Virtual Silicon Licenses IP to ARM

Standard Cells Used to Harden ARM946E-S and ARM1022E Microprocessor Cores

SUNNYVALE, Calif., --January 27, 2003 - Virtual Silicon Technology Inc., a leader in semiconductor intellectual property (SIP) has licensed its standard cell products to ARM for hardening ARM946E-S™ core and ARM1022E™ core to specific wafer-process technologies. ARM will re-distribute their cores, hardened with Virtual Silicon IP, directly to their partners through ARM® Foundry Program. The agreement covers 0.18- and 0.13-micron technologies.

Virtual Silicon's standard cells are specifically optimized and rigorously characterized for deepsubmicron process technologies to meet the needs of high-performance communications and computing applications. The standard cells are Silicon Ready® IP: verified on test chips as well as customer production.

"Virtual Silicon has earned a reputation as a supplier of high-quality, process-specific IP. Many of our Partners are users of Virtual Silicon IP," said Dr. John Goodenough, global design methodology manager at ARM. "Virtual Silicon's cell libraries at the 180 and 130 nm nodes are enabling implementation of our CPU Macrocells for our UMC Foundry Program."

"It is a great compliment when the number one IP supplier in the world selects you as an IP supplier," said John A. Ford, vice president of marketing for Virtual Silicon. "With our focus on leading edge process technologies and high performance applications, Virtual Silicon's high performance standard cells are the ideal choice for powering ARM's microprocessors."

About Virtual Silicon Technology
Virtual Silicon is a leading supplier of semiconductor intellectual property and process technology to manufacturers and designers of complex systems-on-chip (SoC). Headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, the company provides process-specific embedded components that serve the wireless, networking, graphics, communication and computing markets. Customers include leading fabless semiconductor companies, integrated semiconductor manufacturers, foundries, and SoC developers who demand leading edge technology for their semiconductor innovations. For more information, call (408) 548-2700 or visit Virtual Silicon online at www.virtual-silicon.com.

The Heart of Great Silicon, Silicon Ready and Virtual Silicon are trademarks of Virtual Silicon Technology, Inc.

ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. ARM946E-S and ARM1022E are 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.; ARM Taiwan; ARM France SAS; and ARM China.

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