Artisan and Denali Team to Deliver Comprehensive DDR Interface Solution; Three-Year Alliance Advances SoC Development With Comprehensive DDR Memory System Design IP.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif. & PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 2003

Artisan Components, Inc. (Nasdaq:ARTI), a leading provider of physical intellectual property (IP), and Denali Software, Inc., a leading provider of IP and EDA (Electronic Design Automation) products used to develop advanced memory systems, today announced a three-year agreement to jointly provide a comprehensive DDR memory interface design solution. This alliance provides for an integrated design environment that is focused on reducing risk and time-to-market for developing and verifying memory interfaces in system-on-chip (SoC) designs.

The first result of the collaboration offers pre-configured solutions that include Denali's Databahn memory controller cores and Artisan's specialty I/Os and analog timing functions. The solution supports a wide range of new and emerging memory technologies including DDR, DDRII, and QDR for SDRAM, SRAM and RLDRAM applications operating up to 1.0Gbps.

Memory systems are now the primary bottleneck to the flow of data in SoC designs. Increasing clock speeds, new memory architectures, vendor-specific memory features, timing and high-speed I/O effects are some of the critical issues that must be addressed when designing a memory system. By providing interoperable, pre-configured solutions, Artisan and Denali offer a comprehensive and integrated SoC design environment for developing high-performance memory interfaces.

"Creating value for customers by expanding our network of relationships is central to Artisan's strategy," said Callan Carpenter, vice president and general manager of Artisan's Analog/Mixed-Signal Business Unit. "Denali has demonstrated market leadership in memory controller IP technology for DDR interfaces. With this alliance, we help reduce customer risk by offering an integrated solution that addresses the complete problem, from controller IP to optimized I/Os and analog timing elements."

"SoC designers face many challenges in developing memory systems incorporating analog and mixed-signal IP in their SoC designs," said Mark Gogolewski, chief technical officer of Denali Software, Inc. "In today's complex design-to-silicon arena, it takes technology and partnerships. By teaming with Artisan, we are enabling customers with best-in-class I/O and analog design technology. The DDR interface design solution from Denali and Artisan now offers a significant value-proposition for the SoC design community."

Artisan-Denali IP Product Availability

Artisan's specialty I/Os and analog timing functions are now available. Front-end views can be downloaded by licensed customers on Artisan's website at www.artisan.com. Denali's Databahn memory cores are available on Denali's website at www.denali.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, that Denali and Artisan's intend to collaborate on an integrated design environment for developing and verifying memory interfaces. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, whether there will be technical or other difficulties that delay or prevent the availability of Artisan IP components or Denali design technology that result from the Artisan and Denali collaboration, and market acceptance of the Artisan IP components and Denali design technology that result from this collaboration. Actual results may differ materially. We refer you also to the documents that Artisan files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in particular the section entitled "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" in Artisan's annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q. Artisan disclaims any obligation to update or correct the information contained in this press release as a result of financial, business or any other developments occurring after the date of the release.

About Denali

Denali Software, Inc. is a leading provider of EDA tools and Semiconductor Intellectual Property (SIP) solutions for chip interface design, integration, and verification. PureSpec is the industry leading solution for verifying compliance and interoperability for PCI Express designs. Denali's Databahn memory controller cores are licensed for use in over 80 chips, and provide designers with the highest quality solution for interfacing with all new and emerging high-performance memory technologies. Denali's MMAV product is the de facto industry standard for modeling and simulating memory during all phases of design and verification. Memory selection, memory controller configuration, and memory system performance analysis are supported through Denali's online infrastructure at eMemory.com. More than 400 companies worldwide use Denali's tools, technology, and services to design and verify complex chip interfaces for communication, consumer, and computer products. For more information, please visit Denali at www.denali.com or contact Denali directly at 650-461-7200, or email [e-mail].

About Artisan Components

Artisan Components, Inc. is a leading provider of physical intellectual property (IP) components for the design and manufacture of complex system-on-a-chip integrated circuits. Artisan's products include embedded memory, standard cell, input/output, analog and mixed-signal components, which are designed to achieve the best combination of performance, density, power and yield for a given manufacturing process. Artisan has licensed its IP components to over 1,000 companies involved in integrated circuit design. Artisan is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif. More information about Artisan Components, including free library access, can be found at www.artisan.com.

Artisan Components and Artisan are registered trademarks of Artisan Components, Inc.

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