Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.23

                    SUBORDINATION AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

         THIS SUBORDINATION AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is
made as of August 22, 2001 by and among Congress Financial Corporation
(Southwest), a Texas corporation ("SENIOR LENDER"), Meritage Private Equity
Fund, L.P., Centennial Fund V, L.P., Centennial Entrepreneurs Fund V, L.P.,
Centennial Fund VI, L.P., Centennial Entrepreneurs Fund VI, L.P., Centennial
Holdings I, LLC and William J. Almon, Sr. (collectively the "SUBORDINATE
LENDER"), and Exabyte Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("BORROWER").

                                    RECITALS:

         WHEREAS, Subordinate Lender and Borrower have entered into a Loan and
Security Agreement (the "BRIDGE LOAN AGREEMENT") of even date herewith pursuant
to which Borrower has issued and delivered or will issue and deliver to
Subordinate Lender those certain 12% Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes (the
"SUBORDINATE NOTES");

         WHEREAS, in connection with the Bridge Loan Agreement, Borrower,
Exabyte Acquisition, Inc., Ecrix Corporation ("ECRIX")and certain investors and
lenders signatory thereto have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"MERGER AGREEMENT") dated of even date herewith for the merger of Exabyte
Acquisition, Inc. with and into Ecrix substantially on the terms of the Merger
Agreement (the "MERGER");

         WHEREAS, the Bridge Loan Agreement, the Subordinate Notes and all
agreements, documents, instruments evidencing, governing or executed or
delivered in connection therewith, including without limitation, all amendments,
modifications, renewals and extensions of the foregoing are collectively
referred to herein as the "SUBORDINATE LOAN DOCUMENTS;" the liens and security
interests evidenced by the Bridge Loan Agreement and all other liens, security
interest, pledges, hypothecations, mortgages and other security devices now or
at any time hereafter securing the Subordinate Notes are collectively referred
to herein as the "SUBORDINATE LIENS;" and any and all indebtedness, obligations
and liabilities of every kind and character of Borrower or any other obligor
under the Subordinate Loan Documents now or hereafter owing to Subordinate
Lender, including, without limitation, the indebtedness evidenced and to be
evidenced by the Subordinate Loan Documents, whether such indebtedness,
obligations and liabilities are direct or indirect, primary or secondary, joint,
several or joint and several, fixed or contingent and whether incurred by
Borrower or any other obligor under the Subordinate Loan Documents as maker,
endorser, guarantor are collectively referred to herein as the "SUBORDINATE
OBLIGATIONS;" and

         WHEREAS, Senior Lender and Borrower are parties to that certain Loan
and Security Agreement, dated May 16, 2000, by and between Borrower and Senior
Lender as amended by that certain First Amendment to Loan and Security
Agreement, dated September 29, 2000, by that certain Second Amendment to Loan
and Security

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Agreement, dated February 7, 2001, and by that certain Third Amendment to Loan
and Security Agreement, Waiver and Consent dated of even date herewith (as
amended, modified, renewed and extended from time to time, the "SENIOR LOAN
AGREEMENT") pursuant to which Senior Lender has agreed to make certain loans and
advances (collectively, the "SENIOR LOAN") to Borrower; and

         WHEREAS, the Senior Loan is secured by, among other documents,
instruments and agreements, the provisions of the Senior Loan Agreement pursuant
to which Borrower granted to Senior Lender a security interest certain personal
property of the Borrower whether now owned or hereafter acquired and wherever
located; and

         WHEREAS, the Senior Loan Agreement and all other documents, instruments
or agreements evidencing, securing or otherwise pertaining to the Senior Loan,
including, without limitation, all amendments, modifications, renewals and
extensions of the foregoing, are collectively referred to herein as the "SENIOR
LOAN DOCUMENTS;" the liens and security interests evidenced by the Senior Loan
Agreement and all other liens, mortgages, security interests, pledges,
hypothecations, and other security devices securing payment of the Senior
Obligations (as hereinafter defined) are collectively referred to herein as the
"SENIOR LIENS;" any and all indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of every
kind and character of Borrower or any obligor now or hereafter owing to Senior
Lender, whether such indebtedness, obligations and liabilities are direct or
indirect, primary or secondary, joint, several or joint and several, fixed or
contingent and whether incurred by Borrower as maker, endorser, guarantor or
otherwise, including, without limitation, any and all indebtedness, obligations
and liabilities of Borrower now or hereafter owing to Senior Lender pursuant to
or evidenced by the Senior Loan Documents are collectively referred to herein as
the "SENIOR OBLIGATIONS;" and

         WHEREAS, Senior Lender has required that Subordinate Lender enter into
this Agreement pursuant to which, among other things, the Subordinate
Obligations shall be subordinated to the Senior Obligations and the Subordinate
Liens shall be subordinated to the Senior Liens, except as otherwise provided
herein.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in order to induce Senior Lender to continue to extend
credit to Borrower pursuant to the Senior Loan Documents, and with full
knowledge that Senior Lender would not continue to extend such credit but for
Subordinate Lender's agreements herein contained, and recognizing the valuable
benefits to be derived by Subordinate Lender as a result of such extension of
credit, Subordinate Lender hereby agrees with Senior Lender as follows:

         1. Subordination Generally. To the extent provided herein, the
Subordinate Obligations and Subordinate Liens shall be subordinate, junior and
inferior in right of payment and priority to the prior payment and priority of
the Senior Obligations and the Senior Liens. Borrower shall make no other
payment to Subordinate Lender, nor shall Subordinate Lender accept any other
payment, whether in cash or cash equivalents, other than (a) Permitted Payments
and (b) the conversion of the Subordinate Obligations to, or payment of the
Subordinate Obligations with, equity of Borrower ("EQUITY PAYMENTS"), pursuant
to the terms

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and conditions of the Subordinate Notes. As used herein, "PERMITTED PAYMENTS"
shall mean all or any portion of its regularly scheduled (i.e. uncollected and
not prepaid) payment obligations to the Subordinate Lender under the Subordinate
Notes substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A as and when the
same are due and payable as presently provided therein and at the rate or rates
provided therein to the extent not otherwise prohibited pursuant to Sections 2,
3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 hereof.

         2. Insufficient Availability. If on the date of and after giving effect
to each Permitted Payment, (a) Borrower's Excess Availability (as defined in the
Senior Loan Agreement) shall not be greater than or equal to $500,000; or (b) a
default or event of default under any of the Senior Loan Documents would occur
or exist as a result of such Permitted Payment, no payment other than interest
(including additional interest) shall be made by the Borrower or received by
Subordinate Lender on account of the Subordinate Obligations or on account of
the purchase or other acquisition of the Subordinate Obligations by the Borrower
or any subsidiary of Borrower; provided, Borrower may make a payment of any
portion of a Permitted Payment as would not cause Excess Availability to be less
than $500,000 or would not otherwise cause the occurrence of a default or Event
of Default under any of the Senior Loan Documents. Borrower may make payments of
interest (including additional interest) to Subordinate Lender so long as no
Senior Payment Default has occurred and is continuing. Anything contained herein
or in the Senior Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, if Borrower is
unable to pay to Subordinate Lender when due any Subordinate Obligations solely
as a result of the limitation set forth in subsection (a) above of this Section
2, such failure to make such payment and any default or event of default under
the Subordinate Loan Documents arising therefrom shall not be deemed an Event of
Default under the Senior Loan Agreement including, without limitation, Section
10.1(i) of the Senior Loan Agreement.

         3. Insolvency Proceedings. Upon any distribution of assets of Borrower
pursuant to or during (a) any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or
any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or
proceeding in connection therewith, relative to Borrower or its creditors, as
such, or to its assets, or (b) any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up
of Borrower, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving
insolvency or bankruptcy, or (c) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or
any other marshaling of assets and liabilities of the Borrower (any such case,
proceeding, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution,
winding up or assignment of the type described in the preceding clauses (a), (b)
or (c) is referred to herein as a "PROCEEDING"), then in the event of any such
Proceeding, Senior Lender shall be entitled to receive final and irrevocable
payment in full in cash of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of
all Senior Obligations, or provision shall be made for such payment in money or
money's worth, before Subordinate Lender shall be entitled to receive or accept
any payment of any type on account of any Subordinate Obligations. To that end,
Senior Lender shall be entitled to receive, for application to the payment of
the Senior Obligations, any payment or distribution of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities which may be payable or deliverable in
respect of the Subordinate Obligations in any such Proceeding and any such
payment or distribution shall be paid or delivered by the person making such
payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee for
the benefit of creditors, liquidating trustee or agent, or otherwise, directly
to Senior Lender for application in payment of the Senior Obligations to the
extent necessary to pay in full all Senior Obligations then remaining unpaid,
after giving effect to

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any concurrent payment or distribution to Senior Lender. In the event that,
notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, Subordinate Lender
shall have received any payment or distribution of assets of the Borrower of any
kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, before all Senior
Obligations are irrevocably paid in full or payment thereof provided for, such
payment or distribution shall be paid over or delivered forthwith to the trustee
in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent or
other person making payment or distribution of assets of Borrower for
application to the payment of all Senior Obligations remaining unpaid, to the
extent necessary to pay all Senior Obligations in full, after giving effect to
any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of the Senior
Obligations.

         4. Payment Following Acceleration of Subordinate Obligations. In the
event the Subordinate Obligations become due and payable before stated maturity
(other than pursuant to Section 6 of the Subordinate Notes in the event of a
termination of the Merger Agreement), the Senior Obligations outstanding at such
time shall be irrevocably paid in full, or provision shall be made for such
payment in money or money's worth and all obligations of Senior Lender under the
Senior Loan Documents shall be terminated, before the Subordinate Lender shall
be entitled to receive any payment by Borrower on account of the Subordinate
Obligations or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of the
Subordinate Obligations by the Borrower or any subsidiary of Borrower.

         5. Senior Payment Default. In the event of any default in the payment
when due of principal or interest on the Senior Obligations (whether such
default results from the failure to pay any regularly scheduled payment, from
the acceleration of the Senior Obligations or any other reason) (any "SENIOR
PAYMENT DEFAULT"), until such Senior Payment Default shall have been cured,
rescinded or annulled, no payment shall be made by Borrower or received by
Subordinate Lender on account of the Subordinate Obligations or on account of
the purchase or other acquisition of the Subordinate Obligations by Borrower or
any subsidiary of Borrower.

         6. Standstill. Subordinate Lender agrees to promptly send to Senior
Lender a copy of any notice of default under the Subordinate Obligations sent to
Borrower and further agrees that, after receipt of a Blockage Notice (as defined
herein), Subordinate Lender shall not exercise any rights or remedies or take
any enforcement action available upon the occurrence of a default or an event of
default or otherwise under the Subordinate Loan Documents or take any action
toward the collection of any Subordinate Obligations until the earliest of (a)
the expiration of twenty days following Subordinate Lender giving a notice to
Senior Lender that an event of default has occurred under the Subordinate Loan
Documents ("ENFORCEMENT NOTICE") (except that if Subordinate Lender receives a
Blockage Notice during such twenty-day period following Subordinate Lender
having given an Enforcement Notice to Senior Lender, then subclause (b) below
applies, (b) September 30, 2003, (c) the exercise by Senior Lender of any
acceleration or foreclosure available to it upon a default or event of default
with respect to the Senior Obligations, (d) the occurrence of a Proceeding, or
(e) all of the Senior Obligations shall have been irrevocably paid in full. The
failure to make a payment of principal of, interest on, or fees, costs or
expenses relative to any of the Subordinate Obligations by reason of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence
of a default or event of default with respect to such Subordinate Obligations.

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         7. Senior Covenant Default. In the event any default (other than a
Senior Payment Default) shall occur under any Senior Loan Document (any "SENIOR
COVENANT DEFAULT") and Subordinate Lender shall have received from Senior Lender
written notice of such default and of Senior Lender's exercise of its rights
under this section (a "BLOCKAGE NOTICE"), Subordinate Lender shall be prohibited
from receiving, and Borrower shall be prohibited from paying, any amount other
than interest (including additional interest) to Subordinate Lender on account
of the Subordinate Obligations or on account of the purchase or other
acquisition of the Subordinate Obligations by Borrower or any subsidiary of
Borrower during the period (a "BLOCKAGE PERIOD") commencing on the date of the
Blockage Notice and continuing until the earlier of (i) September 30, 2003, (ii)
the date such Senior Covenant Default is cured or waived or shall have ceased to
exist and acceleration (if any) as a result thereof shall have been rescinded or
annulled, (iii) the occurrence of a Proceeding (in which case the provisions of
Section 3 shall govern), or (iv) all of the Senior Obligations shall have been
irrevocably paid in full.

         8. Lien Subordination. Regardless of the validity of, or order of
creation, possession, attachment, perfection, filing, recording, execution, or
delivery of any financing statement, security agreement, pledge agreement,
mortgage or other document evidencing, creating or perfecting any Senior Lien or
Subordinate Lien, and notwithstanding any contrary provisions of any law, rule
or regulation (to the extent such provisions can be varied by agreement), all
Subordinate Liens are and shall be inferior and subordinate to the Senior Liens,
and any and all rights of Subordinate Lender with respect to any collateral for
the Subordinate Obligations and all proceeds thereof, including, without
limitation, rights to receive payment from the proceeds thereof, shall remain
inferior and subordinate to the rights of the Senior Lender with respect to such
collateral. All proceeds securing the Senior or Subordinate Obligations or any
proceeds thereof (whether by voluntary dispositions or through any Lien
Enforcement Action (as herein defined)) shall, to the extent required by Senior
Lender, be applied first to the payment in full of the Senior Obligations and
then as required by applicable law. As used herein, "LIEN ENFORCEMENT ACTION"
shall means any action, whether legal, equitable, judicial, non-judicial or
otherwise to enforce any Subordinate Lien or Senior Lien, including without
limitation, any repossession, foreclosure, public sale, private sale, or
retention of all or any part of the collateral for the Senior or Subordinate
Obligations.

         9. Increases or Amendment of Subordinate Obligations. Subordinate
Lender shall neither grant any increase in the principal amount of the
Subordinate Obligations in excess of the amounts expressly contemplated in the
Subordinate Loan Documents nor amend the terms of the Subordinate Loan Agreement
or the Subordinate Notes as each is in effect on the date hereof without the
prior written consent of Senior Lender; provided, that, the foregoing
restriction shall not apply to increases in principal to the extent such
increases represent advances of funds by the Subordinate Lender to protect and
preserve the collateral securing the Subordinate Obligations and the rights of
the Subordinate Lender therein.

         10. Prohibition of Distributions. Except as may be expressly permitted
pursuant to the Senior Loan Agreement, Borrower hereby agrees that it will not
declare, pay or make any cash dividend or other distribution with respect to the
capital stock of Borrower or, otherwise to any holder of the capital stock of
Borrower. Until such time as the Senior Obligations have been irrevocably paid
in full and the Senior Lender's commitments under the Senior Loan Agreement
shall have terminated as provided herein, except as may be expressly permitted
pursuant to the

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Senior Loan Agreement or the Third Amendment thereto (which, among other things,
permit the issuance by Borrower of the Subordinate Notes, the issuance by
Borrower of its capital stock upon conversion of the Subordinate Notes, the
issuance by Borrower of its Series H Preferred Stock and the consummation of the
Merger), Borrower hereby agrees that it will not authorize or approve the
issuance of, or issue, any shares of any class of its capital stock or any
security, right, option or warrant convertible into or exercisable for any
shares of any class of its capital stock.

         11. Subrogation. Upon the payment in full of all Senior Obligations,
Subordinate Lender shall be subrogated (to the extent of the payments of
distributions made to Senior Lender pursuant to the provisions of the
Subordinate Loan Documents and this Agreement) to the rights of the Senior
Lender to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities
applicable to the Senior Obligations until the Subordinate Obligations shall be
irrevocably paid in full.

         12. Parties in Interest. The provisions of this Agreement are intended
solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Subordinate
Lender, on the one hand, and the Senior Lender, on the other hand; provided that
this Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the successors
and assigns of Subordinate Lender and Senior Lender. Nothing contained in this
Agreement is intended to or shall impair, as between the Borrower, its creditors
other than Subordinate Lender and Senior Lender, the obligation of the Borrower,
which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to Subordinate Lender the
Subordinate Obligations as and when the same shall become due and payable in
accordance with their terms, nor shall anything herein prevent the Subordinate
Lender from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by the Subordinate Loan
Documents and applicable law upon default under the Subordinate Loan Documents,
subject however, to the provisions of this Agreement and the rights of Senior
Lender under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall
affect the relative rights against the Borrower of the Subordinate Lender on the
one hand and creditors of the Borrower other than Senior Lender on the other
hand.

         13. Rights Not Impaired. No right of Senior Lender to enforce
subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or
impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of Borrower or by any act or
failure to act, in good faith, by Senior Lender, or by any noncompliance by
Borrower or Subordinate Lender with the terms, provisions and covenants of this
Agreement, regardless of any knowledge thereof Senior Lender may have or be
otherwise charged with. Subordinate Lender consents to and covenants that,
without the necessity of any reservation of rights against Subordinate Lender,
and without notice to or further assent by Subordinate Lender, (a) any demand
for payment of all or any part of the Senior Obligations may be rescinded in
whole or in part and the Senior Obligations may be continued, and the Senior
Obligations, or the liability of Borrower or any other person upon or for any
part thereof, or any collateral security or guaranty therefor or right of offset
with respect thereto, or any obligation or liability of Borrower or any other
person under the Senior Loan Documents may, from time to time, in whole or in
part, be renewed, extended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived and
surrendered, or released, and (b) the Senior Loan Documents, any document or
instrument evidencing or governing the terms of the Senior Obligations or any
collateral security documents or guaranties or documents in connection therewith
may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as
the Senior Lender may deem advisable from time to time, and

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any collateral security at any time held for the benefit of the Senior Lender
for the payment of any of the Senior Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived,
surrendered or released, in each case all without notice to or further assent by
the Subordinate Lender which will remain bound under this Agreement, and all
without impairing, abridging, releasing or affecting the subordination provided
for herein, notwithstanding any such renewal, extension, modification,
acceleration, compromise, amendment, supplement, termination, sale, exchange,
waiver, surrender or release. Subordinate Lender waives any and all notice of
the creation, renewal, extension, subsequent advance or accrual of any of the
Senior Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by Senior Lender upon this
Agreement, and the Senior Obligations shall conclusively be deemed to have been
created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this Agreement, and all
dealings between Borrower and Senior Lender have been deemed to have been
consummated in reliance upon this Agreement. Subordinate Lender acknowledges and
agrees that Senior Lender has relied upon the subordination and consent provided
for herein in entering into the Senior Loan Documents and in providing for the
credit facilities described therein. The Subordinate Lender agrees that it shall
not, under any circumstances, take or initiate any action or proceeding under
any federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency law, or any other reorganization,
liquidation, receivership or similar action or proceeding involving Borrower
without the prior written consent of Senior Lender, which consent may be granted
or withheld by Senior Lender in Senior Lender's sole and absolute discretion.

         14. Disgorged Payments. To the extent any payment of Senior Obligations
(whether by or on behalf of Borrower, as proceeds of security or enforcement of
any right of set off or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential,
set aside or required to be paid to a trustee, receiver or other similar party
under any applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law, then, if such payment is
recovered by, or paid over to, such trustee, receiver or other similar party,
the Senior Obligations or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall
be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

         15. Payments Held in Trust. If, notwithstanding the provisions hereof,
any payment or distribution of any character (whether in cash, securities or
other property) or any security shall be received by Subordinate Lender at any
time that payment to or receipt by Subordinate Lender is prohibited hereunder,
then Subordinate Lender shall immediately notify Senior Lender of the receipt of
such payment, distribution or security and Subordinate Lender shall hold all
payments received in contravention of the terms hereof in trust for the benefit
of, and shall immediately pay the same over or deliver or transfer the same to,
Senior Lender or its duly appointed agent(s) for application to the Senior
Obligations until all Senior Obligations have been irrevocably paid in full.

         16. Exculpation. Neither Senior Lender nor its agents have made to the
other parties hereto nor do any of them hereby or otherwise make any
representations or warranties, express or implied, nor do they assume any
liability with respect to (i) obligors under any instruments of guarantee; (ii)
the enforceability, validity, value or collectibility of the Senior Obligations,
any collateral therefor, or any guarantee or security which may have been
granted to any of them in connection with the Senior Loan Documents; or (iii)
Borrower's title or right to transfer any collateral or security. Senior Lender
shall not be liable to any other party hereto for any action or failure to act
or any error of judgment, negligence, or mistake or oversight whatsoever on its
part or its respective agents, officers, employees or attorneys with respect to
any transaction relating

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to the collateral or this Agreement, except for those actions or inactions
resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Senior Lender, its
agents, officers, employees or attorneys. To the maximum extent permitted by
law, except as otherwise provided herein, Subordinate Lender waives any claim it
might have against Senior Lender with respect to, or arising out of, the
handling of the collateral (including, without limitation, any such claim based
upon the timing or method of realizing upon such collateral), except with
respect to claims arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
Senior Lender, its agents, officers, employees or attorneys.

         17. Legend. Subordinate Lender shall cause the Subordinate Notes and
any subsequent promissory note, bond or other instrument evidencing all or any
part of the Subordinate Obligations to be inscribed with a legend substantially
in form and substance as follows:

         THE RIGHTS, TITLE AND INTERESTS OF ANY HOLDER OF THIS NOTE ARE SUBJECT
         TO THAT CERTAIN SUBORDINATION AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AMONG
         CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (SOUTHWEST), EXABYTE CORPORATION, AND
         THE SUBORDINATE LENDERS NAMED THEREIN, DATED AS OF AUGUST 22, 2001, AS
         THE SAME MAY BE MODIFIED, AMENDED, RENEWED, EXTENDED, RESTATED OR
         REPLACED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED
         HEREIN BY REFERENCE.

         18. Consent of Borrower. Borrower hereby acknowledges that the
Subordinate Obligations are payable as stated herein, and agrees to make no
payment of principal of or interest on the Subordinate Obligations, so long as
Borrower shall be indebted to Senior Lender, except (a) Permitted Payments, (b)
Equity Payments and (c) such payments as may be made with the prior written
consent of Senior Lender. If (i) Borrower makes any payment of the Subordinate
Obligations, except such payments as are permitted herein or (ii) any term of
this Agreement is breached by Borrower in any material respect, then,
notwithstanding any contrary provisions of the Senior Loan Agreement, Senior
Lender may, at its sole election, declare all or any portion of the Senior
Obligations to be immediately due and payable without demand or notice of any
kind.

         19. Continuing Agreement. This is a continuing Agreement and will
remain in full force and effect until all of the Senior Obligations have been
fully paid, performed and satisfied and until all financing agreements between
Senior Lender and Borrower have been terminated. In the event following such
termination and payment in full any payment of the Senior Obligations is
rescinded or must otherwise be returned by Senior Lender (including under
circumstances contemplated by Section 14 hereof), this Agreement will be deemed
to be reinstated.

         20. Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT IS BEING EXECUTED AND DELIVERED, AND
IS INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE LAWS (EXCLUDING
CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS) OF SUCH STATE SHALL GOVERN THE VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION,
ENFORCEMENT AND INTERPRETATION

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OF THIS AGREEMENT, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT FEDERAL LAWS OTHERWISE GOVERN THE
VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, ENFORCEMENT AND INTERPRETATION OF ALL OF ANY PART OF
THIS AGREEMENT.

         21. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or by any form of
delivery (including, but not limited to, United States registered or certified
mail) requiring a signed receipt, and addressed to the addresses set forth on
the signature pages hereof, or to such other address or addresses as the party
to whom such notice is directed may have designated in writing to the other
parties hereto. Notices shall be deemed given upon the earlier to occur of (i)
actual receipt, or (ii) five Business Days after deposit thereof with the United
States Postal Service for delivery via certified or registered mail.

         22. Multiple counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in a number
of identical counterparts, each of which for all purposes is to be deemed an
original, and all of which constitute collectively, one Agreement; but in making
proof of this Agreement, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for
more than one such counterpart. It is not necessary that each party hereto
execute the same counterpart so long as identical counterparts are executed by
each such party hereto.

         23. No Waiver. No course of dealing between Senior Lender and
Subordinate Lender, nor any failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising on
the part of Senior Lender of any right hereunder or under the Senior Loan
Documents shall operate as a waiver hereof of thereof; nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any right hereunder or thereunder preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.

         24. JURY WAIVER. SUBORDINATED LENDER, BORROWER AND SENIOR LENDER HEREBY
WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION
(i) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR
INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR
THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR
HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE.
SUBORDINATED LENDER, BORROWER AND SENIOR LENDER HEREBY AGREE AND CONSENT THAT
ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT
TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT SUBORDINATED LENDER, BORROWER OR SENIOR LENDER MAY
FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS
WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. SUBORDINATED LENDER, BORROWER AND SENIOR LENDER HEREBY
AGREE AND CONSENT THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL
BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT SUBORDINATED LENDER, BORROWER
OR SENIOR LENDER MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT
WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE
WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

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         25. Amendment and Modifications. This Agreement shall be modified or
amended only in a written document, signed by Senior Lender, Borrower and
Subordinate Lender.

         26. FINAL AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR,
CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO
UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

         27. Assignment of Subordinate Notes. Senior Lender agrees that all or a
portion of the Subordinate Notes may be assigned on the terms provided in the
Subordinate Loan Documents and the Subordinate Notes; provided that the
assignee(s) agrees in writing to be bound by the subordination provisions of
this Agreement.

               [REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

         Executed and delivered as of the date and year first above written.

ADDRESS FOR NOTICE:                     SUBORDINATE LENDER:

Meritage Private Equity Fund, L.P.      MERITAGE PRIVATE EQUITY FUND, L.P.
1600 Wynkoop Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO  80202                       By:  Meritage Investment Partners, LLC,
Attention:  John Garrett                Its:   General Partner

                                        By:
                                           ------------------------------------
                                        Name:  John Garrett
                                        Title: Principal

Subordination & Intercreditor Agreement

<PAGE>   12

Centennial Fund V, L.P.              CENTENNIAL FUND V, L.P.
1428 Fifteenth Street
Denver, CO  80202                    By:  Centennial Holdings V, L.P.
Attention: Jeffrey Schutz            Its: General Partner

                                     By:
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                     Name: Jeffrey H. Schutz

                                     CENTENNIAL ENTREPRENEURS FUND V, L.P.

                                     By:   Centennial Holdings V, L.P.
                                     Its   General Partner

                                     By:
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Jeffrey H. Schutz, its General Partner

                                     CENTENNIAL FUND VI, L.P.

                                     By: Centennial Holdings VI, LLC
                                     its General Partner

                                     By:
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Jeffrey H. Schutz,
                                        its Managing Principal

                                     CENTENNIAL ENTREPRENEURS FUND VI, L.P.

                                     By:   Centennial Holdings VI, LLC
                                     its   General Partner

                                     By:
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Jeffrey H. Schutz,
                                        its Managing Principal

                                     CENTENNIAL HOLDINGS I, LLC

                                     By:
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Jeffrey H. Schutz its Managing Director

Subordination & Intercreditor Agreement

<PAGE>   13

William J. Almon, Sr.                   ---------------------------------------
10570 Blandor Way                       WILLIAM J. ALMON, SR.
Los Altos, CA  94024

Subordination & Intercreditor Agreement
<PAGE>   14

                                     SENIOR LENDER:

                                     CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Congress Financial Corporation         (SOUTHWEST)
  (Southwest)
1201 Main Street, Suite 1625
Dallas, TX  75270                    By:
                                        ---------------------------------------
Attention:  Joe Curdy                Name:
                                          -------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           ------------------------------------

Subordination & Intercreditor Agreement

<PAGE>   15

         Borrower hereby acknowledges and consents to the terms of this
Agreement as set forth above and hereby agrees to observe each and every
provision of this Agreement applicable to Borrower.

                                     EXABYTE CORPORATION

                                     By:
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                     Name:
                                          -------------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                           ------------------------------------

Subordination & Intercreditor Agreement

<PAGE>   16

                                    EXHIBIT A

                            FORM OF SUBORDINATE NOTES<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.24

                                 [EXABYTE LOGO]

     THIS EXABYTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), dated this 3rd day of
February, 1999, between Singapore Shinei Sangyo PTE, Ltd., a ____________
corporation, having its principal place of business at 31 Joo Koon Circle,
Jurong Town, Singapore 629108 ("Seller"), and Exabyte Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, located at 1685 38th Street, Boulder, Colorado 80301 ("Exabyte"),
also known as the Parties, shall be effective as of the date last signed below.

     WHEREAS, Seller agrees to sell Product (as hereinafter defined) to Exabyte
upon request, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and agreements contained
herein, the Parties agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS

Whenever used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have their meanings
as assigned below, except where the context clearly requires otherwise.

     1.1. "Confidential Information" has the meaning stated in Section 7 of this
          Agreement.

     1.2. "Exabyte" and "Seller" also mean, in addition to the entities as
          described in the above opening paragraph, any other entity
          controlling, controlled by or under common control with the respective
          Party, but only so long as such control exists.

     1.3. "Funded Tooling" means any device used in the manufacture of Product
          paid for partially or wholly by Exabyte. See Appendix V.

     1.4. "Product" means the product and other items manufactured, assembled or
          sold by Seller to Exabyte which are defined by the specifications set
          forth in Exhibit A ("Specifications") and listed in Appendix I of this
          Agreement, and those items, if any, added later to Appendix I by
          mutual agreement of the Parties.

     1.5. "Intellectual Property" means a patent, trademark, copyright, trade
          secret, trade name, license or know-how and associated or other
          industrial rights arising under any governmental authority, whether or
          not registered, filed, applied for or the like.

     1.6. "Notice" and "Notify" mean written notice in accordance with Section
          9.4 of this Agreement.

<PAGE>   2

     1.7. "US" means the United States of America.

2. SCOPE OF AGREEMENT

     2.1. Term of Agreement

          This agreement shall become effective upon the date of the last valid,
          authorized signature applied hereto. This Agreement shall expire
          thirty-six (36) months thereafter unless terminated earlier pursuant
          to Section 6.

     2.2. Marketing Rights

          Subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Seller
          grants Exabyte the right under any and all pertinent Intellectual
          Property to purchase Product from Seller and for Exabyte, its
          distributors and resellers to use, copy, modify, promote, lease, rent,
          distribute and re-sell Product throughout the world. These rights
          shall exist so long as Exabyte or its resellers have inventory of
          Product.

     2.3. New Product Inclusion

          Seller shall promptly inform Exabyte of any new product(s) or
          improvements to existing Product that Seller expects to offer. Seller
          will provide early evaluation units of new product(s) or improvements
          to Exabyte as soon as they are available.

3. TERMS OF PRODUCT SALE

     3.1. Price for Product

          Appendix I to this Agreement contains the prices which Exabyte shall
          pay Seller for Product. Such prices are exclusive of tax, duties or
          tariffs. Under the terms of Section 9.1, the Parties may revise
          Appendix I and II from time to time. Exabyte has the unequivocal right
          to set any resale price for the Product.

          3.1.1. Price Changes

               The prices to be paid by Exabyte for Product shall remain in
               effect for the period set forth in Appendix I, except that Seller
               may decrease Exabyte's price at any time without notice to
               Exabyte.

          3.1.2. Approval of Additional Charges

               Exabyte shall not be liable for any expenses or other charges not
               expressly identified in this Agreement.

<PAGE>   3

          3.1.3. Most Favored Customer Pricing

               Seller warrants to Exabyte that the prices in this Agreement do
               not exceed those offered to Seller's other customers purchasing
               similar products, parts and/or services of like grade and
               quality, and that if, during any term of this Agreement, Seller
               agrees to sell such products, parts and/or services for lower
               prices, at greater discounts or under more favorable terms to any
               other customer of Seller, thereupon and thereafter Exabyte shall
               be offered the same aforementioned considerations. Seller agrees
               to notify Exabyte of any such considerations within ten (10)
               calendar days after the consummation of any such agreement.

     3.2. Payment for Product

          3.2.1. Invoicing

               Seller shall submit invoices to Exabyte after shipment of Product
               as described on the purchase orders. Payment in full is due
               within thirty (30) days of invoice date. All prices and payment
               shall be in US dollars. Payment is conditional on acceptance of
               Product by Exabyte. Payment of invoices shall not be deemed
               acceptance of Product.

          3.2.2. Taxes

               The price(s) for the Product listed in Appendix I do not include
               sales, use, excise or similar taxes levied by any government on
               Seller's sale of Product to Exabyte. Exabyte shall be responsible
               for the payment of such taxes, duties or tariffs.

     3.3. Purchase Order and Acceptance

          3.3.1. Purchase Orders

               Exabyte may issue purchase orders (or released against a blanket
               purchase order) ninety (90) days prior to the initial ship date
               of Product pursuant to that purchase order (or release). Purchase
               orders shall include the following information if appropriate:

               (i) model and revision level of Product;

               (ii) quantity of Product to be purchased;

               (iii) unit price and total purchase order price;

               (iv) delivery location, dates and instructions;

               (v) name of Exabyte contact person; and

               (vi) invoicing instructions.

<PAGE>   4

          3.3.2. Acceptance of Orders

               Seller shall accept all of Exabyte's purchase orders issued in
               accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and shall
               provide Exabyte Notice thereof.

     3.4. Forecasts

          From time to time, Exabyte will furnish Seller a forecast for some
          time period with Exabyte's expected Product purchase volume and
          delivery dates. Seller will Notify Exabyte within seven (7) business
          days of its acceptance of Exabyte's latest forecasted purchase volume
          and Product delivery schedule, or will propose a revision thereto.
          Seller's acceptance represents a commitment to deliver Product in
          substantial conformance with the forecast. Seller may retract this
          commitment upon thirty (30) days prior Notice to Exabyte.

          3.4.1. Procurement of Components

               Seller will only purchase materials for Product against accepted
               purchase orders and consistent with Appendix IV. The forecast
               described in Section 3.4 above is for general planning purposes
               only, and does not represent any assurance to purchase Product on
               Exabyte's part, and Seller shall not rely upon it to make any
               commitments to third parties such as purchasing components or
               materials for the manufacture of the Product other than described
               in Appendix IV.

     3.5. Postponement and Rescheduling Shipments

          The Parties agree to negotiate in good faith any request for changes
          in Product quantities on order. Exabyte, at its sole discretion, shall
          be entitled to postpone shipment of all or part of a Product order.

     3.6. Shipment

          3.6.1. Shipment Terms and Liability; Authorized Agent

               Seller shall ship Product cxworks except as noted in this
               Agreement. Exabyte may instruct Seller to ship Product directly
               to an authorized agent of Exabyte which shall have the authority
               to reject Product. Title and risk of loss shall pass to Exabyte
               upon Seller's delivery to the common carrier specified by
               Exabyte. Seller shall tender Product to that carrier in such a
               manner and with sufficient time to ensure timely delivery to
               Exabyte in accordance with the agreed delivery schedule and the
               terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Seller
               accepts the responsibility for any loss due to its failure to
               properly preserve, package, or handle

<PAGE>   5

               Product or for any release of chemicals during shipment. Seller
               agrees to cooperate with Exabyte's efforts to resolve claims for
               shipping damages.

          3.6.2. Packaging

               Seller shall package and ship Product according to Exabyte's
               instructions, including those contained in Exhibit C, in a manner
               assuring protection and timely delivery of Product, and
               conformity with all applicable regulations and laws of every
               applicable governmental jurisdiction. All shipping containers
               shall be plainly and permanently marked with Seller's part
               number, Exabyte's part number, and Product serial number range in
               human-readable form and bar code format. Shipping containers
               shall indicate the Product quantity, number of cartons, and carry
               any markings required by Exabyte. The Product price in Appendix I
               includes the cost of packaging for normal shipment.

          3.6.3. Shipping Documents

               All shipping documents shall be placed inside the shipping
               container and shall include the following information:

               (i)    the name of Exabyte's purchasing agent responsible for the
                      shipment;

               (ii)   complete "ship to" address (including building number);

               (iii)  waybill/bill of lading number; purchase order number;
                      quantity;

               (iv)   description of Product (including Exabyte part number);

               (v)    indication of partial or complete shipment;

               (vi)   dimensions and net and gross weights of the shipping
                      container(s);

               (vii)  information to permit the shipment to be tracked, and

               (viii) other shipping information as may be needed by Exabyte.

          3.6.4. Delinquent Shipments

               Seller shall Notify Exabyte and Exabyte's authorized agent, if
               any, as soon as Seller has knowledge that it will not or it
               probably will not met agreed-upon delivery dates. Seller shall
               provide Exabyte an explanation for, take steps to remedy, and
               offer a remedial schedule to recover from, any actual or expected
               delinquency. Seller agrees shipments of Product to Exabyte shall
               not be delayed or preempted by Seller's other customers.

               3.6.4.1. Remedies for Delinquent Shipments

<PAGE>   6

               During the period of delinquency by Seller, Seller agrees to pay
               all costs to ship Product in the most expeditious manner to
               locations designated by Exabyte. Exabyte reserves the right to
               cancel the delayed shipment and purchase elsewhere and if Seller
               is at fault, charge Seller the difference between the price paid
               for the substitute goods and the purchase price of the delayed
               shipment (as stated in Exabyte's purchase order to the Seller).
               In the event Exabyte elects to cancel a delayed shipment, Exabyte
               shall not be responsible to Seller for the quantity or the
               purchase price of the canceled shipment and may recover from the
               Seller any increase in the market price of the Product as
               damages.

          3.6.5. Overshipments

               Exabyte need not accept Product delivered prior to its proper
               delivery date or shipments of Product in quantities exceeding the
               ordered amount. Such shipments will be held by Exabyte at
               Seller's risk and expense for a reasonable time awaiting shipping
               instructions and Seller shall pay return freight charges.

     3.7. Product Testing

          Prior to shipment, Seller shall test Product to ensure compliance with
          the Specifications. A complete record of such testing shall be kept by
          Seller and made available to Exabyte upon request. Exabyte may, upon
          reasonable request and at its sole expense, witness all Product tests
          carried out by Seller. Seller understands that the Specifications and
          other written documents cannot enumerate every requirement or
          procedure necessary to design, produce and deliver acceptable Product
          and agrees that implied standards apply to the supply of Product.
          Seller further understand that the Specifications may contain
          ambiguities and inherent idiosyncrasies requiring Seller diligence and
          communication with Exabyte.

     3.8. Inspection, Acceptance, Rejection

          3.8.1. Source Inspection

               At its own expense, Exabyte may conduct inspections at Seller's
               factory or at the source of supply of Product to confirm
               compliance with this Agreement. Such source inspections do not
               relieve Seller of its obligation to deliver conforming Product
               and do not constitute acceptance testing. Seller will provide
               inspection equipment and adequate space within reasonable
               proximity to Product at no cost to Exabyte Seller agrees to
               implement Exabyte's suggestions to improve processes relating to
               Product.

<PAGE>   7

          3.8.2. Acceptance

               Product shall be deemed accepted ninety (90) days from receipt of
               Product unless Exabyte or its authorized agent provides Notice of
               rejection sooner. Acceptance of any non-conforming Product or
               shipment shall not constitute a waiver of:

               (i)   that or future Product's need to conform with the
                     requirements of this Agreement, express or implied,

               (ii)  Seller's need to supply Product in compliance with the
                     latest express delivery schedule under Section 3.4; or

               (iii) any other Exabyte rights.

          3.8.3. Rejection and Remedies

               Exabyte or its authorized agent may reject Product shipments in
               whole or in part that do not conform with the requirements of
               this Agreement, express or implied. Seller agrees to immediately
               cure shortages, incorrect material, or other errors at Exabyte's
               option but in no event later than twenty (20) days after receipt
               of the non-conforming shipment. Exabyte reserves the right to
               procure substitute goods and charge Seller the difference between
               the price paid for the substitute goods and the purchase price of
               the nonconforming shipment (as stated in Exabyte's purchase order
               to the Seller). Seller grants Exabyte a security interest in all
               Product to the extent Exabyte has made uncamed payments to
               Seller.

          3.8.4. Return of Product

               At Exabyte's option, Exabyte may return to Seller, at Seller's
               expense, nonconforming Product for credit or replacement. At
               Seller's option, Seller may request Exabyte to scrap such Product
               in lieu of incurring the return shipping cost. Seller shall
               exercise its best efforts to replace nonconforming Product as
               soon as possible in the event Exabyte elects to receive
               replacement Product. Seller agrees to pay all reasonable costs
               incurred by Exabyte relating to nonconforming Product including,
               but not limited to, return freight and shipment of replacement
               Product. Seller will issue a Return Material Authorization (RMA)
               number within 72 hours after Exabyte Notifies Seller of any
               Product to be returned. Seller mush diagnose returned Product and
               inform Exabyte within 10 business days after Seller's receipt of
               rejected Product of the results of its failure analysis and the
               corrective action taken or planned.

<PAGE>   8

4. PRODUCT SUPPORT

     4.1. Engineering Support

          Seller will support Exabyte's engineering, prototype, and production
          requirements with appropriate engineering and technical support.
          Seller will also actively participate in engineering reviews upon
          Exabyte's request regarding design changes, manufacturability,
          durability, compatibility and testability.

     4.2. Exabyte Property for Seller's Use

          Exabyte may offer Seller the use of Exabyte's property including
          tooling. Such property, whether or not identified in Appendix V, shall
          be owned exclusively by Exabyte. Seller will not nor will it allow any
          third party to encumber, pledge or hypothecate such property. Such
          property shall remain under the exclusive control of Seller on
          Seller's promises and be used exclusively for Exabyte's sole benefit.
          Exabyte may enter Seller's premises and remove Exabyte's property at
          any time.

     4.3. Product Training

          Seller shall train up to ten (10) Exabyte sales and technical
          personnel in the sale, use and maintenance of the Product sufficient
          to permit Exabyte to fulfill its obligations to third parties and meet
          its objectives with respect to or causing the purchase of Product. The
          training shall be at no charge and conducted at a location selected by
          Exabyte. Exabyte shall pay for the reasonable expenses incurred by up
          to two (2) of Seller's training personnel traveling to the location
          selected by Exabyte for such training provided Exabyte pre-approves
          such expenses. Exabyte shall pay for the expenses of Exabyte
          personnel. Exabyte shall have no other liability with respect to
          training. Seller shall provide Exabyte's personnel with written
          reference materials regarding the Product and other support
          information.

     4.4. Technical Support

          Seller will provide Exabyte with technical support for the Product at
          no charge via telephone and fax during the term of this Agreement and
          for a period of five (5) years after the date of the last Product
          shipment. Such technical support shall be available during the hours
          of 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time, excluding holidays. Seller
          shall not provide any direct support to Exabyte's customers except as
          specifically requested by Exabyte.

<PAGE>   9

          4.4.1. Product Malfunction or Failure

               If a malfunction or failure of any Product cannot be corrected by
               Exabyte's service engineers after consulting with Seller by
               telephone or fax, then Seller shall either provide technical
               assistance at the site of the Product to resolve the difficulty
               together with Exabyte or Exabyte may resort to the warranty
               remedies. In the event of an on-site response, Seller may not
               charge Exabyte for technical support time if Product's warranty
               is still effective.

          4.4.2. Continued Support

               Exabyte shall have the right to continued support of Product at
               Seller's then-current rates for at least seven (7) years after
               termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason.

     4.5. Documentation

          Seller shall supply Exabyte with reasonable quantities of appropriate
          documentation for Product. Such documentation shall include the
          customary items offered upon the sale of such a Product. Seller shall
          also furnish Exabyte complete Product documentation in
          machine-readable form or magnetic media in a format readable by
          Exabyte. Seller hereby grants Exabyte permission and a royalty-free,
          worldwide license to copy, modify and distribute such documentation as
          necessary in Exabyte's use or resale of the Product. Seller shall not
          charge Exabyte for the documentation described in this Section 4.5.

5. PRODUCT SUPPLY

     5.1. Quarterly Business Reviews

          The Parties agree to hold a business review meeting every ninety (90)
          days for the purpose of discussing business issues related to Product
          manufacturing and supply as described in the Quality Plan, Exhibit B.
          The Parties shall explore methods to improve quality and service, and
          reduce Product lead time, cost and price.

     5.2. Maintenance of Product Quality and Process Control

          5.2.1. Stability of Design, Process, Personnel

               Seller will Notify Exabyte in accordance with Appendix III and
               Exhibit C prior to any changes to Product, its manufacturing
               process or relevant employment changes affecting Seller's key
               personnel assigned to support Exabyte's business. Seller will not

<PAGE>   10

               make any changes to Product which affect its form, fit or
               function without Exabyte's prior written approval.

          5.2.2. Quality

               Seller must provide Product of quality acceptable to Exabyte.
               Product and the manufacturing processes must meet the quality
               requirements set forth in Exhibit B. Seller shall also be
               responsible for the quality of the materials/components of its
               suppliers, including those suppliers assigned to Seller by
               Exabyte.

          5.2.3. Manufacturing Processes

               Seller will provide Exabyte documentation of all related
               manufacturing, maintenance, and quality control processes,
               including types of data available and maintained. Seller shall
               not make any changes to the Product or processes governed by the
               Quality Plan.

          5.2.4. Engineering Change Orders

               From time to time, Seller may request permission from Exabyte, or
               Seller may be requested by Exabyte, to implement Engineering
               Change Orders ("ECOs") in accordance with this Section 5.2.4.
               Seller shall effectively manage ECOs to minimize scrap or rework
               while maximizing price reduction, quality and performance of
               Product or processes relating to its supply. Each Party shall
               Notify the other of all proposed ECOs and provide a sample of the
               pertinent ECO. Each party agrees to supply the appropriate
               documentation to support the other Party's investigation of the
               impact of the proposed ECO.

               5.2.4.1. Seller Requests ECO

                    Seller shall provide Exabyte prompt Notice and a copy of all
                    ECOs proposed by Seller for the Product or its manufacturing
                    processes. Seller shall provide all necessary information to
                    Exabyte to permit a proper evaluation of the ECO including
                    written estimate of costs to be paid by Exabyte and the
                    commencement date for the proposed ECO. Seller shall not
                    implement any ECO affecting the Product or its manufacturing
                    processes without Exabyte's written approval. Exabyte may
                    accept or reject any such proposed ECOs. Exabyte will advise
                    Seller whether to allow Seller to implement its proposed ECO
                    within a reasonable time after Seller provides complete
                    information as described above and in the

<PAGE>   11

                    Quality Plan. The Parties shall share equally any cost
                    savings resulting from Seller's ECO initiative.

               5.2.4.2. Exabyte Requests ECO

                    Seller shall report to Exabyte all substantial costs to
                    implement an ECO proposed by Exabyte, including those for
                    obsolete material, within five (5) business days of
                    Exabyte's request for an ECO. If new material is required
                    for the ECO, the implementation date and the new cost will
                    be mutually agreed upon. The entire cost savings resulting
                    from Exabyte-initiated ECOs will be applied directly to
                    reduce the purchase price to Exabyte.

     5.3. Exclusivity

          If Product contains or is based on any Exabyte Intellectual Property
          (other than Seller's grants of licenses to Exabyte herein), Exabyte
          Confidential Information or if the Product has been customized by
          Seller for Exabyte, Seller agrees not to sell Product or a
          substantially similar product to any party other than Exabyte during
          any term of this Agreement and for five (5) years thereafter.

     5.4. Continuity of Supply

          5.4.1. Factory Allocation

               If Seller is unable to meet Exabyte's demand for Product despite
               Seller's best effort, Seller agrees to allocate at least the same
               percentage of its factory production of Product that was
               allocated to Product prior to such constrained supply as averaged
               over the last four (4) months of full production until such time
               as Seller is able to meet Exabyte's demand for Product.

          5.4.2. Disaster Recovery Plan

               Seller agrees to develop a disaster recovery plan, reasonably
               acceptable to Exabyte, to assure the continued supply of Product.
               Such disaster recovery plan shall be submitted to Exabyte before
               the first shipment of Product.

          5.4.3. Discontinuance and Last Buy

               Seller agrees to provide Exabyte with one (1) year's prior
               written Notice of its discontinuance of any Product. Upon
               Exabyte's request, Seller will act in good faith to accommodate
               Exabyte's last buy proposal.

<PAGE>   12

     5.5. Product Warranty

          Seller warrants Product will meet Specifications and be free of
          defects in material or workmanship under normal use and service for
          thirty-nine (39) months from the time of shipment. Seller shall, at
          its option and expense, repair or replace such nonconforming or
          defective Product within thirty (30) days of Seller's receipt of such
          Product returned by Exabyte, or, at Exabyte's option, refund the
          purchase price of such Product. At Exabyte's option and request,
          Seller shall exercise its best efforts to ship replacement Product at
          Seller's expense as soon as possible. Seller shall not be required to
          remove or install Product from or into Exabyte's product(s) or
          system(s) for the purpose of such repair or replacement. Abuse or
          accident resulting in damage to product shall void this warranty with
          respect to such damage. The return of Product shall be governed by
          Section 3.8.4 above.

          5.5.1. Latent Defect

               Notwithstanding acceptance by Exabyte or the limitations of the
               Product warranty, Seller agrees to repair or replace at its
               expense Product that contains a defect that:

               (i)  existed at the time of manufacture yet was not then active,
                    discernible or evident so that such defect could not have
                    been reasonably detected at the time of purchase using
                    acceptance tests or procedures customary in the industry or
                    actually used under this Agreement; and

               (ii) results in the material failure of Product to conform to the
                    functional or reliability requirements set forth in the
                    Specifications as determined by Exabyte.

          5.5.2. Epidemic Failure

               An epidemic failure of Product occurs when [two (2%)] percent or
               more of Product prove to be nonconforming or defective in
               Exabyte's application due to the same root cause traceable to
               Seller (as compared with all Product sold to Exabyte during the
               same time period as the affected Product) within [four (4) years]
               of their first sale. Epidemic failure excludes Product failures
               directly due to action(s) that voids the warranty under this
               Agreement. In the event of epidemic failure, Seller agrees to
               extend warranty coverage to all Product actually or reasonably
               expected to be affected by such epidemic failure and incur
               reasonable expenses to correct such affected Product including,
               but not limited to, the costs associated with replacing or
               repairing such affected Product.

<PAGE>   13

          5.5.3. Title

               Seller warrants that at the time of delivery and thereafter,
               title to Product shall be free and clear of all liens,
               encumbrances, or other claims.

          5.5.4. Year 2000 Compliance: Product

               Seller warrants that Product and related supporting data and
               files, will function correctly when manipulating, calculating, or
               otherwise dealing with dates, times and related data in the
               following manner:

               (i)   date and time data will be accurately processed (including
                     calculating, comparing, and sequencing) from, into, and
                     between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and the
                     years 1999 and 2000 and leap year calculations;

               (ii)  Product will accurately process date and time data and not
                     inhibit the proper function of any other device when used
                     in combination with other products; and

               (iii) Product will neither contain nor create any logical or
                     mathematical inconsistency, will not malfunction, and will
                     not cease to function when processing date and time data
                     ("Year 2000 Compliant").

          The warranty under this Section 5.5.3 shall not apply to output,
          results, errors, or abnormal terminations caused in whole or in part
          by erroneous or ambiguous input from a source other than Product.

          5.5.5. Year 2000 Compliance; Seller, Major Vendors and Customers

               Seller warrants that its computers and other business processes
               are Year 2000 Compliant. Seller warrants that its major vendors
               and customers are Year 2000 Compliant. For the purpose of this
               Section 5.5.4. "Year 2000 Compliant" means the names entities
               have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the use of dates past
               1999 will not adversely affect business operations as
               substantially described in the previous Section 5.5.3.

          5.5.6. Warranty Disclaimer

               EXCEPT AS SET FORTH HEREIN, SELLER HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER
               WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION,
               THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
               PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

<PAGE>   14

     5.6. General Warranties.

          Seller represents, warrants and agrees that:

          a)   Seller is the owner of all rights, title and interest in and to
               the Product;

          b)   Seller has the full right and power to enter into this Agreement
               and its performance hereunder does not conflict with or cause a
               breach under any agreement, license or other instrument, law,
               rule, order or regulation binding Seller or relating to Product;

          c)   Product furnished by Seller to Exabyte shall be free and clear of
               any and all encumbrances and/or liens of any nature whatsoever;

          d)   Seller has not used or disclosed, in an unauthorized manner, any
               Confidential Information or Intellectual Property of third
               parties in its creation or supply of the Product;

          e)   Product does not infringe any third party's Intellectual
               Property;

          f)   Any computer programs delivered by the Seller, and the media upon
               which they are contained, do not and shall not include
               instructions whose purpose is to disrupt, damage or interfere
               with the operation of computers; and

          g)   Except as to countries to which a general trade embargo by the
               United States applies, the Product may be lawfully exported
               worldwide without obtaining any validated export licenses.

     5.7. Limitation of Liability

          5.7.1. Limitation on Damages

               Neither Party shall be entitled indirect, punitive, special,
               incidental or consequential damages, in connection with or
               arising out of this Agreement (including loss of profit, use,
               data or other economic advantage), however it arises, whether for
               breach of this Agreement, including breach of warranty, or in
               tort, even if the complaining Party has been previously advised
               of the possibility of such damage.

          5.7.2. Intellectual Property Indemnification

               Seller shall defend, indemnity and hold Exabyte, its directors,
               officers, employees, agents, affiliates, assignees,
               subcontractors and customers harmless against any and all
               liability arising from or in connection with any claim, demand,
               fee, obligation or action ("Claim") that:

               (i)  Product infringes a third party's Intellectual Property; or

               (ii) arises due to Seller's neglect in removing symbols, words,
                    numbers or marks from rejected, returned or unpurchased
                    Product.

<PAGE>   15

               Should Product become, or in either Party's opinion, be likely to
               become, the subject of such a Claim, then Seller shall, at
               Seller's expense, use its best efforts to procure for Exabyte the
               right to continue using Product. If Seller cannot procure such a
               right for Exabyte's benefit, Seller shall replace or modify
               Product to eliminate the infringement and pay all of Exabyte's
               costs due to the infringement. Seller's obligations as set forth
               in this Section are conditioned on the following:

               (i)   Exabyte must provide reasonable prompt Notice to Seller of
                     such Claim;

               (ii)  Seller must have the option to have sole control of the
                     defense of any action on such Claim subject only to
                     Exabyte's reasonable consent of any settlement;

               (iii) Exabyte must provide reasonable assistance to Seller at
                     Seller's expense in defending such Claim;

               (iv)  Product must have no alterations to in a manner relevant to
                     the Claim by Exabyte;

               (v)   Exabyte must use updated Product provided to eliminate
                     infringement;

               (vi)  Product must have been used for its intended purpose; and

               (vii) the Claim must not arise solely from Exabyte's Intellectual
                     Property.

          5.7.3. Hold Harmless

               Seller agrees to defend, indemnify and hold Exabyte harmless from
               all loss, cost, damage, or expense based on or arising out of
               Seller's performance or nonperformance under this Agreement,
               Seller's breach of any warranty, or any claims arising from
               Seller's fault, negligence or strict liability.

          5.7.4. Survival

               The provisions in this Section 5.6 shall survive for five (5)
               years after termination or expiration of this Agreement.

6. TERMINATION

     6.1. Termination by Exabyte

          Exabyte shall have the right to terminate this Agreement without cause
          upon thirty (30) days advance Notice to Seller. In the event of such
          termination, Exabyte may cancel all purchase orders issued hereunder
          as of the effective date of such termination without further notice to
          Seller.

<PAGE>   16

     6.2. Termination for Cause

          Either Party shall be entitled, without prejudice to any other rights
          accruing under this Agreement or in law, to immediately terminate this
          Agreement in the event:

          (i)   the other Party fails to meet any of its material obligations
                herein after the terminating party has given Notice of the
                grounds for termination to the other Party and, if the breach
                can be cured, that other Party fails to cure the alleged breach
                within thirty (30) days of said Notice;

          (ii)  a petition in bankruptcy (or under any similar insolvency law)
                is filed against or by the other Party;

          (iii) the other Party makes an assignment for the benefit of its
                creditors; or

          (iv)  a receiver is appointed for, or a levy or attachment is made
                against, all or substantially all of the other Party's assets.

          The Party which terminates this Agreement for cause retains any remedy
          for breach of the whole contract or any unperformed portion whether
          allowed in this Agreement, at law, equity or otherwise.

     6.3. Effect of Termination

          In the event either Party terminates this Agreement:

          (i)   Seller shall deliver promptly all completed Product manufactured
                pursuant to Exabyte's purchase orders;

          (ii)  Seller shall fulfill all accepted purchase orders at Exabyte's
                option;

          (iii) both Parties shall return immediately the other's property,
                including but not limited to, Funded Tooling and equipment, and
                tangible manifestations of Confidential Information except as
                allowed in any Agreement between the Parties;

          (iv)  Exabyte shall reimburse Seller for any unpaid portion of Funded
                Tooling as described in Appendix V; and

          (v)   any claim by Seller for Exabyte to pay for work-in-process and
                parts inventories shall be accompanied by complete documentation
                and shall be governed by Appendix IV, Unique Long lead Time
                Components.

          Notwithstanding Appendix IV or the preceding, if Exabyte terminates
          for Seller's breach, Seller shall not be entitled to any cost incurred
          with respect to the canceled portion of any purchase order. In no
          event shall Seller be entitled to any cancellation charges or fees in
          excess of payments negotiated under this Agreement.

     6.4. License Under Termination

          In the event of termination of this Agreement by Exabyte for cause,
          Seller grants to Exabyte a perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive,
          world-wide, royalty free license, together with the right to
          sublicense, to Seller's

<PAGE>   17

          Intellectual Property and supportive technologies related to Product
          to make, have made, use, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of Product
          in order to provide Exabyte full rights to the commercial exploitation
          of the Product. Additionally, Seller shall provide all reasonable
          assistance necessary to enable Exabyte to exercise this license. Such
          license shall be freely transferable without the consent of Seller.

7. CONFIDENTIALITY

         Each Party ("Receiving Party") may receive or learn of Confidential
         Information from the other Party ("Disclosing Party"). Receiving Party
         shall hold the Disclosing Party's Confidential Information in trust and
         confidence employing at least the same measures to protect the
         Disclosing Party's Confidential Information as the Receiving Party
         employs to protect its own Confidential Information and in no event
         less than due care. Receiving Party shall only disclose the Disclosing
         Party's Confidential Information to persons:

         (i)   with a need to know such Confidential Information and only to the
               extent necessary to permit the performance of obligations arising
               under this Agreement; and

         (ii)  who are bound not to discuss such Confidential Information under
               at least the same terms as dictated in this Agreement.

          "Confidential Information" means Intellectual Property, models,
          components, parts, drawings, sketches, programs, specifications,
          techniques, processes, test data, methods, inventions, research,
          design, costs, forecasts, plans, profits, pricing, customer names, or
          other information with respect to either Party that the Disclosing
          Party relies upon for a competitive advantage or that must be kept
          confidential under law or other obligation. "Confidential Information"
          also includes oral or written disclosures of information identified as
          secret, confidential or proprietary at the time of disclosure or
          within a reasonable time thereafter. The undertaking and obligations
          of Receiving Party under this Agreement shall not apply to
          Confidential Information that is:

          (i)   already known to Receiving Party without any wrongful action or
                inaction by any party;

          (ii)  independently developed by Receiving Party without reference to
                the other Party's Confidential Information;

          (iii) in the public domain at the time of either Party's disclosure;
                or

          (iv)  generally disclosed to third parties without restriction.

     7.1. Compelled Disclosure

          In the event the Receiving Party is compelled by proper judicial or
          governmental authority to disclose the other Party's Confidential
          Information, then the Receiving party shall, prior to disclosure;

          (i)   promptly Notify the Disclosing Party;

          (ii)  allow the Disclosing Party a reasonable time to oppose the
                disclosure; and

<PAGE>   18

          (iii) Work with the Disclosing Party to set in place adequate measures
                for the protection of such Confidential Information despite any
                disclosure.

     7.2. Return of Confidential Information

          Receiving Party shall, immediately upon request of Disclosing Party,
          return to Disclosing Party any or all tangible manifestations of
          Disclosing Party's Confidential Information in the possession of the
          Receiving party and permanently destroy its electronically stored
          records of such Confidential Information. Receiving Party further
          agrees to employ commercially reasonable efforts to retrieve tangible
          manifestations of Disclosing Party's Confidential Information that
          Receiving party has given to third parties and seek the permanent
          destruction of all electronically stored records of such Confidential
          Information.

     7.3. Publicity

          Neither Party shall, without first obtaining the other's written
          permission, in any manner advertise, publish, or disclose the material
          terms, details, or unique Specifications of or in this Agreement
          expect as otherwise allowed under law.

     7.4. Removal of Identifying Marks

          Seller agrees to not deliver, sell, or release Product containing
          Exabyte Confidential Information to any party other than Exabyte
          except by Exabyte's written authorization under the terms of Section
          9.4 below. In the event Seller leases, sells or otherwise transfers
          Product to a third party, Seller shall remove from such Product any
          symbols, words, numbers or any such marks related to the sale of the
          Product to Exabyte or otherwise identified with Exabyte.

     7.5. No License or Assignment

          The furnishing of Confidential Information shall not be construed to
          grant any license or constitute any assignment of a right to any
          Confidential Information for the benefit of any party other than the
          Disclosing Party except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

     7.6. Non-Solicitation

          To further protect Confidential Information, neither Party shall
          directly or indirectly encourage or seek to influence any employee of
          the other Party to leave that other Party's employment during the term
          of this Agreement and for six (6) months after its termination or
          expiration. In the event of breach of this provision, the breaching
          party shall pay the other Party an amount equal to one year's salary
          of the pertinent employee.

<PAGE>   19

     7.7. Survival

          Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, all
          obligations of confidentiality and non-disclosure between the Parties
          shall survive termination of this Agreement and be binding upon the
          Parties for an additional period of five (5) years after the
          termination or expiration of this Agreement.

8. CONSTRUCTION OF AGREEMENT

     8.1. Headings and References

          Section headings are for reference purposes only and shall have no
          operative effect in the construction of the rights or obligations to
          the Parties pursuant to this Agreement. References to a section number
          include all of its subsections.

     8.2. Official Language

          English is the official language of this Agreement and the English
          version of this Agreement shall be the sole binding version. Documents
          or Notices not originally written in English shall have no effect
          under this Agreement until they have been translated into English by
          the Party providing the Notice or document and the English translation
          shall then be the controlling form of the document or Notice.

     8.3. Applicable Law

          This Agreement shall be construed under and governed by the laws of
          the State of Colorado without regard to that jurisdiction's conflict
          of laws doctrine. The Parties hereby specifically exclude the Untied
          Nations Convention for the International Sale of Goods from any
          application with respect to this Agreement.

     8.4. Order of Precedence

          In the event of any conflict between:

          (i)   the provisions of the main body of this Agreement and those in
                the Exhibits hereto; or

          (ii)  any subsequent amendments of this Agreement and the documents in
                (i) above;

          the order of precedence shall be: first, the amendments; second, the
          Exhibits; and third, the main body of this Agreement without regard to
          any conflicting Attachments.

<PAGE>   20

     8.5. Singular and Plural Expressions

          Defined terms, words or other expressions shall retain their meanings
          as defined herein regardless whether their definition or the usage
          occurs in the singular or plural form as necessary in the context.

9. GENERAL PROVISIONS

     9.1. Entire Agreement; Counterparts

          This Agreement, together with its Attachments, Exhibits and Appendices
          is the sole and complete statement of the rights and obligations of
          the Parties as to the sale and purchase of Product and it supersedes
          all previous understandings, negotiations and proposals between the
          Parties concerning the subject matter. By their signatures below, the
          Parties execute this Agreement and all its Attachments, Exhibits and
          Appendices. This Agreement may not be altered, amended, rescinded or
          modified except by written agreement between Seller and Exabyte and
          signed by an authorized officer of each Party that expressly amends,
          rescinds, supersedes or terminates this Agreement. Any printed
          conditions on purchase orders and acceptance forms are superseded by
          this Agreement and not effective except as stated in this Agreement.
          This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which
          shall be deemed an original, all of which together shall constitute
          one and the same Agreement.

     9.2. Disputes

          All disputes or controversies that arise between Exabyte and Seller in
          relation to or in connection with this Agreement shall be finally
          settled by a federal court located in Boulder County, Colorado. In the
          event such federal court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, disputes
          shall be referred to a state court in Boulder, Colorado. The Parties
          hereby consent to the jurisdiction and venue of such courts in
          Colorado.

     9.3. Enforcement

          In the event an authorized court with jurisdiction declares any
          provisions of this Agreement unenforceable, the remaining enforceable
          provisions shall survive, provided this Agreement still expresses the
          general intent of the Parties. In the event the general intent of the
          Parties cannot be preserved, this Agreement, or such provisions, shall
          either be renegotiated in good faith or rendered null and void.

     9.4. Notices

          All Notices and communication between the Parties under this Agreement
          shall be in English. Notices shall be deemed to have been given on the

<PAGE>   21

          date Notice was sent if evidenced by a receipt generated as a result
          of the method used to notify the other Party. Otherwise, the date of
          Notice shall be that date the Notice was received as indicated by a
          date stamp customarily used by the receiving Party for that purpose.
          Notice may be given by facsimile, if in the case of Notice to Exabyte,
          Seller sends Notice to the following:

                 (303) 417-7200            attention: Ms. Diana Kozial
                   fax number                         program manager

          and in the case of Notice to Seller, Exabyte sends Notice to the
          following:

                   65 861 6680             attention: Mr. Patrick Tay
                   fax number                         sales manager

          9.4.1. Notice of Default, Breach, Termination or Disclosure

               Notice of default, breach, termination, or expected or actual
               disclosure of the other Party's Confidential Information under
               Section 7.1 above, shall be given in writing by certified or
               registered mail addressed to the respective Party at their
               respective addresses below:

                    SELLER:
                    Singapore Shinei Sangyo PTE, Ltd.
                    31 Joo Koon Circle
                    Jurong Town, Singapore 629108
                    Attn: Mr. Patrick Tay

                    EXABYTE:
                    Exabyte Corporation
                    1685 38th Street
                    Boulder, Colorado 80301 U.S.A.
                    Attn: General Counsel

               A Party may send initial Notice under this Section 9.4.1 by
               facsimile, however, that Party agrees to immediately send
               confirmation of such Notice by mail, as provided above, and in no
               case later than five (5) days after the date the facsimile was
               sent. The effective date of such Notice shall be the mailing date
               as evidenced by the mail receipt.

<PAGE>   22

     9.5. Assignment

          Except as allowed in Section 3.6.1, this Agreement is not assignable
          by either Party.

     9.6. Waiver

          A waiver by either Party of its rights hereunder with respect to a
          breach of the other Party's obligations shall not be construed as a
          continuing waiver with respect to other breaches of the same or other
          provisions of this Agreement.

     9.7. No Agency Created

          Neither Party is a partner, joint venture, agent, representative, or
          employee of the other Party. Neither Party or that Party's employee,
          consultant, contractor or agent is granted the right or authority to
          assume or create any obligation or responsibility, express or implied,
          on behalf of or in the name of the other Party or to bind such other
          Party in any manner to anything whatsoever.

     9.8. Compliance with Laws and Indemnification

          Seller represents that it does and shall at all times comply with the
          provisions of all applicable national, international, federal, state
          and local laws, rules and regulations and agrees to provide
          information to enable Exabyte to comply with such laws and regulations
          in the use and sale of the Product.

          If the Product is purchased for incorporation into merchandise sold
          under a US government contract or subcontract, the terms required by
          law to be inserted shall apply to that purchase. Seller warrants that
          Seller has commercial general liability insurance in the minimum
          amount of one million dollars (US $1,000,000) per occurrence and two
          million dollars in the aggregate (US $2,000,000) including product
          liability and completed operations coverage. Seller agrees to provide
          Exabyte evidence of such insurance upon request. Seller agrees to not
          use in the course of performance of this Agreement, and warrants that
          the Product does not contain nor has been manufactured using any
          "class I substance" within the meaning of 42 USC Section 7671a. Seller
          shall Notify Exabyte if any chemicals on the Exabyte List of
          Restricted Chemicals are used in the manufacture of, or are contained
          in, the Product. Seller agrees to indemnify and hold Exabyte harmless
          for any costs, damages, and/or expenses arising from Seller's
          non-compliance with this Section.

<PAGE>   23

          9.8.1. Federal Law

               Seller represents that it complies with US federal laws,
               including, but not limited to, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the
               Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Service Contract Act, the
               Clean Air and Water Act, the Drug-Free Workplace Act, and the
               Equal Employment Opportunity Act and affirmative action clauses
               prescribed by Executive Orders, and agrees to provide statements
               substantiating Seller's compliance.

     9.9. Import Requirements

          If the Product is imported, Seller agrees to allow Exabyte to be the
          importer of record where possible. Exabyte reserves the right to file
          third party duty drawback claims in the event that Seller is the
          importer of record on foreign parts and/or products purchased for and
          sold to Exabyte in the US. The Seller will provide all necessary
          documents to Exabyte for duty drawback claims in accordance with US
          Customs regulations. Seller agrees to provide, upon Exabyte's request,
          documents to prove importation and to transfer duty drawback rights to
          Exabyte. Seller shall mark every Product or its container with the
          country of origin and otherwise comply with all applicable import
          rules, regulations and laws.

     9.10. Force Majeure

          Either Party's non-performance under this Agreement shall be excused
          to the extent that performance is rendered impossible due to major
          disruptive acts of God, war, debilitating fires, or when directly due
          to government restrictions, for so long as such disturbance continues.
          The obligations of the Parties shall be restored when such force
          majeure dissipates or no longer directly affects the Party's ability
          to perform. Notwithstanding the foregoing, non-performance due to
          force majeure that continues for more than twenty (20) calendar days
          may be cause for termination.

          9.10.1. Return to Production

               Upon Seller's return to production following force majeure,
               Seller agrees to allocate its factory production to Product based
               on the following: Seller will determine what percentage of its
               total factory production was allocated to Product, averaged over
               the last four (4) months of full production plus the upcoming
               1-month period indicated on Exabyte's firm purchase order, and
               will allocate that same percentage, or greater, of production to
               Exabyte until such time as Seller is able to meet Exabyte's
               demand for Product.

     9.11. Express Remedies No Limitation

          The Remedies enumerated herein shall not limit either Party's right to
          resort to other remedies available at law or equity.

<PAGE>   24

     9.12. Survival of Provisions

          In addition to those provisions so noted, any other provisions in this
          Agreement, which by their nature should survive after termination or
          expiration of this Agreement, shall survive.

<PAGE>   25

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement by their duly
authorized representatives, effective as of the last date signed below
("Effective Date").

EXABYTE CORPORATION                          SINGAPORE SHINEI SANGYO PTE, LTD

By:                                          By:
   -------------------------------------         -------------------------------
   William I. Marriner                           Patrick Tay

Title: President/Chief Executive Officer     Title: Sales Manager
       ---------------------------------            ----------------------------

Date: March 28, 1999                         Date: March 18, 1999
      ----------------------------------           -----------------------------

<PAGE>   26

                              INDEX OF ATTACHMENTS

APPENDIX I      Product and Pricing

APPENDIX II     Key Technical Personnel

APPENDIX III    Exabyte's Liability for Work-In-Process

APPENDIX IV     Funded Tooling

EXHIBIT A       Specifications

EXHIBIT B       Quality Plan with Process Verification Plan (PVP)

EXHIBIT C       Shipping Requirements

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