MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC
10-Q, 1996-11-13
SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES
Previous: EDISON INTERNATIONAL, 10-Q, 1996-11-13
Next: ZEVEX INTERNATIONAL INC, 10-Q, 1996-11-13



================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended SEPTEMBER 30, 1996.

                                       OR

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

For the transition period from                        to               .
                              ------------------------  ---------------

                         Commission File Number:       0-21184
                                                  ---------------

                        MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED

             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                 Delaware                            86-0629024
      (State or Other Jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer
      Incorporation or Organization)             Identification No.)

                 2355 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, AZ 85224-6199
                                 (602) 786-7200
               (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
                      Including Area Code, of Registrant's
                          Principal Executive Offices)

The registrant  (1) has filed all reports  required to be filed by Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or
for such shorter  period that the registrant was required to file such reports),
and (2) has been subject to the filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes   X       No
     ---          ---

The number of shares outstanding of the issuer's common stock, as of October 31,
1996:

           Common Stock, $.001 Par Value:    34,030,772     shares
                                         ------------------

================================================================================
<PAGE>
               MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                      INDEX



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   Page
                                                                                   ----
<S>                                                                                <C>
PART I   FINANCIAL INFORMATION

         Item 1.  Financial Statements

              Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets -
                  September 30, 1996 and March 31, 1996...........................  3

              Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income -
                  Three Months and Six Months Ended
                  September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995.......................  4

              Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
                  Six Months Ended September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995......  5

              Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements................  6

         Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                  Financial Condition and Results of Operations................... 10


PART II  OTHER INFORMATION

         Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security-Holders............. 15

         Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K................................ 16


SIGNATURES    .................................................................... 17

EXHIBITS

         10.1     Credit Agreement Dated as of October 31, 1996
                  Among Microchip Technology Incorporated, the
                  Banks Named Therein, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,
                  as Administrative Agent and NBD Bank, as Co-Agent............... *

         11       Computation of Net Income Per Share............................. *
</TABLE>
                                       2
<PAGE>
               MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                      (in thousands except share amounts)


                                     ASSETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     September 30,  March 31,
                                                                         1996         1996
                                                                       ---------    ---------
                                                                      (Unaudited)
<S>                                                                    <C>          <C>      
Cash and cash equivalents                                              $  19,522    $  31,059
Accounts receivable, net  (note 4)                                        48,506       47,208
Inventories  (note 5)                                                     59,079       56,127
Prepaid expenses                                                           1,798        1,808
Deferred tax asset                                                        19,360       19,121
Other current assets                                                         951        1,108
                                                                       ---------    ---------
   Total current assets                                                  149,216      156,431

Property, plant & equipment, net  (note 6)                               221,803      197,383
Other assets                                                               5,283        4,373
                                                                       ---------    ---------

   Total assets                                                        $ 376,302    $ 358,187
                                                                       =========    =========


                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY


Lines of credit  (note 7)                                              $   9,425    $    --
Accounts payable                                                          42,360       47,165
Current maturities of long-term debt                                       2,568        2,734
Current maturities of capital  lease obligations                           3,218        2,943
Accrued liabilities                                                       35,730       28,207
Deferred income on shipments to distributors                              13,063       19,527
                                                                       ---------    ---------
   Total current liabilities                                             106,364      100,576

Long-term line of credit (note 7)                                         28,275       21,000
Long-term debt, less current maturities                                    4,840        6,086
Capital lease obligations, less current maturities                         4,404        6,164
Long-term pension accrual                                                    867          690
Deferred tax liability                                                     5,898        4,039


Stockholders'  equity: (note 8)

Preferred stock, $.001 par value; authorized 5,000,000 shares;
  no shares issued or outstanding                                           --           --
Common stock, $.001 par value; authorized 65,000,000 shares;
  issued  34,876,469 shares at September 30, 1996;                            35           35
  34,387,448 shares at March 31, 1996 
Additional paid-in capital                                               120,606      120,737
Retained  earnings                                                       118,505       98,693
Less shares of common stock held in treasury; 626,971 shares at cost     (13,659)        --
Foreign currency translation adjustment                                      167          167
                                                                       ---------    ---------
   Net stockholders' equity                                              225,654      219,632

   Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                          $ 376,302    $ 358,187
                                                                       =========    =========
</TABLE>

          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                        3
<PAGE>
               MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                    (in thousands except per share amounts)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              Three Months Ended            Six Months Ended
                                                 September 30,                September 30,
                                           ------------------------      ------------------------
                                                 (Unaudited)                   (Unaudited)
                                             1996           1995           1996           1995
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
<S>                                        <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>      
Net sales                                  $  79,510      $  71,265      $ 153,671      $ 135,764
Cost of sales                                 39,722         34,307         77,247         65,311
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
   Gross profit                               39,788         36,958         76,424         70,453


Operating expenses:
   Research and development                    7,651          6,741         14,571         13,026
   Selling, general and administrative        13,620         12,223         26,247         23,272
   Restructuring cost                           --             --            5,969           --
   Write-off of in-process technology           --             --            1,575           --
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
                                              21,271         18,964         48,362         36,298

Operating income                              18,517         17,994         28,062         34,155

Other income (expense):
   Interest income                               330            531            744          1,022
   Interest expense                           (1,001)          (574)        (1,760)        (1,175)
   Other, net                                    134           (173)            95           (137)
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------

Income  before income  taxes                  17,980         17,778         27,141         33,865

Income taxes                                   4,854          5,013          7,329          9,597
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------

Net income                                 $  13,126      $  12,765      $  19,812      $  24,268
                                           =========      =========      =========      =========


 Net income per common and
   common equivalent share                 $    0.37      $    0.35      $    0.55      $    0.67
                                           =========      =========      =========      =========


Shares used in per share calculation          35,895         36,654         36,117         36,442
                                           =========      =========      =========      =========
</TABLE>

     See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
                                       4
<PAGE>
               MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                 (in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Six Months Ended September 30,
                                                                    ------------------------------
Cash flows from operating activities:                                  1996                 1995
                                                                     --------             --------
                                                                   (Unaudited)
<S>                                                                  <C>                  <C>     
Net income                                                           $ 19,812             $ 24,268
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash provided by operating
activities:
     Provision for doubtful accounts                                       61                  230
     Provision for inventory valuation                                  3,430                1,207
     Provision for pension accrual                                        622                  530
     Provision for restructuring cost                                   2,483                 --
     Depreciation and amortization                                     19,622               12,849
     Amortization of purchased technology                                 150                 --
     Deferred income taxes                                              1,620                 (647)
     Compensation expense on stock options                                 30                   30
     Increase in accounts receivable                                   (1,358)              (8,528)
     Increase in inventories                                           (6,382)              (7,555)
     Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities               2,718               14,232
     Change in other assets and liabilities                            (7,803)               3,803
                                                                     --------             --------


Net cash provided by operating activities                              35,005               40,419
                                                                     --------             --------


Cash flows from investing activities:
     Capital expenditures                                             (46,525)             (47,263)
     Sales of  marketable securities                                     --                    176
                                                                     --------             --------

Net cash used in investing activities                                 (46,525)             (47,087)
                                                                     --------             --------

Cash flows from financing activities:

     Net proceeds (repayments) from lines of credit                    16,700                 (501)
     Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt                            --                  2,924
     Payments on long-term debt                                        (1,412)              (1,224)
     Payments on capital lease obligations                             (1,485)              (1,670)
     Repurchase of common stock                                       (19,463)                --
     Proceeds from sale of stock and put options                        5,643                4,829
                                                                     --------             --------

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities                       (17)               4,358
                                                                     --------             --------


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                             (11,537)              (2,310)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                       31,059               32,638
                                                                     --------             --------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                           $ 19,522             $ 30,328
                                                                     ========             ========
</TABLE>
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                        5
<PAGE>
               MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1)      Basis of Presentation

         The accompanying  condensed  consolidated  financial statements include
the  accounts  of  Microchip   Technology   Incorporated  and  its  wholly-owned
subsidiaries  (the "Company").  All intercompany  balances and transactions have
been eliminated in consolidation.

         The accompanying  financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  pursuant  to the  rules  and
regulations  of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  In the opinion of the
Company,  the  accompanying  financial  statements  include all adjustments of a
normal  recurring  nature which are  necessary  for a fair  presentation  of the
results for the interim  periods  presented.  Certain  information  and footnote
disclosures  normally  included in financial  statements  have been condensed or
omitted  pursuant  to such rules and  regulations.  It is  suggested  that these
financial  statements be read in  conjunction  with the  consolidated  financial
statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996.  The results of  operations  for the six
months ended September 30, 1996 are not necessarily indicative of the results to
be expected for the full fiscal year.

(2)      ASiC Acquisition

         On June 25, 1996 the Company acquired ASiC Technical Solutions, Inc., a
fabless  provider  of quick turn gate array  devices  (the  "Acquisition").  The
Acquisition was treated as a purchase for accounting  purposes.  The amount paid
for  the  Acquisition  and  related  costs  was  $1,750,000.   As  part  of  the
Acquisition,  Microchip allocated a substantial portion of the purchase price to
in-process  research  and  development  costs,  which  is  consistent  with  the
Company's  on-going  treatment  of research  and  development  costs.  The total
one-time  write-off  associated with the  Acquisition  was $1,575,000,  with the
balance to be treated as  purchased  technology  related to current  product and
amortized  over five  years.  The  impact of the  Acquisition  to the  Company's
reported  financial  data and results of  operations is  immaterial.  Therefore,
pro-forma  information  illustrating  the combined results after the Acquisition
has not been provided.

(3)      Restructuring Charges

         During the  quarter  ended June 30,  1996,  primarily  in  response  to
inventory  correction  activities  at  the  Company's  customers,   the  Company
implemented  a series of  actions to  temporarily  reduce  production  capacity,
curtail the growth of inventories and reduce operating  expenses.  These actions
included delaying capital expansion plans and deferring capital spending,  a 15%
production cutback in wafer fabrication,  a headcount  reduction in early April,
1996 representing  approximately 3% of the Company's worldwide employees,  and a
two-week wafer fab shut down in early July,  1996. As a result of these actions,
the Company  recorded a pre-tax  restructuring  charge of  $5,969,000 in the six
months ended September 30, 1996 to cover costs primarily  related to idling part
of the Company's 5-inch wafer fab capacity,  paying  continuing  expenses during
the wafer fab shutdown and paying  severance  costs  associated  with the April,
1996 headcount reduction.
                                       6
<PAGE>
(4)      Accounts Receivable

         Accounts receivable consists of the following (amounts in thousands):

                                                  September 30,    March 31,
                                                      1996           1996
                                                  --------------------------

         Trade accounts receivable                   $48,781        $47,799
         Other                                         1,620          1,243
                                                     -------        -------
                                                      50,401         49,042
         Less allowance for doubtful accounts          1,895          1,834
                                                     -------        -------
                                                     $48,506        $47,208
                                                     =======        =======

(5)      Inventories

         The Company utilizes the LIFO (last-in,  first-out)  accounting  method
and has  consistently  presented its results of operations on this basis for all
periods presented.

         The components of inventories are as follows (amounts in thousands):

                                                     September 30,   March 31,
                                                         1996          1996
                                                     -------------------------

         Raw materials                                 $ 2,880        $ 2,033
         Work in process                                46,153         43,036
         Finished goods                                 20,594         21,430
                                                       -------        -------
                                                        69,627         66,499

         Less allowance for inventory valuation         10,548         10,372
                                                       -------        -------
                                                       $59,079        $56,127
                                                       =======        =======

(6)      Property, Plant and Equipment

         Property,  plant and equipment  consists of the  following  (amounts in
thousands):

                                                 September 30,     March 31,
                                                     1996            1996
                                                 ---------------------------

         Land                                      $ 10,518        $ 10,518
         Building and building improvements          47,821          36,939
         Machinery and equipment                    195,645         185,580
         Projects in process                         46,968          26,389
                                                   --------        --------
                                                    300,952         259,426

          Less accumulated depreciation
         and amortization                            79,149          62,043
                                                   --------        --------
                                                   $221,803        $197,383
                                                   ========        ========
                                       7
<PAGE>

(7)      Lines of Credit

         Lines of credit consist of the following (amounts in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 September 30,         March 31,
                                                                    1996                 1996
                                                            ---------------------------------------
<S>                                                             <C>                    <C>
         Unsecured line of credit with a syndicate of
         U.S.  banks for up to  $90,000,000,  bearing
         interest  at the  Prime  Rate or the  30-Day
         London  Interbank  Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus
         75   basis    points    (8.25%   and   6.25%
         respectively,   at   September   30,   1996)
         expiring January, 1997.                                $    37,700            $ 21,000

         Unsecured   lines  of  credit  with  various
         Taiwan  financial  institutions  for  up  to
         $14,920,000   (U.S.   dollar    equivalent),
         borrowings predominately  denominated in New
         Taiwan  Dollars,  bearing  interest  at  the
         Taiwan money  market rate or the U.S.  Prime
         Rate  (6.55%  and  8.25%  respectively,   at
         September  30,  1996),  expiring  on various
         dates through October, 1997.                           $    ---               $ ----
                                                                -----------            --------

                                                                $    37,700            $ 21,000
                                                                ===========            ========
</TABLE>
The agreement  between the Company and the syndicate of U.S.  banks requires the
Company to achieve certain financial ratios and operating  results.  The Company
was in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 1996.

         The line of credit with the syndicate of U.S. banks converts borrowings
into a term loan at the expiration date of the line of credit, if the parties do
not  mutually  agree to extend the line for an  additional  period.  The line of
credit is split into two components of $45,000,000  each,  with  amortization of
each  component  being  repaid in eight  quarterly  payments of  principal  plus
interest and twenty quarterly payments of principal plus interest, respectively.
The term  facilities  will bear interest at the prime rate for the period of the
borrowings.

         Subsequent  to  September  30, 1996 the Company  entered into a revised
credit agreement.  The line was maintained at $90,000,000 with substantially the
same interest  rates and covenants,  and two additional  banks were added to the
syndication. The line was completed as a revolving line of credit for a two year
period, maturing on October 31, 1998.

(8)      Stockholders' Equity

         Stock  Repurchase  Activity.  In  connection  with a  stock  repurchase
program, during the six months ended September 30, 1996, the Company purchased a
total of 884,318 shares of the Company's
                                       8
<PAGE>
common stock in open market  activities at a total cost of $19,463,000.  Through
September 30, 1996, the Company had reissued  through stock option exercises and
the Company's  stock  purchase  plan, a total of 257,347 shares of the Company's
common stock held in treasury.

         Also in connection with the stock repurchase  program,  as of September
30,  1996,  the Company  held  unexpired  put options  for 425,000  shares.  The
unexpired put options have expiration dates ranging from October 4, 1996 to July
10, 1997 at prices  ranging from $22.50 to $31.875.  The net proceeds  from sale
and repurchase of put options has been credited to paid-in capital.  For the six
months ended September 30, 1996,  $770,000 was charged to paid-in capital due to
the repurchase of put options.

(9)      Supplemental Cash Flow Information

         Cash paid for income  taxes  amounted  to  $2,052,000  and  $13,032,000
during the six months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 respectively.  Cash paid
for interest  amounted to $1,720,000  and  $1,191,000  for each of the six month
periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1995.
                                       9
<PAGE>
               MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations

         The Company's  net sales for the quarter ended  September 30, 1996 were
$79.5  million,  an  increase  of 11.6%  over  sales of  $71.3  million  for the
corresponding  quarter of the previous fiscal year, and an increase of 7.2% from
the  previous  quarter's  sales of $74.2  million.  Net sales for the six months
ended September 30, 1996 were $153.7 million, an increase of 13.2% over sales of
$135.8  million in the  corresponding  period of the previous  fiscal year.  The
Company  experienced  growth in sales of 8-bit  microcontrollers  and serial and
parallel EEPROM  memories over these periods and a moderate  decline in sales of
its commodity memory and other product  categories.  The improvements in overall
sales mix is primarily due to the Company's  emphasis on higher margin products.
The  Company   does  not  expect  the  sales  mix  of  its  products  to  change
substantially in future periods.

         Growth in sales continued  during the quarter ended September 30, 1996,
and the  Company  believes  that  the  inventory  correction  activities  at the
Company's  customers  are  substantially   complete.  The  foregoing  statements
relating  to sales  mix,  growth  in sales  and  customer  inventory  correction
activities are forward looking  statements  within the meaning of Section 27A of
the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  and  Section  21E of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended,  and are subject to the safe harbors  created
thereby.  Actual  results  could  differ  materially  because  of the  following
factors,  among  others:  general  economic  conditions in the United States and
worldwide  markets  served by the  Company;  customer  inventory  levels,  order
patterns and seasonality; the cyclical nature of both the semiconductor industry
and the markets addressed by the Company's  products;  the level of orders which
are received and can be shipped in a quarter;  the Company's ability to continue
to introduce new products;  market acceptance of the current and new products of
both the Company and its customers;  customer demand for the Company's products;
competition and competitive pressures on pricing; and product availability.

         The Company's family of 8-bit  microcontrollers  represents the largest
component  of  Microchip's  total net  sales.  Microcontrollers  and  associated
application  development systems accounted for 65% and 61% of total net sales in
the  quarters  ending  September  30,  1996 and  1995,  respectively.  A related
component of the Company's  product sales consists of serial and parallel EEPROM
memories.  These products accounted for 31% of net sales in each of the quarters
ended  September 30, 1996 and 1995. The remaining  components of total net sales
were the  Company's  commodity  memory and other  miscellaneous  products  which
accounted  for 4% and 8% of net sales in the quarters  ended  September 30, 1996
and 1995, respectively.  Microcontrollers and associated application development
systems  accounted  for 63% and 59% of total net sales in the six  months  ended
September  30, 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  Serial and parallel  EEPROM memory
products  accounted  for 32%  and  33% of net  sales  in the  six  months  ended
September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The remaining components of total net
sales were the Company's commodity memory and other miscellaneous products which
accounted for 5% and 8% of net sales in the six months ended  September 30, 1996
and 1995, respectively.

         During the past three years,  the  Company's  overall  average  selling
prices for its embedded  control  products  have remained  relatively  constant,
although  the  Company  has  experienced  increased  pricing  pressure,  on  its
non-volatile  memory  products  during  the  quarters  ended  June 30,  1996 and
                                       10
<PAGE>
September  30, 1996,  which  pricing  pressure the Company  expects to continue.
While a decrease in average selling prices could adversely  affect the Company's
operating  results,   the  Company  believes  that  operating  margins  will  be
maintained  at  historical  levels as (i) the Company  transitions  over time to
products with higher average selling prices and (ii) the Company  transitions to
higher yielding manufacturing processes.  There can be no assurance that average
selling  prices or  operating  margins for the  Company's  products  will remain
constant in the future due to  competitive  and other  pressures.  The foregoing
statements regarding product mix, average selling prices,  pricing pressures,  a
transition to higher yielding manufacturing processes,  using smaller geometries
and larger wafers,  and operating margins are forward looking  statements within
the  meaning of Section  27A of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and are subject
to the safe harbors  created  thereby.  Actual  results could differ  materially
because of the following  factors,  among others:  competition  and  competitive
pressures on pricing and product availability;  customer inventory levels, order
patterns and seasonality; the cyclical nature of both the semiconductor industry
and the markets  addressed by the Company's  products;  the level of orders that
are received and can be shipped in a quarter;  market acceptance of the products
of both the  Company  and its  customers;  demand  for the  Company's  products;
fluctuations in production  yields,  production  efficiencies,  overall capacity
utilization,  changes in product mix; and  absorption of fixed costs,  labor and
other fixed manufacturing costs.

         Foreign  sales  represented  63% of net  sales  in the  current  fiscal
quarter,  67% of net sales in the  corresponding  quarter of the previous fiscal
year and 67% of net sales in the previous quarter. Foreign sales represented 65%
and 66% of net  sales  for the six  months  ended  September  30,  1996 and 1995
respectively.  The  Company's  foreign  sales have been  predominantly  in Asia,
Europe and Japan which the Company  attributes to the manufacturing  strength in
those areas for consumer,  automotive,  office  automation,  communications  and
industrial products.  The majority of foreign sales are U.S. dollar denominated.
The Company has entered  into and,  from time to time,  will enter into  hedging
transactions  in order to  minimize  exposure  to  currency  rate  fluctuations.
Although none of the countries in which the Company conducts significant foreign
operations has had a highly  inflationary  economy in the last five years, there
can be no assurance that inflation  rates or  fluctuations  in foreign  currency
rates in countries  where the Company  conducts  operations  will not  adversely
affect the Company's operating results in the future.

         Additional Factors Affecting Operations. The Company generally produces
standard  products that can be shipped from inventory  within a short time after
receipt of an order.  Accordingly,  the Company's net sales in any given quarter
are dependent upon a combination  of shipments from backlog and orders  received
in that quarter for shipment in that quarter ("turns orders").  Current industry
conditions  are  resulting in customers  placing  orders with  relatively  short
delivery  schedules,  limiting  the  Company's  visibility  on net  sales in the
current and future  quarters.  Over the past several  quarters,  the Company has
been adapting its inventory levels in certain categories of inventory so that it
can shorten delivery times which it believes is an important competitive factor.
Because  turns orders are more  difficult to predict,  there can be no assurance
that  the  combination  of turns  orders  and  backlog  in any  quarter  will be
sufficient to achieve growth in net sales.

         The  Company  believes  the  future  growth  of  its  8-bit  family  of
microcontroller  products and related  memory  product sales will depend largely
upon the Company's  success in having its current and new products designed into
high-volume customer  applications.  Design wins typically precede the Company's
volume  shipment of products  for such  applications  by 15 months or more.  The
Company  also  believes  that  shipment  levels of its  proprietary  application
development systems are an indicator of potential future  microcontroller sales.
During the quarter ended  September 30, 1996,  the Company
                                       11
<PAGE>
continued to achieve additional design wins and ship a high level of application
development  systems.  However,  there can be no assurance  that any  particular
development  system  sale  will  result  in a  product  design  win or that  any
particular design win will result in future product sales.

         The  Company's  operating  results are  affected  by a wide  variety of
factors which could adversely  impact its net sales and  profitability,  many of
which are beyond the control of the Company. The factors include,  among others,
the  Company's  ability to design and  introduce new products on a timely basis,
market  acceptance  of current  and new  products  of both the  Company  and its
customers,  customer order patterns and  seasonality,  the amount of any product
returns, industry pricing trends,  availability and utilization of manufacturing
capacity,   the  timing  and  success  of  the  transition  to  higher  yielding
manufacturing   processes  using  smaller  geometries  and  larger  wafers,  the
availability  and cost of raw  materials,  equipment  and  other  supplies,  the
cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry, and economic,  political or other
conditions in the United States, Taiwan, Thailand or worldwide markets.

         Gross  Profit.  The  Company's  gross profit was $39.8  million for the
quarter   ended   September   30,  1996  compared  with  $37.0  million  in  the
corresponding  quarter  of the prior  year and  $36.6  million  in the  previous
quarter.  Gross  profit as a percent of sales was 50.0% in the current  quarter,
51.9% in the  corresponding  quarter of the prior  fiscal  year and 49.4% in the
previous quarter. Gross profit for the six month period ended September 30, 1996
was 76.4 million and 49.7% of net sales  compared to $70.5  million and 51.9% of
net sales in the  corresponding  period of the prior fiscal  year.  Gross profit
increased  sequentially  primarily  as a  result  of  increased  sales  of 8-bit
microcontrollers  and down from prior year levels as a result of reduced  5-inch
wafer  production at one of the Company's  wafer fabs.  The Company  anticipates
that its cost of sales will fluctuate over time, driven primarily by the product
mix of 8-bit  microcontroller  products and related memory and commodity  memory
products,  manufacturing  yields,  wafer fab loading levels and  competitive and
economic  conditions.  The Company  anticipates that its gross profit percentage
will fluctuate over time, driven primarily by product mix,  manufacturing yields
and competitive and economic conditions.  The Company is currently transitioning
certain  products  to higher  yielding  manufacturing  processes  using  smaller
geometries  and larger  wafers  which is  necessary  for the Company to maintain
gross profit margins.  The foregoing  statements  relating to anticipated  gross
margins  and  costs  of  sale  and the  manufacturing  process  forecasting  are
forward-looking  statements  within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby.  Actual results
could  differ  materially  because  of  the  following  factors,  among  others:
fluctuations in production  yields,  production  efficiencies,  overall capacity
utilization; cost and availability of raw materials;  absorption of fixed costs,
labor and other  direct  manufacturing  costs;  the  timing  and  success of the
manufacturing process transition;  changes in product mix; competitive pressures
on  prices;  and  other  economic  conditions  in the  United  States  and other
worldwide markets.

         The Company has  consistently  presented its results of operations  for
all periods on the last-in  first-out  (LIFO)  method and has  assessed  the net
realizable  value of  inventory  based on LIFO  costs.  LIFO has the  effect  of
matching  current  costs of  production  with  sales  generated  during the same
period.  Production costs have generally decreased over time due to improvements
in manufacturing productivity and yields, resulting in lower cost of sales. This
downward trend in production costs has resulted in lower cost of sales on a LIFO
basis than would have been  recognized  had a first-in,  first-out  (FIFO) basis
been  utilized,  decreasing  cost of sales  $779,000  for the six  months  ended
September  30,  1996.  As a result of  changes  in sales and  product  mix which
affected  production  costs,  the  LIFO  inventory  decreased  and cost of sales
increased  by $100,000  for the three  months  ended  September  30, 1996 and by
$250,000 and $500,000  for the three months and six months ended  September  30,
1995, respectively.
                                       12
<PAGE>
         The Company  relies on the assembly and test  capability of third-party
contractors in order to meet rising product shipment requirements. Such reliance
on third-parties  involves some reduction in the Company's level of control over
the  assembly and test portion of its  business.  While the Company  reviews the
availability,  quality,  delivery  and cost  performance  of  these  third-party
contractors,  there  can be no  assurance  that  such  reliance  on  third-party
contractors will not adversely impact results in future reporting periods if any
third-party  contractor  is unable to maintain  availability,  assembly and test
yields and cost at approximately their current level.

         During the second half of fiscal 1997, the Company expects to bring its
wholly-owned Chacheongsao, Thailand test facility (located near Bangkok) on line
for production  volumes.  While the Company believes the long term costs at this
facility will be at or below existing costs for similar activities, there may be
a short  term  impact  to gross  profit  margins  in  fiscal  1997  relating  to
production efficiencies and yields,  operation levels, fixed cost absorption and
operating  cost  levels.  It is  anticipated  that  the  Chacheongsao,  Thailand
facility  will  reach  optimal  loading by the  beginning  of fiscal  1998.  The
foregoing statement is a forward-looking statement within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended,  and is subject to the safe  harbors  created
thereby.  Actual  results  could  differ  materially  because  of the  following
factors,   among  others:   delays  in  construction  and  facilitation  of  the
Chacheongsao,  Thailand  facility;  production yields and efficiencies;  factory
absorption rates;  capacity loading;  political  instability and  expropriation;
supply disruption; operating cost levels; and the rate of revenue growth.

         Research  and  Development.  The  Company  is  committed  to  continued
investment  in new and enhanced  products,  including  its  development  systems
software  and in its design and  manufacturing  process  technology,  which is a
significant factor in maintaining the Company's competitive position. The dollar
investment in research and  development  increased  13.5% in the current  fiscal
quarter  relative to the  corresponding  quarter of the prior fiscal  year,  and
increased by 10.6%  compared to the  investment  in the  immediately  proceeding
quarter.  Research and development costs increased 11.9% in the six month period
ended  September  30,  1996  compared to the  corresponding  period of the prior
fiscal year. The Company will continue to invest in research and  development in
the  future,   including  an  investment  in  process  and  product  development
associated with the capacity expansion of the Company's fabrication  facilities.
The  Company's  inability  to  complete,  or delay in  completing,  new  product
introductions  and  manufacturing  process  improvements  could  have a material
adverse  impact  on the  Company's  future  operating  results  and  competitive
position.

         Selling,  General and  Administrative.  Through  expense  controls  and
operating  efficiencies,   the  Company  has  maintained  selling,  general  and
administrative  expenses  in the  current  fiscal  quarter  at 17.1% of sales as
compared  to 17.2% of sales in the  corresponding  quarter  of the prior  fiscal
year.  Selling,  general and  administrative  expenses in the prior quarter were
17.0% of sales. Selling,  general and administrative  expenses were 17.1% of net
sales in both six month periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1995. This has been
achieved while the Company has continued to invest  significantly in incremental
worldwide  sales and  technical  support  resources  to  promote  the  Company's
embedded  control  products.  However,  there can be no  assurance  that revenue
growth in the  future  will be  sufficient  to  maintain  the  current  level in
selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales.

         Other  Income  (Expense).  Interest  income of  $330,000 in the current
fiscal quarter decreased from $531,000 in the corresponding quarter of the prior
fiscal  year and from  $414,000  in the  previous  quarter.  Interest  income of
$744,000 in the six months ended September 30, 1996 decreased from $1,022,000 in
the  corresponding  period  of the  prior  fiscal  year.  The  decrease  in both
instances is attributable to lower invested cash balances.
                                       13
<PAGE>
         Interest expense of $1,001,000 in the current fiscal quarter  increased
from  $574,000 in the  corresponding  quarter of the prior  fiscal year and from
$759,000 in the previous  quarter.  Interest  expense of  $1,760,000  in the six
months ended September 30, 1996 increased from  $1,175,000 in the  corresponding
period of the prior fiscal year. The increase in interest  expense is related to
additional  borrowings associated with the Company's capital equipment additions
and stock repurchase program.  Other income represents immaterial  non-operating
items. The Company  anticipates its interest expense may increase in fiscal 1997
as the Company increases its borrowings. In addition,  interest expense could be
adversely impacted by an increase in interest rates.

         The  use  of  available   cash  and  debt  to  fund  expected   capital
expenditures  in  future  periods,  without  additional  capital  provided  from
financing activities, will result in an increase in interest expense.

         Provision for Income Taxes.  Provisions  for income taxes reflect taxes
on foreign  earnings and federal and state income  taxes on U.S.  earnings.  The
Company had an effective tax rate of 27.0% and 28.2% for the three month periods
ended September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Effective tax rates for the six
months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 were 27.0% and 28.3% respectively.  The
Company  currently  believes that the tax rate for the  foreseeable  future will
remain at  approximately  27.0%,  however,  there can be no  assurance  that the
Company will maintain such a rate of 27.0% in the future due to possible changes
in tax laws and regulations and other factors.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

         The Company  had $19.5  million in cash as of  September  30,  1996,  a
decrease of $11.5  million from the March 31, 1996  balance.  The Company has an
unsecured  short-term line of credit totaling $14.9 million with certain foreign
banks.  There were no borrowings under the line of credit with the foreign banks
as of September 30, 1996. There are no covenants  related to the foreign line of
credit.  The Company  also has an  unsecured  line of credit with a syndicate of
U.S. banks totaling $90.0 million.  As of September 30, 1996,  $37.7 million had
been  utilized  under the  financing  arrangements.  The domestic line of credit
requires the Company to achieve certain financial ratios and operating  results.
The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 1996.

         Subsequent  to  September  30, 1996 the Company  entered into a revised
credit agreement.  The line was maintained at $90.0 million at substantially the
same  interest  rates  and  covenants,   adding  two  additional  banks  to  the
syndication. The line was completed as a revolving line of credit for a two year
period, maturing on October 31, 1998.

         At  September  30,  1996,  an  aggregate  of  $67.2  million  of  these
facilities was available,  subject to financial  covenants and ratios with which
the Company is currently in compliance.  The Company's  ability to fully utilize
these  facilities is dependent on the Company  remaining in compliance with such
covenants and ratios.

         During the six months ended  September 30, 1996, the Company  generated
$35.0 million of cash from operating activities, a decrease of $5.4 million from
the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. The reduction in cash flow
from  operations was primarily due to the reduction in net income,  (as a result
of the  restructuring  and  write-off of in process  technology)  an increase in
depreciation charges and changes in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
                                       14
<PAGE>
         The Company's level of capital expenditures varies from time to time as
a result of actual and anticipated business conditions.  Capital expenditures in
the six months ended  September  30, 1996 and 1995 were $46.5  million and $47.3
million, respectively.  Capital expenditures were primarily for the expansion of
production  capacity and the addition of research and  development  equipment in
each of these periods. The Company currently anticipates spending  approximately
$100 million  during the next twelve  months  primarily for  additional  capital
equipment to increase capacity at its wafer fabrication facilities, to construct
additional  facilities and to expand test operations.  Capital expenditures will
be  financed  by cash  flow  from  operations,  existing  cash,  available  debt
arrangements and other sources of financing, including debt or equity financing.
The Company  believes that the capital  expenditures  anticipated to be incurred
over the next twelve  months will provide  sufficient  additional  manufacturing
capacity to meet its needs for that period.

         Net cash provided by financing activities was zero and $4.4 million for
the six months ended  September 30, 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  Repurchase of
common  stock was $19.5  million for the six month period  ended  September  30,
1996.  Proceeds  from sale of stock and put options  were $5.6  million and $4.8
million for the six months  ended  September  30,  1996 and 1995,  respectively.
Proceeds  from the  issuance  of long term debt  were $2.9  million  for the six
months ended  September  30, 1995.  Payments on long term debt and capital lease
obligations  were $2.9  million for each of the six months ended  September  30,
1996 and 1995.  Net proceeds  from lines of credit was $16.7 million for the six
months  ended  September  30, 1996.  Repayments  on the lines of credit was $0.5
million for the six months ended September 30, 1995.

         The Company  believes that its existing  sources of liquidity  combined
with cash generated from  operations  and additional  borrowings  under its bank
line of credit will be sufficient to meet the  Company's  currently  anticipated
cash  requirements  for at least the next  twelve  months.  However,  due to the
capital intensive nature of the semiconductor  industry,  the Company expects to
seek debt  financing  and/or  additional  equity during the next twelve  months.
There can be no assurance  that such  financing  will be available on acceptable
terms, and any additional  equity financing would result in additional  dilution
to existing stockholders.  The foregoing statements relating (i) to the level of
capital expenditures,  (ii) sufficient manufacturing capacity; (iii) anticipated
cash requirements;  and (iv) adequacy and availability of capital resources, are
forward-looking  statements  within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby.  Actual results
could differ materially because of the following factors,  among others:  future
operating  results;  the cyclical nature of both the semiconductor  industry and
the  markets  addressed  by the  Company's  products;  customer  demand  for the
Company's products; the availability of equipment and other supplies; the amount
and timing of cash flows generated from operations;  and economic  conditions in
the United States and other worldwide markets.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY- HOLDERS.

(a)      The Annual Meeting of  Stockholders of the Company was held on July 26,
         1996 (the "Meeting").

(b)      Steve Sanghi, Albert J. Hugo-Martinez,  Jon H. Beedle and L.B. Day were
         elected as Directors at the Meeting.
                                       15
<PAGE>
(c)      The results of the vote on the matters  voted upon at the Meeting  were
         as follows:

         (i)      Election of Directors:

                                            For             Withheld/Abstain
                                            ---             ----------------

                  Steve Sanghi              29,943,449          113,560
                  Albert J. Hugo-Martinez   29,945,189          111,820
                  Jon H. Beedle             29,932,588          124,421
                  L.B. Day                  29,944,396          112,613

             (ii) Approval of Amendment to the Microchip  1993 Stock Option Plan
                  to (i)  increase  from  3,000 to 5,000 the number of shares of
                  Common  Stock  for which  options  are  automatically  granted
                  following the election of directors at each annual  meeting of
                  stockholders and (ii) increase from 8,000 to 10,000 the number
                  of shares of Common Stock of which  options are  automatically
                  granted following a director's initial appointment or election
                  to the Board of Directors:

                      For         Against     Withheld/Abstain Broker Non-Votes
                      ---         -------     ---------------- ----------------

                  24,893,006     4,714,535         71,717           377,751

            (iii) Ratification  of Appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as the
                  Company's  independent  auditors  for the fiscal  year  ending
                  March 31, 1997:

                      For                   Against           Abstain
                      ---                   -------           -------

                  29,958,563                58,308            40,138

The  foregoing  matters  are  described  in  more  detail  in  the  Registrant's
definitive proxy statement dated June 17, 1996 relating to the Meeting.


         Item 6.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

                  (a)               Exhibits

                                    Exhibit 10.1     Credit    Agreement   Dated
                                                     as  of  October   31,  1996
                                                     Among Microchip  Technology
                                                     Incorporated,   the   Banks
                                                     Named Therein,  Wells Fargo
                                                     Bank,        N.A.,       as
                                                     Administrative   Agent  and
                                                     NBD Bank, as Co-Agent.

                                    Exhibit 11       Computation  of  Net Income
                                                     Per Share

                  (b)               Reports on Form 8-K.

                                    The  registrant  did not file any reports on
                                    Form 8-K  during the quarter ended September
                                    30, 1996.
                                       16
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

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

                             MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED


Date:November 13, 1996       By:/s/ C. Philip Chapman
     ----------------------     -----------------------------
                                    C. Philip Chapman
                                    Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
                                    and Secretary (Duly Authorized Officer, and
                                    Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
                                       17
<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Exhibit No.                                                                                 Page No.
         -----------                                                                                 --------
<S>                        <C>                                                                           <C>
                  10.1     Credit Agreement Dated as of October 31, 1996,
                           Among Microchip Technology Incorporated,
                           the Banks Named Therein, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,
                           as Administrative Agent and NBD Bank,
                           as Co-Agent......................................................             *

                  11       Computation of Net Income Per Share..............................             *
</TABLE>
_________________
* Included in manually signed original
                                       18

================================================================================





                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      among

                        MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED


                             THE BANKS NAMED HEREIN


                             WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
                             as Administrative Agent

                                       and

                                    NBD BANK
                                   as Co-Agent





                          Dated as of October 31, 1996



================================================================================
<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     Page
<S>                                                                                                    <C>
ARTICLE I     DEFINITIONS.............................................................................  2

         SECTION 1.1  Defined Terms...................................................................  2
         SECTION 1.2  Terms Generally................................................................. 13

ARTICLE II    THE REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY........................................................... 14

         SECTION 2.1   The Commitment................................................................. 14
         SECTION 2.2   Borrowings Under the Revolving Credit Facility................................. 14
         SECTION 2.3   Notice of Borrowings........................................................... 14
         SECTION 2.4   Revolving Credit Loans......................................................... 15
         SECTION 2.5   Refinancings................................................................... 16
         SECTION 2.6   Fees........................................................................... 16
         SECTION 2.7   Notes; Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans..................................... 17
         SECTION 2.8   Interest on Revolving Credit Loans............................................. 17
         SECTION 2.9   Default Interest............................................................... 17
         SECTION 2.10  Termination, Extension and Reduction of Commitments............................ 18
         SECTION 2.11  Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings...................................... 18
         SECTION 2.12  Prepayment..................................................................... 19
         SECTION 2.13  Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances.................................. 20
         SECTION 2.14  Change in Legality............................................................. 21
         SECTION 2.15  Redeployment Loss.............................................................. 22
         SECTION 2.16  Pro Rata Treatment............................................................. 23
         SECTION 2.17  Sharing of Setoffs............................................................. 23
         SECTION 2.18  Payments....................................................................... 24
         SECTION 2.19  Taxes.......................................................................... 24
         SECTION 2.20  Termination or Assignment of Commitments
                       Under Certain Circumstances.................................................... 27

ARTICLE III   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.......................................................... 28

         SECTION 3.1   Organization; Corporate Powers; Etc............................................ 28
         SECTION 3.2   Authorization; Etc............................................................. 28
         SECTION 3.3   Enforceability................................................................. 28
         SECTION 3.4   Financial Condition and Information............................................ 28
         SECTION 3.5   No Material Adverse Change..................................................... 29
         SECTION 3.6   Litigation..................................................................... 29
         SECTION 3.7   Federal Reserve Regulations.................................................... 29
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                     <C>
         SECTION 3.8   Investment Company Act.......................................................... 29
         SECTION 3.9   Public Utility Holding Company Act.............................................. 30
         SECTION 3.10  Tax Returns..................................................................... 30
         SECTION 3.11  ERISA........................................................................... 30
         SECTION 3.12  Title to Properties: Possession................................................. 30
         SECTION 3.13  Use of Proceeds................................................................. 30
         SECTION 3.14  Environmental and Safety Matters................................................ 30
         SECTION 3.15  Subsidiaries.................................................................... 30

ARTICLE IV    CONDITIONS TO CREDIT EVENTS.............................................................. 31

         SECTION 4.1   Credit Events................................................................... 31
         SECTION 4.2   First Credit Event.............................................................. 31

ARTICLE V     AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.................................................................... 33

         SECTION 5.1   Corporate Existence............................................................. 33
         SECTION 5.2   Insurance....................................................................... 33
         SECTION 5.3   Taxes........................................................................... 33
         SECTION 5.4   Financial Statements; Reports, etc.............................................. 33
         SECTION 5.5   Litigation and Other Notices.................................................... 35
         SECTION 5.6   Maintaining Records: Access to Premises and Records............................. 35
         SECTION 5.7   Use of Proceeds................................................................. 35

ARTICLE VI    NEGATIVE COVENANTS....................................................................... 36

         SECTION 6.1   Liens........................................................................... 36
         SECTION 6.2   Sale and Lease-Back Transactions................................................ 37
         SECTION 6.3   Subsidiary Indebtedness......................................................... 37
         SECTION 6.4   Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets........................................ 37
         SECTION 6.5   Business of Borrower............................................................ 38
         SECTION 6.6   ERISA Liabilities............................................................... 38
         SECTION 6.7   Consolidated Effective Tangible Net Worth....................................... 38
         SECTION 6.8   Debt/Worth Ratio................................................................ 38
         SECTION 6.9   EBITDA Coverage Ratio........................................................... 38
         SECTION 6.10  Continued Profitability......................................................... 38
         SECTION 6.11  Quick Ratio..................................................................... 39
         SECTION 6.12  Subordinated Indebtedness....................................................... 39

ARTICLE VII   EVENTS OF DEFAULT........................................................................ 40

         SECTION 7.1   Events of Default............................................................... 40
         SECTION 7.2   Remedies........................................................................ 42
</TABLE>
                                      -ii-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                    <C>
         SECTION 7.3   Occurrence and Declaration of an Event of Default.............................. 43

ARTICLE VIII  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT; INTERBANK AGREEMENT........................................... 44

         SECTION 8.1   Appointment.................................................................... 44
         SECTION 8.2   Liability...................................................................... 44
         SECTION 8.3   Action by Administrative Agent................................................. 45
         SECTION 8.4   Resignation.................................................................... 46
         SECTION 8.5   Agent as Bank.................................................................. 47
         SECTION 8.6   Ownership and Possession of Loan Documents..................................... 47
         SECTION 8.7   Indemnification................................................................ 47
         SECTION 8.8   Independent Credit Analysis.................................................... 47
         SECTION 8.9   Process for Obtaining Approval of the Banks.................................... 48
         SECTION 8.10  Communications to the Banks.................................................... 49
         SECTION 8.11  Relationship with the Borrower................................................. 49
         SECTION 8.12  Payments to or by the Banks.................................................... 49
         SECTION 8.13  Application of Payments........................................................ 50
         SECTION 8.14  Defaulting Banks............................................................... 50
         SECTION 8.15  Purchase of Defaulting Bank's Interest After Default........................... 52
         SECTION 8.16  Purchase Price and Payment for Defaulting Bank's Interest...................... 52

ARTICLE IX    MISCELLANEOUS........................................................................... 53

         SECTION 9.1   Notices........................................................................ 53
         SECTION 9.2   Survival of Agreement.......................................................... 53
         SECTION 9.3   Binding Effect................................................................. 54
         SECTION 9.4   Successors and Assigns......................................................... 54
         SECTION 9.5   Expenses; Indemnity............................................................ 57
         SECTION 9.6   Right of Setoff................................................................ 58
         SECTION 9.7   Applicable Law................................................................. 58
         SECTION 9.8   Waivers; Amendment............................................................. 58
         SECTION 9.9   Interest Rate Limitation....................................................... 59
         SECTION 9.10  Entire Agreement............................................................... 59
         SECTION 9.11  Severability................................................................... 59
         SECTION 9.12  Counterparts and Signature Pages............................................... 59
         SECTION 9.13  Headings....................................................................... 60
         SECTION 9.14  Arbitration.................................................................... 60
         SECTION 9.15  Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.................................... 61
         SECTION 9.16  Waiver of Jury Trial........................................................... 62
         SECTION 9.17  Confidentiality................................................................ 62
</TABLE>
                                      -iii-
<PAGE>
LIST OF EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

Exhibit "A"    -   Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit "B"    -   Form of Borrowing Notice
Exhibit "C"    -   Form of Note
Exhibit "D"    -   Administrative Details Reply Form
Exhibit "E"    -   Matters to be Covered by the Legal Opinion of Borrower's 
                   Counsel
Exhibit "F"    -   Form of Quarterly Compliance and Margin Certificate

Schedule 2.1   -   Commitments of Banks
Schedule 3.5   -   Material Adverse Change Since June 30, 1996
Schedule 3.15  -   Borrower's Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.1   -   Permitted Liens

                                      -iv-
<PAGE>
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

         BY  THIS   CREDIT   AGREEMENT   (together   with  any   amendments   or
modifications,  the  "Agreement"),  entered  into as of October  31, 1996 by and
among  MICROCHIP   TECHNOLOGY   INCORPORATED,   a  Delaware   corporation   (the
"Borrower"),  the banks listed in Schedule 2.1 (the "Banks"),  WELLS FARGO BANK,
N.A.,  as   administrative   agent  for  the  Banks  (in  such   capacity,   the
"Administrative  Agent")  and  NBD  BANK,  a  Michigan  banking  corporation  as
Co-Agent, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained and for other
valuable consideration, the parties hereto do agree as follows:


                                    RECITALS
                                    --------

         A.       The  Borrower has  requested  that the Banks  provide  lending
commitments  in an  aggregate  principal  amount of  $90,000,000.00  at any time
outstanding on a revolving  credit basis on and after the date hereof and at any
time and from time to time prior to the Expiration Date.

         B.       The Banks have agreed to provide  financial  accommodations to
the Borrower  pursuant to this  Agreement in an amount not to exceed the Maximum
Commitment, which amount is $90,000,000.00

         C.       The  proceeds  of such  borrowing  are to  provide  funds  for
general corporate purposes, including without limitation, working capital.

         D.       The Banks are willing to extend  such  credit (the  "Revolving
Credit  Facility")  to the  Borrower on the terms and subject to the  conditions
herein set forth.

         E.       Effective  as of the  delivery of this  Agreement,  the Credit
Agreement  dated  January 5, 1996 by and among the  Borrower,  the banks  listed
therein, First Interstate Bank of Arizona, N.A. as administrative agent for said
banks and NBD Bank as Co-Agent (the "Prior  Agreement")  will be terminated  and
replaced by this Agreement.

         Accordingly, the Borrower, the Banks and the Administrative Agent agree
as follows:
<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.1 Defined Terms.  Although terms may be defined  elsewhere in
this Agreement,  as used in this  Agreement,  the following terms shall have the
meanings specified below:

         "Administrative  Agent" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
the Preamble, and any successor thereto.

         "Administrative  Details  Reply  Form"  shall  mean  an  Administrative
Details Reply Form substantially in the form of Exhibit "D".

         "Affiliate"  shall mean, when used with respect to a specified  person,
another person that directly,  or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
Controls  or is  Controlled  by or is  under  common  Control  with  the  person
specified.

         "Agency  Fee" shall have the  meaning  assigned to such term in Section
2.6(c).

         "Agreement" shall mean this Credit Agreement.

         "Anniversary Date" shall mean October 31.

         "Applicable Interest Rate" with respect to a given Borrowing shall mean
the interest rate in effect for that Borrowing as determined pursuant to Section
2.8 herein.

         "Applicable  Margin" shall mean on any date, with respect to the Loans,
the lowest applicable  spread set forth below based upon Borrower's  achievement
of all of the  conditions  for that  spread  category,  subject  to  Footnote  A
below(A):

- -------------------------------
(A)      In  the  event  that  in  any  given   financial   quarter   Borrower's
Consolidated  Net Income is less than zero (i.e.,  a net  deficit or loss),  the
Applicable  Margin shall be calculated  at the next higher level than  otherwise
would be applicable.
                                       -2-
<PAGE>

                                               LIBOR              Base Rate
                                               Borrowing          Borrowing
                                               ---------          ---------

         CATEGORY 1:  Conditions
         -----------------------

         Debt/Worth Ratio less than 0.75:1     75 basis points    0 basis points
         EBITDA Coverage Ratio greater
         than 5:1

         CATEGORY 2:  Conditions
         -----------------------

         Debt/Worth Ratio less than 0.9:1      100 basis points   0 basis points
         EBITDA Coverage Ratio greater
         than 4:1

         CATEGORY 3:  Conditions
         -----------------------

         Debt/Worth Ratio equal to or          125 basis points   0 basis points
         greater than 0.9:1
         EBITDA Coverage Ratio equal
         to or less than 4:1

For purposes of the foregoing,  the Applicable  Margin shall be determined  for,
and as to future  LIBOR  Borrowings  and as to  existing  and  future  Base Rate
Borrowings  shall be  effective  as of the first day of, each fiscal  quarter of
Borrower by reference to the above-specified financial ratios (the "Loan Pricing
Qualifiers")  calculated  as of  the  end of the  immediately  preceding  fiscal
quarter.

         "Assignment  and  Acceptance"  shall mean an assignment  and acceptance
entered into by a Bank and an assignee, accepted by the Administrative Agent, in
the form of Exhibit "A".

         "Bank" and "Banks" shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the
Preamble.

         "Baseline Financial  Statements" shall mean the consolidated  financial
statements of Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  (including all footnotes  thereto)
for the  period  ending  June 30,  1996,  that  were  submitted  to the Banks in
connection  with  Borrower's  application  for  the  Loans  and are  more  fully
described in Section 3.4 hereof.

         "Base Rate" shall mean the Prime Rate and shall change on each day that
the Prime Rate changes.

         "Base Rate Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing bearing interest at a rate
determined by reference to the Base Rate.
                                       -3-
<PAGE>
         "Board" shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
of the United States.

         "Borrower"  shall  have  the  meaning  assigned  to  such  term  in the
Preamble.

         "Borrowing"  shall mean an outstanding  principal  amount of one of the
Revolving  Credit  Loans as to which a single  Interest  Period is in effect and
with respect to which a single Applicable Interest Rate applies.

         "Borrowing  Maturity  Date" shall mean (a) with  respect to a Base Rate
Borrowing,  the first day of each  calendar  quarter  in  arrears,  and (b) with
respect to any LIBOR Borrowing,  the last day of the Interest Period  applicable
thereto and, in the case of a LIBOR  Borrowing  with an Interest  Period of more
than  three  months'  duration  (if  at  any  time  made  available  under  this
Agreement),  each day that would have been a  Borrowing  Maturity  Date for such
Borrowing  had  successive  Interest  Periods  of three  months'  duration  been
applicable to such Borrowing  and, in addition,  (c) each of (i) the date of any
refinancing  or conversion of a Borrowing  with or to a Borrowing of a different
Type, (ii) the date of prepayment of a Borrowing and (iii) the Expiration Date.

         "Borrowing  Notice" shall mean a notice given  pursuant to Section 2.3,
as therein described.

         "Business  Day"  shall  mean  any  day  (other  than a day  which  is a
Saturday,  Sunday or legal holiday in the State of Arizona) on which  commercial
banks are open for business in Phoenix,  Arizona, San Francisco,  California and
Detroit, Michigan; provided, however, that, when used in connection with a LIBOR
Borrowing,  the term "Business Day" shall exclude any day on which banks are not
open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

         "Capital  Lease"  shall mean any lease of any property  (whether  real,
personal or mixed)  required by GAAP to be accounted  for as a capital  lease on
the balance sheet of the lessee.

         "Capital Lease Obligations" of any Person shall mean the obligations of
such  Person  to pay  rent  or  other  amounts  under  any  lease  of (or  other
arrangement  conveying  the  right  to use)  real  or  personal  property,  or a
combination  thereof,  which  obligations  are  required  to be  classified  and
accounted  for as capital  leases on a balance  sheet of such person  under GAAP
and, for the purposes of this Agreement,  the amount of such  obligations at any
time  shall  be the  capitalized  amount  thereof  at such  time  determined  in
accordance with GAAP.

         "Cash  Flow"  shall  mean  the sum of the  following  for the  relevant
period: (i) Consolidated Net Income,  (ii) tax expense,  (iii) interest expense,
(iv) depreciation expense, and (v) amortization of intangibles expense.
                                       -4-
<PAGE>
         A "Change in Control"  shall be deemed to have  occurred  if, after the
date hereof,  (a) any person or group  (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3,  as in
effect on the date  hereof,  promulgated  by the SEC under the 1934 Act),  shall
acquire, directly or indirectly,  beneficially or of record, shares representing
more than 50% of the aggregate  ordinary voting power  represented by the issued
and  outstanding  capital  stock of the  Borrower;  (b) a majority  of the seats
(other than vacant seats) on the board of directors  become  occupied by persons
not members of said board on the date hereof that were neither (i)  nominated by
the board of  directors  of the  Borrower,  nor (ii)  appointed  by directors so
nominated;  or (c) any person or group shall  otherwise  directly or  indirectly
Control the Borrower.

         "Closing Date" shall mean October 31, 1996.

         "Co-Agent"  shall mean NBD Bank, a Michigan  banking  corporation.  The
Co-Agent  shall  have no  rights,  duties  or  responsibilities  under  the Loan
Documents beyond those of a Bank.

         "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may be
amended from time to time.

         "Commitment"  shall mean,  with respect to each Bank, the commitment of
such Bank as to the Revolving Credit Facility hereunder as set forth in Schedule
2.1, as such Bank's  Commitment  may be  permanently  terminated or reduced from
time to time  pursuant to Section 2.10 or Section 2.20.  Each Bank's  Commitment
shall  not be  less  than  $10,000,000.00  except  to  the  extent  such  Bank's
Commitment shall have been permanently terminated or reduced pursuant to Section
2.10 or Section 2.20.  Each Bank's  Commitment  shall fully,  automatically  and
permanently terminate on the Expiration Date.

         "Commitment  Fee"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to such  term in
Section 2.6(a).

         "Commitment Fee Percentage" shall mean one-eighth of one percent (1/8th
of 1%) per annum.

         "Consolidated  Debt" shall mean the total Debt of the  Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, computed on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

         "Consolidated  Effective  Tangible Net Worth"  shall mean  Consolidated
Tangible  Net  Worth  plus the  outstanding  principal  amount  of  Subordinated
Indebtedness.

         "Consolidated Net Income" shall mean, for any period, the aggregate net
income (or net deficit) of the Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  for such period,
computed on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

         "Consolidated  Tangible  Net Worth"  shall  mean,  with  respect to the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, Stockholders' Equity reduced by the book value of
all Intangible Assets, all to be
                                       -5-
<PAGE>
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistent with those
applied in the preparation of the Baseline Financial Statements.

         "Control"  shall mean the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of a person,  whether  through rights of ownership  under
voting   securities,   under  contract  or  otherwise,   and  "Controlling"  and
"Controlled" shall have meanings correlative thereto.

         "Credit Event" shall have the meaning  assigned to such term in Article
IV.

         "Current  Assets"  shall mean,  with  respect to the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries,  the sum of their cash, cash equivalents and accounts  receivable,
net of any bad debt reserve, computed on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP.

         "Current Bank" shall have the meaning  assigned to such term in Section
8.15.

         "Current  Liabilities" shall mean, with respect to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, their gross current liabilities less any deferred income, computed
on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

         "Debt"  shall  mean,  as at the date as of which any  determination  is
being or is to be made thereof and in respect of any Person, without duplication
and excluding  intercorporate debt and other  intercorporate  obligations solely
among  such  Person  and its  Subsidiaries,  all  liabilities  of  such  Person,
including  (without  limitation)  the  following  to the  extent  such  would be
presented as liabilities in the balance sheet of such Person prepared under GAAP
on a basis consistent with the Baseline Financial  Statements:  (i) indebtedness
of such Person for borrowed money,  (ii) obligations of such Person evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) obligations of such
Person  to pay the  deferred  purchase  price  of  property  or  services  under
conditional  sale or other similar  agreements which provide for the deferral of
the payment of the purchase  price for a period in excess of one year  following
the date of such Person's  receipt and  acceptance  of the complete  delivery of
such property and/or services, (iv) Capital Lease Obligations of such person and
(v)  Guarantees  by such  Person  and any of its  Subsidiaries  of Debt of third
parties.

         "Default  Rate"  shall mean a rate per annum  (computed  as provided in
Section  2.8(b))  equal to the Base Rate plus three percent (3%) and changing in
conformity with each change in the Base Rate.

         "Defaulting  Bank"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to such term in
Section 8.14(a).

         "Designated  Officer"  shall  mean any of the  Chairman  of the  Board,
President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel,
the Secretary, the Controller,  the Treasurer and any Assistant Treasurer of the
Borrower.
                                       -6-
<PAGE>
         "Dollars"  or "$"  shall  mean  lawful  money of the  United  States of
America.

         "EBITDA  Coverage  Ratio"  shall  mean the  ratio of Cash Flow to Fixed
Charge   Requirement,   determined  for  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  on  a
consolidated  basis over a rolling period of four  consecutive  fiscal  quarters
ending on (or,  if the date of  determination  is other than the end of a fiscal
quarter, immediately preceding) the date of determination.

         "Equipment"  shall mean tangible  personalty  that is not  "inventory,"
"farm equipment" or "fixtures," as the immediately preceding terms in quotations
are defined in Article Nine of the Uniform  Commercial  Code as in effect in and
for the State of Arizona.

         "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as the same may be amended from time to time.

         "ERISA  Affiliate"  shall mean any trade or  business  (whether  or not
incorporated)  that is a member of a group of which the Borrower is a member and
which is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

         "ERISA  Liabilities"  shall mean at any time the minimum liability with
respect  to Plans  that  would be  required  to be  reflected  at such time as a
liability on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower under GAAP.

         "Eurodollar  Lending  Office," with respect to any Bank (or transferee)
or the  Administrative  Agent, shall mean such office or branch as such Bank (or
transferee) or the Administrative Agent has designated to the Borrower herein in
Schedule  "2.1" as the  office or branch  of such  Bank (or  transferee)  or the
Administrative Agent which shall constitute the Lending Office thereof for LIBOR
Borrowings.

         "Event of  Default"  shall have the  meaning  assigned  to such term in
Section 7.1.

         "Expiration  Date" shall mean the  earliest of the  following:  (a) the
date the Banks  exercise their option to declare the Loans fully due and payable
after the occurrence of an Event of Default and the continuation thereof, or (b)
October 31, 1998,  unless the Expiration Date shall have been extended  pursuant
to Section 2.10(a), then said date as thereby extended.

         "Facilities" shall mean improvements to real property or premises owned
by or leased to Borrower.

         "Facility Fee" shall have the meaning  assigned to such term in Section
2.6(a).

         "Federal Funds Rate" shall mean,  for any day, the weighted  average of
the rates on overnight  Federal funds  transactions  with members of the Federal
Reserve  System  arranged by Federal  funds  brokers,  as  published on the next
succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve
                                       -7-
<PAGE>
Bank of San Francisco, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is
a Business Day, the average of the quotations  for the day of such  transactions
received  by the  Administrative  Agent  from  three  Federal  funds  brokers of
recognized standing selected by it.

         "Fee Letter" shall mean that letter agreement  between the Borrower and
the Administrative Agent with respect to the payment of the Agency Fee.

         "Fees" shall mean the Facility Fee, the Commitment  Fee, the Agency Fee
and all other fees and charges,  if any, (other than interest) payable hereunder
or otherwise payable in connection with the Revolving Credit Facility.

         "Financial  Officer" of any corporation  shall mean the chief financial
officer,   principal  accounting  officer,   treasurer  or  controller  of  such
corporation.

         "Fixed Charge  Requirement"  shall mean the sum of the current  portion
and interest  expense with respect to the following  that are due and payable by
or for the benefit of a given Person within the relevant period: (i) obligations
for borrowed money; (b) obligations  representing the deferred purchase price of
property,  other than trade accounts  payable arising in, and on terms customary
in, the ordinary  course of such  person's  business,  (iii)  obligations  under
conditional  sales  agreements,   (iv)  Capital  Lease   Obligations,   and  (v)
obligations under Guarantees.

         "GAAP"  shall mean  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  in the
United States.

         "Governmental  Authority" shall mean any federal,  state, tribal, local
or  foreign  court  or  governmental  agency,   authority,   instrumentality  or
regulatory body.

         "Guarantee" of or by any Person shall mean any  obligation,  contingent
or  otherwise,  of such Person  guaranteeing  or having the  economic  effect of
guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person (the "Primary Obligor") in any
manner,  whether directly or indirectly,  and including  without  limitation any
obligation  of such  Person,  direct or  indirect,  (a) to  purchase  or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such  Indebtedness or to
purchase  (or to advance or supply  funds for the  purchase of) any security for
the  payment of such  Indebtedness,  (b) to  purchase  property,  securities  or
services  for the  purpose of  assuring  the owner of such  Indebtedness  of the
payment of such Indebtedness or (c) to maintain working capital,  equity capital
or other financial statement condition or liquidity of the Primary Obligor so as
to enable the Primary Obligor to pay such Indebtedness;  provided, however, that
the term Guarantee shall not include  endorsements for collection or deposit, in
either case in the ordinary course of business.

         "Indebtedness"  of a Person shall mean each of the  following  (without
duplication)  that,  individually,  is in excess of  $100,000.00  in outstanding
amount (in Dollars or the equivalent at market  exchange rates) on the date such
obligation is incurred:  (a)  obligations of that Person to any other Person for
payment of borrowed money, (b) Capital Lease Obligations, (c) notes and
                                       -8-
<PAGE>
drafts drawn or accepted by that Person payable to any other Person,  whether or
not  representing  obligations  for borrowed  money (but without  duplication of
indebtedness for borrowed  money),  (d) any obligation for the purchase price of
property the payment of which is deferred for more than one year or evidenced by
a note or  equivalent  instrument,  (e)  Guarantees  of  Indebtedness  of  third
parties,  and (f) a recourse or  non-recourse  payment  obligation  of any other
Person that is secured by a Lien on any property of the first Person, whether or
not assumed by the first person, up to the fair market value (from time to time)
of such property  (absent  manifest  evidence to the  contrary,  the fair market
value of such property shall be the amount  determined  under GAAP for financial
reporting purposes).

         "Information"  shall have the meaning  assigned to such term in Section
9.17.

         "Intangible  Assets"  of any Person  shall  mean  those  assets of such
person that are (i) deferred  assets,  other than prepaid  insurance and prepaid
taxes; (ii) patents, copyrights,  trademarks,  tradenames, franchises, goodwill,
experimental  expenses,  and other  similar  assets which would be classified as
intangible assets on a balance sheet of such Person, prepared in accordance with
GAAP; and (iii) unamortized debt discount and expense.

         "Interest Period" shall mean (a) as to any LIBOR Borrowing,  the period
commencing  on the date of such  Borrowing  and  ending  the day  preceding  the
numerically corresponding day (or, if there is no numerically corresponding day,
on the last day) in the calendar  month that is 1, 2, 3 or 6 months  thereafter,
as the Borrower may elect, or, if earlier,  on the Expiration Date and (b) as to
any Base Rate Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and
ending the day preceding the  Expiration  Date,  the day preceding the date such
Borrowing is converted to a Borrowing  of a different  Type in  accordance  with
Section  2.11 or the  date of  repayment  or  prepayment  of such  Borrowing  in
accordance  with Section 2.5 or 2.12;  provided,  however,  that if any Interest
Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest  Period shall
be extended to the next  succeeding  Business  Day unless,  in the case of LIBOR
Borrowings  only,  such next  succeeding  Business  Day  would  fall in the next
calendar  month,  in which  case  such  Interest  Period  shall  end on the next
preceding  Business Day. Interest shall accrue from and include the first day of
an Interest Period and include the last day of such Interest Period.

         "Lending  Office,"  with respect to any Bank or any  transferee  of the
Loans or the Administrative Agent, shall mean such office or branch as such Bank
or such  transferee or the  Administrative  Agent has designated to the Borrower
herein  as the  office  or  branch  of  that  Bank  or  such  transferee  or the
Administrative Agent from which Loans are to be made.

         "LIBO Rate" shall mean,  with  respect to any LIBOR  Borrowing  for any
Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards,  if necessary,  at
the third decimal place) determined by dividing (i) Base LIBOR by (ii) 100% less
the LIBOR Reserve  Percentage;  where "Base LIBOR" shall mean the rate per annum
for Dollar deposits quoted by the  Administrative  Agent as the London Interbank
Offered Rate as most recently published in The Wall Street Journal or,
                                       -9-
<PAGE>
if no longer so published,  in other  comparable  sources,  for a period of time
approximately equal to the number of days in such Interest Period.

         "LIBOR  Borrowing"  shall mean a Borrowing  bearing  interest at a rate
determined by reference to the LIBO Rate.

         "LIBOR Reserve Percentage" shall mean the reserve percentage prescribed
by the Board (or any successor) for  "Eurocurrency  Liabilities"  (as defined in
Regulation D, as amended), adjusted by Administrative Agent for expected changes
in such reserve percentage during the applicable Interest Period.

         "Lien" shall mean any mortgage,  pledge,  security  interest or similar
lien.

         "Loans"  shall mean the  Revolving  Credit Loans made  available by the
Banks to Borrower under the Revolving Credit Facility.

         "Loan Documents"  shall mean this Agreement,  the Notes, the Fee Letter
and  all  other  documents,   instruments  and  agreements  of  every  kind  and
description at any time undertaken by any Person for the benefit of the Banks in
connection with the Loans.

         "Loan Pricing  Qualifiers" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in the definition of "Applicable Margin."

         "Margin Stock" shall have the meaning given such term under  Regulation
U.

         "Material  Division"  shall  mean any  division  of the  Borrower  or a
Subsidiary  which  represents  more than 30% of the  consolidated  assets of the
Borrower.

         "Material  Subsidiary"  shall mean any Subsidiary which represents more
than 30% of the consolidated assets of the Borrower.

         "Maximum Commitment" shall mean $90,000,000.00.

         "Minimum Additional Amount" shall mean $100,000.00

         "Minimum  Amount" shall mean (i)  $1,000,000.00  with respect to a Base
Rate Borrowing, and (ii) $3,000,000.00 with respect to a LIBOR Borrowing.

         "Multiemployer  Plan"  shall  mean a  multiemployer  plan as defined in
Section  4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate (other
than one considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of
Section  414  of  the  Code)  is  making  or  accruing  an  obligation  to  make
contributions,  or has  within  any of the  preceding  five plan  years  made or
accrued an obligation to make contributions.
                                      -10-
<PAGE>
         "1934  Act" shall mean the United  States  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934, as amended.

         "Note" and "Notes" shall mean,  severally and  collectively,  revolving
credit notes of the Borrower  executed and delivered as provided in Section 2.7,
as such notes might be amended,  modified,  extended and  restated  from time to
time.

         "Operating  Plan"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to such  term in
Section 5.4(e).

         "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation referred to
and defined in ERISA.

         "Permitted Lien" shall mean a Lien permitted under Section 6.1.

         "Person"  shall mean any  natural  person  (whether  or not acting in a
representative  capacity),  corporation,  limited  liability  company,  business
trust,  joint  venture,   association,   sole  proprietorship,   partnership  or
government, or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

         "Plan"  shall mean any pension plan (other than a  Multiemployer  Plan)
that is (1) a qualified plan under Section  401(a) of the Code,  (ii) subject to
the  provisions  of  Title  IV of ERISA  or  Section  412 of the Code and  (iii)
maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

         "Potential  Default"  shall  mean any  event or  condition  which  upon
notice, lapse of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

         "Prime  Rate"  shall mean at any time a rate of  interest  equal to the
"Prime Rate" as most  recently  published  in The Wall Street  Journal or, if no
longer so published, in other comparable sources.

         "Prior  Agreement"  shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
Recitals.

         "Quarterly Certificate" shall mean that Quarterly Compliance and Margin
Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F.

         "Redeployment  Loss"  shall have the  meaning  assigned to such term in
Section 2.15.

         "Register"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to such term in Section
9.4(d).

         "Regulation  D" shall  mean  Regulation  D of the Board as from time to
time in effect  and all  official  rulings  and  interpretations  thereunder  or
thereof.

         "Regulation  G" shall  mean  Regulation  G of the Board as from time to
time in effect  and all  official  rulings  and  interpretations  thereunder  or
thereof.
                                      -11-
<PAGE>
         "Regulation  T" shall  mean  Regulation  T of the Board as from time to
time in effect  and all  official  rulings  and  interpretations  thereunder  or
thereof.

         "Regulation  U" shall  mean  Regulation  U of the Board as from time to
time in effect  and all  official  rulings  and  interpretations  thereunder  or
thereof.

         "Regulation  X" shall  mean  Regulation  X of the Board as from time to
time in effect  and all  official  rulings  and  interpretations  thereunder  or
thereof.

         "Reportable  Event"  shall  mean any  reportable  event as  defined  in
Section 4043(b) of ERISA or the regulations  issued thereunder with respect to a
Plan (other than a Plan  maintained by an ERISA Affiliate which is considered an
ERISA  Affiliate  only pursuant to  subsection  (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the
Code).

         "Required  Banks" shall mean,  at any time,  Banks  having  Commitments
representing at least 66 and 2/3% of the Total Commitment.

         "Revolving  Credit  Facility"  shall have the meaning  assigned to such
term in Recital D.

         "Revolving  Credit Loans" shall mean the revolving line of credit loans
made  available  by the Banks to the  Borrower  pursuant  to  Article  II.  Each
Revolving Credit Loan shall be composed of one or more LIBOR  Borrowings  and/or
Base Rate Borrowings.

         "Sale and Lease-Back  Transaction"  shall have the meaning  assigned to
such term in Section 6.2.

         "SEC" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "Significant  Subsidiary"  shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in SEC Regulation S-X, 17 C.F.R. ss.210.1-02.

         "Stockholders  Equity" shall mean the excess of total assets over total
liabilities,  all to be determined on a  consolidated  basis in accordance  with
GAAP.

         "Subordinated Indebtedness" shall mean all indebtedness of the Borrower
subordinated  to payment of the principal of,  premium,  if any, and interest on
the obligations of the Borrower under the Loan Documents, pursuant to agreements
acceptable to the Banks.

         "Subsidiary"  of a Person shall mean any  corporation,  association  or
other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares
of stock  entitled to vote in the  election of  directors,  managers or trustees
thereof is at the time owned or  controlled,  directly  or  indirectly,  by that
Person,  by one or more of the  other  Subsidiaries  of that  Person,  or by any
combination thereof.
                                      -12-
<PAGE>
         "Termination" shall mean the payment in full of the principal amount of
all Loans,  all  accrued  interest  thereon and all fees with  respect  thereto,
coupled  with  termination  of the  Revolving  Credit  Facility  and  all  other
obligations (if any) of all of the Banks to advance funds or extend credit to or
for the benefit of Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

         "Termination  Date" shall mean the date of the  occurrence  of the last
event to occur required for Termination to occur.

         "Total  Commitment"  shall mean at any time the aggregate amount of the
Banks'  Commitments,  as in effect  from time to time,  which  amount  shall not
exceed the Maximum Commitment.

         "Type," when used in respect of any Borrowing,  shall refer to the rate
by reference to which  interest on such  Borrowing is  determined.  For purposes
hereof, "rate" shall mean the LIBO Rate or the Base Rate.

         SECTION 1.2 Terms Generally. The definitions in Section 1.1 shall apply
equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the
context may require,  any pronoun  shall  include the  corresponding  masculine,
feminine and neuter forms. All references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits
and  Schedules  shall be deemed  references  to  Articles  and  Sections of this
Agreement,  and Exhibits and  Schedules  to this  Agreement,  unless the context
shall otherwise  require.  Except as otherwise  expressly  provided herein,  all
terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with
GAAP as in effect in the United  States of America from time to time;  provided,
however,  that,  for purposes of  determining  compliance  with any covenant set
forth in Article VI, such terms shall be construed in accordance with GAAP as in
effect on the date of this  Agreement  applied  on a basis  consistent  with the
application used in preparing the Baseline Financial Statements.
                                      -13-
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE II

                          THE REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

         SECTION 2.1 The Commitment.

                  Subject to the terms and  conditions  herein  set forth,  each
Bank agrees,  severally and not jointly,  to make Revolving  Credit Loans to the
Borrower,  at any time and from time to time on and after  the date  hereof  and
until  the  Expiration  Date,  in an  aggregate  principal  amount  at any  time
outstanding  not to exceed  such Bank's  Commitment,  subject,  however,  to the
conditions that (a) at no time shall the outstanding  aggregate principal amount
of all Revolving  Credit Loans made by all Banks exceed the Maximum  Commitment,
and (b) at all times the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Revolving
Credit  Loans made by each Bank shall  equal the  product of (y) the  percentage
which  its  Commitment  represents  of the  Maximum  Commitment  times  (z)  the
outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans made by all
Banks.  Commitments  may be  terminated or reduced from time to time pursuant to
Sections 2.10 and 2.20.  Within the foregoing  limits,  the Borrower may borrow,
pay or prepay and reborrow hereunder,  on and after the date hereof and prior to
the Expiration Date, subject to the terms,  conditions and limitations set forth
herein.

         SECTION 2.2  Borrowings Under the Revolving Credit Facility.

                  Each advance under the Revolving  Credit  Facility  shall be a
single  LIBOR  Borrowing  or a single Base Rate  Borrowing,  as the Borrower may
request.  Borrowings of more than one Type may be  outstanding at the same time;
provided,  however,  that (i) the Borrower  shall not be entitled to request any
Borrowing which, if made, would result in an aggregate of more than ten separate
Borrowings being outstanding collectively under the Revolving Credit Facility at
any one time and (ii) each Borrowing shall be in a principal  amount which is an
integral multiple of the Minimum Additional Amount and not less than the Minimum
Amount.  For purposes of the foregoing,  Borrowings  having  different  Interest
Periods,  regardless  of  whether  they  commence  on the  same  date,  shall be
considered separate Borrowings.

         SECTION 2.3 Notice of Borrowings.

                  In order to request a Borrowing,  the  Borrower  shall give to
the  Administrative  Agent  written  or  telecopy  notice (or  telephone  notice
promptly  confirmed  in writing or by  telecopy)  in the form of Exhibit  "B" (a
"Borrowing Notice"),  (a) in the case of a LIBOR Borrowing,  not later than 9:00
a.m.,  Arizona time, three Business Days before a proposed  Borrowing and (b) in
the case of a Base Rate  Borrowing,  not later than 9:00 a.m.,  Arizona time, on
the day of a proposed Borrowing.  Each Borrowing Notice shall be irrevocable and
shall in each case specify (i) whether the Borrowing then being  requested is to
be a LIBOR Borrowing or a Base Rate  Borrowing;  (ii) the date of such Borrowing
(which shall be a Business Day) and the amount thereof;  (iii) if such Borrowing
is to be a LIBOR Borrowing, the Interest Period with
                                      -14-
<PAGE>
respect  thereto;  and (iv) if such Borrowing is to refinance all or any part of
any  outstanding  Borrowing,  the identity and amount of such Borrowing that the
Borrower  requests to be refinanced.  If no election as to the Type of Borrowing
is specified in any Borrowing  Notice,  then the requested  Borrowing shall be a
Base Rate  Borrowing.  If no Interest Period with respect to any LIBOR Borrowing
is specified in any Borrowing Notice,  then the Borrower shall be deemed to have
selected an Interest Period of one month's duration. Subject to Section 2.11, if
the Borrower shall not have given notice in accordance  with this Section of its
election to refinance a LIBOR  Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period
in effect for such Borrowing, then the Borrower (unless such Borrowing is repaid
at the end of such  Interest  Period) shall be deemed to have given notice of an
election to refinance such Borrowing with a Base Rate Borrowing.

         SECTION 2.4 Revolving Credit Loans.

                  (a)  Each  Revolving  Credit  Loan  shall be made as part of a
Borrowing  made by the Banks  ratably  in  accordance  with  their  Commitments;
provided,  however,  that the failure of any Bank to make any  Revolving  Credit
Loan  shall  not in itself  relieve  any other  Bank of its  obligation  to lend
hereunder (it being understood,  however,  that no Bank shall be responsible for
the failure of any other Bank to make any  Revolving  Credit Loan required to be
made by such other Bank).

                  (b) Each Bank shall make any LIBOR Borrowing by causing either
at its option any domestic branch or the Eurodollar  Lending Office of such Bank
to make such  Revolving  Credit Loan;  provided that any exercise of such option
shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such  Revolving  Credit
Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the applicable Note.

                  (c)  Subject  to  Section  2.3,  each  Bank  shall  make  each
Revolving Credit Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by
wire transfer of  immediately  available  funds to the  Administrative  Agent in
Phoenix,   Arizona,   not  later  than  11:30  a.m.,   Arizona  time,   and  the
Administrative  Agent shall by 12:00 noon,  Arizona time,  credit the amounts so
received to the general deposit account of the Borrower with the  Administrative
Agent (or such other account as the Borrower may  designate)  or, if a Borrowing
shall not occur on such date because any condition  precedent  herein  specified
shall not have been met, return the amounts so received to the respective Banks.
Revolving  Credit Loans shall be made by the Banks pro rata in  accordance  with
Section 2.16. Unless the Administrative  Agent shall have received notice from a
Bank  prior to any  Borrowing  that  such Bank  will not make  available  to the
Administrative  Agent such Bank's portion of such Borrowing,  the Administrative
Agent  may  assume  that  such  Bank  has made  such  portion  available  to the
Administrative  Agent on the date of such  Borrowing  in  accordance  with  this
paragraph  (c)  and  the  Administrative   Agent  may,  in  reliance  upon  such
assumption,  make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount.
If and to the extent that such Bank shall not have made such  portion  available
to the Administrative Agent, such Bank and the Borrower severally agree to repay
to the  Administrative  Agent  forthwith  on demand  such  corresponding  amount
together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount
                                      -15-
<PAGE>
is made  available to the  Borrower  until the date such amount is repaid to the
Administrative  Agent  at (i) in the case of the  Borrower,  the  interest  rate
applicable at the time to the Revolving  Credit Loans  comprising such Borrowing
and (ii) in the case of such Bank,  the Federal  Funds Rate.  If such Bank shall
repay to the Administrative  Agent such corresponding  amount, such amount shall
constitute  such  Bank's  Revolving  Credit Loan as part of such  Borrowing  for
purposes of this Agreement.

         SECTION 2.5  Refinancings.  Subject to Section  2.11,  the Borrower may
refinance  all or any part of any  Borrowing  with a Borrowing  of the same or a
different  Type made  pursuant to Section  2.3,  and at any time may combine all
Base  Rate  Borrowings  into a single  Borrowing,  in each case  subject  to the
conditions and limitations set forth herein and elsewhere in this Agreement. Any
Borrowing or part thereof so refinanced or combined shall be deemed to have been
repaid in  accordance  with  Section 2.7 with the  proceeds  of a new  Borrowing
hereunder,  and the proceeds of the new Borrowing (except to the extent, if any,
they exceed the principal amount of the Borrowing(s) being refinanced) shall not
be disbursed to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.4(c).

         SECTION 2.6  Fees.

                  (a) In connection with the Commitments, the Borrower agrees to
pay to the  Administrative  Agent  for  distribution  to the Banks  pursuant  to
Section 8.12 a fee (the "Facility Fee") in the amount of $90,000.00.

                  (b) The  Borrower  agrees  to pay to each  Bank,  through  the
Administrative  Agent, (i) quarterly in arrears for each calendar quarter ending
each March 31, June 30,  September  30 and December 31, on a date not later than
five (5)  Business  Days  after such  calendar  quarter  has  ended,  commencing
December  31, 1996 and (ii) on the date on which the  respective  Commitment  of
such Bank shall be terminated as provided herein, for the period from the end of
the preceding calendar quarter to the date of such termination, a commitment fee
(each a  "Commitment  Fee") at a rate per  annum  equal  to the  Commitment  Fee
Percentage  on the average  daily unused  amount of the  Commitment of such Bank
during the preceding calendar quarter (or shorter period (1) commencing with the
date  hereof or (2) ending with the  Expiration  Date or any other date on which
the respective Commitment of such Bank shall be terminated).  The Commitment Fee
shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of
360 days.  The  Commitment  Fee due to each Bank shall commence to accrue on the
date hereof and shall cease to accrue on the earlier of the Expiration  Date and
the termination of the Commitment of Bank as provided herein.

                  (c) The Borrower agrees to pay the  Administrative  Agent, for
its own account,  any fee  provided for in the Fee Letter (the "Agency  Fee") at
the times provided therein.
                                      -16-
<PAGE>
                  (d) All Fees shall be paid to each Bank on the dates  due,  in
Dollars  in  immediately   available  funds  to  the  Administrative  Agent  for
distribution,  if and as  appropriate,  among the Banks.  Once paid, none of the
Fees shall be refundable under any circumstances.

         SECTION 2.7 Notes;  Repayment of Revolving  Credit Loans. The Revolving
Credit  Loans  made by each  Bank  shall be  evidenced  by a single  Note,  duly
completed and executed on behalf of the Borrower,  dated the date of said Bank's
Commitment,  in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto, payable to the order
of  such  Bank in a  principal  amount  equal  to said  Bank's  Commitment.  The
outstanding  principal  balance of each  Borrowing  under the  Revolving  Credit
Facility, as evidenced by the applicable Note, shall be payable on the Borrowing
Maturity  Date  applicable  to such  Borrowing  (if any).  Each Note  shall bear
interest from the date thereof on the outstanding  principal  balance thereof as
set  forth in  Section  2.8.  Each  Bank may (and is  hereby  authorized  by the
Borrower,  at said Bank's discretion,  to) endorse on a schedule attached to the
Note held by such Bank (or on a continuation  of such schedule  attached to each
such Note and made a part  thereof),  or  otherwise  to  record  in such  Bank's
internal records, an appropriate notation evidencing the date and amount of each
Revolving  Credit Loan of such Bank,  each payment or prepayment of principal of
any such Revolving  Credit Loan and the other  information  provided for on such
schedule;  provided,  however,  that  the  failure  of any  Bank to make  such a
notation or any error therein  shall not in any manner affect the  obligation of
the Borrower to repay each Revolving Credit Loan in accordance with the terms of
the relevant Note.

         SECTION 2.8  Interest on Revolving Credit Loans.

                  (a) Subject to the  provisions of Sections 2.9 and 2.11,  each
LIBOR Borrowing shall bear interest  (computed on the basis of the actual number
of days  elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal to, the LIBO
Rate for the  Interest  Period  in  effect  for such  LIBOR  Borrowing  plus the
Applicable  Margin.  Interest on each LIBOR  Borrowing  shall be payable on each
applicable Borrowing Maturity Date. The LIBO Rate for each Interest Period shall
be determined by the  Administrative  Agent in accordance with the provisions of
this  Agreement,  and such  determination  shall be conclusive  absent  manifest
error. The Administrative Agent shall promptly advise the Borrower and each Bank
of such LIBO Rate.

                  (b) Subject to the  provisions of Sections 2.9 and 2.11,  each
Base Rate  Borrowing  shall bear  interest  (computed on the basis of the actual
number of days  elapsed  over a year of 360 days,  as the case may be) at a rate
per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the  Applicable  Margin.  Interest on each
Base Rate Borrowing shall be payable on each applicable Borrowing Maturity Date.
The Base Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with
the provisions of this  Agreement,  and such  determination  shall be conclusive
absent  manifest  error.  The  Administrative  Agent shall  promptly  advise the
Borrower and each Bank of such Base Rate.

         SECTION 2.9 Default  Interest.  If the  Borrower  shall  default in the
payment of the  principal  of or  interest on any  Revolving  Credit Loan or any
other amount becoming due
                                      -17-
<PAGE>
hereunder, whether by scheduled maturity, notice of prepayment,  acceleration or
otherwise,  the Borrower shall on demand from time to time pay interest,  to the
extent  permitted by law, on such defaulted  amount up to (but not including the
date of actual payment (after as well as before judgment) at the Default Rate.

         SECTION 2.10 Termination, Extension and Reduction of Commitments.

                  (a) Each Commitment shall be  automatically  terminated on the
Expiration Date. The Borrower,  however, has the right to request, upon at least
sixty  (60)  days  written  notice  to the  Administrative  Agent  prior  to the
Anniversary  Date  that  is  prior  to the  Expiration  Date,  extension  of the
Expiration  Date  of the  Revolving  Credit  Facility  for an  additional  year;
provided,  however, that approval of any such extension shall be at the sole and
absolute  discretion  of the  Banks  and any such  approval  shall  require  the
affirmative consent of all Banks.

                  (b) Upon at least three (3) Business  Days' prior  irrevocable
written or telecopy notice to the Administrative Agent, Borrower may at any time
in whole permanently terminate, or from time to time in part permanently reduce,
each such  Commitment;  provided,  however,  that each partial  reduction of the
Maximum  Commitment shall be in an integral  multiple of the Minimum  Additional
Amount and in a minimum  principal  amount of the Minimum  Amount;  and provided
further,  that the  Borrower  shall not be  permitted to terminate or reduce the
Maximum Commitment if, as a result respectively,  the aggregate principal amount
of the Revolving  Credit Loans  outstanding  hereunder would exceed such reduced
amount of the Maximum Commitment.

         SECTION 2.11 Conversion and  Continuation  of Borrowings.  The Borrower
shall  have  the  right  at  any  time  upon  prior  irrevocable  notice  to the
Administrative  Agent (i) not later than 9:00 a.m.,  Arizona time, on the day of
conversion,  to convert any LIBOR Borrowing into a Base Rate Borrowing, (ii) not
later than 9:00 a.m.,  Arizona time, three (3) Business Days prior to conversion
or continuation, to convert any Base Rate Borrowing into a LIBOR Borrowing or to
continue any LIBOR  Borrowing as a LIBOR  Borrowing for an  additional  Interest
Period,  and (iii) not later than 9:00 a.m.,  Arizona  time,  three (3) Business
Days prior to  conversion,  to convert the  Interest  Period with respect to any
LIBOR Borrowing to another permissible Interest Period,  subject in each case to
the following:

                  (a) if less than all the outstanding  principal  amount of any
Borrowing  shall be converted or continued,  the aggregate  principal  amount of
such  Borrowing  converted  or  continued  shall be an integral  multiple of the
Minimum Additional Amount and not less than the Minimum Amount;

                  (b) each conversion shall be effected by applying the proceeds
of the new Borrowing resulting from such conversion to the Borrowing (or portion
thereof) being  converted;  accrued interest on a Borrowing (or portion thereof)
being converted shall be paid by the Borrower at the time of conversion;
                                      -18-
<PAGE>
                  (c) any LIBOR  Borrowing  may be converted  only at the end of
the Interest Period applicable thereto;

                  (d) any  portion of a  Borrowing  maturing  or  required to be
repaid in less than one month may not be converted  into or continued as a LIBOR
Borrowing;

                  (e) any portion of a LIBOR Borrowing which cannot be continued
as a  LIBOR  Borrowing  by  reason  of  clauses  (c)  and  (d)  above  shall  be
automatically  converted  at the end of the  Interest  Period in effect for such
Borrowing into a Base Rate Borrowing; and

                  (f) each  conversion  or  continuation  shall be made pro rata
among the Banks in  accordance  with the  respective  principal  amounts  of the
converted or continued Borrowings.

                  Each notice  pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable and
shall refer to this  Agreement  and specify (i) the  identity  and amount of the
Borrowing  that the Borrower  requests be converted or  continued,  (ii) whether
such Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a LIBOR Borrowing or a Base
Rate  Borrowing,  (iii) if such notice  requests a conversion,  the date of such
conversion  (which shall be a Business Day) and (iv) if such  Borrowing is to be
converted to or continued as a LIBOR Borrowing, the Interest Period with respect
thereto.  If no Interest  Period is specified in any such notice with respect to
any conversion to or  continuation as a LIBOR  Borrowing,  the Borrower shall be
deemed  to have  selected  an  Interest  Period  of one  month's  duration.  The
Administrative  Agent shall advise the other Banks of any notice given  pursuant
to this  Section  and of each  Bank's  portion  of any  converted  or  continued
Borrowing.  If the Borrower shall not have given notice in accordance  with this
Section to continue any LIBOR  Borrowing into a subsequent  Interest Period (and
shall not otherwise have given notice in accordance with this Section to convert
such  Borrowing),  such  Borrowing  shall,  at the  end of the  Interest  Period
applicable  thereto (unless repaid pursuant to the terms hereof),  automatically
be continued as a Base Rate Borrowing.

         SECTION 2.12  Prepayment.

                  (a) The  Borrower  shall  have the  right at any time and from
time to time to prepay  any  Borrowing,  in whole or in part,  upon  written  or
telecopy notice (or telephone  notice promptly  confirmed by written or telecopy
notice) to the  Administrative  Agent, such notice to be three (3) Business Days
with  respect to a LIBOR  Borrowing  and one Business Day with respect to a Base
Rate Borrowing;  provided,  however, that each partial prepayment shall be in an
amount which is an integral  multiple of the Minimum  Additional  Amount and not
less than the Minimum Amount.

                  (b)  On  the  date  of  any  termination  or  reduction  of  a
Commitment  pursuant to Section 2.10, the Borrower shall pay or prepay an amount
of the  respective  Revolving  Credit  Loan such  that the sum of the  aggregate
principal  amount  of such  Loan  outstanding  will not  exceed  the  respective
Commitment after giving effect to such termination or reduction.
                                      -19-
<PAGE>
                  (c) Each notice of  prepayment  shall  specify the  prepayment
date and the  principal  amount of each  Borrowing  (or  portion  thereof) to be
prepaid,  shall be  irrevocable  and shall  commit the  Borrower  to prepay such
Borrowing (or portion  thereof) by the amount stated  therein on the date stated
therein. All prepayments under this Section shall be subject to Section 2.15 but
otherwise  without premium or penalty.  All prepayments under this Section shall
be accompanied  by a payment of accrued  interest on the amount being prepaid to
the date of payment.

         SECTION 2.13  Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances.

                  (a) If any Bank shall have  determined that the adoption after
the date hereof of any law,  rule,  regulation  or guideline  regarding  capital
adequacy,  or any change after the date hereof in any of the foregoing or in the
interpretation  or  administration  of any of the foregoing by any  Governmental
Authority,  central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof, or compliance by any Bank (or any Lending Office of such
Bank) or any Bank's  holding  company with any request or directive  promulgated
after the date  hereof  regarding  capital  adequacy  (whether or not having the
force of law) of any such  Governmental  Authority,  central bank or  comparable
agency,  has or would  have the  effect of  reducing  the rate of return on such
Bank's  or on  the  capital  of  such  Bank's  holding  company,  if  any,  as a
consequence of this Agreement or the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Bank to
a level below that which such Bank or such  Bank's  holding  company  could have
achieved but for such adoption,  change or compliance (taking into consideration
such  Bank's  policies  and the  policies of such Bank's  holding  company  with
respect to capital  adequacy) by an amount  deemed by such Bank in good faith to
be  material,  then from time to time the  Borrower  shall pay to such Bank such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Bank or such Bank's holding
company for any such reduction suffered.

                  (b)  Notwithstanding  any other provision herein, if after the
date of this Agreement any change in applicable law or regulation (either by way
of changes in existing laws or regulations or the  introductions  of new laws or
regulations)  or  in  the  interpretation  or  administration   thereof  by  any
Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof
(whether  or not having the force of law) shall  change the basis of taxation of
payments to any Bank of the principal of or interest on any LIBOR Borrowing made
by such Bank,  Fees or other amounts  payable  hereunder  (other than changes in
respect  of taxes  imposed  on the net income of such  Bank),  or shall  impose,
modify or deem applicable any reserve,  special  deposit or similar  requirement
against  assets of,  deposits  with or for the account of or credit  extended by
such Bank,  including  without  limitation any reserve  requirement  that may be
applicable to "eurocurrency  liabilities"  under and as defined in Regulation D,
or shall impose on such Bank or the London  interbank market any other condition
affecting  this  Agreement  or any LIBOR  Borrowing  made by such Bank,  and the
result of any of the  foregoing  shall be to  increase  the cost to such Bank of
making or  maintaining  any LIBOR  Borrowing  or to reduce the amount of any sum
received or receivable by such Bank  hereunder or under the Notes (in respect of
LIBOR Borrowing only), whether of principal, interest or otherwise, by an amount
deemed by
                                      -20-
<PAGE>
such Bank in good faith to be material, then, the Borrower will pay to such Bank
such  additional  amount  or  amounts  as will  compensate  such  Bank  for such
additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

                  (c) A  certificate  of a Bank  setting  forth  such  amount or
amounts as shall be necessary to compensate  such Bank or its holding company as
specified in paragraph  (a) or (b) above,  as the case may be, and setting forth
in reasonable  detail the manner in which such amount or amounts shall have been
determined  shall be delivered to the  Borrower and shall be  conclusive  absent
manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay each Bank the amount shown as due on any
such  certificate  delivered by it within ten (10) days after its receipt of the
same.

                  (d) Failure on the part of any Bank to demand compensation for
any increased costs or reduction in amounts  received or receivable with respect
to any  period  shall not  constitute  a waiver of said  Bank's  right to demand
compensation with respect to such period or any other period.  The protection of
this  Section  shall  be  available  to any  Bank  regardless  of  any  possible
contention of the invalidity or  inapplicability  of the law, rule,  regulation,
guideline  or other  change or  condition  which  shall  have  occurred  or been
imposed,  provided that if such Bank is compensated  for such increased costs or
reduction  by any  Governmental  Authority  or  third  party in the  event  such
invalidity or inapplicability is finally determined, then such Bank shall return
to Borrower the respective  compensation  paid by Borrower,  up to the lesser of
such amount as is received by such Bank or such amount as was paid by Borrower.

                  (e) Without  prejudice to the survival of any other  agreement
contained herein, the agreements and obligations contained in this Section shall
survive Termination,  provided that Borrower shall have no further obligation to
the Banks under this Section  unless a  certificate  setting forth the amount of
such obligation shall have been delivered by the Banks pursuant to paragraph (c)
above within ninety (90) calendar days after the Termination Date.

                  (f) Each  Bank or the  Administrative  Agent on  behalf of the
Banks shall give  notification to the Borrower of any event or prospective event
which will give rise to the operation of paragraphs  (a) or (b) of this Section,
such  notification  to be sent within thirty (30) days of the date of the public
promulgation of the effective date of any such law, rule, regulation, guidelines
or change therein.

         SECTION 2.14 Change in Legality.

                  (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if any change
in any law or regulation or in the  interpretation  thereof by any  Governmental
Authority charged with the  administration or interpretation  thereof shall make
it unlawful  for any Bank to make or  maintain  any LIBOR  Borrowing  or to give
effect to its  obligations  as  contemplated  hereby  with  respect to any LIBOR
Borrowing,  then by written  notice to the Borrower  setting forth in reasonable
detail the relevant circumstances and the effect thereof, such Bank may:
                                      -21-
<PAGE>
                           (i) declare that LIBOR Borrowings will not thereafter
         be made by such Bank  hereunder,  whereupon any request by the Borrower
         for a LIBOR  Borrowing  shall  be  deemed  a  request  for a Base  Rate
         Borrowing unless such declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn; and

                           (ii) require that all  outstanding  LIBOR  Borrowings
         made by it be  converted  to Base Rate  Borrowings,  in which event all
         such LIBOR  Borrowings  shall be  automatically  converted to Base Rate
         Borrowings  as of the  effective  date of such  notice as  provided  in
         paragraph (b) below.

In the event any Bank shall  exercise  its rights  under (i) or (ii) above,  all
payments and prepayments of principal which would otherwise have been applied to
repay  the  LIBOR  Borrowings  that  would  have  been  made by such Bank or the
converted  LIBOR  Borrowings  of such Bank shall instead be applied to repay the
Base  Rate  Borrowings  made by such  Bank in lieu  of,  or  resulting  from the
conversion of, such LIBOR Borrowings.

                  (b) For purposes of this Section,  a notice to the Borrower by
any Bank shall be effective as to each LIBOR Borrowing,  if lawful,  on the last
day of the Interest Period currently applicable to such LIBOR Borrowing;  in all
other  cases  such  notice  shall be  effective  on the date of  receipt  by the
Borrower.

                  (c) Each  Bank  shall  use its  best  efforts  to give  prompt
notification  to the Borrower of any event or prospective  event which will give
rise to the operation of paragraph (a) of this Section.

         SECTION 2.15 Redeployment  Loss. The Borrower shall pay to each Bank on
demand against any Redeployment Loss (defined below) arising as a consequence of
any payment, prepayment or conversion of a LIBOR Borrowing required by any other
provision of this  Agreement  or  otherwise  made or deemed made on a date other
than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto. "Redeployment Loss"
shall mean, in each circumstance,  the amount which is the sum of the discounted
monthly  differences  for each month from the month of  prepayment  through  the
month in which such LIBOR Borrowing matures, calculated as follows for each such
month:

                           (a) Determine the amount of interest which would have
         accrued  each  month  on  the  amount  prepaid  at  the  interest  rate
         applicable  to such amount had it remained  outstanding  until the last
         day of the LIBOR Borrowing applicable thereto.

                           (b) Subtract from the amount  determined in (a) above
         the amount of interest  which would have  accrued for the same month on
         the amount  prepaid for the remaining  term of such LIBOR  Borrowing at
         the LIBO Rate in effect on the
                                      -22-
<PAGE>
         date of  prepayment  for new loans in a principal  amount  equal to the
         amount prepaid made for such term.

                           (c) If the  result  obtained  in (b) for any month is
         greater than zero,  discount  that  difference by the LIBO Rate used in
         (b) above.

A  certificate  of any Bank  setting  forth in  reasonable  detail any amount or
amounts  which Bank is entitled to receive  pursuant to this Section and setting
forth in reasonable detail the calculation of such amounts shall be delivered to
the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Without prejudice to
the  survival  of any other  agreement  contained  herein,  the  agreements  and
obligations  contained in this Section shall survive  Termination  provided that
Borrower shall have no further  obligation to any Bank under this Section unless
a  certificate  setting  forth the  amount of such  obligation  shall  have been
delivered by such Bank  pursuant to the  preceding  sentence  within ninety (90)
calendar days after the Termination Date.

         SECTION 2.16 Pro Rata Treatment.  Except as required under Section 2.14
or permitted by Section  2.20,  each  Borrowing,  each payment or  prepayment of
principal of any  Borrowing,  each payment of interest on the  Revolving  Credit
Loans,  each payment of the Facility and Commitment  Fees, each reduction of the
Commitments and each  refinancing of any Borrowing with a Borrowing of any Type,
shall be allocated pro rata among the Banks in accordance with their  respective
Commitments (or, if such Commitments  shall have expired or been terminated,  in
accordance with the respective principal amounts of their outstanding  Revolving
Credit  Loans).  Each Bank agrees that in computing  such Bank's  portion of any
Borrowing to be made hereunder, the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion,
round each Bank's percentage of such Borrowing to the next higher or lower whole
dollar amount.

         SECTION  2.17  Sharing of  Setoffs.  Each Bank agrees that if it shall,
through the exercise of a right of banker's lien, setoff or counterclaim against
the  Borrower,  or pursuant to a secured  claim under Section 506 of Title 11 of
the United  States Code or other  security or interest  arising from, or in lieu
of, such secured claim,  received by such Bank under any applicable  bankruptcy,
insolvency  or other  similar law or  otherwise,  or by any other means,  obtain
payment  (voluntary or involuntary)  in respect of any Revolving  Credit Loan or
Revolving Credit Loans as a result of which the unpaid principal  portion of the
Revolving  Credit  Loans of such  Bank  shall be  proportionately  less than the
unpaid  principal  portion of the  Revolving  Credit Loans of any other Bank, it
shall be deemed  simultaneously  to have  purchased from such other Bank at face
value,  and shall  promptly  pay to such  other Bank the  purchase  price for, a
participation  in the  Revolving  Credit  Loans of such other Bank,  so that the
aggregate   unpaid   principal   amount  of  the  Revolving   Credit  Loans  and
participations  in the Revolving  Credit Loans held by each Bank shall be in the
same proportion to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Credit
Loans then  outstanding  as the principal  amount of its Revolving  Credit Loans
prior to such exercise of banker's lien,  setoff or  counterclaim or other event
was to the principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans  outstanding  prior to
such exercise of banker's lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event; provided,
however, that, if any such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be made
                                      -23-
<PAGE>
pursuant to this Section and the payment giving rise thereto shall thereafter be
recovered,  such purchase or purchases or adjustments  shall be rescinded to the
extent of such recovery and the purchase price or prices or adjustment  restored
without interest.  The Borrower expressly consents to the foregoing arrangements
and agrees that any Bank  holding a  participation  in a  Revolving  Credit Loan
deemed to have been so  purchased  may  exercise  any and all rights of banker's
lien,  setoff or  counterclaim  with  respect to any and all moneys owing by the
Borrower  to such  Bank by  reason  thereof  as fully as if such Bank had made a
Revolving   Credit  Loan  directly  to  the  Borrower  in  the  amount  of  such
participation.

         SECTION 2.18  Payments.

                  (a) The Borrower  shall make each payment  (including  without
limitation  principal  of or  interest  on any  Borrowing  or any  Fees or other
amounts)  hereunder  and under any other Loan Document no later than 12:00 noon,
Arizona time, on the date when due in Dollars to the Administrative Agent at its
offices at 201 Third Street, San Francisco,  California 94103, Attention: Agency
Department,  in  immediately  available  funds or at such other  location as the
Administrative  Agent may notify the Borrower in writing.  Borrower  agrees that
the  Administrative  Agent may  electronically  debit an account  designated  by
Borrower in a separate written agreement with the Administrative Agent, for each
such  payment so long as the  Administrative  Agent  shall have  transmitted  by
facsimile  to the  Borrower at  602/786-7393  (or at such other number as may be
designated by Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing) (i) at least five
Business Days before its due date a notice of the amount to be debited, and (ii)
on the due day a notice of the amount actually debited.  Any payment received by
the  Administrative  Agent after 12:00 noon,  Arizona time, other than a payment
made by  electronic  debit,  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  received  by the
Administrative Agent on the next Business Day.

                  (b)  Whenever  any  payment   (including   without  limitation
principal  of or  interest  on any  Borrowing  or any  Fees  or  other  amounts)
hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall become due, or otherwise  would
occur, on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next
succeeding  Business  Day,  and such  extension  of time  shall in such  case be
included in the computation of interest or Fees, if applicable.

         SECTION 2.19  Taxes.

                  (a) All payments by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be
made without setoff or  counterclaim  and in such amounts as may be necessary in
order that all such payments after deduction or withholding for or on account of
any present or future taxes,  levies,  imposts,  duties,  withholdings  or other
charges of whatsoever  nature and all liabilities  with respect  thereto,  other
than any taxes on or measured  by the gross or net income of a Bank  pursuant to
(i) the income and/or franchise tax laws of the jurisdictions in which such Bank
is  incorporated  or organized or in which the principal  office of such Bank or
the branch that is a party to this  Agreement of that Bank is located,  and (ii)
the income and/or  franchise tax laws of the  jurisdictions in which the Lending
Office or the Eurodollar Lending Office of that Bank are then
                                      -24-
<PAGE>
located (all such nonexcluded taxes, levies, imposts,  duties,  withholdings and
liabilities  being hereinafter  referred to as "Taxes"),  shall not be less than
the amounts otherwise specified to be paid by the Borrower to or for the account
of the  Administrative  Agent or Bank (or any  transferee or assignee  (each,  a
"Transferee"))  under this  Agreement.  Upon request of the Borrower in writing,
each Bank shall  designate  a different  Lending  Office or  Eurodollar  Lending
Office,  as the case may be, if such  designation  will avoid the  imposition of
Taxes and if such  designation  will not, in the sole  judgment of such Bank, be
otherwise  disadvantageous  to such  Bank.  With  respect to each  deduction  or
withholding  for or on account of any Taxes of the  Administrative  Agent or any
Bank (or  Transferee),  Borrower shall promptly (and in any event not later than
45 days thereafter) furnish to such Administrative Agent or Bank (or Transferee)
a receipt evidencing payment thereof.

                  (b) In  addition,  the  Borrower  agrees to pay any present or
future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges
or similar  levies  which  arise from any  payment  made  hereunder  or from the
execution,  delivery or  registration  of, or  otherwise  with  respect to, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as "Stamp Taxes").
Each Bank that is organized  outside the United States  represents  and warrants
that as of the  Closing  Date,  it is not aware of any Stamp Tax  imposed by the
jurisdiction in which it is  incorporated  that applies to this Agreement or any
payment made to such Bank hereunder.

                  (c) The Borrower will indemnify each Bank (or  Transferee) and
the Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Stamp Taxes (including
without  limitation  any Taxes or Stamp  Taxes  imposed by any  jurisdiction  on
amounts  payable under this Section)  paid by such Bank (or  Transferee)  or the
Administrative  Agent, as the case may be, and any liability  (including without
limitation  penalties,  interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect
thereto,  whether or not such Taxes or Stamp  Taxes  were  correctly  or legally
asserted by the relevant taxing authority or other Governmental Authority.  Such
indemnification  shall  be made  within  30 days  after  the  date  any Bank (or
Transferee)  or the  Administrative  Agent,  as the case may be,  makes  written
demand  therefor.  If a Bank, as the result of any Tax with respect to which the
Borrower is required to make a payment  pursuant to this Section shall realize a
tax credit or refund in its country or other  jurisdiction of  incorporation  or
organization  or in the  jurisdiction  in which its principal  office or Lending
Office or Eurodollar Lending Office is then located,  which tax credit or refund
would not have been  realized but for the  Borrower's  payment of such Tax, such
Bank shall pay to the  Borrower an amount equal to such tax credit or refund (to
the extent of amounts  that have been paid by the  Borrower  under this  Section
with respect to such credit or refund) net of all out-of-pocket expenses of such
Bank; provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Bank, agrees to return
such credit or refund (plus  penalties,  interest or other charges) to such Bank
in the  event  such  Bank is  required  to repay  such  credit  or refund to the
relevant taxing authority. Any amount required to be calculated pursuant to this
Section  shall be calculated  in good faith by the Bank (or  Transferee)  or the
Administrative  Agent, and such calculation shall be conclusive and binding upon
the parties  hereto.  In the event the  Borrower is required to make any payment
pursuant to this Section to a Bank, such Bank shall promptly and
                                      -25-
<PAGE>
in a timely manner take all such actions as may be reasonably available to it to
pursue any possible tax credit or refund of such payment.

                  (d) Without  prejudice to the survival of any other  agreement
contained herein, the agreements and obligations contained in this Section shall
survive Termination,  provided that Borrower shall have no further obligation to
the Banks under this Section  unless a  certificate  setting forth the amount of
such  obligation  shall have been delivered by the Banks to the Borrower  within
ninety (90) calendar days after the Termination Date.

                  (e) Each Bank (or  Transferee)  that is organized  outside the
United States (i) on or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement and
(ii) with respect to each Lending  Office or Eurodollar  Lending  Office located
outside the United  States of such Bank (or  Transferee),  on or before the date
such office or branch  becomes a Lending  Office or Eurodollar  Lending  Office,
shall deliver to the Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent such  certificates,
documents  or other  evidence,  as required by the Code or Treasury  Regulations
issued pursuant  thereto,  including  Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or Form
4224,  properly  completed  and  duly  executed  by such  Bank  (or  Transferee)
establishing that payments received hereunder are (i) not subject to withholding
under the Code because such payment is effectively connected with the conduct by
such Bank (or  Transferee)  of a trade or business in the United  States or (ii)
totally exempt from United States Federal  withholding  tax under a provision of
an applicable tax treaty. In addition,  each such Bank (or Transferee) shall, if
legally able to do so, thereafter deliver such certificates,  documents or other
evidence from time to time establishing that payments received hereunder are not
subject to such  withholding upon receipt of a written request therefor from the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent. Unless the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent have received forms or other  documents  satisfactory  to them  indicating
that  payments  hereunder  or under the Notes are not  subject to United  States
Federal withholding tax, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall withhold
such taxes from such payments at the applicable statutory rate.

                  (f) The Borrower  shall not be required to pay any  additional
amounts to any Bank (or  Transferee) or the  Administrative  Agent in respect to
United  States  Federal  withholding  tax pursuant to paragraph (a) above if the
obligation  to pay such  additional  amounts  would  not have  arisen  but for a
failure by such Bank (or Transferee) or the Administrative  Agent to deliver the
certificates,  documents or other evidence specified in the preceding  paragraph
(e) unless  such  failure is  attributable  to (i) a change in  applicable  law,
regulation  or  official   interpretation   thereof  or  (ii)  an  amendment  or
modification  to or a  revocation  of any  applicable  tax treaty or a change in
official position regarding the application or interpretation  thereof,  in each
case on or after the date such Bank (or Transferee) or the Administrative  Agent
becomes a party to this  Agreement  (or, if  applicable,  on or after the date a
Lending  Office or Eurodollar  Lending  Office of such Bank (or  Transferee)  or
Administrative  Agent  became a Lending  Office  or  Eurodollar  Lending  Office
hereunder).
                                      -26-
<PAGE>
                  (g) Nothing  contained in this Section  shall require any Bank
(or  Transferee)  or the  Administrative  Agent to make available any of its tax
returns (or any other  information  relating to its taxes)  which it deems to be
confidential.

                  (h) Each  Bank or the  Administrative  Agent on  behalf of the
Banks shall give  notification to the Borrower of any event or prospective event
which will give rise to the  operation  of  paragraphs  (a),  (b) or (c) of this
Section, such notification to be sent within thirty (30) days of the date of the
public promulgation of the effective date of any such Taxes or Stamp Taxes.

         SECTION 2.20  Termination  or Assignment of  Commitments  Under Certain
Circumstances.

                  (a) If any Bank (or  Transferee) or the  Administrative  Agent
claims any additional  amounts payable  pursuant to Section 2.13 or Section 2.19
or exercises its rights under Section 2.14, it shall  (consistent with legal and
regulatory   restrictions)   (i)  promptly  notify  the  Borrower  (through  the
Administrative  Agent)  of the  circumstances  giving  rise to  such  additional
amounts or the exercise of such rights and (ii) file any certificate or document
requested by the Borrower or change the  jurisdiction of its applicable  Lending
Office or take any other  action if the making of such a filing or change or the
taking of such action  would avoid the need for or reduce the amount of any such
additional amounts which may thereafter accrue or avoid the circumstances giving
rise to such exercise and would not, in the sole  determination of such Bank (or
Transferee), be otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank (or Transferee).

                  (b) In the event that any Bank shall have  delivered  a notice
or  certificate  pursuant  to Section  2.13 or 2.14,  or the  Borrower  shall be
required  to make  additional  payments  to any Bank  under  Section  2.19,  the
Borrower  shall have the right,  at its option and own  expense,  upon notice to
such Bank and the  Administrative  Agent, (i) in the case of Sections 2.13, 2.14
or 2.19 only,  to  terminate  the  Commitment  of such Bank or (ii) in all cases
described in this paragraph, to require such Bank to transfer and assign without
recourse  (in  accordance  with and  subject to the  restrictions  contained  in
Section 9.4) all its interests,  rights and obligations  under this Agreement to
another financial institution  reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent
which shall assume such  obligations;  provided that (i) no such  termination or
assignment  shall  conflict  with any law,  rule or  regulation  or order of any
Governmental  Authority and (ii) the Borrower or the  assignee,  as the case may
be, shall pay to the affected Bank in immediately available funds on the date of
such termination or assignment the principal of and interest accrued to the date
of payment on the  Revolving  Credit  Loans made by it  hereunder  and all other
amounts  accrued  for its  account or owed to it  hereunder,  including  without
limitation  amounts  payable and owed to it pursuant to Sections 2.13,  2.14 and
2.19.

                  (c) Each Bank  represents and warrants to the Borrower that as
of the date hereof it is not aware of any claims  available to it under  Section
2.13, 2.14 or 2.19 or any  circumstances  which it has determined will enable it
to make any such claims.
                                      -27-
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE III

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent
and the Banks as follows:

         SECTION 3.1 Organization;  Corporate Powers; Etc. (a) The Borrower is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the  jurisdiction  of its  incorporation;  (b) the Borrower has the corporate
power and  authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business
as now  conducted  and is qualified to do business in every  jurisdiction  where
such  qualification is required except where the failure to so qualify would not
result in a material  adverse  effect on the  business,  assets,  operations  or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower; and (c) the Borrower has the
corporate  power to execute,  deliver and perform this  Agreement  and the other
Loan Documents and to borrow hereunder.

         SECTION 3.2 Authorization; Etc. The execution, delivery and performance
by the Borrower of this Agreement,  the Borrowings hereunder,  and the issuance,
execution  and  delivery  of the  Notes:  (a) have been duly  authorized  by all
requisite  corporate action;  (b) will not violate (i) any provision of law, any
order of any  court,  or any rule,  regulation  or order of any other  agency of
government,  (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Borrower or
(iii) any provision of any material indenture,  agreement or other instrument to
which the Borrower is a party, or by which the Borrower or any of its properties
or assets are or may be bound;  (c) will not be in  conflict  with,  result in a
breach of or  constitute  (alone,  with notice,  with lapse of time, or with any
combination of these factors) a default under any indenture,  agreement or other
instrument  referred  to in  (b)(iii)  above;  and (d)  will not  result  in the
creation or  imposition  of any Lien upon any property or assets of the Borrower
that is not a Permitted Lien. Except for filings which may be required under the
1934 Act, no  registration  with or consent or approval  of, or other action by,
any  Governmental  Authority  is  required  in  connection  with the  execution,
delivery and  performance of this  Agreement,  the execution and delivery of the
Notes or the Borrowings hereunder.

         SECTION 3.3 Enforceability.  This Agreement constitutes, and each other
Loan Document when duly executed and delivered by the Borrower will  constitute,
the  legal,  valid  and  binding  obligation  of the  Borrower,  enforceable  in
accordance  with its terms,  subject,  as to the  enforcement  of  remedies,  to
applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,  insolvency, moratorium and other laws of
general  applicability  relating to or affecting  creditors' rights from time to
time in effect and to general  principles of equity  (regardless of whether such
enforcement is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

         SECTION 3.4  Financial  Condition  and  Information.  The  Borrower has
heretofore  furnished to the Banks copies of (i) the consolidated balance sheets
of the  Borrower as of March 31, 1996 and as of June 30,  1996,  and the related
consolidated statements of income,
                                      -28-
<PAGE>
shareholder's equity and Cash Flows of the Borrower for the year ended March 31,
1996 and for the fiscal period ended June 30, 1996, including without limitation
the related notes,  audited by and including the opinion the independent  public
accountants  of the  Borrower,  and (ii) the Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended  March 31, 1996 of the  Borrower.  Such  financial  statements
fairly  state the  consolidated  financial  condition  of the Borrower as of the
respective  dates thereof and the  consolidated  results of the  operations  and
changes in financial  position of the Borrower for the periods covered  thereby.
All such financial  statements,  including  related schedules and notes thereto,
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.

         SECTION 3.5 No Material Adverse Change. Since March 31, 1996, there has
been no material adverse change in the business, operations, assets or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole  (except as  disclosed  in the  financial  statements  referred to in
Section 3.4 or as otherwise disclosed on Schedule 3.5 attached hereto).

         SECTION  3.6  Litigation.  Except  as set forth in the  Borrower's  SEC
filing on Form 10-K for the year ended  March 31,  1996,  there are no  actions,
suits or  proceedings  at law or in  equity  or by or  before  any  governmental
instrumentality  or  other  agency  now  pending  or,  to the  knowledge  of the
Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any property or rights
of the  Borrower  which  would be  reasonably  likely  in the  aggregate  to (i)
materially  impair the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations  under
this Agreement or the Notes or materially  impair the ability of the Borrower to
carry on business  substantially  as now being  conducted  or (ii) result in any
material  adverse  change in the  business,  assets,  operations,  or  condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower.

         SECTION 3.7  Federal Reserve Regulations.

                  (a) The Borrower is not engaged principally,  or as one of its
important  activities,  in the business of  extending  credit for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

                  (b) No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used,  whether
directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (i)
to purchase or carry Margin Stock or to extend  credit to others for the purpose
of  purchasing  or carrying  Margin Stock or to refund  indebtedness  originally
incurred for such purpose, or (ii) for any purpose which entails a violation of,
or which is  inconsistent  with, the provisions of the Regulations of the Board,
including Regulation G, U or X.

         SECTION 3.8 Investment  Company Act. The Borrower is not an "investment
company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
                                      -29-
<PAGE>
         SECTION 3.9 Public Utility  Holding  Company Act. The Borrower is not a
"holding  company,"  or a  "subsidiary  company" of a "holding  company,"  or an
"affiliate"  of a "holding  company" or of a "subsidiary  company" of a "holding
company,"  within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935,
as amended.

         SECTION 3.10 Tax Returns.  As of the filing date of the Borrower's Form
10-K,  Form 10-Q or Form 8-K most recently  filed with the SEC, the Borrower has
duly filed or caused to be filed all federal,  state and local tax returns which
are  required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all  material
taxes  required to be paid by it,  except  taxes the  validity of which is being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which the
Borrower has set aside on its books such reserves as are required by GAAP.

         SECTION 3.11 ERISA.  As of the filing date of the Borrower's Form 10-K,
Form 10-Q or Form 8-K most  recently  filed with the SEC,  the  Borrower  had no
material undisclosed ERISA Liabilities under any Plans.

         SECTION 3.12 Title to Properties: Possession. The Borrower has good and
indefeasible  title  to,  or valid  leasehold  interests  in,  all its  material
properties and assets, subject only to encumbrances,  adverse claims and defects
in title which do not involve any risk of loss that is material to the  Borrower
and the  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole. All such assets and properties are free
and clear of all Liens other than those  permitted  by Section 6.1. The Borrower
has  all  licenses  and  rights  necessary  to  enable  it to use  all  material
technology used by it in its operations.

         SECTION 3.13 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will use the proceeds of any
borrowing  hereunder  solely for the  purposes set forth in the Recitals to this
Agreement.

         SECTION 3.14 Environmental and Safety Matters. As of the filing date of
the  Borrower's  Form 10-K,  Form 10-Q or Form 8-K most recently  filed with the
SEC, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries had no material undisclosed environmental
liabilities.

         SECTION 3.15 Subsidiaries.  All Significant  Subsidiaries are correctly
identified on Schedule "3.15" hereto.
                                      -30-
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE IV

                           CONDITIONS TO CREDIT EVENTS

         The  obligations  of the Banks to make each and every Loan, and to make
each and every advance of the proceeds  thereof  (each of the  foregoing  events
being  called a "Credit  Event")  are  subject  to the prior or  contemporaneous
satisfaction of the following conditions:

         SECTION 4.1 Credit Events. On the date of each Credit Event,  including
the date of each refinancing of a Borrowing as contemplated by Section 2.5:

                  (a) The Administrative Agent shall have received in respect of
         such advance or  refinancing a Borrowing  Notice as required by Section
         2.3.

                  (b) The  representations  and  warranties set forth in Article
         III hereof  shall have been true and correct in all  material  respects
         both (i) on the date  hereof  and (ii) as of such  date,  except to the
         extent such  representations  and warranties  expressly  relate and are
         limited to a different date.

                  (c) At the  time of and  immediately  after  such  advance  or
         refinancing  no  Event of  Default  or  Potential  Default  shall  have
         occurred and be continuing.

Each  advance  or  refinancing   hereunder  shall  be  deemed  to  constitute  a
representation  and warranty by the Borrower on the date of such Credit Event as
to the  satisfaction  of the  conditions  specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of
this Section 4.1.

         SECTION 4.2  First Credit Event.  On the Closing Date:

                  (a) Each Bank shall have received a duly executed copy of this
Agreement.

                  (b) The  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received  the Fee
Letter and payment of all expenses owed to the Banks  pursuant to Section 9.5(a)
and of all Fees that are then due and payable.

                  (c)  Each  Bank  shall  have  received  duly  executed   Notes
complying with the provisions of Section 2.7.

                  (d) The Administrative Agent and each Bank shall have received
a favorable written opinion of Borrower's legal counsel, dated as of the Closing
Date and addressed to the Administrative  Agent and the Banks, to the effect set
forth in Exhibit "E" hereto,  and the Borrower hereby  instructs such counsel to
deliver such opinion to the Administrative Agent and each Bank.
                                      -31-
<PAGE>
                  (e) All legal matters incident to this Agreement and the first
Credit Event hereunder shall be reasonably  satisfactory to the Banks and to the
legal counsel for the Administrative Agent.

                  (f) The Administrative Agent and each Bank shall have received
(i) a copy of the  Certificate  or  Articles  of  Incorporation,  including  all
amendments thereto, of Borrower,  certified as of a recent date by the Secretary
of State of the state of Borrower's  organization,  and a certificate  from such
Secretary of State as of a recent date, as to the good standing of the Borrower;
(ii) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower dated
the Closing Date and certifying (A) that attached thereto is a true and complete
copy of the By-Laws of the  Borrower as in effect on the Closing Date and at all
times since a date prior to the date of the  resolutions  described  in the next
clause of this sentence,  (B) that attached  thereto is a true and complete copy
of  resolutions  duly  adopted  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Borrower
authorizing  the execution,  delivery and  performance of the Loan Documents and
the Credit Events  hereunder,  and that such resolutions have not been modified,
rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect,  (C) that the Certificate
or Articles of  Incorporation  of the Borrower  have not been amended  since the
date of the last  amendment  thereto shown on the  certificate  of good standing
furnished  pursuant  to  clause  (i)  above,  and (D) as to the  incumbency  and
specimen  signature of each  officer  executing  any Loan  Document or any other
document delivered in connection herewith on behalf of the Borrower; and (iii) a
certificate of another  officer as to the  incumbency and specimen  signature of
the Secretary or Assistant Secretary executing the certificate  pursuant to (ii)
above.

                  (g)  The  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received  (i)  a
certificate,  dated the Closing  Date and signed on behalf of the  Borrower by a
Financial  Officer of the Borrower,  confirming  compliance  with the conditions
precedent  set  forth  in  paragraphs  (b) and (c) of  Section  4.1,  and (ii) a
Quarterly  Certificate  as of the end of the  prior  fiscal  quarter  dated  the
Closing Date and signed on behalf of the Borrower by a Financial  Officer of the
Borrower.

                  (h) The  Administrative  Agent shall have received all amounts
due and payable  hereunder or under the other Loan  Documents on or prior to the
Closing Date.

                  (i) The  Administrative  Agent  shall have  received  evidence
satisfactory  to it that the Prior  Agreement has been or will be terminated and
all loans and other amounts outstanding  thereunder have been or will be paid in
full, on or prior to the Closing Date.
                                      -32-
<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE V

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         The  Borrower  covenants  and  agrees  that,  at  all  times  prior  to
Termination,  unless the Required Banks shall otherwise  consent in writing,  it
will:

         SECTION  5.1  Corporate  Existence.  Do or cause to be done all  things
necessary  to  preserve,  renew and keep in full force and effect its  corporate
existence,  material rights,  licenses,  permits and franchises  material to the
conduct of its business;  comply in all material  respects  with all  applicable
laws,  rules,  regulations,  and orders  (except that force majeure  events will
excuse  noncompliance so long as noncompliance  would not materially  impair the
creditworthiness  of the  Borrower)  whether now in effect or hereafter  enacted
where the  failure to so comply  would be  reasonably  likely to have a material
adverse effect on the business,  assets,  operations or condition  (financial or
otherwise) of the Borrower; and, at all times maintain and preserve all material
property  required  for the conduct of its  business as  presently  or hereafter
conducted.

         SECTION 5.2 Insurance. Maintain adequate insurance by financially sound
and  reputable  insurers of all  properties  of a character  usually  insured by
companies  engaged  in the same or a  similar  business  operating  on a similar
economic scale in the same vicinity  against loss or damage  resulting from fire
or other risks insured against by extended  coverage and of the kind customarily
insured against by such companies,  and maintain in full force and effect public
liability insurance against claims for personal injury, death or property damage
occurring  upon,  in,  about or in  connection  with  the use of any  properties
occupied  or  controlled  by it in such  amounts  as  shall be  customary  among
companies engaged in the same or similar  businesses and similarly  situated and
maintain such other insurance as may be required by law; provided, however, that
nothing in this Section 5.2 shall preclude the Borrower from being  self-insured
to the extent customary with companies in the same or similar business.

         SECTION 5.3 Taxes.  Pay and discharge  promptly any taxes,  assessments
and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits
or in respect of its material property (real or personal), before the same shall
become delinquent;  provided,  however, that neither the Borrower nor any of the
Subsidiaries  shall be required to pay and  discharge or to cause to be paid and
discharged any such obligation,  tax, assessment,  charge, levy or claim so long
as the  validity  or  amount  thereof  shall  be  contested  in  good  faith  by
appropriate  proceedings  and the Borrower or such  Subsidiary,  as appropriate,
shall set aside on its books such  reserves as are required by GAAP with respect
thereto.

         SECTION  5.4  Financial  Statements;  Reports,  etc. In the case of the
Borrower,  furnish to the  Administrative  Agent (as Information  subject to the
applicable requirements of Section 9.17 herein, if any):
                                      -33-
<PAGE>
                  (a) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal  year,  (i) a
consolidated balance sheet, (ii) a consolidated  statement of income and (iii) a
consolidated statement of cash flow, each showing the financial condition of the
Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  as of the  close  of such  fiscal  year and the
results of  operations  during such fiscal  year,  all the  foregoing  financial
statements to be prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited by an accounting firm
of nationally recognized standing with an unqualified opinion from such firm;

                  (b)  within 60 days  after the end of each  fiscal  quarter of
each fiscal year of the Borrower or, if earlier, when filed by the Borrower with
the SEC, Borrower's Form 10-Q for such fiscal quarter;

                  (c)  within 60 days  after the end of each  fiscal  quarter of
each fiscal year of the Borrower,  the Quarterly Certificate  certifying that to
the best of its, his or her  knowledge no Event of Default or Potential  Default
has occurred, or, if such an Event of Default or Potential Default has occurred,
specifying  the nature and extent  thereof and  accompanied  by a statement of a
Financial  Officer of the Borrower  specifying  any  corrective  action taken or
proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

                  (d) concurrently with each delivery of the statements referred
to in (a) and (b) above,  a certificate  of the firm or person  certifying  such
statements  (which  certificate,  when furnished by the independent  accountants
referred to in paragraph  (a) above,  may be limited to  accounting  matters and
disclaim responsibility for legal interpretations),  setting forth in reasonable
detail in the form of Exhibit F the calculation of financial measures and ratios
required to demonstrate compliance with the covenants, conditions and agreements
contained  in  Article  VI  hereof  and  the  calculation  of the  Loan  Pricing
Qualifiers,  all  determined  as of the  end  of  the  period  covered  by  said
statements;

                  (e) not later than the last  Business  Day of the first fiscal
quarter of each fiscal year of Borrower,  a financial  forecast of  consolidated
gross  operating  revenue  and  Consolidated  Net  Income  of  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries  for each  fiscal  quarter of the said fiscal year as at the end of
each such fiscal quarter  (collectively,  the "Operating  Plan"),  in a form and
containing  such  additional   information  as  the  Administrative   Agent  may
reasonably require;

                  (f) within 10 days of their being filed,  in addition to those
delivered  by  Borrower  to Bank  pursuant  to (b) above,  copies of all reports
(other than preliminary proxy statements) filed by the Borrower with the SEC (or
any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of the SEC)
under the requirements of the 1934 Act, or any successor statute; and

                  (g)  promptly,  from  time to  time,  such  other  information
regarding  the  operations,  business  affairs and  financial  condition  of the
Borrower as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
                                      -34-
<PAGE>
         SECTION 5.5 Litigation and Other Notices. Give the Administrative Agent
prompt written or telecopy notice of the following:

                  (a) any Event of Default or  Potential  Default and the steps,
if any, proposed to be taken by the Borrower with respect thereto;

                  (b) the filing or commencement  of any action,  suit or formal
proceeding  at law or in equity or by or before any court or hearing  officer of
any Governmental Authority, or any other event or condition,  which has resulted
in, or which is reasonably likely to result in, a material adverse change in the
business,  operations or condition  (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and
the  Subsidiaries  taken  as a whole  and  which  has not been  reported  in the
Borrower's most recent SEC filings on Form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K.

         SECTION  5.6  Maintaining  Records:  Access to  Premises  and  Records.
Maintain all financial  records in  accordance  with GAAP,  and upon  reasonable
notice permit  representatives of the Administrative Agent and each Bank to have
access to such financial  records and the premises of the Borrower at reasonable
times and to make such  excerpts from such records as such  representatives  may
deem necessary,  provided that each person obtaining  information shall hold all
confidential  information obtained in accordance with the restrictions set forth
in Section 9.17.

         SECTION 5.7 Use of  Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of the Loans solely for
the purposes set forth in Recitals hereto.
                                      -35-
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE VI

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         The  Borrower  covenants  and  agrees  that,  at  all  times  prior  to
Termination, it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to:

         SECTION 6.1 Liens. Incur,  create,  assume or permit to exist any Liens
on any of  Borrower's  property  or  assets,  or the  property  or assets of any
Subsidiary,  whether such property or assets are now owned or hereafter acquired
by  Borrower  or by a  Subsidiary,  or on any income or rights in respect of any
thereof, to secure any Indebtedness; provided that the foregoing shall not apply
to Liens on the property or assets of Borrower or any Subsidiary:

                           (i)  existing  on the date  hereof and  described  in
         Schedule  "6.1"  or,  with  respect  to the  property  or assets of any
         business association or sole proprietorship  merged with,  consolidated
         with or acquired by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries existing in
         such  property  or  assets  prior to such  merger,  consoli  dation  or
         acquisition  (excluding,   however,  such  Liens  as  are  incurred  in
         contemplation  of such  transaction),  provided  that such Liens  shall
         secure only those obligations that they secure on the date hereof or on
         the date of (and  immediately  prior to) such merger,  consolidation or
         acquisition, respectively;

                           (ii) in favor of the United States,  any state or any
         political  subdivision or agency thereof which arise from  Indebtedness
         of a sort  not  described  in any of  clauses  (a)  through  (e) of the
         definition of such term;

                           (iii) that are deposits to secure the  performance of
         bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness),  leases, statutory
         obligations,  surety  and  appeal  bonds,  performance  bonds and other
         obligations  of a like  nature  incurred  in  the  ordinary  course  of
         business;

                           (iv) that are Liens on property,  plant, improvements
         thereto or equipment acquired after the Closing Date; provided that (i)
         such  Liens are  incurred,  and the  Indebtedness  secured  thereby  is
         created,  before or contemporaneously  with such acquisition,  (ii) the
         Indebtedness  secured  thereby  does not  exceed  the cost of such real
         property or plant,  improvements or equipment,  and (iii) such security
         interests do not apply to any other  property or assets of the Borrower
         or any Subsidiary;

                           (v) which secure  Indebtedness  in an amount incurred
         during the term of this Agreement not greater than $50,000,000.00 minus
         the aggregate  purchase price of any Sale and  Lease-Back  Transactions
         entered into by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries during such term;
                                      -36-
<PAGE>
                           (vi) which (A) are incurred in the ordinary course of
         business or in the development of its real property,  (B) do not exceed
         individually  $1,000,000.00,  and (C) do not  exceed at any time in the
         aggregate $10,000,000.00; and

                           (vii) that are any extension, renewal, or replacement
         (or successive  extensions,  renewals,  or replacements) in whole or in
         part,  of any Lien  referred to in (i)  through  (v) hereof;  provided,
         however,  that (1) the  Lien  shall  be  limited  to all or part of the
         property subject to the Lien extended, renewed, or replaced and (2) the
         principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby shall not be increased
         by such extension, renewal or replacement.

         SECTION  6.2  Sale  and   Lease-Back   Transactions.   Enter  into  any
arrangement,  directly or indirectly,  with any Person  whereby  Borrower or any
Subsidiary  shall sell or transfer any property,  real or personal,  whether now
owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other
property that it intends to use for  substantially  the same purpose or purposes
as the property being sold or transferred (a "Sale and Lease-Back Transaction"),
provided  that  the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  may  enter  into any Sale and
Lease-Back  Transaction  in the  ordinary  course of business  if the  aggregate
purchase  price of all  property  subject  to Sale and  Lease-Back  Transactions
during  the term of this  Agreement  does  not  exceed  $50  Million  minus  the
aggregate  amount of any  Indebtedness  referred to in clause (v) of Section 6.1
which shall be incurred by the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  after the date of
this Agreement.

         SECTION 6.3 Subsidiary  Indebtedness.  Permit any  Indebtedness  of any
Subsidiary  to be  outstanding,  other  than (i)  intercorporate  debt and other
intercorporate  obligations exclusively among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
(ii)  Indebtedness  secured  by Liens in the  property  or assets of any  person
(including  the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary)  that,  if existing in property or
assets of the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  would be Liens  described in one or
more of subsections 6.1(i) through (vi), inclusive,  but only to the extent such
Indebtedness  is not greater  than the fair market  value of the  properties  or
assets  subject  to such  Liens at the  time  such  Liens  were  created,  (iii)
Indebtedness deemed to exist by reason of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions that,
if involving  properties or assets of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  would be
permitted  under  Section  6.2,  and (iv)  other  Indebtedness  (including  such
portions of  Indebtedness  permitted in part by the foregoing  subsections  (i),
(ii) or (iii) of this  Section 6.3 as are in excess of the amount so  permitted)
in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25 Million at any time.

         SECTION 6.4  Mergers,  Consolidations,  Sales of Assets.  Merge into or
consolidate  with any other person,  or permit any other person to merge into or
consolidate with it, or sell,  transfer,  lease or otherwise  dispose of (in one
transaction  or in a series of  transactions)  all or  substantially  all of its
assets or the assets of any  Material  Division,  whether now owned or hereafter
acquired,  or any  capital  stock  of any  Subsidiary  (including  any  sale  or
transfer,  by  merger  or  otherwise,  of one of the  Subsidiaries  or  Material
Divisions);  except that (a) the Borrower and any  Subsidiary may sell inventory
in the ordinary course of business and (b) if at the time thereof and
                                      -37-
<PAGE>
immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default or Potential Default
shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any wholly owned  Subsidiary may merge
into the  Borrower  in a  transaction  in which the  Borrower  is the  surviving
corporation, (ii) any wholly owned Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with
any other wholly owned Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity
is a wholly owned  Subsidiary  and no person other than the Borrower or a wholly
owned Subsidiary receives any consideration,  (iii) any other corporation may be
merged  with  a  Subsidiary  of  the  Borrower,   provided  that  the  surviving
corporation  shall be a  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower and no Event of Default or
Potential  Default  has  occurred  or would  occur as a result of such merger or
acquisition  and (iv) any other  corporation  may be merged into the Borrower if
the  Borrower  shall be the  surviving  corporation  and no Event of  Default or
Potential  Default  has  occurred  or would  occur as a result of such merger or
acquisition;  but provided  that in any merger of the Borrower  pursuant to (iv)
above, the surviving entity must be at least as creditworthy as the Borrower was
immediately  prior to such merger or acquisition and must expressly fully assume
in writing all obligations of the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

         SECTION 6.5  Business of Borrower.  Substantially  change the nature of
the business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

         SECTION  6.6  ERISA  Liabilities.  Create  or  suffer  to  exist  ERISA
Liabilities in an aggregate amount for all Plans in excess of $1,000,000.00.

         SECTION  6.7  Consolidated  Effective  Tangible  Net Worth.  Permit its
Consolidated Effective Tangible Net Worth at any time to be less than the sum of
(i)  $220,000,000.00,   (ii)  the  aggregate  of  fifty  percent  (50%)  of  the
Consolidated Net Income for each fiscal quarterly  period,  commencing with that
fiscal  quarterly  period ending  September 30, 1996,  and (iii) ninety  percent
(90%) of the aggregate net increase in  Stockholders  Equity after September 30,
1996 arising from either the issuance and sale of  additional  capital  stock or
the conversion of any debt securities into its capital stock.  The  Consolidated
Effective Tangible Net Worth shall not be reduced by any Consolidated Net Income
for a fiscal  quarterly  period  that is less than zero (i.e.  a net  deficit or
loss).  If the Borrower shall not have  delivered  timely  financial  statements
under Section 5.4 which permit Bank to determine  whether a Potential Default or
Event of Default under this Section  exists,  the Bank shall be entitled to take
any and all  actions  available  to it upon the  occurrence  of such an Event of
Default,  which shall be deemed to have occurred upon the last day of the period
covered by such financial statements.

         SECTION  6.8  Debt/Worth  Ratio.  At any  time,  permit  the  ratio  of
Consolidated  Debt to  Consolidated  Effective  Tangible Net Worth to be greater
than 1.0 to 1.0.

         SECTION  6.9 EBITDA  Coverage  Ratio.  At any time,  permit  Borrower's
EBITDA Coverage Ratio to be less than 3.0 to 1.0.

         SECTION 6.10  Continued  Profitability.  For any fiscal year or any two
consecutive fiscal quarterly periods, incur Consolidated Net Income of less than
zero (i.e., a net deficit or loss).
                                      -38-
<PAGE>
         SECTION  6.11  Quick  Ratio.  At any time,  permit the ratio of Current
Assets to Current  Liabilities  to be less than (a) 0.70 to 1.0 until the fiscal
quarter ended September 30, 1997; and (b) 1.0 to 1.0 thereafter.

         SECTION 6.12 Subordinated Indebtedness.

                  (a) Amend or modify the terms of any Subordinated Indebtedness
if as a result such terms would become less favorable to the Banks.

                  (b) Amend or modify the covenants or default provisions of any
Subordinated  Indebtedness if as a result such covenants or provisions  would be
more restrictive of the Borrower.

                  (c) Cause or permit any  Subordinated  Indebtedness  to become
due prior to the Expiration Date.

                  (d) Directly or indirectly prepay, redeem, purchase,  defease,
retire or otherwise acquire for value any Subordinated Indebtedness.
                                      -39-
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE VII

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         SECTION 7.1 Events of Default.  In case of the  happening of any of the
following events (herein called "Events of Default"):

                  (a) default  shall be made in the payment of any  principal of
         any Loan, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at
         the due date thereof or by  acceleration  thereof or otherwise and such
         default  shall  continue for a period of five (5)  Business  Days after
         such default;

                  (b) default  shall be made in the  payment of any  interest on
         any Loan or any Fee,  indemnification  amount or any other  amount  due
         from the  Borrower  under  the Loan  Documents  (other  than an  amount
         referred  to in (a) above),  when and as the same shall  become due and
         payable,  and such  default  shall  continue  for a period  of five (5)
         Business  Days after the  earlier of (i) the day on which a  Designated
         Officer  knows or should have known of such  default in the exercise of
         prudent business  practices  customary to the industry and (ii) receipt
         by the Borrower of written or telecopy  notice from the  Administrative
         Agent of such default;

                  (c) any  representation or warranty made or deemed made by the
         Borrower  in  connection  with the  Loan  Documents  or in any  report,
         certificate or other instrument  furnished by the Borrower  pursuant to
         the Loan Documents or with the Borrowings hereunder shall prove to have
         been false or misleading in any material respect when made or delivered
         or when deemed made in accordance with the terms hereof;  provided that
         if any such breach of  representation or warranty has been subsequently
         remedied  (such that if made or given as of the date of remedy it is no
         longer false or misleading in any material respect) and such breach has
         caused no material  adverse  effect on the rights or  interests  of any
         Bank under this  Agreement,  such breach  shall no longer  constitute a
         Potential Default or Event of Default hereunder.

                  (d) default shall be made in the due observance or performance
         of any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed on the part of
         the  Borrower  contained  in  Section  5.1 or in  Article  VI, and with
         respect only to Section 5.1 (other than the covenant in such Section to
         preserve its corporate  existence)  and Section 6.1, such default shall
         continue for a period of thirty (30) calendar days after the earlier of
         (i) the day on which a Designated Officer knows or should have known of
         such default in the exercise of prudent business practices customary to
         the  industry  and (ii)  receipt by the Borrower of written or telecopy
         notice from the Administrative Agent of such default;
                                      -40-
<PAGE>
                  (e) default shall be made in the due observance or performance
         of any  other  covenant,  condition  or  agreement  to be  observed  or
         performed on the part of the Borrower  pursuant to the terms hereof and
         such default shall remain unremedied for more than thirty (30) calendar
         days after the earlier of (i) the day on which a Designated  Officer of
         Borrower  knows or should have known of such default in the exercise of
         prudent  business  practices  customary to the industry or (ii) written
         notice of such default shall have been given to a Designated Officer by
         the Administrative Agent;

                  (f) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to make
         when due any payment (of whatever  amount) on Indebtedness  aggregating
         in excess of $1,000,000.00 (whether due by scheduled maturity, required
         prepayment,  acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall
         continue after the applicable  grace period,  if any,  specified in the
         agreement or instrument  relating to such Indebtedness,  or any failure
         by the  Borrower to perform any covenant or agreement on its part to be
         performed  under any  agreement or  instrument  evidencing  or security
         relating to any Indebtedness in excess of $1,000,000.00 shall result in
         the  acceleration of the maturity of a portion of such  Indebtedness in
         excess of $100,000.00;

                  (g)  the  Borrower  or  any  Material   Subsidiary  shall  (i)
         voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking relief
         under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other Federal, state or
         foreign  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or similar  law,  (ii) consent to the
         institution  of,  or fail to  controvert  in a timely  and  appropriate
         manner,  any such proceeding or the filing of any such petition,  (iii)
         apply  for  or  consent  to the  appointment  of a  receiver,  trustee,
         custodian, sequestrator or similar official for such corporation or for
         a substantial  part of its property,  (iv) file an answer admitting the
         material  allegations  of a  petition  filed  against  it in  any  such
         proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors,
         (vi) become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to
         pay its debts as they become due,  or (vii) take  corporate  action for
         the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

                  (h)  an  involuntary  proceeding  shall  be  commenced  or  an
         involuntary   petition   shall  be  filed  in  a  court  of   competent
         jurisdiction  seeking  (i) relief in respect of the  Borrower or any of
         its Material  Subsidiaries or of a substantial  part of the property of
         any of them  under  Title 11 of the  United  States  Code or any  other
         Federal,  state or foreign bankruptcy,  insolvency or similar law, (ii)
         the  appointment of a receiver,  trustee,  custodian,  sequestrator  or
         similar  official for the Borrower or any of its Material  Subsidiaries
         or for a substantial  part of the property of any of them, or (iii) the
         winding-up  or  liquidation  of the  Borrower  or  any of its  Material
         Subsidiaries;   and  such   proceeding  or  petition   shall   continue
         undismissed
                                      -41-
<PAGE>
         for 60 days or an order or  decree  approving  or  ordering  any of the
         foregoing shall be entered;

                  (i) either of (A) the occurrence of any one or more Reportable
         Events  or  (B) a  failure  to  make a  "required  payment"  under  the
         provisions  of Section  412(n)(1) of the Code shall have  occurred with
         respect  to any Plan or Plans and the  occurrence  of either (A) or (B)
         above shall have  resulted in any of (1)  liability  of the Borrower to
         the  PBGC or to one or more  Plans  in an  aggregate  amount  exceeding
         $1,000,000.00,  (2) the  termination of the respective Plan or Plans by
         the PBGC, (3) the appointment by the appropriate United States District
         Court of a  trustee  to  administer  such  Plan or Plans or (4) for the
         imposition of a Lien in favor of such Plan or Plans;

                  (j) any material  provision of the Loan Documents ceases to be
         valid and binding on or enforceable against the Borrower;

                  (k) the  entry of any  non-appealable  judgment  in  excess of
         seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of Borrower's  Consolidated  Tangible
         Net Worth against the Borrower or any Material  Subsidiary  that is not
         adequately covered by insurance; or

                  (l) there shall have occurred a Change in Control.

         SECTION 7.2 Remedies.  Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, and
at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the  Administrative
Agent, shall, at the sole option of the Required Banks and if so directed by the
Required Banks,  by written or telecopy notice to the Borrower,  take any of the
following actions, plus any other actions provided for under this Agreement, the
Loan Documents or applicable law, at the same or different times:

                           (A) terminate forthwith any or all Commitments of the
                  Banks, and

                           (B) declare  any or all of the Loans to be  forthwith
                  due and  payable,  whereupon  the  principal  of  such  Loans,
                  together with accrued  interest thereon and any unpaid accrued
                  Fees  and  all  other  liabilities  of  the  Borrower  accrued
                  hereunder and under the Notes,  shall become forthwith due and
                  payable  together with interest thereon as provided in Section
                  2.9, without presentment,  demand, protest or any other notice
                  of any kind, all of which are hereby  expressly  waived by the
                  Borrower,  anything  contained  herein  or in any  Note to the
                  contrary notwithstanding;
                                      -42-
<PAGE>
provided,  however,  that in the  case  of an  Event  of  Default  specified  in
paragraph  (g) or (h)  above  involving  the  Borrower,  without  notice  to the
Borrower  or any  other  act by  the  Administrative  Agent  or the  Banks,  the
Commitments shall  automatically  terminate and all Loans together with all such
interest,  Fees and other amounts, shall become immediately due and payable, all
without  presentment,  demand,  protest or any other notice of any kind,  all of
which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower,  anything contained herein or
in any Note to the contrary notwithstanding.

         SECTION 7.3 Occurrence and  Declaration of an Event of Default.  If the
Administrative  Agent obtains actual  knowledge of the occurrence of an Event of
Default,  the  Administrative  Agent shall,  within  three (3) Business  Days of
obtaining such knowledge,  give written notice of such occurrence to each of the
Banks. In addition, if any Bank obtains actual knowledge of the occurrence of an
Event of Default,  that Bank shall,  within three (3) Business Days of obtaining
such  knowledge,  give written notice of such  occurrence to the  Administrative
Agent and the Administrative  Agent shall give written notice of such occurrence
to each of the Banks.
                                      -43-
<PAGE>
                                  ARTICLE VIII

                  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT; INTERBANK AGREEMENT

         SECTION  8.1  Appointment.   In  order  to  expedite  the  transactions
contemplated  by this Agreement,  Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is hereby  appointed to
act as  Administrative  Agent on behalf of the Banks.  In addition,  NBD Bank is
hereby appointed as Co-Agent.  Each of the Banks, and each subsequent  holder of
any  Note  by  its  acceptance  thereof,   hereby  irrevocably   authorizes  the
Administrative  Agent to take such  actions on its behalf and to  exercise  such
powers as are specifically  delegated to the  Administrative  Agent by the terms
and  provisions  hereof  and of the other  Loan  Documents,  together  with such
actions and powers as are  reasonably  incidental  thereto.  The  Administrative
Agent is hereby expressly  authorized by the Banks,  without hereby limiting any
implied  authority,  (a) to  receive  on behalf of the  Banks  all  payments  of
principal  of and  interest on the Loans and all other  amounts due to the Banks
hereunder,  and  promptly to  distribute  to each Bank its proper  share of each
payment so received in  accordance  with this  Agreement;  (b) to give notice on
behalf of each of the Banks to the  Borrower  of any Default or Event of Default
specified  in this  Agreement  of which  the  Administrative  Agent  has  actual
knowledge  acquired  in  connection  with  its  agency  hereunder;  and  (c)  to
distribute to each Bank copies of all notices,  financial  statements  and other
materials  delivered by the Borrower  pursuant to this  Agreement as received by
the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 8.2 Liability.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its
directors,  officers, employees or agents shall be liable as such for any action
taken or omitted by any of them  except for its or his own gross  negligence  or
wilful   misconduct,   or  be  responsible   for  any  statement,   warranty  or
representation  herein or the contents of any document  delivered in  connection
herewith,  or be required to  ascertain  or to make any inquiry  concerning  the
performance  or  observance  by the  Borrower  of any of the terms,  conditions,
covenants or agreements contained in any Loan Document. The Administrative Agent
shall not be  responsible  to the Banks or the  holders of the Notes for the due
execution,  genuineness,  validity,  enforceability  or  effectiveness  of  this
Agreement,  the  Notes or any  other  Loan  Documents  or other  instruments  or
agreements. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as
the owner thereof for all purposes  hereof until it shall have received from the
payee of such Note notice,  given as provided herein,  of the transfer  thereof.
The  Administrative  Agent shall in all cases be fully  protected in acting,  or
refraining from acting, in accordance with written instructions signed by either
the Required Banks (if the consent of only the Required Banks is required by the
provisions of this  Agreement with respect to an issue) or all the Banks (if the
consent of all the Banks is required by the  provisions of this  Agreement  with
respect to an issue),  as  applicable,  and,  except as  otherwise  specifically
provided herein,  such  instructions and any action or inaction pursuant thereto
shall be binding on all the Banks and each  subsequent  holder of any Note.  The
Administrative  Agent shall,  in the absence of knowledge  to the  contrary,  be
entitled to rely on any  instrument or document  believed by it in good faith to
be genuine and  correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper  Person or
Persons.  Neither the Administrative  Agent nor any of its directors,  officers,
employees or agents shall have any
                                      -44-
<PAGE>
responsibility  to the  Borrower  on  account  of the  failure  of or  delay  in
performance or breach by any Bank of any of its obligations  hereunder or to any
Bank on account of the failure of or delay in performance or breach by any other
Bank or the Borrower of any of their respective  obligations  hereunder or under
any  other  Loan   Document  or  in  connection   herewith  or  therewith.   The
Administrative  Agent may  execute  any and all duties  hereunder  by or through
agents or  employees  and  shall be  entitled  to rely upon the  advice of legal
counsel  selected by it with respect to all matters arising  hereunder and shall
not be liable for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it in accordance
with the advice of such counsel.

         SECTION 8.3 Action by Administrative Agent.

                  (a) The Banks hereby acknowledge that the Administrative Agent
shall be under no duty to take any discretionary action permitted to be taken by
it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement  unless it shall be requested in
writing to do so by the Required Banks.

                  (b)  Unless in each case  consented  to in  writing by all the
Banks,  the  Administrative  Agent  shall not (i) agree to the  modification  or
waiver of any of the terms of any of the Loan Documents,  or (ii) consent to any
act or  omission  by the  Borrower,  or (iii)  exercise  any  rights  which  the
Administrative  Agent may have with respect to the Loans,  the Notes,  or any of
the other Loan Documents, if any such agreement,  modification,  waiver, consent
or exercise would:

                           (i) change or modify the interest  rate and repayment
         provisions set forth in the Loan Documents;

                           (ii) increase the Maximum Commitment;

                           (iii) extend the Expiration Date of the Loans;

                           (iv)  postpone  any date for  payment or forgive  the
         payment of  principal  of, or interest  on, the Loans or the payment of
         any other sum due under the Loan Documents;

                           (v) waive any Event of Default;

                           (vi) allow any assignment by Borrower of any right or
         interest in the Loan Documents;

                           (vii)  change or  modify  the  Fees,  other  than the
         Agency Fee, or the payment of such Fees; or
                                      -45-
<PAGE>
                           (viii)  amend or modify the  provisions  of  Sections
         2.13, 2.14,  2.16,  2.19, 9.5, 9.6, 9.8(b) or this Section 8.3(b),  the
         definition of "Required Banks," or Section 6.7 through Section 6.12.

                  (c) Upon receipt of a Borrowing Notice from the Borrower,  the
Administrative  Agent  shall  provide  to each  Bank a  telecopy  notice of such
Borrowing (or telephone  notice promptly  confirmed by telecopy) (i) in the case
of a LIBOR  Borrowing,  not later than 9:30 a.m.,  Arizona time,  three Business
Days  before a  proposed  LIBOR  Borrowing,  and (b) in the case of a Base  Rate
Borrowing,  not later than 9:30 a.m.,  Arizona  time,  on the  Business Day of a
proposed Base Rate Borrowing.

                  (d) The Administrative Agent agrees to distribute to each Bank
by 4:00 p.m.,  Arizona time, its pro rata share of each payment or prepayment of
principal of any Loan,  each payment of interest on the Loans,  and each payment
of the  Commitment Fee and Facility Fee that is received from the Borrower prior
to 12:00  noon,  Arizona  time.  Any such  payments  received  after 12:00 noon,
Arizona  time,  on any Business  Day shall be made  available to the Banks on or
before 4:00 p.m., Arizona time, on the immediately following Business Day.

                  (e) The Administrative  Agent agrees to distribute promptly to
each  Bank  a copy  of all  Information  received  from  the  Borrower  and  all
amendments and modifications of the Loan Documents.

                  (f) The Administrative  Agent agrees to distribute or cause to
be  distributed  no later than thirty  (30) days after the Closing  Date to each
Bank a copy of the Loan Documents.

         SECTION 8.4 Resignation.  The Administrative Agent may not, without the
consent of the Borrower,  resign at any time.  Upon receiving such consent,  and
subject to giving 30 days' prior written notice to the Banks, the Administrative
Agent may resign as Administrative  Agent hereunder.  Upon any such resignation,
the Required Banks, with the consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be
unreasonably  withheld),  shall  have the  right  to  appoint  from the  Banks a
successor.  If no successor  shall have been so appointed by the Required  Banks
and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the Administrative
Agent gives notice of its  resignation,  then the  Administrative  Agent may, on
behalf of the Banks,  appoint a successor  Administrative Agent which shall be a
bank with an office in Phoenix,  Arizona,  having a combined capital and surplus
of at least $50,000,000.00 or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance
of any appointment as  Administrative  Agent hereunder by a successor bank, such
successor  shall  succeed  to and become  vested  with all the  rights,  powers,
privileges  and duties of the retiring  Administrative  Agent and such  retiring
Administrative  Agent  shall be  discharged  from  its  duties  and  obligations
hereunder.   After  the  Administrative  Agent's  resignation   hereunder,   the
provisions  of this  Article and  Section  9.5 shall  continue in effect for its
benefit in respect  of any  actions  taken or omitted to be taken by it while it
was acting as an Administrative Agent.
                                      -46-
<PAGE>
         SECTION  8.5  Agent as  Bank.  With  respect  to the  Loans  made by it
hereunder and the Notes issued to it, the Administrative Agent in its individual
capacity  and not as an  Administrative  Agent  shall  have the same  rights and
powers as any  other  Bank and may  exercise  the same as though it were not the
Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept
deposits from,  lend money to and generally  engage in any kind of business with
the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate  thereof as if it were not the
Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 8.6 Ownership and Possession of Loan Documents. Each Bank shall
own an undivided  interest in the Borrowings and the Loan Documents equal to its
pro rata Commitment from time to time. The  Administrative  Agent shall hold the
Loan  Documents  in its  possession,  as  agent,  at  its  office  at  100  West
Washington,   Phoenix,   Arizona  85003,  or  at  such  other  location  as  the
Administrative  Agent shall designate in writing to the Banks,  for the pro rata
benefit  of itself as one of the  Banks and each of the other  Banks;  provided,
however,  that the  Administrative  Agent shall deliver to each Bank an original
promissory note executed by the Borrower and evidencing such Bank's  Commitment.
The Administrative Agent shall keep and maintain complete and accurate files and
records of all matters  pertaining  to the  Borrowings.  Upon  reasonable  prior
notice to the  Administrative  Agent by a Bank,  the files and records  shall be
made  available to such Bank and its respective  representatives  and agents for
inspection and copying during normal business hours.

         SECTION  8.7  Indemnification.  Each Bank agrees (i) to  reimburse  the
Administrative  Agent, on demand,  in the amount of its pro rata share (based on
its Commitment  hereunder) of any expenses incurred for the benefit of the Banks
by the Administrative  Agent,  including counsel fees and compensation of agents
and employees paid for services rendered on behalf of the Banks, which shall not
have been reimbursed by the Borrower and (ii) to indemnify and hold harmless the
Administrative Agent and any of its directors, officers, employees or agents, on
demand,  in the  amount of such pro rata  share,  from and  against  any and all
liabilities, taxes, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
suits,  costs,  expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which
may be imposed on,  incurred by or  asserted  against it in its  capacity as the
Administrative  Agent or any of them in any way  relating  to or arising  out of
this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document or any action taken or omitted by it
or any of them under this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document,  to the extent
the same shall not have been reimbursed by the Borrower; provided that no Person
shall be liable to the Administrative Agent for any portion of such liabilities,
obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs,
expenses  or  disbursements  resulting  from  the  gross  negligence  or  wilful
misconduct  of the  Administrative  Agent  or any  of its  directors,  officers,
employees or agents.

         SECTION 8.8 Independent Credit Analysis. Each Bank acknowledges that it
has,  independently  and without reliance upon the  Administrative  Agent or any
other  Bank  and  based  on such  documents  and  information  as it has  deemed
appropriate,  made its own  credit  analysis  and  decision  to enter  into this
Agreement.  Each Bank also acknowledges that it will,  independently and without
reliance  upon the  Administrative  Agent or any  other  Bank and  based on such
documents  and  information  as it shall  from  time to time  deem  appropriate,
continue to make its
                                      -47-
<PAGE>
own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this  Agreement
or any other Loan  Document,  any related  agreement or any  document  furnished
hereunder or thereunder.

         SECTION 8.9 Process for Obtaining Approval of the Banks.

                  (a) With  respect  to  obtaining  the  consent,  approval,  or
determination of all of the Banks or of the Required Banks,  the  Administrative
Agent or any Bank may request  that the Banks make a  determination  pursuant to
this Agreement.  In the case of a request by any such Bank, the request shall be
made through the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall request
a  determination  of  the  Banks  in  accordance  with  this  Section  8.9.  All
communications from the Administrative  Agent to the Banks requesting the Banks'
determination, consent, approval, disapproval and/or joinder shall:

                           (i) Be given in the form of a written  notice to each
         of the Banks;

                           (ii) Be accompanied by a description of the matter or
         thing as to which such determination, approval, consent, disapproval or
         joinder is  requested,  and shall  advise  each of the Banks where such
         matter  or  thing  may be  inspected,  or  shall  otherwise  adequately
         describe the matter or issue to be resolved;

                           (iii) Include,  to the extent not previously provided
         to the Banks, all written materials (to the extent necessary to make an
         informed  decision) and a description of all oral  information  (to the
         extent  necessary  to  make  an  informed  decision)  provided  to  the
         Administrative  Agent in respect of the matter or issue to be resolved;
         and

                           (iv)    Include    such   other    information    and
         recommendations  as  the  Administrative   Agent  may  reasonably  deem
         appropriate.

                  (b) Subject to  Paragraph  (c) of this  Section 8.9, the Banks
shall reply within seven (7) Business Days after such written notice is given by
the Administrative  Agent;  provided,  however, that if the Administrative Agent
notifies the Banks that, pursuant to the Loan Documents, the matter with respect
to which such consent, approval,  disapproval or joinder is sought requires that
the  Administrative  Agent respond within a certain time period and/or  provides
that if a response is not given  within a certain  time period such  approval or
consent shall be deemed given, the Banks shall reply by the earlier of (i) three
(3)  Business  Days  before  such time  period  expires  (as  designated  by the
Administrative  Agent) or (ii) five (5) Business Days after such written  notice
is given by the Administrative Agent.

                  (c)  With  respect  to each  Bank,  unless a Bank  shall  give
written  notice to the  Administrative  Agent that such Bank does  consent to or
approve any matter as to which such Bank's  consent or approval is sought within
the applicable time frame,  such Bank shall be deemed to have disapproved of and
not consented to such recommendation or determination.
                                      -48-
<PAGE>
         SECTION 8.10  Communications to the Banks. All communications  from the
Borrower to the Banks relating to the Loan Documents and the Borrowings shall be
sent by or through the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 8.11 Relationship with the Borrower. Consistent with the agency
established  hereunder,  the Banks acknowledge and agree that the Administrative
Agent,  in  accordance  with its  respective  rights and  duties  under the Loan
Documents,   shall  have  the  sole  and   exclusive   authority   to  bind  the
Administrative  Agent and the Banks with respect to matters relating to the Loan
Documents.  To the extent that any matter has been  approved by all of the Banks
or by the Required Banks in accordance  with the  provisions of this  Agreement,
the Administrative Agent is authorized to execute such documents and instruments
as the  Administrative  Agent may deem  prudent to  evidence  and  confirm  such
approval.

         SECTION 8.12  Payments to or by the Banks.

                  (a) The Banks  shall be  entitled to interest on the amount of
Borrowings  held by each  Bank  for the  period  of  time  such  Borrowings  are
outstanding  at the rates set forth in this  Agreement,  to the extent that such
payments are  actually  received  from the  Borrower.  If permitted  pursuant to
Section 2.9 of this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall charge and collect
interest at the Default Rate unless the Required Banks otherwise agree.

                  (b) On the Closing Date, the Facility Fee shall be distributed
to each  Bank in an  amount  equal to 0.10% of the  Commitment  of such  bank in
effect on the Closing Date.

                  (c) Other Fees to the extent  applicable  shall be paid to the
Banks in accordance with Section 2.6.

                  (d) Amounts paid by the Borrower  pursuant to any provision of
the Loan Documents providing for payment,  compensation, or reimbursement to one
or more,  but not  necessarily  all, of the Banks,  shall be paid to the Bank or
Banks incurring such expenses or otherwise entitled to compensation under any of
those provisions, with each Bank entitled to receive any payment, reimbursement,
or  compensation  pursuant  to any of such  Sections or other  provisions  being
obligated to provide to the Administrative  Agent and the Borrower a certificate
setting forth in  reasonable  detail the basis for the amount of any request for
compensation,  payment or  reimbursement  under any of those  Sections  or other
provisions.

                  (e)  Regular  monthly  payments  of  interest  and  any  other
payments to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Banks (other than payments
to be applied to the outstanding principal amount of Borrowings,  which payments
will be applied as provided  in Section  8.13),  received by the  Administrative
Agent shall be made available to the Banks entitled  thereto in accordance  with
Section 8.3(d).
                                      -49-
<PAGE>
                  (f) If and to the  extent  any Bank  shall  not have  made any
payment  required  pursuant  to  Section  2.4,  such  Bank  agrees  to  pay  the
Administrative Agent,  forthwith on demand, such amount,  together with interest
thereon at the Federal  Funds  Rate,  for each day from such date until the date
such amount is paid to the  Administrative  Agent as provided in Section 2.4(c).
The failure of any Bank to make available to the Administrative Agent any amount
required  pursuant  to  Section  2.4 shall  not  relieve  any other  Bank of its
obligation  hereunder to make available as aforesaid such payment,  as specified
above,  nor shall any Bank be relieved of its  obligations to make such payments
for any other reason.

                  (g) Funds shall be transferred to the Banks in accordance with
the funds transfer  instructions  given to the  Administrative  Agent and by the
Administrative  Agent to the  Banks  from  time to time on or  before  the times
specified in Section 8.3(d).

                  (h) If and to the extent the  Administrative  Agent  shall not
have made any  payment  required  pursuant  to  Section  8.3(d)  to a Bank,  the
Administrative  Agent agrees to pay such Bank forthwith on demand,  such amount,
together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate, for each day from such
date until the date such amount is paid pursuant to Section 8.3(d).

         SECTION 8.13 Application of Payments.  All monies collected or received
by the  Administrative  Agent on account of the Loans or in respect of  security
for the Loans,  directly or indirectly,  shall be applied in the following order
of  priority,  except to the  extent  otherwise  required  by Article II of this
Agreement, in which case the provisions of Article II shall control:

                  (a) To  the  payment  of all  costs  and  expenses  due to the
Administrative Agent and/or the Banks pursuant to the Loan Documents,  including
costs incurred in collection of such monies, including,  without limitation, the
payment to the Banks of the amounts described in Section 8.12(d);

                  (b) To outstanding  interest on the Loans,  which amount shall
be allocated between the Banks in accordance with the actual principal amount of
Loans held by each Bank  throughout  the period in question as determined by the
Administrative  Agent  on a daily  basis;  provided,  however,  that if  amounts
received by the Administrative  Agent are not sufficient to pay in full all such
outstanding  interest on the Loans,  such amount  shall be  allocated  among the
Banks pro rata in  accordance  with the amount of Loans held by each Bank during
the period in question; and

                  (c) To the  payment of  principal  on the Loans in  accordance
with the principal amount of Loans held by each Bank.

         SECTION 8.14  Defaulting Banks.

                  (a) If for any reason any of the Banks shall fail or refuse to
abide by its obligations  under the Loan Documents  (each a "Defaulting  Bank"),
then, in addition to the rights
                                      -50-
<PAGE>
and remedies  that may be available  to the  Administrative  Agent and the other
Banks  at law  and in  equity,  but  subject  to the  notice  and  cure  periods
hereinafter  set forth,  such  Defaulting  Bank's  right to  participate  in the
administration   of  the  Loans  and  the  Loan  Documents,   including  without
limitation,  any rights to consent  to or direct any action or  inaction  of the
Administrative  Agent,  all of the  Banks,  or to be taken  into  account in the
calculation  of the Required Banks (other than the right to vote with respect to
a decision as to its Loans to extend the  Expiration  Date thereof,  or to amend
the  interest  rate and  repayment  provisions  thereof or to modify such Bank's
Commitment),  shall be suspended during the pendency of such failure or refusal.
A Bank  shall be deemed to be a  Defaulting  Bank if (i) such  Bank  shall  have
failed  to pay to the  Administrative  Agent any  amount  due  pursuant  to this
Agreement   within  five  (5)  Business  Days  after   written   notice  by  the
Administrative  Agent to such Bank stating such payment is due from such Bank to
the Administrative Agent; (ii) such Bank shall have failed to perform any of its
other  obligations  under this  Agreement or the Loan  Documents in any material
respect. and such failure shall not have been cured within 30 days after written
notice  by the  Administrative  Agent to such Bank of such  failure,  or if such
failure cannot reasonably be cured within such 30 day period, within such longer
period of time as may be necessary to complete  such cure,  so long as such Bank
commences such cure within such 30-day period and thereafter  diligently pursues
such cure to completion within not more than 120 days after such written notice;
or (iii) such Bank shall institute or be subject to any bankruptcy,  insolvency,
receivership,   conservatorship,    reorganization,   liquidation   or   similar
proceedings  under state or federal  law;  provided,  however,  in the case of a
failure  described in clause (i) or clause (ii) of this sentence,  if within the
5-Business Day period  described in clause (i) or the 30 day period described in
clause (ii),  as  applicable,  the Bank in question in good faith  disputes such
default  asserting  that such default has not occurred  (and  provided that such
Bank has satisfied its funding obligations pursuant to the provisions of Section
2.4),  such Bank shall not be deemed to be a Defaulting  Bank until such Bank is
found to be in default pursuant to a final judicial or arbitration determination
and such Bank does not thereafter take the action  necessary to cure the default
within 10 Business Days following the date of the final determination.

                  (b) With  respect to each  Defaulting  Bank,  any Current Bank
shall,  in addition to any other rights or remedies  available at law or equity,
be entitled, in the case of the failure of a Defaulting Bank to pay its pro rata
share (the "Defaulting Bank's Share") in a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.4, to
pay to the Administrative Agent the Defaulting Bank's Share (pro rata if made by
more than one Current  Bank,  based on the pro rata shares of the Current  Banks
making the  payment).  If one or more of the Current  Banks pays the  Defaulting
Banks'  Share,  in addition to any other  rights and  remedies  available to the
Banks,  each  Current  Bank  making  such  payment may elect to do either of the
following with respect to the payment made by such Current Bank:

                           (i) Notify the Administrative Agent to adjust the pro
         rata shares of the Defaulting  Bank and the Current Bank making payment
         of the Defaulting Bank's Share,  allocating the Defaulting Bank's Share
         to the Current Bank as of the date the Loan was made; or
                                      -51-
<PAGE>
                           (ii) Receive all amounts  which the  Defaulting  Bank
         would otherwise be entitled to receive  pursuant to this Agreement with
         respect to the Defaulting  Bank's Share  (including  interest  accruing
         under the Loan  Documents on the Loan, to the extent of the  Defaulting
         Bank's  Share of such Loan),  pro rata  according to the portion of the
         Defaulting  Bank's Share paid by such Current Bank,  until such Current
         Bank has been repaid the full amount of the  Defaulting  Bank's  Share,
         together with accrued interest paid by the Borrower under the Agreement
         with respect thereto.

         SECTION 8.15 Purchase of Defaulting Bank's Interest After Default. If a
Bank  becomes a Defaulting  Bank under  Section  8.14,  each Bank which is not a
Defaulting Bank (a "Current Bank") shall have the right, but not the obligation,
in its sole  discretion  to acquire (or if more than one Current Bank  exercises
such right,  each such  Current  Bank shall have the right to acquire,  pro rata
according  to its pro rata  shares,  or in such  other  proportions  as they may
mutually  agree),  the interest in the  Commitment and the Loans of a Defaulting
Bank. Upon any such purchase,  the Defaulting  Bank's interest in the Commitment
and the Loans and its  rights  hereunder  as a Bank  (but not its  liability  in
respect  thereof  or under  the Loan  Documents  or this  Agreement  for  events
occurring prior to such purchase)  shall terminate at the date of purchase,  and
the Defaulting Bank shall promptly execute all documents reasonably requested to
surrender  and transfer such interest  including an  Assignment  and  Acceptance
agreement and the canceled Note shall be returned to the Borrower. Current Banks
exercising  purchase  rights under this Agreement must, as a precondition to the
exercise of such rights,  concurrently  exercise  their  corresponding  purchase
rights under this Agreement.

         SECTION 8.16 Purchase Price and Payment for Defaulting Bank's Interest.
The  purchase  price  for the  interest  in the  Commitment  and the  Loans of a
Defaulting  Bank  shall be  equal to the  total  outstanding  Loans  owed by the
Borrower  to the  Defaulting  Bank as of the  date of such  purchase,  including
without  limitation any outstanding  interest  related thereto up to the date of
such  purchase,  together  with any  accrued  but  unpaid  Fees  payable  to the
Defaulting  Bank  through  such  date.  Payment  of the  purchase  price for the
Defaulting  Bank's interest in the Commitment and the Loans so acquired shall be
made on the date of such purchase.
                                      -52-
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 9.1  Notices.  Notices and other  communications  provided  for
herein shall be in writing and shall be  delivered by hand or overnight  courier
service,  mailed or sent by  telecopy,  graphic  scanning  or other  telegraphic
communications equipment of the sending party, as follows:

                  (a) if to the Borrower, to it at 2355 West Chandler Boulevard,
         Chandler,   Arizona   85224,   Attention:   Treasurer   (Telecopy   No.
         602/917-4112);

                  (b) if to the Administrative Agent, to it at the following:

                           (i)      as to Borrowing Notices and as to payments,
                                    201 Third Street, San Francisco, California
                                    94103, Attention: Agency Department
                                    (Telecopy No. 415/512-9408); and

                           (ii)     as to all other notices and communications,
                                    100 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona
                                    85003, Attention: Mae G. DelaBarre #4101-
                                    251 (Telecopy No. 602/229-4758);

                  (c) if to a Bank,  to it at its address (or  telecopy  number)
         set forth in Schedule 2.1 or in the Assignment and Acceptance  pursuant
         to which such Bank shall have become a party hereto.

All notices and other  communications  given to any party  hereto in  accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement  shall be deemed to have been given on the
date of receipt if  delivered by hand or  overnight  courier  service or sent by
telecopy or other telegraphic  communications equipment of the sender, or on the
date five  Business  Days after  dispatch by  certified  or  registered  mail if
mailed,  in each case  delivered,  sent or mailed  (properly  addressed) to such
party as provided in this  Section or in  accordance  with the latest  unrevoked
direction from such party given in accordance with this Section.

         SECTION  9.2  Survival  of  Agreement.   All   covenants,   agreements,
representations   and  warranties  made  by  the  Borrower  herein  and  in  the
certificates  or other  instruments  prepared or delivered in connection with or
pursuant to this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document  shall be  considered to
have been relied upon by the Banks and shall  survive the making by the Banks of
the Loans,  and the execution and delivery to the Banks of the Notes  evidencing
such  Loans,  regardless  of any  investigation  made by the  Banks  or on their
behalf,  and shall  continue  in full force and  effect  until  Termination  has
occurred.
                                      -53-
<PAGE>
         SECTION 9.3 Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall become effective when
it shall have been  executed by the  Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent and
when the  Administrative  Agent shall have received  copies  hereof which,  when
taken  together,  bear the  signatures  of each Bank,  and  thereafter  shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower,  the Administrative Agent
and each Bank and their  respective  successors  and  assigns,  except  that the
Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest
herein without the prior consent of all the Banks and the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 9.4 Successors and Assigns.

                  (a) Whenever in this  Agreement  any of the parties  hereto is
referred  to,  such  reference  shall be deemed to include  the  successors  and
assigns of such party;  and all  covenants,  promises  and  agreements  by or on
behalf of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Banks that are contained
in this  Agreement  shall  bind and  inure to the  benefit  of their  respective
successors and assigns.

                  (b) Each  Bank at its own  expense  may  assign to one or more
assignees all or a portion of its interests,  rights and obligations  under this
Agreement  (including all or a portion of its  Commitment,  and the Loans at the
time owing to it and the Notes held by it); provided,  however,  that (i) except
in the case of an assignment to a Bank or an Affiliate of any Bank, the Borrower
and the  Administrative  Agent must give  their  prior  written  consent to such
assignment  (which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld),  (ii) each such
assignment  shall be of a  constant,  and not a varying,  percentage  of all the
assigning  Bank's rights and obligations  under this Agreement,  (iii) except in
the case of an assignment  to a Bank or an Affiliate of any Bank,  the amount of
the Commitment of the assigning Bank subject to each such assignment (determined
as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance  with respect to such assignment is
delivered to the Administrative  Agent) shall not be less than $10,000,000.00 or
such lesser  amount if such  amount is the entire  Commitment  of the  assigning
Bank, (iv) the parties to each such assignment  shall execute and deliver to the
Administrative  Agent an Assignment  and  Acceptance,  together with the Note or
Notes subject to such  assignment  and, except in the case of an assignment to a
Bank or an Affiliate of any Bank, a  processing  and  recordation  fee of $2,500
(which fee shall not in any way be the responsibility of the Borrower),  (v) the
assignee,  if it shall not be a Bank, shall deliver to the Administrative  Agent
an  Administrative  Details Reply Form and (vi) any increased costs by reason of
any such  assignment  will not be borne by the  Borrower.  Upon  acceptance  and
recording  pursuant to paragraph  (e) of this  Section  9.4,  from and after the
effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, which effective date
shall be at least  five  Business  Days  after the  execution  thereof,  (A) the
assignee  thereunder  shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest
assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance,  have all the rights and obligations
of a Bank under this Agreement and (B) the assigning Bank  thereunder  shall, to
the extent of the  interest  assigned  by such  Assignment  and  Acceptance,  be
released  from its  obligations  under this  Agreement  (and,  in the case of an
Assignment and Acceptance  covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning
Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Bank shall cease
                                      -54-
<PAGE>
to be a party  hereto (but shall  continue  to be  entitled  to the  benefits of
Sections  2.13,  2.15,  2.19 and 9.5,  as well as to any  Fees  accrued  for its
account hereunder and not yet paid)).

                  (c) By executing and delivering an Assignment and  Acceptance,
the assigning  Bank  thereunder and the assignee  thereunder  shall be deemed to
confirm to and agree with each other and the other  parties  hereto as  follows:
(i) such assigning  Bank warrants that it is the legal and  beneficial  owner of
the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that
its Commitment and the outstanding  balances of its Loans, without giving effect
to assignments thereof which have not become effective, are as set forth in such
Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) except as set forth in (i) above, such assigning
Bank makes no  representation  or warranty  and assumes no  responsibility  with
respect  to  any  statements,  warranties  or  representations  made  in  or  in
connection  with  this  Agreement,   or  the  execution,   legality,   validity,
enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any other
Loan Document or any other instrument or document  furnished  pursuant hereto or
the financial  condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the performance or
observance  by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary of any of its  obligations  under
this  Agreement,  any other Loan  Document or any other  instrument  or document
furnished pursuant hereto;  (iii) such assignee  represents and warrants that it
is legally  authorized to enter into such Assignment and  Acceptance;  (iv) such
assignee  confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement,  together with
copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.4
and such other  documents and  information as it has deemed  appropriate to make
its own  credit  analysis  and  decision  to  enter  into  such  Assignment  and
Acceptance;  (v) such assignee will  independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative  Agent,  such  assigning Bank or any other Bank and based on such
documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time,  continue to
make its own  credit  decisions  in  taking  or not  taking  action  under  this
Agreement;  (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative  Agent
to take such  action as agent on its behalf and to exercise  such  powers  under
this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof,
together with such powers as are reasonably  incidental thereto;  and (vii) such
assignee  agrees  that it will  perform in  accordance  with their terms all the
obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by
it as a Bank.

                  (d) The  Administrative  Agent  shall  maintain  at one of its
offices in Phoenix,  Arizona, a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered
to it and a  register  for the  recordation  of the names and  addresses  of the
Banks,  and the Commitment of, and principal  amount of the Loans owing to, each
Bank  pursuant  to the terms  hereof  from time to time  (the  "Register").  The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error and
the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Banks may treat each Person whose
name  is  recorded  in the  Register  pursuant  to the  terms  hereof  as a Bank
hereunder for all purposes of this  Agreement.  The Register  shall be available
for  inspection  by the Borrower and any Bank, at any  reasonable  time and from
time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

                  (e)  Upon  its  receipt  of a duly  completed  Assignment  and
Acceptance  executed by an assigning Bank and an assignee together with the Note
or Notes subject to such assignment,
                                      -55-
<PAGE>
an  Administrative  Details  Reply Form  completed  in  respect of the  assignee
(unless the assignee  shall already be a Bank  hereunder),  the  processing  and
recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) above and, if required, the written
consent of the Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent to such  assignment,  the
Administrative  Agent  shall (i) accept such  Assignment  and  Acceptance,  (ii)
record the information  contained  therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt
notice  thereof to the Borrower and the Banks.  Within five  Business Days after
receipt of notice, the Borrower,  at its own expense,  shall execute and deliver
to the  Administrative  Agent, in exchange for the surrendered  Note or Notes, a
new Note or Notes to the  order of such  assigning  Bank in a  principal  amount
equal to the applicable  Commitment retained by it. Such new Note or Notes shall
be in an aggregate  principal amount equal to the aggregate  principal amount of
such  surrendered  Note or Notes;  such new Notes shall be dated the date of the
surrendered Notes which they replace and shall otherwise be in substantially the
form of Exhibit C. Canceled Notes shall be returned to the Borrower.

                  (f) Each Bank may without  the consent of the  Borrower or the
Administrative  Agent sell participations to one or more banks or other entities
in  all  or a  portion  of its  rights  and  obligations  under  this  Agreement
(including  all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it and the
Notes held by it);  provided,  however,  that (i) such Bank's  obligations under
this  Agreement  shall  remain  unchanged,  (ii) such Bank shall  remain  solely
responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations,
(iii) the participating banks or other entities shall be entitled to the benefit
of the cost protection  provisions  contained in Sections 2.13, 2.15 and 2.19 to
the same extent as if they were Banks (however no  participating  bank or entity
shall be entitled to claim a greater  amount than could have been claimed by the
Bank  from whom the  participation  was  acquired)  and (iv) the  Borrower,  the
Administrative  Agent and the other  Banks  shall  continue  to deal  solely and
directly  with such Bank in connection  with such Bank's rights and  obligations
under this  Agreement,  and such Bank shall retain the sole right to enforce the
obligations of the Borrower  relating to the Loans and to approve any amendment,
modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement. No entity acquiring a
participation   pursuant  to  this   paragraph  (f)  shall  by  virtue  of  such
participation have any direct voting rights under this Agreement.

                  (g) Any  Bank or  participant  may,  in  connection  with  any
assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation  pursuant to
this Section 9.4,  disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed  assignee
or participant any information  relating to the Borrower  furnished to such Bank
by or on behalf of the Borrower;  provided that, prior to any such disclosure of
such  information,  each such assignee or  participant  or proposed  assignee or
participant  shall  execute an agreement  whereby such  assignee or  participant
shall agree to preserve the confidentiality of such information on terms no less
restrictive than those applicable to Banks pursuant to Section 9.17.

                  (h) Any Bank may at any time  assign all or any portion of its
rights  under this  Agreement  and the Notes  issued to it to a Federal  Reserve
Bank;  provided  that no such  assignment  shall  release a Bank from any of its
obligations hereunder.
                                      -56-
<PAGE>
                  (i) The  Borrower  shall  not  assign or  delegate  any of its
rights or duties hereunder without the prior written consent of the Banks.

         SECTION 9.5 Expenses; Indemnity.

                  (a) The  Borrower  agrees  to pay all  out-of-pocket  expenses
reasonably incurred by the Administrative  Agent and any Bank in connection with
the  preparation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection
with any  amendments,  modifications  or  waivers  of the  provisions  hereof or
thereof  (whether  or  not  the  transactions   hereby   contemplated  shall  be
consummated) or reasonably incurred by the Administrative  Agent and any Bank in
connection with the enforcement or protection of their rights in connection with
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection with the Loans made
or the Notes issued hereunder, including without limitation the reasonable fees,
charges and  disbursements of the counsel for the  Administrative  Agent and any
Bank, and, in connection with any such enforcement or protection, the reasonable
fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative  Agent and any
Bank.  The Borrower  further agrees that it shall  indemnify the  Administrative
Agent and any Bank from and hold them harmless  against any  documentary  taxes,
assessments  or  charges  made by any  Governmental  Authority  by reason of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

                  (b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent,
each  Bank  and  each  of  their  respective  affiliates,  directors,  officers,
employees  and agents (each such person being called an  "Indemnitee")  against,
and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims,  damages,
liabilities  and  related  expenses,  including  without  limitation  reasonable
counsel fees,  charges and  disbursements,  incurred by or asserted  against any
Indemnitee  arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of (i) the
execution  or  delivery  of this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document  or any
agreement or instrument  contemplated  thereby,  the  performance by the parties
thereto of their  respective  obligations  thereunder or the consummation of the
transactions  contemplated  thereby,  (ii) the use of the  proceeds of the Loans
pursuant  to the  request  of the  Borrower  or  (iii)  any  claim,  litigation,
investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any
Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any
Indemnitee,  be  available  to the extent  that such  losses,  claims,  damages,
liabilities  or  related  expenses  are  determined  by  a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross
negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

                  (c) The provisions of this Section shall remain  operative and
in full  force  and  effect  regardless  of the  expiration  of the term of this
Agreement,  the  consummation  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  the
repayment of any of the Loans, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or
provision of this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document,  or any  investigation
made by or on behalf of the  Administrative  Agent and any Bank. All amounts due
under this Section shall be payable on written demand therefor.
                                      -57-
<PAGE>
         SECTION 9.6 Right of Setoff. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.17,
if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing  and any Bank shall
have requested the Administrative Agent to declare the Loans immediately due and
payable pursuant to Article VII, each Bank is hereby  authorized at any time and
from time to time, to the fullest extent  permitted by law, to set off and apply
any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand,  provisional or final)
at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Bank to or for
the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations
of the Borrower now or hereafter  existing  under this  Agreement  and any other
Loan Documents held by such Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Bank shall
have made any demand  under this  Agreement  or such  other  Loan  Document  and
although such  obligations may be unmatured;  provided that such right of setoff
shall not apply to amounts which may be held in (i) trust accounts or (ii) asset
management  accounts,  including without  limitation  brokerage  accounts,  cash
management  accounts  or other  money  management  or  investment  accounts of a
non-depository  nature with any Bank. The rights of each Bank under this Section
are in addition to other rights and remedies  (including other rights of setoff)
which such Bank may have.

         SECTION 9.7 Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS
SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
ARIZONA  APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS  MADE AND TO BE ENFORCED  ENTIRELY  WITHIN THAT
STATE.

         SECTION 9.8 Waivers; Amendment.

                  (a) No failure or delay of a party  hereto in  exercising  any
power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single
or  partial  exercise  of  any  such  right  or  power,  or any  abandonment  or
discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power,  preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights
and remedies of the parties  hereunder  and under the other Loan  Documents  are
cumulative  and are not  exclusive  of any rights or  remedies  which they would
otherwise  have. No waiver of any provision of this  Agreement or any other Loan
Document or consent to any departure by a party  therefrom shall in any event be
effective  unless the same shall be permitted  by Paragraph  (b) of this Section
and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance
and for the purpose for which given.  No notice or demand on a party in any case
shall entitle that party to any other or further  notice or demand in similar or
other circumstances.

                  (b) Neither this  Agreement  nor any  provision  hereof may be
waived,  amended or modified  except  pursuant to an agreement or  agreements in
writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Banks; provided,  however,
that any such  agreement  shall have been  consented  to by all the Banks to the
extent required  pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.3(b);  provided further
that no such  agreement  shall amend,  modify or otherwise  affect the rights or
duties of the  Administrative  Agent hereunder without the prior written consent
of the Administrative  Agent. Each Bank and each holder of a Note shall be bound
by any waiver,  amendment or modification  authorized by this Section regardless
of whether its Note shall have
                                      -58-
<PAGE>
been marked to make reference thereto,  and any consent by any Bank or holder of
a Note pursuant to this Section shall bind any Person  subsequently  acquiring a
Note from it, whether or not such Note shall have been so marked.

         SECTION 9.9 Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding  anything herein
or in the Notes to the contrary,  if at any time the  applicable  interest rate,
together  with all  fees  and  charges  which  are  treated  as  interest  under
applicable law (collectively,  the "Charges"),  as provided for herein or in any
other document  executed in connection  herewith,  or otherwise  contracted for,
charged,  received,  taken or  reserved  by any Bank,  shall  exceed the maximum
lawful rate (the "Maximum  Rate") which may be contracted for,  charged,  taken,
received or reserved by such Bank in accordance with applicable law, the rate of
interest  payable  under the Notes held by such Bank,  together with all Charges
payable to such Bank,  shall be limited to the  Maximum  Rate.  Borrower  hereby
agrees to the payment of interest with respect to the Loans and Borrowings under
the  Loans  at the  respective  applicable  rates  determined  pursuant  to this
Agreement,  in each case as increased by any rate of interest resulting from any
charges in the nature of interest paid or payable in connection  with the Loans,
the Notes and/or this Agreement.

         SECTION  9.10  Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement  and the other  Loan
Documents  constitute the entire  contract  between the parties  relating to the
subject  matter  hereof.  Any previous  agreement  among any of the parties with
respect to the subject matter  hereof,  including  without  limitation the Prior
Agreement, is superseded by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Nothing
in this  Agreement  or in the other Loan  Documents,  expressed  or implied,  is
intended to confer upon any party other than the parties  hereto and thereto any
rights,  remedies,  obligations  or  liabilities  under  or by  reason  of  this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

         SECTION  9.11  Severability.  In  the  event  any  one or  more  of the
provisions  contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document  should be
held invalid,  illegal or unenforceable in any respect,  the validity,  legality
and  enforceability  of the remaining  provisions  contained  herein and therein
shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The parties shall endeavor
in  good-faith  negotiations  to replace the invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable
provisions with valid  provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as
possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

         SECTION 9.12  Counterparts and Signature  Pages.  This Agreement may be
executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original
but all of which when taken together shall constitute but one contract. Delivery
of an executed  counterpart  of a signature  page to this Agreement by facsimile
transmission  shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed  counterpart
of this  Agreement.  All parties hereto  authorize the  Administrative  Agent to
gather and attach manually executed  counterpart  signature pages to counterpart
copies of this Agreement in order to constitute one or more counterparts bearing
evidence of manual execution by all parties.
                                      -59-
<PAGE>
         SECTION 9.13  Headings.  Article and Section  headings and the Table of
Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this
Agreement  and are not to  affect  the  construction  of,  or to be  taken  into
consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.14  Arbitration.

                  (a)  Arbitration.  Upon the demand of any party,  any  Dispute
shall be resolved by binding  arbitration  in accordance  with the terms of this
Agreement.  A "Dispute" shall mean any action,  dispute, claim or controversy of
any kind,  whether  in  contract  or tort,  statutory  or common  law,  legal or
equitable,  now existing or hereafter arising under or in connection with, or in
any way pertaining to, any of the Loan Documents, or any past, present or future
extensions of credit and other  activities,  transactions  or obligations of any
kind related  directly or  indirectly  to any of the Loan  Documents,  including
without limitation, any of the foregoing arising in connection with the exercise
of any  self-help,  ancillary  or  other  remedies  pursuant  to any of the Loan
Documents.  Any party  may by  summary  proceedings  bring an action in court to
compel  arbitration  of a  Dispute.  Any party who fails or refuses to submit to
arbitration  following  a lawful  demand by any other party shall bear all costs
and expenses incurred by such other party in successfully compelling arbitration
of any Dispute.

                  (b)  Governing  Rules.   Arbitration   proceedings   shall  be
administered  by the  American  Arbitration  Association  ("AAA")  or such other
administrator  as the parties shall mutually  agree upon in accordance  with the
AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules. All Disputes submitted to arbitration shall be
resolved in accordance  with the Federal  Arbitration Act (Title 9 of the United
States Code),  notwithstanding any conflicting choice of law provision in any of
the Loan Documents.  The arbitration shall be conducted at a location in Arizona
selected  by the AAA or  other  administrator.  If  there  is any  inconsistency
between the terms hereof and any such rules,  the terms and procedures set forth
herein shall control. All statutes of limitation applicable to any Dispute shall
apply to any arbitration proceeding. All discovery activities shall be expressly
limited to matters directly relevant to the Dispute being  arbitrated.  Judgment
upon any award  rendered in an  arbitration  may be entered in any court  having
jurisdiction; provided however, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to
be a waiver by any party that is a bank of the protections  afforded to it under
12 U.S.C. ss.91 or any similar applicable state law.

                  (c)   No   Waiver;   Provisional   Remedies,   Self-Help   and
Foreclosure.  No provision hereof shall limit the right of any party to exercise
self-help  remedies such as setoff,  foreclosure  against or sale of any real or
personal property collateral or security,  or to obtain provisional or ancillary
remedies,   including  without  limitation  injunctive  relief,   sequestration,
attachment,  garnishment  or the  appointment  of a  receiver,  from a court  of
competent  jurisdiction  before, after or during the pendency of any arbitration
or other  proceeding.  The exercise of any such remedy shall not waive the right
of any party to compel arbitration hereunder.

                  (d) Arbitrator Qualifications and Powers; Awards.  Arbitrators
must be active  members of the Arizona State Bar or retired  judges of the state
or federal judiciary of Arizona
                                      -60-
<PAGE>
with  expertise in the  substantive  law applicable to the subject matter of the
Dispute.  Arbitrators  are empowered to resolve  Disputes by summary  rulings in
response to motions filed prior to the final  arbitration  hearing.  Arbitrators
(i) shall resolve all Disputes in  accordance  with the  substantive  law of the
state of Arizona,  (ii) may grant any remedy or relief that a court of the state
of  Arizona  could  order or grant  within the scope  hereof and such  ancillary
relief as is necessary  to make  effective  any award,  and (iii) shall have the
power to award  recovery of all reasonable  costs and fees, to impose  sanctions
and to take such other actions as they deem necessary to the same extent a judge
could  pursuant to the Federal  Rules of Civil  Procedure,  the Arizona Rules of
Civil  Procedure  or other  applicable  law.  Any Dispute in which the amount in
controversy is $5,000,000.00 or less shall be decided by a single arbitrator who
shall not  render an award of greater  than  $5,000,000.00  (including  damages,
costs,  fees and  expenses).  By submission to a single  arbitrator,  each party
expressly  waives any right or claim to  recover  more than  $5,000,000.00.  Any
Dispute  in which  the  amount in  controversy  exceeds  $5,000,000.00  shall be
decided by majority vote of a panel of three arbitrators; provided however, that
all  three   arbitrators   must  actively   participate   in  all  hearings  and
deliberations.

                  (e) Miscellaneous. To the maximum extent practicable, the AAA,
the  arbitrators  and the parties shall take all action required to conclude any
arbitration  proceeding  within 180 days of the filing of the  Dispute  with the
AAA. No arbitrator or other party to an arbitration  proceeding may disclose the
existence,  content or results thereof, except for disclosures of information by
a party  required in the ordinary  course of its business,  by applicable law or
regulation,  or to the extent  necessary to exercise any judicial  review rights
set forth herein.  If more than one agreement for  arbitration by or between the
parties  potentially  applies  to a  Dispute,  the  arbitration  provision  most
directly  related to the Loan  Documents  or the  subject  matter of the Dispute
shall control. This arbitration  provision shall survive termination,  amendment
or  expiration  of any of the Loan  Documents  or any  relationship  between the
parties.

         SECTION 9.15 Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

                  (a)  Each  of  the  parties  hereto  hereby   irrevocably  and
unconditionally  submits,  for  itself  and its  property,  to the  nonexclusive
jurisdiction  of Arizona  State court or Federal  court of the United  States of
America sitting in Phoenix,  Arizona,  and any appellate court from any thereof,
in any action or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
other Loan  Documents,  or for  recognition or enforcement of any judgment,  and
each of the parties hereto hereby  irrevocably and  unconditionally  agrees that
all  claims  in  respect  of any such  action  or  proceeding  may be heard  and
determined  in such  Arizona  State or, to the extent  permitted by law, in such
Federal  court.  Each of the parties  hereto agrees that a final judgment in any
such  action or  proceeding  shall be  conclusive  and may be  enforced in other
jurisdictions  by suit on the judgment or in any other  manner  provided by law.
Nothing in this  Agreement  shall  affect any right that any Bank may  otherwise
have to bring any action or proceeding  relating to this  Agreement or the other
Loan  Documents  against  the  Borrower or its  properties  in the courts of any
jurisdiction.
                                      -61-
<PAGE>
                  (b)  Each  of  the  parties  hereto  hereby   irrevocably  and
unconditionally  waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do
so, any objection  which it may now or hereafter  have to the laying of venue of
any suit,  action or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this Agreement or
the other  Loan  Documents  in any  Arizona  State or Federal  court  sitting in
Phoenix,  Arizona.  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the
fullest  extent  permitted by law, the defense of an  inconvenient  forum to the
maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

                  (c)  Each  party to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to
service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.1. Nothing in
this  Agreement  will affect the right of any party to this  Agreement  to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.

         SECTION 9.16 Waiver of Jury Trial.  Each party hereto hereby waives, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial
by jury in respect of any  litigation  directly  or  indirectly  arising out of,
under or in connection  with this Agreement or any of the other Loan  Documents.
Each party hereto (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any
other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would
not, in the event of  litigation,  seek to enforce the foregoing  waiver and (b)
acknowledges  that it and the other  parties  hereto have been  induced to enter
into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as applicable, by (among other
things) the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section.

         SECTION  9.17  Confidentiality.  Each Bank agrees to keep  confidential
(and to cause its officers, directors,  employees, agents and representatives to
keep  confidential)  the Information  (as defined  below),  except that any Bank
shall  be  permitted  to  disclose  Information  (i) to  such  of its  officers,
directors,  employees, agents and representatives (including outside counsel) as
need to know such  Information;  (ii) to the extent  required by applicable laws
and regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, or requested by any
bank regulatory authority (provided that such Bank shall, except for Information
requested by any such bank  regulatory  authority,  promptly notify Borrower (to
the extent practicable and lawful,  notice shall be given to the Borrower before
such disclosure is made so as to permit Borrower to seek a protective  order) of
the  circumstances  and  content  of each  such  disclosure  and  shall  request
confidential  treatment of any  Information so  disclosed);  (iii) to the extent
such  Information  (A) becomes  publicly  available  other than as a result of a
breach  of  this   Agreement,   (B)  becomes   available   to  such  Bank  on  a
nonconfidential  basis without a breach of  confidence  from a source other than
the  Borrower  or  its  Affiliates  or (C)  was  available  to  such  Bank  on a
nonconfidential  basis prior to its  disclosure  to such Bank by the Borrower or
its  Affiliates;  (iv) to the extent the Borrower  shall have  consented to such
disclosure in writing;  or (v) to  prospective  successors or assigns so long as
each such person shall have agreed in writing to abide by the provisions of this
Section 9.17. As used in this Section 9.17, as to any Bank,  "Information" shall
mean any financial statements, reports, materials,  documents,  certificates and
other information that the Borrower or any of its Affiliates may have furnished
                                      -62-
<PAGE>
or may hereafter  furnish to such Bank in connection  with this Agreement or any
other materials prepared by any such person from any of the foregoing.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent and the
Banks  have  caused  this  Agreement  to be duly  executed  by their  respective
authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

                                             MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED,
                                             a Delaware corporation



                                             By:________________________________
                                             Name:______________________________
                                             Its:_______________________________

                                                                      "Borrower"


                                             WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.



                                             By:________________________________
                                             Name:______________________________
                                             Its:_______________________________

                                                          "Administrative Agent"


                                             WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.



                                             By:________________________________
                                             Name:______________________________
                                             Its:_______________________________

                                                                          "Bank"
                                      -63-
<PAGE>
                                       NBD BANK, a Michigan banking corporation



                                       By:______________________________________
                                       Name:____________________________________
                                       Its:_____________________________________

                                                             "Co-Agent and Bank"

          
                                       BANK ONE, ARIZONA, NA, a national banking
                                       association



                                       By:______________________________________
                                       Name:____________________________________
                                       Its:_____________________________________

                                                                          "Bank"


                                       THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN, LIMITED,
                                       San Francisco Agency



                                       By:______________________________________
                                       Name:____________________________________
                                       Its:_____________________________________

                                                                          "Bank"
                                      -64-
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT "A"

                        FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
                        ---------------------------------


                              ______________, 19___


           Reference  is made to the Credit  Agreement  dated as of October  31,
1996 (the  "Credit  Agreement"),  among  MICROCHIP  TECHNOLOGY  INCORPORATED,  a
Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"),  the lenders named therein (the "Banks"),
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Banks (in such capacity,
the  "Administrative  Agent") and NBD Bank, a Michigan  banking  corporation  as
Co-Agent. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

           1. The Assignor hereby sells and assigns,  without  recourse,  to the
Assignee, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes,  without recourse, from
the  Assignor,  effective  as of the  Effective  Date set  forth on the  reverse
hereof, the interests set forth on the reverse hereof (the "Assigned  Interest")
in the Assignor's rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement,  including,
without  limitation,  the  interests  set  forth on the  reverse  hereof  in the
Commitment  of the  Assignor  on the  Effective  Date and the Loans owing to the
Assignor  which are  outstanding  on the  Effective  Date,  together with unpaid
interest accrued on the assigned Loans to the Effective Date and the amount,  if
any, set forth on the reverse  hereof of the Fees accrued to the Effective  Date
for the account of the  Assignor.  Each of the Assignor and the Assignee  hereby
makes  and  agrees  to be  bound  by all  the  representations,  warranties  and
agreements set forth in Section 9.4(c) of the Credit Agreement,  a copy of which
has been received by each such party.  From and after the Effective Date (i) the
Assignee  shall  be a party  to and be bound  by the  provisions  of the  Credit
Agreement  and, to the extent of the interests  assigned by this  Assignment and
Acceptance,  have the rights and  obligations of a Bank thereunder and under the
Loan  Documents  and (ii) the  Assignor  shall,  to the extent of the  interests
assigned  by this  Assignment  and  Acceptance,  relinquish  its  rights  and be
released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.

           2.  This   Assignment  and  Acceptance  is  being  delivered  to  the
Administrative  Agent together with (i) the Notes  evidencing the Loans included
in the  Assigned  Interest,  (ii) the  appropriate  forms  specified  in Section
2.19(e) of the Credit  Agreement,  duly completed and executed by such Assignee,
(iii) if the  Assignee  is not  already a Bank  under the Credit  Agreement,  an
Administrative  Details  Reply  Form in the form of  Exhibit  "D" to the  Credit
Agreement and (iv) a processing fee of $2,500.00.

         3. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona.
                                       -1-
<PAGE>
Date of Assignment:

Legal Name of Assignor:

Legal Name of Assignee:

Assignee's Address for Notice:

Effective  Date of  Assignment  
(may not be fewer than 5 Business 
Days after the Date of Assignment):


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Percentage Assigned of
                                                                     Facility/Commitment (set forth, to at 
                                                                     least 8 decimals, as a percentage of
                                                                     the Facility and the aggregate
                                                                     Commitments of all Banks
                            Principal Amount Assigned                thereunder)
<S>                         <C>                                      <C>
Facility

Commitment                  $________________                        ______________%
Assigned:

Loans:

Fees Assigned
(if any):
</TABLE>
                                       -2-
<PAGE>
The terms set forth above and
on the reverse side hereof are
hereby agreed to:                                   Accepted


__________________, as Assignor         _________________________________


By_______________________________       By_______________________________
           Its___________________                  Its___________________
                                        

__________________, as Assignor         _________________________________


By_______________________________       By_______________________________
           Its___________________                  Its___________________
                                        
                                      -3-
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT "B"

                            FORM OF BORROWING NOTICE
                            ------------------------


Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
201 Third Street
San Francisco, California  94103

Attention:           Agency Department                       Date:______________
                     (Telecopy No. 415/512-9408)             Time:______________


Dear Sir or Madam:

           The  undersigned,   Microchip  Technology  Incorporated,  a  Delaware
corporation ("Borrower"), refers to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 31,
1996 (as it may hereafter be amended,  modified,  extended or restated from time
to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among Borrower, the Banks named therein, Wells
Fargo Bank, N.A. as Administrative  Agent for the Banks and NBD Bank, a Michigan
banking corporation as Co-Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined  herein  shall have the  meanings  assigned  to such terms in the Credit
Agreement.  The  Borrower  hereby  gives  notice  that it  requests a  Borrowing
pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Credit  Agreement  and sets forth below the terms
of such requested Borrowing:

           A.        Type of Borrowing(1)                   ____________________

           B.        Advance date of Borrowing              ____________________

           C.        Principal Amount of Borrowing(2)       ____________________


________________________
(1)      LIBOR Borrowing or Base Rate Borrowing.

(2)      Each  Borrowing  shall  be a  principal  amount  which  is an  integral
multiple of $100,000.00 and not less than  $1,000,000.00  with respect to a Base
Rate  Borrowing  and  not  less  than  $3,000,000.00  with  respect  to a  LIBOR
Borrowing.
                                       -1-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                             From:                  Through:
                                                             -----                  --------
<S>                                                    <C>                    <C>
         D.   LIBOR Borrowing Interest
              Period(3)                                __________________     _____________________
              Borrowing Maturity Date                  __________________     _____________________

         E.       Refinancing Election (Identity
                  of Borrowing to be refinanced)(4)
                           Date                                               ____________________
                           Type                                               ____________________
                           Amount                                             ____________________
                           Borrowing Maturity Date                            ____________________
</TABLE>

         Upon acceptance of the Borrowing to be made by the Banks in response to
this request,  Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted to the
Banks that, as of the date of such Credit  Event,  the  conditions  specified in
Section 4.1 of the Credit Agreement are satisfied.

                                   Sincerely,

                                   MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED,
                                   a Delaware corporation



                                   By_________________________________

                                       Its      V.P. Controller and Treasurer
                                                An Officer of Borrower duly
                                                authorized to request
                                                Borrowings under the Credit
                                                Agreement


________________________

(3)      Which shall be subject to the  definition of "Interest  Period" and end
not later than the Expiration Date. 

(4)      Identity shall include the date and amount of Borrowing,  the Type and,
with respect to LIBOR Borrowings, the Borrowing Maturity Date.
                                       -2-
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT "C"

                                      NOTE


$_____________                                             ______________, 19___
                                                                Phoenix, Arizona


         FOR VALUE  RECEIVED,  MICROCHIP  TECHNOLOGY  INCORPORATED,  a  Delaware
corporation (hereinafter called "Maker"), hereby promises to pay to the order of
_____________________________________ (the "Bank"), at the office of Wells Fargo
Bank, N.A. (the  "Administrative  Agent"),  at 201 Third Street,  San Francisco,
California 94103, Attention:  Agency Department or at such other location as the
Administrative  Agent may notify the Maker in writing in Dollars, in immediately
available funds, the principal sum of  ____________________________________  AND
NO/100 DOLLARS  ($_________________) or the aggregate unpaid principal amount of
all Revolving  Credit Loans (as such terms and each other  capitalized term used
herein are defined in the Credit Agreement  hereinafter referred to) made by the
Bank pursuant to the Credit Agreement, whichever is less, and to pay interest in
like funds from the date  hereof on the unpaid  balance  thereof at the rates of
interest per annum and at the times specified in the Credit Agreement.

         Principal  hereof  shall be payable in the amounts and at the times set
forth in the Credit Agreement.

         This Note is one of the revolving  credit notes  referred to in Section
2.7 of the Credit Agreement dated as of October 31, 1996 by and among Maker, the
Banks named therein,  the Administrative  Agent and NBD Bank, a Michigan banking
corporation  as Co-Agent (as the same may be amended,  modified or restated from
time  to  time,  the  "Credit  Agreement").  All of the  terms,  conditions  and
covenants  of the Credit  Agreement  are  expressly  made a part of this Note by
reference  in the same manner and with the same effect as if set forth herein at
length and Bank or any transferee of this Note  (sequentially,  the "Holder") is
entitled to the benefits of and remedies  provided in the Credit  Agreement  and
any other  agreements  by and between  Maker and Bank.  Reference is made to the
Credit Agreement for provisions regarding the maturity,  payment, prepayment and
acceleration of the indebtedness evidenced hereby.

         After  maturity,  including  maturity  upon  acceleration,  all  unpaid
amounts of this Note shall bear  interest at the Default  Rate.  Maker agrees to
pay all collection  expenses,  including  reasonable  attorneys'  fees and court
costs, incurred in the collection or enforcement of all or any part of this Note
in  which  the  Holder  is the  prevailing  party.  In the  event  of any  court
proceedings,  court costs and attorneys'  fees shall be set by the court and not
by jury and shall be included  in any  judgment  obtained  by the Holder.  Maker
agrees to an effective  rate of interest  that is the rate stated above plus any
additional rate of interest resulting from any other charges
<PAGE>
in the nature of  interest  paid or to be paid by or on behalf of Maker,  or any
benefit  received or to be received by holder  hereof,  in connection  with this
Note.

         Failure  of the  Holder to  exercise  any  option  hereunder  shall not
constitute a waiver of the right to exercise same in the event of any subsequent
default, or in the event of continuance of any existing default after demand for
strict performance hereof.

         This Note is entitled to the  benefit of the Credit  Agreement  and the
other Loan Documents.

         This Note shall be binding  upon Maker and its  successors  and assigns
and  shall  inure  to the  benefit  of the  payee  hereof,  and  any  subsequent
transferees of this Note, and their successors and assigns.

         This Note shall be governed by and  construed  according to the laws of
the State of Arizona.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Maker has caused  this Note to be executed by its
duly authorized corporate agent as of the day and year first above written.

                                        MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED,
                                        a Delaware corporation



                                        By________________________________

                                            Its___________________________

                                                                   "MAKER"
                                       -2-
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT "D"

                        ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS REPLY FORM
                        ---------------------------------


Re:      $90,000,000   Revolving   Credit  Facility  for  Microchip   Technology
         Incorporated


1.       Name of Entity For Signature Page:_____________________________________

2.       Name of Entity as it Should
         Appear in Any Publicity:          _____________________________________
         (if different than above)

3.       Name of Person to Receive Draft
         Credit Agreement at Bank:         _____________________________________

4.       Name of Person to Sign
         Credit Agreement:                 _____________________________________

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
5.       Contacts:           Credit Contact                     Operations Contact                        Legal Counsel
                             --------------                     ------------------                        -------------
<S>                        <C>                                <C>                                      <C>
         Name:             ____________________               _____________________                    ____________________

         Title:            ____________________               _____________________                    ____________________

         Address:          ____________________               _____________________                    ____________________

                           ____________________               _____________________                    ____________________

                           ____________________               _____________________                    ____________________

         Telephone:        ____________________               _____________________                    ____________________

         Facsimile #:      ____________________               _____________________                    ____________________

         Telex #:          ____________________               _____________________                    ____________________


         Answerback:       ____________________               _____________________                    ____________________
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
6.       Payment Instructions:
<TABLE>
<S>                                         <C>                                         <C>
         Method of Payment:                 Fedwire           _________________         Chips   ____________________

         Pay to:                            ________________________________________________________________________

         Name of Bank:                      ________________________________________________________________________

         City, State, Zip:                  ________________________________________________________________________

         ABA Number:                _______________________            Reference:   ________________________________

         Account Number:            _______________________            Account Name: _______________________________

         Attention:                 ________________________________________________________________________________
</TABLE>
                                       -2-
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT "E"

                  MATTERS TO BE COVERED BY THE LEGAL OPINION OF
                               BORROWER'S COUNSEL

         1. The Borrower is a corporation  duly  incorporated,  validly existing
and in good  standing  under  the  laws of the  State of  Delaware,  and has all
corporate power and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents
and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.

         2.  Each  Subsidiary  identified  in  Schedule  "3.15"  of  the  Credit
Agreement is a corporation  duly  incorporated,  validly  existing,  and in good
standing under the laws of the  jurisdiction of its  incorporation,  and has all
corporate power and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents
and approvals to carry on its business as now conducted.

         3. The execution,  delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Loan
Documents are within  Borrower's  corporate power,  have been duly authorized by
all necessary  corporate  action,  and require no action by or in respect of, or
filing with, any  Governmental  Authority and neither the execution and delivery
thereof  nor the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  thereby  nor
compliance by the Borrower with any, nor the  Borrower's  performance of all, of
the  terms  and  provisions  of the  Loan  Documents  will  contravene  any  law
applicable to it or conflict  with,  result in any breach of, or constitute  any
default under,  its certificate of  incorporation or by-laws (both as amended to
date) or conflict with, result in any breach of, or constitute default under, or
result in the creation of a Lien under, or require the consent of any trustee or
creditor pursuant to, any indenture,  mortgage, chattel mortgage, deed of trust,
conditional  sales contract,  lease,  bank loan or credit agreement to which the
Borrower is a party or by which it or its assets are bound, known to us.

         4. Each Loan  Document has been duly  authorized  and  delivered by the
Borrower,  and is the  legal,  valid and  binding  obligation  of the  Borrower,
enforceable  against  it in  accordance  with its terms,  except as  enforcement
thereof may be limited by  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or other laws or
equitable  principles  of general  application  relating to the  enforcement  of
creditors' rights.

         5. To the best  knowledge of such counsel after due inquiry,  there are
no actions,  suits or  proceedings  pending or threatened in any court or before
any regulatory  commission,  board or other administrative or other governmental
entity against or affecting the Borrower  which could  reasonably be expected to
have a material  adverse  effect on its  ability  to enter  into or perform  its
obligations  under any of the Loan  Documents or on the condition  (financial or
otherwise),  operations,  business or  prospects of the  Borrower,  except those
described in the Borrower's report on Form 10-K for its most recently  completed
fiscal year ended March 31, 1994, delivered to the Bank.
<PAGE>
         6. No consent,  approval,  waiver,  license or  authorization  or other
action by or filing with any  governmental  authority is required in  connection
with the execution and delivery by the Borrower of the Loan Documents except for
those which have already been obtained and are in full force and effect.

         7.  The  Borrower  is  not  an  "investment   company"  nor  a  company
"controlled"  by an "investment  company,"  within the meaning of the Investment
Company Action of 1940, as amended.
                                       -2-
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT "F"


                   QUARTERLY COMPLIANCE AND MARGIN CERTIFICATE
                            FOR FISCAL QUARTER ENDING
                             ________________, 19__
                              ("Reporting Quarter")


Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
100 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona  85003

Attn:    Mae G. DelaBarre #4101-251               Date:______________________(1)


Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This Quarterly  Compliance and Margin  Certificate refers to the Credit
Agreement  dated  as of  October  31,  1996  (as it may  hereafter  be  amended,
modified, extended or restated from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among
Microchip  Technology  Incorporated,  a Delaware corporation  ("Borrower"),  the
Banks named  therein,  Wells Fargo Bank,  N.A. as  Administrative  Agent for the
Banks and NBD Bank, a Michigan  banking  corporation  as  Co-Agent.  Capitalized
terms used and not otherwise  defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms in the Credit Agreement.

         Pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Credit  Agreement,  the  undersigned,  a
Financial Officer of Borrower, hereby certifies that:

         1.  Enclosed are the required  financial  statements  for the [quarter]
[fiscal  year] ending for Borrower as required  under  Section 5.4 of the Credit
Agreement.

         2. To the best of the undersigned's knowledge, no "Event of Default" or
Potential  Default  has  occurred  [or if so,  specifying  the nature and extent
thereof and any corrective actions taken or to be taken].

         3. As of the last day of the Reporting Quarter,  the computations below
were true and correct:

____________________________

1        To be submitted  within 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of
         each fiscal year of Borrower.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                   <C>
I.       Section 6.7 - Consolidated Effective Tangible Net Worth                                     (in thousands)

                  Company Net Worth (Stockholders' Equity)                                             $
                                                                                                        ----------
                  less:  Intangible Assets                                                             (          )
                                                                                                        ----------

                  plus:  Subordinated Indebtedness
                                                                                                        ----------
                  equals                                                                               $         A
                                                                                                        ----------
                  Covenant Requirement:

                            Beginning Consolidated Effective
                              Tangible Net Worth                                                        $  220,000
                                                                                                        ----------
                            plus:  50% of positive quarterly net
                            income beginning with the third quarter
                            of fiscal 1997 Consolidated Net Income                                      $
                                                                                                        ----------

                            plus:  90% of the aggregate increase in
                            Stockholders' Equity after the Closing Date
                            arising from either the issuance and sale
                            of additional capital stock or the conversion
                            of any debt securities into its capital stock                               $
                                                                                                        ----------

                            equals                                                                      $        B
                                                                                                        ----------
                  A is required to be greater than or equal to B                            A [greater than or equal to] B
                                                                                            ==============================

II.      Section 6.8 - Debt/Worth Ratio

         Numerator:  Consolidated Debt                                                                  $        A
                                                                                                        ----------
                                                                                      divided by

         Denominator:  Consolidated Effective
                       Tangible Net Worth                                                               $        B
                                                                                                        ----------
                                                                                      equals                   A/B
                                                                                                        ==========

                                                                                      maximum                 1.0x
                                                                                                        ==========
</TABLE>
                                       -2-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                   <C>
III.     Section 6.9 - EBITDA Coverage Ratio
                  (based on past four quarters)

         Numerator:         Consolidated Net Income                                                    $
                                                                                                       ------------
                            plus:  tax expense                                                         $
                                                                                                       ------------
                            plus:  interest expense                                                    $
                                                                                                       ------------
                            plus:  depreciation expense                                                $
                                                                                                       ------------
                            plus:  amortization of intangibles expense                                 $
                                                                                                       ------------

                            = Cash Flow (past four quarters)                                           $          A
                                                                                                       ------------

                                                                                      divided by

         Denominator:  Current portion and interest expense for:

                            long-term debt                                                             $
                                                                                                       ------------
                            plus:  deferred purchase price of
                                       property (exclude trade payables)                               $
                                                                                                       ------------
                            plus:  conditional sales agreements                                        $
                                                                                                       ------------
                            plus:  Capital Leases                                                      $
                                                                                                       ------------
                            plus:  Guarantees                                                          $
                                                                                                       ------------

                            = Fixed Charge Requirement (past four quarters)                            $          B
                                                                                                       ------------

                            A divided by B equals                                                               A/B
                                                                                                       ============
                                                                                      minimum                  3.0x
                                                                                                       ============
IV.      Section 6.11 - Quick Ratio

         Numerator:         Cash and Equivalents                                                       $
                                                                                                       ------------
                            plus:  net accounts receivable                                             $
                                                                                                       ------------
                            = Quick Assets                                                             $          A
                                                                                                       ------------
         Denominator:       Gross current liabilities                                                  $
                                                                                                       ------------
                            less:  deferred income                                                     $(         )
                                                                                                         ---------

                            = Current Liabilities                                                      $          B
                                                                                                       ------------
</TABLE>
                                       -3-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                    <C>
                            A divided by B equals                      A/B
                                                                       ===
                            Minimum through 9/30/1997                  .70
                                                                       ---
                            Minimum thereafter                         1.0
                                                                       ---
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>             <C>              <C>
V.       Applicable Margin for LIBOR Borrowings:
         Category                                                    1              2                3
                                                                  -------        -------           -----

         A.       6.8 Debt/Worth Ratio:                          less than      less than       equal to or
                                                                                               greater than
                                                                  0.75:1          .9:1             .9:1
         B.       6.9 EBITDA Coverage                          greater than   greater than     equal or less
                    Ratio:                                                                         than
                                                                    5:0            4:0              4:0

                  If A and B, then the
                    Applicable Margin is (basis points)             75             100              125
</TABLE>
         Actual  Applicable  Margin  based on II and III above is _______  basis
points.
                    (Unless Consolidated Net Income is
                     less than zero, then one level higher)


                                               MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED



                                               By:_____________________________
                                               Name:___________________________
                                               Its:____________________________
                                       -4-
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 2.1

                              COMMITMENTS OF BANKS
                       as to the Revolving Credit Facility
                             as of October 31, 1996

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Euro Dollar
                 Bank                            %                    $                 Lending Office
         ---------------------                -------          -----------------        --------------
<S>                                          <C>               <C>                     <C>
1.       Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.               33.3334%         $30,000,000             _________________

2.       NBD Bank                             22.2222%         $20,000,000             _________________

3.       Bank One, Arizona, NA                22.2222%         $20,000,000             _________________

4.       The Industrial Bank of Japan,
         Limited, San Francisco
         Agency                               22.2222%         $20,000,000             _________________

         Maximum Commitment                      100%          $90,000,000             _________________
</TABLE>
Addresses
- ---------

         1.       100 West Washington
                  Phoenix, Arizona  85003
                  Attention:  Mae G. DelaBarre #4101-251

         2.       611 Woodward Avenue
                  Detroit, Michigan  48226
                  Attention:  James B. Junker

         3.       P.O. Box 71
                  Phoenix, Arizona 85001
                  Attention: Commercial Banking,
                  Dept. A781

         4.       555 California Street, S. 3110
                  San Francisco, California 94104
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 3.5

                   MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE SINCE JUNE 30, 1996
None
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 3.15

                             BORROWER'S SUBSIDIARIES


MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY TAIWAN
9-1 West 1st Road
Export Processing Zone
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
R.O.C.

ARIZONA MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY LTD.
Unit 3, The Courtyard
Meadowbank
Furlong Road
Bourne End
Buckinghamshire
SL8 5AJ England

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY (THAILAND) COMPANY LIMITED
Physical Address:          92/18-19 9th Floor, Sathorn Thani Tower 2,
                           North Sathorn Road, Kwaeng Silom,
                           Khet Bangrak
                           Bangkok, Thailand

Registered Address:        14 M.1 T.Wangtakhien
                           A.Muang Cha-Cherng-Sao 24000
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 6.1

                                 PERMITTED LIENS


1.       Loan and Security Agreement dated as of February 4, 1994 by and between
         Microchip   Technology   Incorporated   and  The  CIT   Group/Equipment
         Financings, Inc.

2.       Master Lease Agreement by and between Microchip Technology Incorporated
         and General Electric Corporation dated as of August 17, 1993.

3.       Master Lease Agreement by and between Microchip Technology Incorporated
         and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. dated as of October 20, 1993.

               MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   EXHIBIT 11 - COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME PER SHARE 
                    (in thousands, except per share amounts)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Three Months Ended            Six Months Ended
                                                         ----------------------        -----------------------
                                                              September 30,                September 30,
                                                          1996           1995           1996            1995
                                                         -------        -------        -------        --------
<S>                                                      <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
         Net income                                      $13,126        $12,765        $19,812        $ 24,268
                                                         =======        =======        =======        ========

         Weighted average shares:
              Common shares outstanding                   33,939         33,741         34,213         33,626

              Common equivalent shares
                  representing shares issuable
                  upon exercise of stock options1          1,956          2,913          1,904          2,816
                                                         -------        -------        -------        --------

                       Total weighted average
                           shares - primary               35,895         36,654         36,117         36,442
                                                         =======        =======        =======        ========

              Incremental common equivalent
                  shares (calculated using the
                  higher of end of period or
                  average market value)2                     240              2            285            175
                                                         -------        -------        -------        --------

                       Total weighted average
                           shares - fully diluted         36,135         36,656         36,402          36,617
                                                         =======        =======        =======        ========

         Primary net income per common and
              common equivalent share                    $  0.37        $  0.35        $  0.55        $   0.67
                                                         =======        =======        =======        ========

         Fully diluted net income per common
              and common equivalent share                $  0.36        $  0.35        $  0.54        $   0.66
                                                         =======        =======        =======        ========
         </TABLE>

____________________
1    Amount  calculated  using the treasury  stock method and fair market values
     for stock.

2    This  calculation  is  submitted in  accordance  with  Regulation  S-K Item
     601(b)(11)  although  not  required  by footnote 2 to  paragraph  14 of APB
     Opinion No. 15 because it results in dilution of less than 3%.
                                       19

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
       
<S>                               <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                           19522
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    48506
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                      59079
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                149216
<PP&E>                                          221803
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  376302
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           103364
<BONDS>                                          37519
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                            35
<OTHER-SE>                                      252770
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    376302
<SALES>                                         153671
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                153671
<CGS>                                            77247
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    77247
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                1760
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  27141
<INCOME-TAX>                                      7329
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              19812
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     19812
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.54
        

</TABLE>


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