MODIFICATION AGREEMENT


         BY THIS MODIFICATION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), made and entered into
as of the 30th day of March,  1998, BANK ONE,  ARIZONA,  NA, a national  banking
association, as administrative agent for the Banks (as hereinafter defined) (the
"Administrative  Agent"),  and  MICROCHIP  TECHNOLOGY  INCORPORATED,  a Delaware
corporation  (the  "Borrower"),  in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which is hereby acknowledged, hereby confirm and agree as follows:

                                    RECITALS:
                                    ---------

         A.  Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent,  The First  National Bank of
Chicago, a national banking association,  as Documentation Agent and the "Banks"
named  therein  entered into that Credit  Agreement  dated October 28, 1997 (the
"Credit  Agreement")  to provide  financial  accommodations  to the  Borrower as
provided therein.

         B.  Borrower  and the  Administrative  Agent,  with the  consent of the
Banks, desire to modify the Credit Agreement as set forth herein.

         C. All undefined  capitalized  terms used herein shall have the meaning
given them in the Credit Agreement.

                                   AGREEMENT:
                                   ----------

SECTION 1.  ACCURACY OF RECITALS.
            --------------------

         Borrower acknowledges the accuracy of the Recitals.

SECTION 2.  MODIFICATION OF CREDIT AGREEMENT.
            --------------------------------

         2.1 Section 6.9 of the Credit  Agreement  is hereby  amended to read as
follows:

                  SECTION 6.9 Debt/EBITDA  Ratio. At any time,  permit the ratio
         of  (i)  the  sum  of  its  Consolidated   Debt  plus  its  Convertible
         Subordinated Indebtedness,  less its accruals and accounts payables and
         deferred income, to (ii) its Cash Flow to be greater than 0.8 to 1.0.

         2.2 Each of the Loan  Documents is modified to provide that it shall be
a default or an event of default  thereunder  if  Borrower  shall fail to comply
with  any of the  covenants  of  Borrower  herein  or if any  representation  or
warranty by Borrower herein is materially incomplete,  incorrect,  or misleading
as of the date hereof.

         2.3 Each  reference in the Loan  Documents to any of the Loan Documents
is hereby amended to be a reference to such document as modified herein.

SECTION 3.  RATIFICATION OF LOAN DOCUMENTS.
            ------------------------------

         The Loan  Documents  are  ratified  and  affirmed by Borrower and shall
remain in full force and effect as modified herein.

SECTION 4.  BORROWER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
            ---------------------------------------

         Borrower represents and warrants to the Banks:

         4.1 No default or event of default  under any of the Loan  Documents as
modified herein,  nor any event,  that, with the giving of notice or the passage
of time or both,  would be a  default  or an event  of  default  under  the Loan
Documents as modified herein has occurred and is continuing.

         4.2 There has been no material  adverse change taken as a whole, in the
financial  condition of Borrower or any other person whose  financial  statement
has been delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection with the Loans from
the most recent financial statement received by the Administrative Agent.

         4.3 Each and all representations and warranties of Borrower in the Loan
Documents are accurate in all material respects on the date hereof.

         4.4. Borrower has no claims, counterclaims,  defenses, or set-offs with
respect to the Loans or the Loan Documents as modified herein.

         4.5 The Loan  Documents as modified  herein are the legal,  valid,  and
binding obligation of Borrower,  enforceable against Borrower in accordance with
their terms.

SECTION 5.  BORROWER COVENANTS.
            ------------------

         Borrower covenants with the Banks:

         5.1 Borrower shall execute,  deliver, and provide to the Administrative
Agent such  additional  agreements,  documents,  and  instruments  as reasonably
required by the Banks to effectuate the intent of this Agreement.

         5.2 Borrower fully,  finally,  and absolutely and forever  releases and
discharges the Banks and the  Administrative  Agent and their present and former
directors,   shareholders,   officers,   employees,   agents,   representatives,
successors  and assigns,  and their  separate  and  respective  heirs,  personal
representatives,  successors  and assigns,  from any and all actions,  causes of
action, claims, debts, damages, demands, liabilities, obligations, and suits, of
whatever kind or nature,
                                      -2-

in law or equity of  Borrower,  whether  now known or unknown to  Borrower,  and
whether contingent or matured,  (i) in respect of the Loans, the Loan Documents,
or the actions or omissions of the Banks and the Administrative Agent in respect
of the Loans or the Loan Documents and (ii) arising from events  occurring prior
to the date of this Agreement.

SECTION 6.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
            --------------------

         The  agreements  of the  Banks  and the  Administrative  Agent  and the
modifications  contained  herein  shall not be binding  upon the Banks until the
Banks  have  executed  and  delivered   consents  to  this   Agreement  and  the
Administrative Agent has received,  at Borrower's expense, all of the following,
all of which shall be in form and  content  satisfactory  to the  Administrative
Agent and shall be subject to approval by Administrative Agent:

         6.1 An original of this Agreement fully executed by the Borrower.

         6.2 Such resolutions or authorizations  and such other documents as the
Administrative  Agent may require relating to the existence and good standing of
the Borrower,  and the authority of any person executing this Agreement or other
documents on behalf of the Borrower.

         6.3  Payment  of all the  internal  and  external  costs  and  expenses
incurred  by  the  Administrative   Agent  in  connection  with  this  Agreement
(including,  without  limitation,  inside and outside attorneys,  expenses,  and
fees).

SECTION 7.  INTEGRATION,  ENTIRE AGREEMENT,  CHANGE, DISCHARGE,  TERMINATION, OR
            --------------------------------------------------------------------
            WAIVER.
            ------

         The  Loan   Documents   as  modified   herein   contain  the   complete
understanding  and  agreement  of Borrower and the Banks in respect of the Loans
and supersede all prior representations,  warranties, agreements,  arrangements,
understandings, and negotiations. No provision of the Loan Documents as modified
herein may be changed, discharged, supplemented, terminated, or waived except in
a writing signed by the parties thereto.

SECTION 8.  BINDING EFFECT.
            --------------

         The Loan  Documents as modified  herein shall be binding upon and shall
inure to the benefit of Borrower and the Banks and their  successors and assigns
and  the  executors,  legal  administrators,  personal  representatives,  heirs,
devisees,  and beneficiaries of Borrower,  provided,  however,  Borrower may not
assign  any of its  right  or  delegate  any of its  obligation  under  the Loan
Documents and any purported assignment or delegation shall be void.

SECTION 9.  CHOICE OF LAW.
            -------------

         This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in accordance  with
the laws of the State of Arizona,  without  giving  effect to  conflicts  of law
principles.
                                      -3-

SECTION 10.  COUNTERPART EXECUTION.
             ---------------------

         This  Agreement  may be executed in one or more  counterparts,  each of
which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one
and the same document. Signature pages may be detached from the counterparts and
attached to a single copy of this Agreement to physically form one document.

         DATED as of the date first above stated.

                                        MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED, 
                                        a Delaware corporation



                                        By: /s/ Gordon Parnell
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name: Gordon Parnell
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title: VP Controller & Treasurer
                                              ----------------------------------

                                                                        BORROWER


                                        BANK ONE, ARIZONA, NA, a national 
                                        banking association



                                        By: /s/ Steve Reinhart
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name: Steve Reinhart
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title: Vice President
                                              ----------------------------------

                                                            ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
                                      -4-

                              CONSENT OF THE BANKS


         Re:      Microchip Technology Incorporated

         The following:

                  (a) is a Bank named in that Credit Agreement dated October 28,
1997 between  Microchip  Technology  Incorporated,  a Delaware  corporation (the
"Borrower"),   Bank  One,  Arizona,  NA,  a  national  banking  association,  as
administrative  agent  for the Banks  (the  "Administrative  Agent"),  The First
National  Bank of Chicago,  a national  banking  association,  as  Documentation
Agent, and the Banks; and

                  (b) consents to that  Modification  Agreement  dated March 30,
1998 entered into between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.


                                        THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, a
                                        national banking association



                                        By: /s/ Mark A. Isley
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name: Mark A. Isley
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title: First Vice President
                                              ----------------------------------

                                                "Documentation Agent" and "Bank"

                              CONSENT OF THE BANKS


         Re:      Microchip Technology Incorporated

         The following:

                  (a) is a Bank named in that Credit Agreement dated October 28,
1997 between  Microchip  Technology  Incorporated,  a Delaware  corporation (the
"Borrower"),   Bank  One,  Arizona,  NA,  a  national  banking  association,  as
administrative  agent  for the Banks  (the  "Administrative  Agent"),  The First
National  Bank of Chicago,  a national  banking  association,  as  Documentation
Agent, and the Banks; and

                  (b) consents to that  Modification  Agreement  dated March 30,
1998 entered into between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.


                                        THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN, LIMITED,
                                        San Francisco Agency



                                        By: /s/ Haruhiko Masuda
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name: Haruhiko Masuda
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title: Deputy General Manager
                                              ----------------------------------

                                                                          "Bank"
                                      -2-

                              CONSENT OF THE BANKS


         Re:      Microchip Technology Incorporated

         The following:

                  (a) is a Bank named in that Credit Agreement dated October 28,
1997 between  Microchip  Technology  Incorporated,  a Delaware  corporation (the
"Borrower"),   Bank  One,  Arizona,  NA,  a  national  banking  association,  as
administrative  agent  for the Banks  (the  "Administrative  Agent"),  The First
National  Bank of Chicago,  a national  banking  association,  as  Documentation
Agent, and the Banks; and

                  (b) consents to that  Modification  Agreement  dated March 30,
1998 entered into between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.


                                        NORWEST BANK ARIZONA, N.A.



                                        By: /s/ Mae G. DelaBarre
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name: Mae G. DelaBarre
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title: Vice President
                                              ----------------------------------

                                                                          "Bank"
                                      -3-

                              CONSENT OF THE BANKS


         Re:      Microchip Technology Incorporated

         The following:

                  (a) is a Bank named in that Credit Agreement dated October 28,
1997 between  Microchip  Technology  Incorporated,  a Delaware  corporation (the
"Borrower"),   Bank  One,  Arizona,  NA,  a  national  banking  association,  as
administrative  agent  for the Banks  (the  "Administrative  Agent"),  The First
National  Bank of Chicago,  a national  banking  association,  as  Documentation
Agent, and the Banks; and

                  (b) consents to that  Modification  Agreement  dated March 30,
1998 entered into between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.


                                        WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.



                                        By: /s/ Stephanie Arnold
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name: Stephanie Arnold
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title: Vice President
                                              ----------------------------------

                                                                          "Bank"
                                      -4-