Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Selects Artisan Library Solutions

Agreement with Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Broadens Artisan's Presence in Japan's Consumer Electronics Market

SUNNYVALE, Calif., -- June 17, 2003 -- Artisan Components, Inc., (Nasdaq: ARTI), a leading provider of physical intellectual property (IP), today announced it has signed a license agreement with Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation, a major integrated device manufacturer. The agreement further expands Artisan's presence in Japan's consumer electronics market.

Under the terms of the agreement, Artisan has licensed Sony Semiconductor Kyushu its memory generators for single- and dual-port SRAM, single- and two-port register files, diffusion programmable ROM and SAGE-X™ Standard Cell Library for an advanced submicron process. Artisan's library products include support for its extensive set of views and models of the industry's leading EDA tools.

"Sony Semiconductor Kyushu chose Artisan because it offered quality and superior product performance - high speed and high density," said Eisaburo Iwamoto, executive deputy president of Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation. "Partnering with Artisan can help speed our time-to-market by allowing us to expand on our technology designs that differentiate Sony in the consumer electronics market."

"Sony is a recognized leader in the consumer electronics arena and as such requires design efficiency and high-production yields," said Mark Templeton, president and chief executive officer of Artisan. "We are pleased Sony Semiconductor Kyushu has endorsed our physical library solutions for Sony products as a competitive advantage for consumer electronics."

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, mixed-signal and communications 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.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements that partnering with Artisan can help speed Sony's time-to-market. Actual results may differ materially. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including whether there will be technical or other difficulties that delay Sony's time-to-market. We refer you also to the documents that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in particular the section entitled "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" in the Company'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.

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