Micronas Licenses ARM® Microprocessor Core for Automotive Solutions

CAMBRIDGE, UK, and FREIBURG, Germany - Sept. 4, 2000 -- ARM [(LSE:ARM); (Nasdaq:ARMHY)], the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC processor solutions, and Micronas today announced that Micronas has licensed the ARM7TDMI® microprocessor core from ARM. Micronas will use the ARM® technology for next-generation automotive controller solutions including its dashboard controllers, which are used to process data from sensors and other devices and display it on the dashboard.

As electronic content in cars continues to increase, the number and variety of dashboard controllers and controllers for emerging automotive applications, such as advanced driver information systems, also increases.

Currently, Micronas enjoys more than 10 percent of the worldwide dashboard controller market. With the newly licensed ARM core, Micronas aims to build on its current success with further penetration of the automotive controllers market by using the ARM core to offer modular and flexible IC solutions for emerging applications such as information, communication, and entertainment systems.

"ARM cores have become a standard embedded-processor solution for many areas in the industry - especially in automotive applications, where the cores and their related development tools enjoy a high level of acceptance", said Klaus Heberle, Vice President of Automotive for Micronas. "By supplying leading-edge ARM core-based solutions, we offer our customers a clear roadmap into the future with products that will enable them to reduce development costs while leveraging the ARM core's high-performance capabilities."

"Automobiles today are incorporating increasingly large amounts of software to provide the safety, economy, and ease of driving that consumers expect", said Wolfgang Katterman, Automotive Business Development Manager for ARM. "As the industry's leading embedded-microprocessor solution, the ARM architecture provides the automotive electronics industry with a widely available, cost- and power-efficient SoC solution to run this software on, enabling the re-use of tested and proven code-across products."

ARM processors range in performance from 60 MHz (54 MIPS) to 1 GHz (1200+ MIPS). The cores are noted for performance, small die size, low power consumption, tight code density, and multiple supply sources. Instruction set compatibility between processor families promotes design reuse and reduces software development time.

ARM offers full system-on-chip solutions including processor cores, peripheral intellectual property, development tools, application software, EDA tools, and design services. The ARM architecture is well supported by semiconductor and system manufacturers, real-time operating system providers, third-party tool chain developers, application software providers, and ARM design centers.

About ARM
ARM 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-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 the 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 www.arm.com.

About Micronas
Micronas (SWX: MASN; Neuer Markt Frankfurt: MNSN) is an international semiconductor company group. Its activities include the development, manufacture, and marketing of ICs and sensor system solutions for consumer, multimedia, and automotive electronics. The holding is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland; the operational center of the group is located in Freiburg, Germany. Currently, the Micronas group employs about 1200 people. In 1999, it generated CHF 322 million in sales. For more information on Micronas and its products, please visit www.micronas.com or e-mail to docservice@micronas.com.

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ARM and ARM7TDMI are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. "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.

Contact:
Iris Bahr
Micronas Press Office
Phone +49-761-517-2324
Fax +49-761-517-2622
iris.bahr@micronas.com

Further information:
E-mail: docservice@micronas.com
Web: www.micronas.com