Avnet ASIC Israel Joins ARM ATAP Program

First Israeli ATAP Partner brings ARM core-based design services to Israel

CAMBRIDGE, UK AND Kfar Saba/Tel-Mond, Israel – Nov. 3, 2003 – ARM [(LSE:ARM); (Nasdaq:ARMHY)], the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC processor solutions, and Avnet ASIC Israel, Ltd. (AAI), previously known as RDT, a subsidiary of Avnet, Inc., the world's largest distributor of electronic components and design services, announced that AAI has joined the ARM ATAP™ technology access program. As an ATAP Partner, AAI will serve as an ARM Approved Design Center for fast-growing fabless semiconductor companies, as well as traditional ASIC clients in Israel.

The global trend toward outsourcing of ASIC design has created a growing need for design centers that have a proven track record of proficiency. The ATAP program provides a framework for selecting competent design centers equipped with the ARM technology necessary for complex system-on-chip (SoC) designs. AAI's entry into the program offers Israeli developers a design center with a proven ability to handle the complex tasks associated with SoC design.

"It is especially important for our Partners in fast-growing markets to have a local support network and resources to produce next-generation products without sacrificing time-to-market," said Shlomo Rosenberg, country manager, ARM Israel. "AAI's demonstrated expertise, in conjunction with its existing relationships with Foundry Program Partners such as Tower Semiconductor and others, ensures that developers in this region will be well served. ARM is looking to increase its partnership with Israeli companies, and the ATAP program is yet another way to enable the local market."

"Becoming the first Israeli Partner in the ATAP program facilitates AAI's ability to offer our design services for the industry standard ARM microprocessor cores," said Nadav Ben-Ezer, managing director, AAI. "AAI's expertise combined with the ARM support center will enable us to offer our customers low-risk solutions with short design cycles."

About the ATAP Program
ATAP design partners must go through a strict qualification process to become an ARM Approved Design Center. This includes a design flow audit, training on implementing designs with ARM cores, tools, AMBA™ bus peripherals and development techniques. Each design center must demonstrate its own unique skills in specific technology domains, as well as market segment expertise. The ATAP program also provides additional benefits such as geographic and time-zone locality and local language support. For more information on the ARM ATAP program, please email info@arm.com or visit the website at www.arm.com.

About ARM
ARM (LSE: ARM; Nasdaq: ARMHY) is the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions. The company licenses its high-performance, low-cost, power-efficient RISC processors, peripherals, and system-on-chip designs to leading international electronics companies. ARM also provides comprehensive support required in developing a complete system. ARM's microprocessor cores are rapidly becoming a volume RISC standard in such markets as portable communications, hand-held computing, multimedia digital consumer and embedded solutions. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com.

About Avnet, Inc.
Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. is an authorized B2B distributor for the manufacturers such as IBM, Motorola, Intel, Microsoft, Texas Instruments, HP and National Semiconductor. Via its two operating groups, Avnet markets, distributes and adds value to electronic components, embedded systems and enterprise computing products, and serves more than 100,000 customers including original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers, value-added resellers, systems integrators and end users in 68 countries. Avnet also delivers services such as inventory management and logistics, supply-chain integration, bill-of-materials analysis, systems integration and configuration, technical assistance and engineering design. A Fortune 500 company, Avnet's revenues for fiscal 2003 (year ended June 27, 2003) were $9.05 billion

About Avnet ASIC Israel, Ltd.
Israel-based Avnet ASIC Israel Ltd. ("AAI") is a fully owned subsidiary of Avnet Israel, which is the Israeli branch of Avnet Inc.. AAI is an ASIC Design and Support Center which is helping customers, mostly Israeli Electronic companies, to implement their designs with ASIC vendors and Semiconductors Foundries and providing a range of design services, such as IP integration, Physical Synthesis, Test (SCAN, BIST, JTAG, ATPG), Static Timing Analysis, Floorplanning, Place and Route, Clock Systems, Signal Integrity Provisions, Physical Verifications (DRC/LVS) and Tape-Out for a full RTL to GDSII design flow. AAI is a "one-stop-shopping" supplier to its customers providing also Post Silicon services and logistics flow for assembly, testing and shipment of fully tested and qualified devices. To contact AAI please call +972-9-7780270.
ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. ATAP and AMBA are trademarks of ARM Limited. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (LSE: ARM and Nasdaq: ARMHY); its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM INC; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd; ARM Taiwan; ARM France SAS; ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co.Ltd.; and ARM Belgium N.V.