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SAN DIEGO & SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2001-- AMI Semiconductor (AMIS), the leader in FPGA-to-ASIC conversions and Synplicity, Inc. (Nasdaq:SYNP), a leading supplier of synthesis software for the design and verification of semiconductors, announced today that they intend to enter into a joint marketing and development agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, the two companies plan to jointly develop, test and promote a next-generation design flow to solve new performance and productivity needs related to high-density FPGA conversions. In addition, AMIS will recommend Synplicity's new Synplify ASIC(TM) synthesis software to its customers for re-targeting FPGAs to ASICs. Specifically, designers can use the Synplify ASIC software to re-target their FPGA designs ``on-site'' into cost-effective AMIS gate-array and standard-cell ASICs, speeding their time to market while retaining design control.

``AMI Semiconductor chose Synplicity's Synplify ASIC product as the recommended FPGA-to-ASIC synthesis tool for our customers because the software directly addresses the most compelling design and time-to-market needs by generating excellent results in the shortest time possible,'' said Vince Hopkin, vice president, AMIS Digital ASIC Business Unit. ``The FPGA design is imported into the Synplify ASIC product and then targeted and optimized to the AMIS libraries.''

Streamlined FPGA-to-ASIC Design Flow

With more than 1600 successful conversions to its credit, AMIS has a first-pass success rate exceeding 95 percent. Understanding that many designers prefer to maintain control when re-targeting their FPGA design to an ASIC, AMIS set out to recommend tools that would help designers achieve similar success rates independently. For the new flow, AMIS will draw from its unsurpassed NETRANSR conversion technology and libraries, and will test the Synplify ASIC software with other design tools in critical stages of the design flow to confirm interoperability and deliver a smooth flow to customers.

``We believe AMI Semiconductor is the undisputed leader in FPGA-to-ASIC conversions, and we applaud AMIS for testing design flow interoperability to help ensure smooth handoff between design tools,'' said Andy Haines, Synplicity's vice president of marketing. ``We're pleased that our Synplify ASIC product will be their recommended FPGA-to-ASIC synthesis tool. By combining Synplicity's expertise in synthesis and AMIS' new methodology, including our easy-to-use Synplify ASIC product, designers will have greater control over their designs and add to their overall productivity.''

Synplicity's Synplify ASIC software will synthesize the design from the register transfer level (RTL), producing a gate-level netlist that is optimized for place and route. Because synthesis is done with the RTL code, customers can have greater control over their design's timing. Additionally, the Synplify ASIC product can run up to 15 times faster than traditional ASIC synthesis products and is very easy to learn and use. A key benefit to AMIS customers, many of whom currently use Synplicity's FPGA synthesis products, is that it takes only a few steps to re-target an FPGA that was synthesized using Synplicity's Synplify® synthesis products into an AMIS ASIC using the Synplify ASIC tool. This streamlined design flow can save time and reduce the opportunity for error in the re-targeting process.

About Synplicity

Synplicity, Inc. (Nasdaq:SYNP) is a leading provider of software products that enable the rapid and effective design and verification of semiconductors used in next-generation networking and communications hardware and other electronic devices. The company leverages its innovative logic synthesis, physical synthesis and verification software solutions to improve performance and shorten development time for complex programmable logic devices, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and system-on-chip (SoC) integrated circuits. Synplicity's fast, easy-to-use products offer extremely high quality of results, support industry-standard design languages (VHDL and Verilog) and run on popular platforms. As of the end of March 2001, Synplicity employed over 230 people in its 16 facilities worldwide. Synplicity is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.

About AMIS

AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) designs, manufactures, markets and sells application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Experts in digital and mixed-signal technologies, AMIS is committed to providing customers with the best total integrated circuit solution. The company provides a broad range of industry-leading FPGA-to-ASIC and ASIC-to-ASIC conversion services, and CMOS foundry services - all with unprecedented manufacturing flexibility and dedication to customer service. AMI Semiconductor is based in Pocatello, Idaho, and maintains a strong global presence through design and sales operations in North America, Europe and the Asia/Pacific region. Visit our web site at www.amis.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Synplicity's actual levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In some cases, you will be able to identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as ``may,'' ``will,'' ``should,'' ``expects,'' ``plans,'' ``anticipates,'' ``believes,'' ``potential,'' ``continue'' or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The joint marketing and development agreement contemplated by AMIS and Synplicity in this press release shall not be deemed to exist between the parties unless and until a final definitive agreement has been executed and delivered. Similarly, although Synplicity believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. In addition, neither Synplicity nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of these forward-looking statements. Synplicity disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement.

Note to Editors: NETRANS is a registered trademark of AMI Semiconductor Inc.

Synplicity and Synplify are registered trademarks and Synplify ASIC is a trademark of Synplicity Inc.

     Tsantes/Porter Novelli (for Synplicity)
     Steve Gabriel, 408/369-1500 ext. 27
     steve@tsantes.com
        or
     AMI Semiconductor
     Tamera Drake, 208/234-6890
     tamera_drake@amis.com
        or
     McClenahan Bruer Communications
     Helen Connor, 503/546-1000
     helen@mcbru.com