Synopsys and Artisan Collaborate To Offer Broad Library Support For Signal Integrity, Test, Power And Physical Verification.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif & SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2003

Customers to Have Free Access to Libraries Via Artisan's

Foundry Library Program

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), the world leader in semiconductor design software, and Artisan Components, Inc. (Nasdaq:ARTI), a leading provider of physical intellectual property (IP) for complex system-on-a-chip (SoC) design, today announced that they are collaborating to provide mutual customers with advanced design flows and broad technology support for certain Synopsys Galaxy(TM) Design Platform tools for 130-nanometer designs and below. Specifically, the companies are cooperating to provide Artisan customers access to free library views for noise for Galaxy signal integrity (SI), timing and power using scalable polynomial modeling (SPM), TetraMAX(R) automatic test pattern generation (ATPG), and Hercules(TM) physically verified components.

"As a leader in the design and delivery of synthesizable microprocessor cores, hard microprocessor cores and synthesizable peripherals for SoCs, we foresee real benefits from the ease of use, performance and predictability afforded by using Synopsys tools with Artisan's silicon libraries," said Simon Segars, EVP, Engineering at ARM.

"The complexity of today's submicron design environment mandates partnerships between leading providers to offer mutual customers quality solutions that ensure a successful path to silicon," said Neal Carney, vice president of marketing at Artisan. "By expanding our relationship with Synopsys, we're providing our customers with critical design implementation capabilities that give them more confidence in their designs and help speed time to market."

Both companies will broaden joint efforts to develop and deliver new solutions that address growing nanometer-scale design challenges, such as signal integrity, test costs, power management and physical verification. Artisan and Synopsys have already defined SI modeling capabilities in the Liberty(TM) (.lib) open library standard. These capabilities will also be delivered via Artisan's Foundry Library Program to address the need for increasingly accurate modeling of SI effects such as crosstalk-induced delay, crosstalk-induced noise (glitch) and IR (voltage) drop.

"As customers move their designs to 130 nanometers and below, it is critical that they have access to accurate models and a comprehensive library that spans the complete design flow," said Tom Ferry, vice president of marketing, Implementation Group at Synopsys, Inc. "Our expanded agreement with Artisan will give our customers access to the most advanced tools, flows and proven libraries."

For a demonstration of Synopsys solutions for complex silicon design, visit the Synopsys booth (#307) at the upcoming Artisan Community Design Conference, to be held at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California, on September 25, 2003.

Pricing and Availability

The Artisan libraries are scheduled to support Hercules and TetraMAX in Q4 2003. Noise (glitch) model support for Galaxy SI is scheduled to be available in Q1 of calendar 2004 with support for SPDM format and SPPM format following in Q2 of calendar 2004 and Q3 of calendar 2004, respectively. The libraries will be available via Artisan's Foundry Library Program and can be obtained by visiting Artisan's web site at: http://www.artisan.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements of Artisan and Synopsys, including, without limitation, that Artisan is expected to add support in its libraries for Hercules and TetraMAX in Q4 2003, noise model support for Galaxy SI in Q1 2004, support for SPDM format in Q2 2004, and support for SPPM format in Q3 2004 and the expected benefits of such collaboration. 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 Artisan from supporting the Synopsys products listed above; market acceptance of these enhanced library products and uncertainties attendant to any new product offering. We refer you also to the documents that Artisan and Synopsys file 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 and the section entitled "Factors that may affect Future Results" in Synopsys' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2003. Artisan and Synopsys disclaim 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 Artisan

Artisan Components, Inc. (Nasdaq:ARTI) 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, California. More information about Artisan Components, including free library access, can be found at www.artisan.com.

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS) is the world leader in electronic design automation (EDA) software for semiconductor design. The company delivers technology-leading semiconductor design and verification platforms to the global electronics market, enabling the development of complex systems-on-chips (SoCs). Synopsys also provides intellectual property and design services to simplify the design process and accelerate time-to-market for its customers. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California and has offices in more than 60 locations throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com.

Synopsys and TetraMAX are registered trademarks of Synopsys Inc., and Galaxy, Liberty and Hercules are trademarks of Synopsys, Inc. Artisan Components and Artisan are registered trademarks of Artisan Components, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.