Altera and Synplicity Partnership to Aid in Synthesis of Intellectual Property for SOPC Designs.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUNNYVALE & SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 2001

Agreement Also Outlines Altera will Use Synplicity

Technology for IP Development

Altera Corporation (Nasdaq:ALTR), a leading supplier of programmable logic devices, and Synplicity, Inc. (Nasdaq:SYNP), a leading supplier of software for the design and verification of semiconductors, today announced a multi-level partnership that will enhance the implementation of intellectual property (IP) in system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) applications. Synplicity has agreed to provide Synplify Pro(TM) and Amplify(TM) licenses to Altera for use in the development of Altera's MegaCore(R) functions. In addition, Synplicity has agreed to provide a special version of its synthesis software to Altera customers for use with Altera's encrypted MegaCore functions.

"As more customers adopt our SOPC solutions, the development methodology is critical in the successful implementation and integration of IP," said Craig Lytle, Altera vice president of intellectual property business unit. "Leveraging Synplicity's synthesis technology for the development of our MegaCore functions will enable Altera to continue to deliver the highest performance cores to our customers. Our customers, in turn, will have access to Synplicity synthesis technology when integrating our MegaCore functions in their SOPC designs."

Altera's MegaWizard(R) technology allows users to parameterize MegaCore functions to meet specific design objectives, greatly reducing the time spent in design. In addition, the MegaWizard parameters can be passed through to third-party design tools, providing a highly integrated design solution. As a result of the agreement, the companies expect Altera customers will be able to use Synplicity synthesis technology to synthesize encrypted MegaCore functions to achieve superior results.

"Partnering with Altera, the pioneer of system-on-a-programmable-chip products, is consistent with our strategy to provide synthesis technology at both the development and implementation stages of IP use," said Joe Gianelli, director of channel marketing at Synplicity. "We are looking forward to working with Altera to provide an advanced design synthesis flow so that our mutual customers can achieve high performance and efficiency from Altera's MegaCore functions."

In addition, under terms of the agreement, Altera will also distribute evaluation copies of selected Synplicity(R) synthesis products with the Quartus(TM) II development software, which provides a comprehensive environment for SOPC design. Altera's Quartus II software supports the APEX(TM) device family and Excalibur(TM) embedded processor solutions and the Mercury(TM) family of programmable ASSPs. The Quartus II development software also includes new system-level design features such as PowerGauge(TM) analysis software, the industry's first integrated power analysis software, and enhancements to system-level verification.

Pricing and Availability

The special version of Synplicity software that supports Altera encrypted MegaCore functions will be available in Q3 2001. Evaluation copies of Synplicity products that are bundled with Quartus II software will be available in Q3 2001. Both will be available directly from Altera to all active subscribers at no additional charge.

About Synplify Pro and Amplify Software

The Synplify Pro and Amplify Physical Optimizer(TM) products leverage Synplicity's Behavior Extracting Synthesis Technology(R) (B.E.S.T. (TM)) algorithms and are fast, easy-to-use products that provide the highest quality of results. The products run on Windows 95/98, Windows NT and Unix workstations. The Synplify Pro product offers high-quality synthesis and is optimized to increase performance and productivity for designers of complex programmable devices. The Amplify Physical Optimizer is the industry's only physical synthesis tool for PLDs. It improves circuit performance and timing closure, and accelerates productivity by performing simultaneous layout and optimization.

Forward-Looking Statements/Safe Harbor

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally preceded by words that imply a future state such as "expected" or that imply that a particular future event or events will occur such as "will." Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements in this release involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation the risk that future performance is dependent on product development schedules, the design performance of software and other tools, as well as Synplicity and Altera's development technology. Please refer to Synplicity's and Altera's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, copies of which are available from Synplicity and Altera without charge.

About Altera

Altera Corporation, The Programmable Solutions Company(R), was founded in 1983 and is a leading supplier of programmable logic devices (PLDs). Altera's CMOS-based PLDs are user-programmable semiconductor chips that enhance flexibility and reduce time-to-market for companies in the communications, computer peripheral, and industrial markets. By using high performance devices, software development tools, and sophisticated intellectual property cores, system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions can be created with Excalibur embedded processor solutions, memory, and other complex logic together on a single PLD. Altera common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol ALTR. More information on Altera is available on the Internet at http://www.altera.com.

About Synplicity

Synplicity, Inc. (Nasdaq: SYNP) is a leading provider of software products that enable the rapid and effective design and verification of semiconductors used in next-generation networking and communications hardware and other electronic devices. The company leverages its innovative logic synthesis, physical synthesis and verification software solutions to improve performance and shorten development time for complex programmable logic devices, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and system-on-chip (SoC) integrated circuits. Synplicity's fast, easy-to-use products offer extremely high quality of results, support industry-standard design languages (VHDL and Verilog) and run on popular platforms (Windows 98/2000, Windows ME, Windows NT and UNIX). As of the end of March 2001, Synplicity employed over 230 people in its 16 facilities worldwide. Synplicity is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.

Note to Editors: Synplicity and Behavior Extracting Synthesis Technology are registered trademarks of Synplicity, Inc. Amplify, Physical Optimizer, B.E.S.T. and Synplify Pro are trademarks of Synplicity, Inc. Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company, MegaCore, Quartus, MegaWizard, Excalibur, APEX, Mercury, PowerGauge, and specific device designations are trademarks and/or service marks of Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other brands or products are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their owners.