ASE and Conexant to Exchange Advanced Packaging Technologies.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA & NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2001

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (NYSE:ASX) and Conexant Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNXT) today announced a cross-licensing agreement in which both companies will exchange advanced semiconductor assembly technologies.

Under the agreement, ASE will acquire Conexant's radio frequency (RF) land grid array (LGA) design and process technology, and Conexant will receive ASE's fine pitch ball grid array (BGA) technology.

The agreement will establish ASE as an additional source for Conexant's high-volume RF LGA package technology for the expanding wireless semiconductor market. This package is used for pin counts under 100 in RF and other semiconductor applications that require very small component footprints such as miniaturized cellular phones, wireless personal digital assistants and internet devices.

ASE's fine pitch BGA technology will be qualified for production in Conexant's internal assembly and test manufacturing facility in Mexicali, Mexico. The fine pitch BGA package provides a small form factor component of a broad range of wireless baseband, computing and other semiconductor devices at pin counts up to 256.

"We are pleased to collaborate with ASE to provide our customers with the latest in state-of-the-art packaging technologies," said Joe Adam, vice president, packaging and test technology for Conexant. "In addition, this agreement will allow the industry at large to utilize Conexant's RF LGA technology, a significant step in establishing this package as an industry standard."

"Teaming through technology transfers, and related vehicles, is part of ASE's strategy in providing leading-edge packaging technologies to the IC industry," said Dr. Tien Wu, senior vice president, ASE Worldwide Marketing & North America/Europe Sales.

"We are continually expanding our packaging and testing portfolio worldwide to meet the growing demands of leading-edge integrated device manufacturers such as Conexant."

About ASE Inc.

ASE (NYSE:ASX) is one of the world's largest independent providers of semiconductor packaging services and, together with its subsidiary ASE Test Limited (Nasdaq:ASTSF), one of the world's largest independent providers of semiconductor testing services, including front-end engineering testing, wafer probing and final testing services.

The company's international customer base of more than 200 blue-chip customers includes such leading names as Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Altera Corp., Cirrus Logic International Ltd., Conexant Systems, Inc., LSI Logic Corp., and Qualcomm Inc.

With advanced-process technological capabilities and a global presence spanning Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the United States, ASE has established a reputation for reliable, high-quality products and services. For more information, visit the Web site, http://www.aseglobal.com.

About Conexant Systems, Inc.

With revenues of $2.1 billion in fiscal 2000, Conexant is the world's largest independent company focused exclusively on providing semiconductor solutions for communications electronics. With more than 30 years of experience in developing communications technology, the company draws upon its expertise in mixed-signal processing to deliver integrated systems and semiconductor products for a broad range of communications applications.

These products facilitate communications worldwide through wireline voice and data communications networks, cordless and cellular wireless telephony systems, personal imaging devices and equipment, and emerging cable and wireless broadband communications networks.

The company organizes its activities into two business areas: Internet infrastructure, which consists of the Network Access products, and personal networking, comprised of Digital Infotainment, Personal Imaging, Wireless Communications and Personal Computing products. Conexant is a member of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 Indices. For more information, visit Conexant at www.conexant.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains statements relating to future results of ASE and Conexant (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: maintaining a consistent and reliable source of energy; global economic and market conditions, such as the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; successful development of new products; the timing of new product introductions; the availability and extent of utilization of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; fluctuations in manufacturing yields; product obsolescence; the ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related intellectual property; the successful separation of the company's Internet infrastructure and personal networking businesses; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; labor relations of the company, its customers and suppliers; and the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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