For more information, please contact:

Brett Cline Forte Design Systems, Inc. 978-264-1855 brett@ForteDS.com

Tim McAdams Armstrong Kendall, Inc. 503-672-4695 tim@akipr.com

San Jose, California - June 4, 2001 - Forte Design Systems, Inc. today announced that Bravaraä has chosen Forte as its software tools partner for the design and verification of its electronics products. Bravara will adopt Forte's high-level methodology and tools for designing multi-million gate integrated circuits (ICs) and systems. Bravara is also adopting Forte's verification software to model complex, high-capacity systems at ultra-fast simulation speeds. Bravara is a developer of next-generation data communications infrastructure for the emerging optical Internet. Bravara will use Forte's Cynlib, Cynthesizer, Cyn++, Cynchronizer, Co-Cym, and its recently introduced GigaScale HubTM. Bravara was particularly interested in this new technology because its unique plug-ins enable verification teams to write tests and functions in C++/Cynlib at a higher level of abstraction for high-performance. "We are building a new class of core infrastructure products that will enable service providers to dramatically improve the economics, scalability, and operational complexity of their networks," said Bill Rivard, chief technical officer, Bravara, Palo Alto, California. "We evaluated several alternatives in our search for a highly scaleable verification environment. The combination of its Chronology® and CynApps® technologies allows Forte to provide this, along with an advanced C++ design methodology. We believe this combination affords Bravara the potential to dramatically shorten our development cycles."

Forte's suite of design tools permits the easy entry of designs at the highest level of abstraction and provides a successive elaboration methodology to transition those designs to lower levels of abstraction. Forte's high-level design methodology and tools will help bridge the gap between different representations of Bravara's designs. "We are delighted that Bravara chose Forte's high-level design and verification tools," said Jacob Jacobsson, president and CEO of Forte. " Bravara will enjoy significantly faster design and verification - from the initial system-level specification through to the gate-level implementation - helping them to gain competitive advantage in the optical Internet market."

About Bravara
Bravara is a privately held, venture-backed company based in Silicon Valley, with additional engineering offices in St. Paul, Minnesota. Founded in May 2000, the Company is focused on becoming a leading provider of Internet core infrastructure equipment and software directed at simplifying the build-out of optical networks. Bravara's technology helps carriers, ISPs and other high-bandwidth providers exploit expanding market opportunities in data services while enhancing network manageability, bandwidth efficiency, and their ability to attract and retain high-bandwidth data-centric customers.

About Forte Design Systems, Inc.
Forte Design Systems, Inc. provides open, integrated software for the hierarchical design and verification of large, complex electronics systems and integrated circuits (ICs). The company was formed by the recent merger of CynAppsÒ, Inc. of San Jose, California and ChronologyÒ Corporation of Redmond, Washington. Forte's headquarters are located at 1798 Technology Drive, in San Jose, California, 95110, U.S.A. For more information, visit www.ForteDS.com or call 800-800-6494.