Synopsys Launches SystemVerilog Catalyst Program

More than 30 Companies Announce Support of SystemVerilog Standard MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., October 6, 2003 - Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), the world leader in semiconductor design software, today announced its SystemVerilog Catalyst Program. The SystemVerilog Catalyst Program is open to electronic design automation (EDA) vendors, silicon and verification intellectual property (IP) companies, and training services providers to benefit mutual customers by advancing tool interoperability and the availability of IP using the Accellera SystemVerilog standard. More than 30 companies are announcing their support for SystemVerilog at the program's launch. This broad industry support demonstrates the rapidly growing momentum for SystemVerilog adoption by leading design teams worldwide.

Corporate members of the SystemVerilog Catalyst Program can gain early access to Synopsys' SystemVerilog-based tools, such as VCS™ and HDL Compiler, the front-end language compiler for Design Complier™, for development and support of their respective SystemVerilog tools, IP and training products. By participating in the SystemVerilog Catalyst Program, member companies can help provide their customers with a more effective path to interoperability with Synopsys' SystemVerilog-based tools and Accellera SystemVerilog language. Current members are 0-In Design Automation, Alatek, Aldec, Aptix, Atrenta, Avery Design Systems, Axis Systems, Beach Solutions, BlueSpec, ChipVision, ControlNet, Doulos, Emulation and Verification Engineering (EVE), GDA Technologies, Interra Systems, InTime, Jasper Design Automation, Novas Software, nSys, Provis, Real Intent, Sequence Design, SiConcepts, Silicon Interfaces, Spike Technologies, Summit Design, Sunburst Design, Sutherland HDL, SynaptiCAD, Tenison, Tera Systems, Tharas Systems, TNI-Valiosys, TransEDA, VeriEZ, Verific, Verifica, Veritable, Veritools, Willamette HDL, and WSFDB Consulting,.

"SystemVerilog's enhanced design and verification capabilities are well positioned to deliver significant productivity and design quality benefits to the electronic design industry,' said Aart de Geus, chairman and chief executive officer at Synopsys, Inc. "Synopsys has a strong history of supporting open standards and is launching the SystemVerilog Catalyst Program to help ensure that our customers enjoy the benefits of SystemVerilog, including increased tool and IP interoperability. We look forward to working with current and future members of the SystemVerilog Catalyst Program on this joint effort."

"ARM welcomes this move by Synopsys to make its SystemVerilog-based tools more open and accessible to the design community." said Simon Segars, executive vice president of engineering at ARM. "ARM is actively working with Synopsys to ensure that our IP is well placed to support our partners who wish to take advantage of the benefits offered by this important new language."

"0-In is actively supporting Accellera standards. Many of 0-In's leading customers are moving to SystemVerilog to take advantage of new design constructs," stated Steven D. White, president and CEO of 0-In Design Automation. "Release V2.1 of 0-In's Assertion-Based Verification Suite, available in Q4, will have support for the most important SystemVerilog design constructs and we will add support for SystemVerilog assertions in early 2004. We are working closely with Synopsys to ensure our combined products provide the highest possible value to our customers."

"Axis Systems continues to promote the standardization of SystemVerilog to leverage the ability to accelerate testbench and assertions for our leading Design Team Emulation products," said Mike Tsai, president and chief executive officer at Axis Systems, Inc. "The SystemVerilog Catalyst Program will enable a tighter link to development with Synopsys' tools to provide a more complete design and verification flow for our mutual customers."

"Novas has extended its unified debug automation platform to support SystemVerilog design, verification, and assertion capabilities, allowing for the fast detection and repair of complex design problems," stated Scott Sandler, president and CEO at Novas Software. "We're excited to be partnering with Synopsys and other leading EDA companies to deliver interoperable tools supporting the SystemVerilog standard, to accelerate our customers' schedules."

About SystemVerilog Catalyst Program
The SystemVerilog Catalyst Program is open to EDA vendors, silicon and verification IP companies, and training services providers to benefit mutual customers by advancing tool interoperability and the availability of IP using the Accellera SystemVerilog standard. SystemVerilog Catalyst Program members gain access to VCS™, HDL Compiler™, LEDA® licenses for SystemVerilog-based product development and mutual customer. For more information about the SystemVerilog Catalyst Program, visit http://www.synopsys.com/partners/systemverilog/systemverilog_program.html

About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS) is the world leader in 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 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/.

VCS, Design Compiler, and HDL Compiler are trademarks and Synopsys and LEDA are registered trademarks of Synopsys, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.