
equipment  and equipment maintenance  services from Etec  were $3,864 and $7,419
for the nine months ended March 31, 1995 (unaudited) and 1996, respectively.
 
    Accounts Receivable, Related Parties includes receivables from employees  of
the  Business of  $1,445 (Current $40,  Non-Current $1,405)  and $2,028 (Current
$193, Non-Current $1,835)  at June 30,  1995 and March  31, 1996,  respectively,
principally  related to housing and automobile  loans to non-U.S. employees. The
remainder represents receivables for goods sold to DuPont distributor operations
and receivables  for sales  to  the Business's  joint  venture with  Dai  Nippon
Printing Co., Ltd.
 
    Accounts  Payable, Related Parties represents payables to DuPont for payroll
and benefits,  vendor payments  paid by  DuPont on  behalf of  the Business  and
billed to the business on a one-month-lag basis, and at March 31, 1996, includes
amounts  payable under the Administrative Services Agreements, $1,255 payable by
Photomasks China to DuPont  for PP&E, and $2,770  payable to DuPont Korea,  Ltd.
for VAT incurred in conjunction with the Korean realignment (See Note 1).
 
NOTE 4 -- SALES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, TRADE
    Essentially   all  of  the   Business's  sales  are   to  customers  in  the
semiconductor  manufacturing  industry.  The  Business  assesses  the  financial
strength of its customers to reduce the risk of loss.
 
    The  Business's  sales to  Motorola,  Philips and  SGS-Thomson, individually
represented more than 10%  of combined sales in  each of the periods  presented.
Accounts Receivable from these parties total $9,452 at March 31, 1996.
 
    Additionally,  the  Business's sales  to National  Semiconductor represented
more than  10% of  combined  sales for  the nine  months  ended March  31,  1995
(unaudited)  and for fiscal  year ended June 30,  1995. Accounts Receivable from
Motorola, National Semiconductor, Philips and  SGS-Thomson total $8,422 at  June
30, 1995.
 
NOTE 5 -- PENSION COST
    Pension  Cost for active employees (See  Note 2) was determined by measuring
the Projected Benefit Obligation ("PBO") using a discount rate of 7.8% and  8.4%
for the nine months ended March 31, 1995 (unaudited) and 1996, respectively, and
an  assumed long  term rate  of compensation  increase of  5%. The  PBO for such
employees was determined using a discount rate of 9.0% and 7.2% at June 30, 1995
and March 31, 1996, respectively. The PBO so measured was $8,600 and $14,500  at
June  30, 1995 and March 31, 1996, respectively. The PBO was assumed to be fully
funded by plan assets with an assumed  long term rate of return of 9%  allocated
from  the DuPont plan.  The elements of  pension cost allocated  to the Business
using this method were:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                 MARCH 31
                                                                          ----------------------
                                                                             1995        1996
                                                                          -----------  ---------
                                                                          (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                       <C>          <C>
Service Cost............................................................   $   1,055   $     967
Interest on PBO.........................................................         573         598
Assumed Return on Assets................................................        (672)       (650)
Amortization of Gains...................................................         (62)        (81)
                                                                          -----------  ---------
                                                                           $     894   $     834
                                                                          -----------  ---------
                                                                          -----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-30
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 5 -- PENSION COST (CONTINUED)
    Pension coverage  for  employees  of the  Business's  non-U.S.  consolidated
subsidiaries  is provided,  to the  extent deemed  appropriate, through separate
plans. Obligations under these plans are provided by book reserves. The PBO  and
the  pension liability  were $1,210 and  $1,350 at  June 30, 1995  and March 31,
1996, respectively. The elements of pension cost allocated to the Business were:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                   MARCH 31
                                                                           ------------------------
                                                                               1995         1996
                                                                           -------------  ---------
                                                                            (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                        <C>            <C>
Service Cost.............................................................    $      46    $      61
Interest on PBO..........................................................           69           69
                                                                                 -----    ---------
                                                                             $     115    $     130
                                                                                 -----    ---------
                                                                                 -----    ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The economic assumptions  used for the  non-U.S plans are  similar to  those
used for the U.S. plans.
 
NOTE 6 -- OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT COST
    Other  Postretirement Benefit  Cost for  active employees  (See Note  2) was
determined  by  measuring  the  Accumulated  Postretirement  Benefit  Obligation
("APBO")  for such employees using a discount rate of 7.8% and 8.4% for the nine
months ended March  31, 1995 (unaudited)  and 1996, respectively,  and a  health
care  escalation rate of 10%  decreasing to 5% over 10  years. The APBO for such
employees was determined using  a discount rate  of 9.0%, and  7.2% at June  30,
1995  and March  31, 1996,  respectively. The  APBO so  measured was  $3,500 and
$5,000 at June 30, 1995 and March 31, 1996, respectively. The elements of  Other
Postretirement Benefit Cost allocated to the Business using this method were:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                   MARCH 31
                                                                           ------------------------
                                                                               1995         1996
                                                                           -------------  ---------
                                                                            (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                        <C>            <C>
Service Cost.............................................................    $     392    $     361
Interest on APBO.........................................................          234          232
Amortization of Prior Service Credit.....................................          (80)         (81)
                                                                                 -----    ---------
                                                                             $     546    $     512
                                                                                 -----    ---------
                                                                                 -----    ---------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 7 -- SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE
    Selling, General and Administrative Expense consists of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                               MARCH 31
                                                                        ----------------------
                                                                           1995        1996
                                                                        -----------  ---------
                                                                        (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                     <C>          <C>
Selling and Distribution Expense......................................   $   8,721   $  10,756
General and Administrative Expense....................................       7,296       7,408
                                                                        -----------  ---------
                                                                         $  16,017   $  18,164
                                                                        -----------  ---------
                                                                        -----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    As  discussed  in  Note  3,  General  and  Administrative  Expense  consists
principally of amounts allocated and/or charged by DuPont. Allocations are based
on factors such as head count and/or  investment depending on the nature of  the
item  being allocated. Amounts charged to  the Business are generally determined
based on usage. Such charges  and/or allocations are not necessarily  indicative
of the costs and expenses that would have been incurred if the Business had been
operated as a separate entity.
 
                                      F-31
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
 
                        (Currency amounts in thousands)
 
NOTE 8 -- INTEREST EXPENSE
    Interest  expense includes interest expense under the DuPont Master Notes of
$5,091 and $5,040 for the nine months ended March 31, 1995 (unaudited) and 1996,
respectively.
 
    The interest  rate  charged  under  the DuPont  Master  Notes  is  generally
equivalent  to the  rate DuPont pays  for its commercial  paper borrowings. Such
amounts are not necessarily indicative of the cost that would have been incurred
if the Business had been operated as a separate entity.
 
NOTE 9 -- PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
    Throughout the period covered by  the Combined Financial Statements,  DuPont
utilized  various tax  planning strategies and  elections to  minimize its total
income tax  expense. It  is not  practicable to  identify the  effects of  these
strategies and elections on the results of operations of the Business.
 
    The results of the Business were included in DuPont consolidated tax returns
and  DuPont received tax benefits for operating losses reported by the Business.
The allocation of tax expense to the Business is set forth in Note 2.
 
    The Provision for Income Taxes consists of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                         MARCH 31
                                                                                  ----------------------
                                                                                                 1996
                                                                                     1995      ---------
                                                                                  -----------
                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                               <C>          <C>
U.S. Federal:
  Current.......................................................................   $  --       $   9,092
  Deferred......................................................................      --          (9,092)
U.S. State and Local:
  Current.......................................................................      --           1,476
  Deferred......................................................................      --          (1,476)
Non-U.S.:
  Current.......................................................................       1,103       3,420
  Deferred......................................................................      (1,103)     (1,521)
                                                                                  -----------  ---------
Provision for Income Taxes......................................................   $  --       $   1,899
                                                                                  -----------  ---------
                                                                                  -----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-32
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 9 -- PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    Deferred income taxes  result from temporary  differences between  financial
carrying  value and tax basis of the  Business's assets and liabilities. The tax
effects of these temporary differences included in deferred income taxes are  as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                        MARCH 31
                                                                                 -----------------------
                                                                                                 1996
                                                                                    1995      ----------
                                                                                 -----------
                                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                              <C>          <C>
Depreciation...................................................................   $   2,294   $   (5,613)
Inventories....................................................................        (190)         196
Accrued Liabilities............................................................         (57)        (210)
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards...............................................      (3,902)      --
Other..........................................................................         137         (417)
Change in Valuation Allowance..................................................         615       (6,045)
                                                                                 -----------  ----------
    Total Deferred Tax Provision Included in Provision for
     Income Taxes..............................................................      (1,103)     (12,089)
Deferred Tax Provision Allocated to Owner's Net Investment:
  Unrealized Holding Gains.....................................................      --            3,602
  Change in Valuation Allowance................................................      --           (3,602)
                                                                                 -----------  ----------
    Total Deferred Tax Provision...............................................   $  (1,103)  $  (12,089)
                                                                                 -----------  ----------
                                                                                 -----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
    Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities) are comprised of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   JUNE 30     MARCH 31
                                                                                     1995        1996
                                                                                  ----------  ----------
<S>                                                                               <C>         <C>
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS
Inventories.....................................................................  $      700  $      504
Depreciation -- Non-U.S.........................................................       1,964       4,253
Accrued Liabilities.............................................................       1,899       2,109
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards (1)............................................      62,468      50,451
Other...........................................................................         197         493
                                                                                  ----------  ----------
    Total Deferred Tax Assets...................................................      67,228      57,810
                                                                                  ----------  ----------
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES
Depreciation -- U.S.............................................................     (12,326)     (6,846)
Unrealized Holding Gains........................................................      --          (3,602)
Other...........................................................................        (121)       (123)
                                                                                  ----------  ----------
    Total Deferred Tax Liabilities..............................................     (12,447)    (10,571)
                                                                                  ----------  ----------
Valuation Allowance (1).........................................................     (54,781)    (45,083)
                                                                                  ----------  ----------
    Total Deferred Taxes........................................................  $   --      $    2,156
                                                                                  ----------  ----------
                                                                                  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The  categorization of these deferred tax  assets and liabilities as current
and non-current is presented in the Combined Statement of Financial Position.
 
                                      F-33
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 9 -- PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    An analysis  of the  U.S. federal  provision  to the  book provision  is  as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                         MARCH 31
                                                                  ----------------------
                                                                     1995        1996
                                                                  -----------  ---------
                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                               <C>          <C>
Income Before Income Taxes and Minority Interest................   $   1,688   $  19,818
                                                                  -----------  ---------
Tax at 35% Statutory U.S. Federal Tax Rate......................   $     591   $   6,936
Higher Effective Tax Rate on Non-U.S. Operations................         399       2,246
Tax Exemption (2)...............................................      (1,507)     (1,821)
Changes in Valuation Allowance (1)..............................         615      (6,045)
State Taxes, Net of Federal.....................................        (131)        458
Other -- Net....................................................          33         125
                                                                  -----------  ---------
Provision for Income Taxes......................................   $  --       $   1,899
                                                                  -----------  ---------
                                                                  -----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Net  operating  loss  carryforwards have  been  utilized by  DuPont,  as the
    Business was included in  consolidated tax returns of  the DuPont entity  of
    which it was a part. It is assumed that the net operating loss carryforwards
    are  available  solely for  determining  taxes under  the  separate taxpayer
    approach in SFAS 109 (See Note 2). Such amounts will not be available to the
    Business, and upon  consummation of the  Offering described in  Note 1,  the
    Business  will  record net  deferred tax  liabilities. Changes  in Valuation
    Allowance exclude the effects of currency remeasurement.
 
(2) The Business's operations in Korea  operated under a government granted  tax
    exemption throughout the periods covered by the financial statements.
 
NOTE 10 -- INVENTORIES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      JUNE 30     MARCH 31
                                                                                       1995         1996
                                                                                    -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                                 <C>          <C>
Raw Materials, Stores and Supplies................................................   $   4,598    $   5,918
Semi-Finished Product.............................................................         380          600
Finished Product..................................................................       1,852        1,640
                                                                                    -----------  -----------
                                                                                     $   6,830    $   8,158
                                                                                    -----------  -----------
                                                                                    -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 11 -- PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  JUNE 30     MARCH 31
                                                                                   1995         1996
                                                                                -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                             <C>          <C>
Construction In Progress......................................................  $    23,644  $     9,121
Land..........................................................................        5,341        5,526
Buildings.....................................................................       37,099       37,099
Equipment.....................................................................      185,110      219,171
                                                                                -----------  -----------
    Total.....................................................................      251,194      270,917
Less: Accumulated Depreciation................................................     (138,070)    (156,686)
                                                                                -----------  -----------
Net Property, Plant and Equipment.............................................  $   113,124  $   114,231
                                                                                -----------  -----------
                                                                                -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-34
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 12 -- ACQUISITIONS
    On  February 1,  1993, the Business  purchased from an  affiliate of Philips
Electronics N.V.  ("Philips")  selected  photomask  manufacturing  equipment  at
Philips'  captive photomask  manufacturing facility located  in Hamburg, Germany
and entered  into  a  five-year supply  agreement  with  Philips  Semiconductors
International B.V. Consideration for the equipment was $9,292, and consideration
for  the supply agreement was  $1,808. Under the terms  of the supply agreement,
Philips agreed to  purchase certain  minimum quantities of  photomasks from  the
Business  each year during the  term of the agreement or  to refund a portion of
the purchase price if such minimum  quantities of photomasks were not  purchased
during  a given year. The supply agreement  also calls for the Business to grant
price discounts to Philips in the event that purchases by Philips during a given
year exceed specified limits. Through March 31, 1996, the Business had  received
$810  from Philips  due to  its failure  to purchase  specified minimum amounts.
These payments were applied to reduce the carrying amount assigned to the supply
agreement at the date of acquisition.
 
    On April 7,  1995, the Business  purchased from an  affiliate of AT&T  Corp.
("AT&T")  selected photomask manufacturing equipment at AT&T's captive photomask
manufacturing facility located  in Allentown,  Pennsylvania and  entered into  a
five-year  supply agreement  with Lucent  Technologies Inc.  ("Lucent," formerly
AT&T). Consideration for the  equipment was $10,000,  and consideration for  the
supply  agreement was $5,000. Of these amounts, $10,868 has been paid, and as of
March 31, 1996, $1,500 was included in Other Accrued Liabilities, and $2,632 was
included in Other Liabilities. Under the  terms of the supply agreement,  Lucent
agreed  to purchase certain  minimum quantities of  photomasks from the Business
each year  during the  term of  the  agreement or  to refund  a portion  of  the
purchase  price if  such minimum  quantities were  not purchased  during a given
year. The supply agreement also calls for the Business to grant price  discounts
to  Lucent in  the event  that purchases  by Lucent  during a  given year exceed
specified limits.
 
NOTE 13 -- OTHER ACCRUED LIABILITIES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      JUNE 30    MARCH 31
                                                                                       1995        1996
                                                                                     ---------  -----------
<S>                                                                                  <C>        <C>
Accrued Vacation Pay...............................................................  $   2,827   $   3,357
Other Accrued Compensation and Benefits............................................      2,417       4,210
Lucent Supply Agreement............................................................      1,500       1,500
Deferred Revenue...................................................................        838       1,851
Accrued Royalties..................................................................        420          81
Other..............................................................................      1,121       1,499
                                                                                     ---------  -----------
    Total..........................................................................  $   9,123   $  12,498
                                                                                     ---------  -----------
                                                                                     ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-35
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 14 -- LEASES
    Minimum Lease Payments at March 31, 1996 for Fiscal Years Ending June 30:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      CAPITAL    OPERATING
                                                                                      LEASES      LEASES
                                                                                     ---------  -----------
<S>                                                                                  <C>        <C>
  1996.............................................................................  $   2,639   $     118
  1997.............................................................................      1,097         285
  1998.............................................................................        899          61
  1999.............................................................................        809          29
  2000.............................................................................        809           5
  2001.............................................................................        809      --
Remainder..........................................................................      1,989      --
                                                                                     ---------       -----
    Total Minimum Lease Payments...................................................      9,051   $     498
                                                                                                     -----
                                                                                                     -----
Less: Imputed Interest.............................................................       (863)
                                                                                     ---------
Present Value of Net Minimum Lease Payments........................................  $   8,188
                                                                                     ---------
                                                                                     ---------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 15 -- BORROWINGS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      JUNE 30    MARCH 31
                                                                                       1995        1996
                                                                                     ---------  -----------
<S>                                                                                  <C>        <C>
Non-Interest Bearing Notes Payable to Customers Due 1996 - 1997....................  $   2,921   $   1,161
Capital Lease Obligations..........................................................      4,192       8,188
6% U.S. Dollar denominated Bank Borrowings Due 1999 - 2001.........................        112       2,500
15% RMB denominated Bank Borrowings Due 1996 - 2001................................     --           1,829
                                                                                     ---------  -----------
    Total Borrowings...............................................................      7,225      13,678
      Less: Current Portion........................................................     (2,960)     (4,691)
                                                                                     ---------  -----------
    Long Term Borrowings...........................................................  $   4,265   $   8,987
                                                                                     ---------  -----------
                                                                                     ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-36
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 16 -- GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
    The Business operates within a single industry segment:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          NINE MONTHS ENDED                             UNITED                 ASIA
                              MARCH 31                                  STATES     EUROPE     PACIFIC    COMBINED
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
<S>                                                                    <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
1995
(UNAUDITED)
Sales to Unaffiliated Customers (1)..................................  $  61,754  $  30,283  $  20,532  $  112,569
Sales to Related Parties.............................................      3,738     --            363       4,101
Transfers Between Geographic Areas (2)...............................      7,198      3,237         95      --
                                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
    Total............................................................  $  72,690  $  33,520  $  20,990  $  116,670
                                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Net Income (Loss)....................................................  $  (4,464) $   2,128  $   4,015  $    1,710
Identifiable Assets at March 31......................................  $  75,250  $  35,461  $  50,517  $  161,228
 
1996
Sales to Unaffiliated Customers (1)..................................  $  84,217  $  37,457  $  23,797  $  145,471
Sales to Related Parties.............................................      4,575     --          2,146       6,721
Transfers Between Geographic Areas (2)...............................      9,884      1,714         68      --
                                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
    Total............................................................  $  98,676  $  39,171  $  26,011  $  152,192
                                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Net Income (3).......................................................  $  13,155  $   4,206  $     905  $   18,402
Identifiable Assets at March 31......................................  $  97,065  $  28,129  $  65,153  $  190,347
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Sales outside the  United States  of products manufactured  in and  exported
    from  the United States totaled $2,337 and  $3,016 for the nine months ended
    March 31, 1995 (unaudited) and 1996, respectively.
 
(2) Products are transferred  between geographic  areas on a  basis intended  to
    approximate the "market value" of such products.
 
(3) For  the nine months ended March 31,  1995 and 1996, Asia Pacific operations
    include pre-production costs for the  Business's joint venture in China;  no
    commercial  operations were conducted in  China during these periods. During
    the  nine  months  ended  March  31,  1996,  the  Business's  United  States
    operations  charged the  China Joint Venture  a $2,520 royalty  fee which is
    included in  net income  for that  period  for the  United States  and  Asia
    Pacific regions.
 
NOTE 17 -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
    The  Business has various  purchase commitments for  materials, supplies and
items of permanent investment incident to  the ordinary conduct of business.  In
the aggregate, such commitments are not at prices in excess of current market.
 
    Under  the terms  of certain equipment  purchase contracts,  the Business is
required to make  periodic, non-refundable  deposits during  the period  between
order  placement  and  final  delivery. Cancellation  of  such  orders  prior to
delivery results in forfeiture of the deposit. Such deposits totaled $1,070, and
$4,275 at June 30, 1995 and March  31, 1996, respectively, and were included  in
Property,  Plant and Equipment  under the caption,  Construction in Progress. At
March 31,  1996, the  Business had  entered into  contractual arrangements  with
certain parties that provide for partial reimbursement of the loss that would be
incurred  by the Business in the  event the Business cancels specified equipment
purchase  orders.  The   aggregate  purchase  price   for  equipment  to   which
cancellation penalties apply was $29,700 at March 31, 1996.
 
                                      F-37
<PAGE>
                           DUPONT PHOTOMASKS BUSINESS
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                        (CURRENCY AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
NOTE 17 -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)
    The  Business is subject to various lawsuits and claims with respect to such
matters as  product  liabilities,  governmental regulations  and  other  actions
arising  in the  normal course  of business.  In the  opinion of  the Business's
General Counsel,  the  ultimate liabilities  resulting  from such  lawsuits  and
claims  will  not  have a  material  adverse  effect on  the  combined financial
position or results of operations, cash flows or liquidity of the Business.
 
NOTE 18 -- SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
    REALIGNMENT  On May 7, 1996, DPI  agreed to sell its 31% equity interest  in
DuPont  Korea, Ltd.  for approximately $26,600.  Proceeds from the  sale will be
used by DPI to repay  Master Note borrowings. Also in  May 1996, DPI issued  one
million shares of its common stock to DCEO for a nominal amount.
 
    CREDIT  FACILITY  The Company and DCEO  have entered into a credit agreement
effective as of January 1, 1996 (the "Credit Agreement"), pursuant to which DCEO
has  agreed  to  provide  a  revolving/working  capital  facility  (the  "Credit
Facility")  to the Company in  an aggregate amount of  up to $30,000. The Credit
Facility has a term of 24 months, and any loans thereunder will bear interest at
the six-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 50 basis points,  which
shall  be  adjusted  every  six  months. The  amounts  loaned  under  the Credit
Agreement are  secured  by  all  the  Company's  (i)  equipment,  (ii)  accounts
receivable,  (iii) instruments, documents and securities owned by DPI and in the
possession of DCEO and (iv) the  proceeds of the foregoing. The Credit  Facility
will  provide financing for general capital  spending and corporate purposes and
ongoing  working   capital  needs.   The  Credit   Agreement  contains   various
representations,  covenants and  events of default  typical for  financings of a
similar size  and nature.  In  addition to  restrictive covenants  limiting  the
ability  of the Company and its subsidiaries to enter into leases and pledge its
assets, the  Credit  Agreement  contains the  following  restrictive  covenants.
Without  DCEO's prior  written consent,  DPI will  not incur,  create, assume or
permit to  exist  any indebtedness,  including  guarantees on  indebtedness  (in
addition to the indebtedness under the Credit Facility), in excess of $30,000 in
the  aggregate. In addition, without DCEO's prior written consent, which may not
be unreasonably withheld,  DPI will not  (a) change its  capital structure,  (b)
merge  or consolidate with any corporation, (c)  amend or change its articles of
incorporation or bylaws or (d) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any
substantial part of its assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired,  except
for sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business.
 
                                      F-38
<PAGE>




                    [Map of Company's worldwide operations]





<PAGE>
                         [BLANK BACK PROSPECTUS COVER]
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
    The following table sets forth the expenses to be incurred by the Registrant
in  connection  with  the  issuance and  distribution  of  the  securities being
registered.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee.......................  $  25,380
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Filing Fee...............      6,940
Printing and Mailing Expenses.............................................    100,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses..............................................    350,000
Legal Fees and Expenses...................................................    150,000
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses................................................      7,500
Registrar and Transfer Agent Fees.........................................      2,500
Miscellaneous Expenses....................................................     17,680
                                                                            ---------
    Total.................................................................  $ 660,000
                                                                            ---------
                                                                            ---------
</TABLE>
 
    All of  the above  fees and  expenses, except  the Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  registration fee and the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. filing fee, represent estimates only.
 
ITEM 14.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
    Section 145 of  the General Corporation  Law of the  State of Delaware  (the
"DGCL")  provides that  a corporation  may indemnify  any person,  including any
officer or  director,  who  is, or  is  threatened  to be  made,  party  to  any
threatened,  pending  or completed  legal  action, suit  or  proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or  in
the  right of such corporation),  by reason of the fact  that such person was an
officer, director, employee or agent of  such corporation, or is or was  serving
at  the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation. The  indemnity may include  expenses (including  attorneys'
fees),  judgments, fines and amounts paid  in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such  person in  connection with  such action,  suit or  proceeding,
provided  such officer, director, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation's  best
interests and, for criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe that
his  conduct was  unlawful. A  Delaware corporation  may indemnify  officers and
directors in an  action by or  in the right  of the corporation  under the  same
conditions,  except  that  no  indemnification  is  permitted  without  judicial
approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation.
Where an officer or  director is successful  on the merits  or otherwise in  the
defense  of any  action referred  to above,  the corporation  must indemnify him
against the  expenses which  such officer  or director  actually and  reasonably
incurred.
 
    The Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant provides that no director
of  the Registrant will be personally liable  to the Company or its stockholders
for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary  duty as a director, except to  the
extent  such exemption  from liability  or limitation  thereof is  not permitted
under the DGCL as currently in effect  or as the same may hereafter be  amended.
Pursuant  to Section 102(b)(7) of the  DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation of
the Registrant  eliminates such  liability, except  for liabilities  related  to
breach  of  duty  of  loyalty,  actions not  in  good  faith  and  certain other
liabilities.
 
    The Registrant  intends to  purchase a  directors' and  officers'  liability
insurance  policy. The Bylaws  of the Registrant  provide for indemnification of
the officers and directors of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the
applicable law.  In addition,  the Company  will enter  into an  indemnification
agreement with each of its directors, pursuant to which they will be entitled to
advances  for the costs  of defending actions  against them in  addition to that
provided by the indemnification provisions  in the Certificate of  Incorporation
or the Company's officers' and directors' insurance policy.
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
    The  form of  Underwriting Agreement attached  hereto as  Exhibit 1.1, which
provides for, among other things, the  Registrant's sale to the Underwriters  of
the  securities  being  registered  herein, will  obligate  the  Underwriters to
indemnify the Registrant and Registrant's officers and directors against certain
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
ITEM 15.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
 
    No securities of the Registrant were sold by the Registrant during the  past
three years.
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
    (a) Exhibits
 
   
   1.1  Form of Underwriting Agreement among the Company, E.I. du Pont de
         Nemours and Company and the Underwriters.**
   1.2  Form of Letter Agreement between the Company and Merrill Lynch,
         Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.*
   3.1  Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended and restated
         on April 3, 1996.**
   3.2  Bylaws of the Company, as amended on December 31, 1995.**
   4.1  Specimen Certificate for Common Stock.**
   5    Opinion of Van H. Leichliter, Esq. as to the validity of the shares of
         Common Stock of the Company being registered.*
  10.1  Transitional Administrative Services Agreement between the Company and
         E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company dated as of January 1, 1996.**
  10.2  Environmental Indemnification Agreement effective as of the date the
         offering of the securities being registered hereunder is consummated
         (the "IPO Date") between the Company and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and
         Company.**
  10.3  Company's Bonus Plan, as adopted by the Company's Board of Directors
         on March 26, 1996.**
  10.4  Company's Non-employee Directors Stock Option Plan, as adopted by the
         Company's Board of Directors on March 26, 1996.**
  10.5  Company's Stock Performance Plan, as adopted by the Company's Board of
         Directors on March 26, 1996.**
  10.6  Company's Founders Stock Option Plan, as adopted by the Company's
         Board of Directors on March 26, 1996.**
  10.7  Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and DuPont Chemical
         and Energy Operations, Inc. dated as of December 31, 1995.**
  10.8  Tax Indemnification Agreement effective as of the IPO Date among the
         Company, DuPont Chemical and Energy Operations, Inc. and E.I. du Pont
         de Nemours and Company.**
  10.9  Credit Agreement between the Company and DuPont Chemical and Energy
         Operations, Inc. dated as of January 1, 1996.**
  10.10 Letter Agreement between J.M. Hardinger and E.I. du Pont de Nemours
         and Company dated as of September 21, 1995.**
  10.11 Research, Development and Consulting Agreement between the Company and
         E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company dated as of January 1, 1996.**
  10.12 Business Transfer Agreement between DuPont Korea Ltd. and DuPont
         Photomasks Korea Ltd. dated as of December 22, 1995.**
  10.13 Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and its
         Directors and Officers.**
  10.14 Corporate Tradename and Trademark Agreement between the Company and
         E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company dated May 16, 1996.**
  21    List of principal subsidiaries of the Company.**
  23.1  Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.*
  23.2  Consent of Van H. Leichliter, Esq. (included in the opinion filed
         herewith as Exhibit 5).
  24    Power of Attorney.**
 
    
- ------------------------
 *Filed Herewith
**Previously Filed
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
    (b)Financial Statements
 
       (1)Financial Statements
 
          Financial Statements filed as part of this Registration
          Statement are listed in the Index to Combined Financial
           Statements on page F-1.
 
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS
 
    (a)The  Registrant hereby undertakes  to provide to  the underwriters at the
       closing specified  in the  Underwriting  Agreement certificates  in  such
denominations  and registered in  such names as required  by the underwriters to
permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
    (b)Insofar as indemnification for  liabilities arising under the  Securities
       Act  of  1933 may  be permitted  to  directors, officers  and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 14  or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is  against  public  policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
for indemnification  against such  liabilities (other  than the  payment by  the
Registrant  of expenses incurred  or paid by a  director, officer or controlling
person  of  the  Registrant  in  the  successful  defense  of  action,  suit  or
proceeding)  is  asserted by  such director,  officer  or controlling  person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless  in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to  a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and  will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
    (c)The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
       (1) for  the purposes of  determining any liability  under the Securities
           Act of  1933, the  information omitted  from the  form of  prospectus
    filed  as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and
    contained in a form of prospectus  filed by the Registrant pursuant to  Rule
    424(b)(1)  or (4) or 497(h)  under the Securities Act  shall be deemed to be
    part of  this  registration  statement  as  of  the  time  it  was  declared
    effective.
 
       (2) for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act
           of  1933,  each  post-effective  amendment that  contains  a  form of
    prospectus shall be deemed  to be a new  registration statement relating  to
    the  securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
    time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
    Pursuant  to the requirements of the  Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
has duly caused this amendment no. 2 to the registration statement to be  signed
on  its behalf  by the  undersigned, thereunto duly  authorized, in  the City of
Round Rock, State of Texas, on June 10, 1996.
    
 
                                          DUPONT PHOTOMASKS, INC.
 
                                          By       /s/ J. MICHAEL HARDINGER
 
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                    J. Michael Hardinger
                                                 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND
                                                  CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
 
                                          By          /s/ DAVID S. GINO
 
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                       David S. Gino
                                                EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND
                                                  CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
 
   
    Pursuant to the requirements of the  Securities Act of 1933, this  amendment
no.  2 to  the registration  statement has  been signed  below by  the following
persons in the capacities and on the date(s) indicated.
    
 
   
          SIGNATURE                       TITLE                   DATE
- ------------------------------  -------------------------  ------------------
 
                                Chairman of the Board and
              *                  Chief Executive Officer
- ------------------------------   and Director (Principal     June 10, 1996
     J. Michael Hardinger        executive officer)
 
                                Executive Vice President
                                 -- Finance and Chief
      /s/ DAVID S. GINO          Financial Officer
- ------------------------------   (Principal financial        June 10, 1996
        David S. Gino            officer and accounting
                                 officer)
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                     June 10, 1996
        John L. Doyle
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                     June 10, 1996
       John C. Hodgson
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                     June 10, 1996
   Charles O. Holliday, Jr.
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                     June 10, 1996
        Peter G. Kehoe
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                     June 10, 1996
      Gary W. Pankonien
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                     June 10, 1996
       John C. Sargent
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                     June 10, 1996
      Marshall C. Turner
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                     June 10, 1996
     Susan A. Vladuchick
 
*By /s/ DAVID S. GINO
    --------------------------
    David S. Gino
    Attorney-in-fact pursuant
    to a power of attorney
    filed herewith as part of
    this Registration
    Statement
 
    
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
   
EXHIBIT                                                                  PAGE
NUMBER                                                                  NUMBER
- ------                                                                  ------
  1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement among the Company, E.I. du Pont
         de Nemours and Company and the Underwriters**................
  1.2   Form of Letter Agreement between the Company and Merrill
         Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated*..................
  3.1   Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended and
         restated on April 3, 1996**..................................
  3.2   Bylaws of the Company, as amended on December 31, 1995**......
  4.1   Specimen Certificate for Common Stock**.......................
  5     Opinion of Van H. Leichliter, Esq. as to the validity of the
         shares of Common Stock of the Company being registered*......
 10.1   Transitional Administrative Services Agreement between the
         Company and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company dated as of
         January 1, 1996**............................................
 10.2   Environmental Indemnification Agreement effective as of the
         date the offering of the securities being registered
         hereunder is consummated (the "IPO Date") between the Company
         and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company**....................
 10.3   Company's Bonus Plan, as adopted by the Company's Board of
         Directors on March 26, 1996**................................
 10.4   Company's Non-employee Directors Stock Option Plan, as adopted
         by the Company's Board of Directors on March 26, 1996**......
 10.5   Company's Stock Performance Plan, as adopted by the Company's
         Board of Directors on March 26, 1996**.......................
 10.6   Company's Founders Stock Option Plan, as adopted by the
         Company's Board of Directors on March 26, 1996**.............
 10.7   Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and DuPont
         Chemical and Energy Operations, Inc. dated as of December 31,
         1995**.......................................................
 10.8   Tax Indemnification Agreement effective as of the IPO Date
         among the Company, DuPont Chemical and Energy Operations,
         Inc. and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company**...............
 10.9   Credit Agreement between the Company and DuPont Chemical and
         Energy Operations, Inc. dated as of January 1, 1996**........
 10.10  Letter Agreement between J. M. Hardinger and E.I. du Pont de
         Nemours and Company dated as of September 21, 1995**.........
 10.11  Research, Development and Consulting Agreement between the
         Company and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company dated as of
         January 1, 1996**............................................
 10.12  Business Transfer Agreement between DuPont Korea Ltd. and
         DuPont Photomask Korea Ltd. dated December 22, 1995**........
 10.13  Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and its
         Directors and Officers**.....................................
 10.14  Corporate Tradename and Trademark Agreement between the
         Company and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company dated May 16,
         1996.**......................................................
 21     List of principal subsidiaries of the Company**...............
 23.1   Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP*..............................
 23.2   Consent of Van H. Leichliter, Esq. (included in the opinion
         filed herewith as Exhibit 5).................................
 24     Power of Attorney**...........................................
 
    
- ------------------------
 *Filed Herewith
**Previously Filed

<PAGE>
   
                                                                       EXHIBIT 5
    
 
   
DUPONT PHOTOMASKS, INC.
100 TEXAS AVENUE
ROUND ROCK, TEXAS 78664
    
   
                                                                   June 10, 1996
    
 
   
             RE:  DuPont Photomasks, Inc.
                  Registration Statement on Form S-1
    
   
Dear Sirs:
    
 
   
    I  have acted as counsel for DuPont Photomasks, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration
Statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Act"),
with respect to the proposed offering of up to 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock,
par  value of $.01 per share (the  "Common Stock"), and 600,000 shares of Common
Stock  that  are  the  subject  of  an  over-allotment  option  granted  to  the
Underwriters.
    
 
   
    I  have examined originals  or copies, certified  or otherwise identified to
our satisfaction,  of  the  Certificate  of Incorporation  and  By-Laws  of  the
Company,  each as  amended, and  the proposed  underwriting agreement  among the
Company, and the representatives of the  several Underwriters in the form  filed
as  Exhibit 1 to  the Registration Statement  (the "Underwriting Agreement") and
such other documents,  corporate records, certificates  of public officials  and
instruments  as I have considered necessary or advisable for the purpose of this
opinion. I have  assumed the authenticity  of all documents  submitted to me  as
originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to
me   as  copies.  I  have  not   independently  verified  such  information  and
assumptions.
    
 
   
    Subject to the foregoing, and based on such examination and review, I am  of
the opinion that:
    
 
   
        1.  The Company is a corporation organized and existing in good standing
    under the laws of the State of Delaware.
    
 
   
        2.   The 4,000,000 shares of Common  Stock proposed to be offered by the
    Company, when issued and delivered upon payment therefor in accordance  with
    the  terms  and  conditions  of the  Underwriting  Agreement,  will  be duly
    authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
    
 
   
    I hereby  consent  to the  filing  of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to  the
Registration  Statement and all amendments thereto (including any post effective
amendments) and  any  subsequent registration  statement  filed by  the  Company
pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Act, which relates to the Registration Statement.
I  also consent to  the reference to  me (i) contained  under the heading "Legal
Matters" in  the Prospectus  and (ii)  in the  Notes to  the Combined  Financial
Statements  with  regard  to my  opinion  with respect  to  ultimate liabilities
resulting from  lawsuits  and  claims,  which forms  part  of  the  Registration
Statement.
    
 
   
                                          Very truly yours,
    
 
   
                                          /s/ VAN H. LEICHLITER
                                          --------------------------------------
    
   
                                          Van H. Leichliter
                                          EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND
                                          GENERAL COUNSEL
    

<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
    We  hereby consent to  the use in  the Prospectus constituting  part of this
Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement  on Form S-1 of our reports  dated
April 4, 1996 and May 10, 1996, relating to the combined financial statements of
DuPont  Photomasks Business, a division of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company,
which appear in such Prospectus. We also  consent to the references to us  under
the   headings  "Experts"  and  "Selected   Combined  Financial  Data"  in  such
Prospectus. However,  it should  be  noted that  Price  Waterhouse LLP  has  not
prepared or certified such "Selected Combined Financial Data."
    
 
   
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 10, 1996
    


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission