Artisan IP Validated As 'Ready For IBM Technology' Now Available

• IP Products for IBM's 0.18- and 0.13-Micron CMOS Foundry Processes
• Offered to Licensed Customers at No Charge on Artisan Website

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 28, 2003-- Artisan Components, Inc., (Nasdaq:ARTI), a leading provider of physical intellectual property (IP), today announced the availability of its physical IP products for IBM's 0.18- and 0.13-micron CMOS foundry technologies and software validation as "Ready for IBM Technology." Additionally these products are now available at no charge to licensed customers under the Artisan Foundry Library Program.

The "Ready for IBM Technology" program is designed to help customers speed time to market, reduce development risk and lower development costs. The "Ready for IBM Technology" mark, as used by Artisan, signifies that Artisan's products are tested and validated in silicon for compatibility with IBM's 0.18-micron and 0.13-micron CMOS foundry process technologies.

Initial products in Artisan's "Ready for IBM Technology" offering include: SAGE-X(TM) Standard Cells, single- and dual-port SRAMs, single- and dual-port register files and via-programmable ROM. General-purpose I/O libraries for in-line and staggered configurations are also included.

"IBM is focused on reaching IC designers with technology-driven solutions that meet their needs, reduce development risks and speed time-to-market," said Michael Concannon, vice president of foundry and manufacturing services at IBM Microelectronics. "Working together with Business Partners like Artisan allows us to meet our mutual customers' design-to-silicon requirements."

"Achieving the "Ready for IBM Technology" mark is a significant milestone and one that benefits Artisan and IBM customers," said Neal Carney, vice president of marketing at Artisan. "IC designers are looking for silicon-proven physical IP in advanced technologies that can provide competitive advantages for their products."

Product Availability

Artisan products immediately available for IBM's 0.18-and 0.13-micron foundry processes include standard cells libraries, a full suite of memory products and general-purpose I/O libraries for in-line and staggered configurations. These products can be licensed and downloaded at no charge from Artisan's website at www.artisan.com. More detailed information about these products or other Artisan IP including analog and mixed-signal solutions can be found on www.artisan.com.

About IBM Microelectronics

IBM Microelectronics is a key contributor to IBM's role as the world's premier information technology supplier. It develops, manufactures and markets state-of-the-art semiconductor and interconnect technologies, products and services. IBM makes chips for a wide range of devices from the world's most powerful computers to the smallest cell phones. IBM Microelectronics activities are focused in three major areas: custom application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips, PowerPC-based standard chip products, and high-tech foundry services. Its superior integrated solutions can be found in many of the world's best-known electronic brands.

IBM is a recognized innovator in the chip industry, having been first with advances like more power-efficient copper wiring in place of aluminum, faster silicon-on-insulator (SOI) and silicon germanium transistors, and improved low-k dielectric insulation between chip wires. These and other innovations have contributed to IBM's standing as the number one U.S. patent holder for 10 consecutive years. More information about IBM Microelectronics can be found at: http://www.ibm.com/chips.

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 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.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the impact of Artisan's library products on IC designers' ability to reduce development risks, speed time-to-market and lower development costs. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to technical or other difficulties inherent in the design and manufacture of semiconductors; and market acceptance of Artisan's library products designed for IBM. We refer you also to the documents that Artisan files 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. Artisan assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or other statements contained herein.

Artisan Components and Artisan are registered trademarks of Artisan Components, Inc.

IBM and Ready for IBM Technology are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.

All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.