DUPONT PHOTOMASKS INC
EXHIBIT 10.23
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<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 10.23
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<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>EXHIBIT 10.23    <BR>    </B></FONT></P>

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<A NAME="toc_km1519_2"> </A></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2><B>First Amendment to Employment Agreement between James Northup and<BR>  DuPont Photomasks,&nbsp;Inc., effective as of October&nbsp;8, 2003    <BR>    </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This First Amendment to Employment Agreement (this "Amendment") is between James Northup, an individual ("Executive") and DuPont Photomasks,&nbsp;Inc. ("DPI")
and is effective October&nbsp;8, 2003. </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>BACKGROUND  </B></FONT></P>

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<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>A.</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Executive
and DPI are parties to an Employment Agreement dated December&nbsp;27, 2001 (the "Agreement").
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>B.</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Executive
and DPI desire to amend certain of the terms of the Agreement in order to reflect the change in Executive's duties and title from Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales
to Chief Operating Officer, which changes were effective October&nbsp;8, 2003. </FONT></DD></DL>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B><I>AMENDMENT  </I></B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Executive and DPI agree
as follows: </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Definitions.</I></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined in this Amendment shall have
the meanings set forth in the Agreement. </FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Term.</I></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The first sentence of Section&nbsp;1.1 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its
entirety as follows: </FONT></P>

<UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>Executive
shall serve as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and shall report solely to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (CEO). </FONT></P>

</UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Incentive Compensation.</I></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The first sentence of Section&nbsp;1.4.2 of the Agreement is hereby amended and
restated to read in its entirety as follows: </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Pursuant
to the Company's standard bonus plan, Executive will be entitled to an annual target bonus opportunity of sixty percent (60%) of Base Salary (the "Incentive Compensation"). </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Annual Stock Option Grant.</I></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The second sentence of Section&nbsp;1.5.2 of the Agreement is hereby amended and
restated to read in its entirety as follows: </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2>The
target grant for Executive shall be an option to purchase thirty-five thousand shares (35,000) of Common Stock, granted in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the actual number of shares in the
grant to be determined by the CEO and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. </FONT></P>

</UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5.</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Miscellaneous.</I></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The provisions of this Amendment supersede all provisions of the Agreement which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Amendment. The Agreement, as modified by this Amendment, constitutes the entire agreement of Executive and DPI with respect to the subject matter of the
Agreement, and supersedes any prior agreements or understandings of Executive and DPI with respect thereto. This Amendment may be executed in several counterparts, all of which taken together shall
constitute a single agreement between the Parties. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In
witness whereof, the Parties have caused this Amendment to be executed by their duly authorized representatives, who by their signatures represent that they are so authorized, to be
effective as of the date written in the first paragraph above. </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="49%"><FONT SIZE=2>DUPONT PHOTOMASKS,&nbsp;INC.</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="49%"><FONT SIZE=2>JAMES NORTHUP</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="49%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/ Marshall C. Turner, </FONT><FONT SIZE=2><I>Chief Executive Officer</I></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="49%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/ James Northup, </FONT><FONT SIZE=2><I>Chief Operating Officer</I></FONT></TD>
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Date: November&nbsp;10, 2003</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="49%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Date: November&nbsp;7, 2003</FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>122</FONT></P>

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<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_km1519_1">EXHIBIT 10.23</A></FONT><BR>
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<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_km1519_2">First Amendment to Employment Agreement between James Northup and DuPont Photomasks, Inc., effective as of October 8, 2003</A></FONT><BR>

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