ARM Expands Leadership Role in Simplex IP Partners Program

ARM to Use Simplex's VoltageStorm(TM) SoC and Support Power Grid Training Program for Its Semiconductor Partners

SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Simplex Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLX - News), a leading provider of software and services for the design and verification of integrated circuits (ICs), today announced that ARM (LSE: ARM; Nasdaq: ARMHY) has expanded its leadership position in Simplex's intellectual property (IP) Partner's Program. ARM will use Simplex's VoltageStorm(TM) SoC power grid verification product to verify ARM's industry-leading embedded RISC processors. ARM also is extending its partnership with Simplex to enable targeted training for its semiconductor Partners to enable them to implement an effective power grid sign-off methodology -- a critical factor for first-silicon success with today's complex, deep-submicron (DSM), system-on-chip (SoC) semiconductors.

"Power grid voltage drop is an important issue for our customers as they target 0.18-micron-and-below process technologies," said Simon Segars, executive vice president, engineering, ARM. "We have taken a leadership position in the Simplex IP Partner's Program and we will use VoltageStorm SoC for power grid sign-off for ARM® cores because of our commitment to first-time silicon success for our Partners. We recommend our Partners develop an accurate and comprehensive power grid sign-off strategy."

ARM is a founding partner in the Simplex IP Partners Program (see "Simplex Launches Industry's First IP Power Grid Library Program," June 6, 2001), which is focused on building, pre-validating and distributing transistor-accurate power grid models for leading IP libraries and components, to be used in power grid verification with VoltageStorm SoC.

With today's announcement, ARM will also employ VoltageStorm SoC to verify its embedded microprocessor cores. Simplex will provide a training package for ARM's Partners to enable them to build power grid libraries to support a combined hierarchical and transistor-level power grid sign-off methodology.

"We're delighted to collaborate with ARM to enable access to this essential verification methodology for their Partners," said Jan Willis, vice president of business development at Simplex. "Until the advent of DSM process technologies, IR drop was considered a second- or third-order effect. Today's deep-submicron SoC designs, with their increasing chip size and number of integrated IP blocks and decreasing power supply voltages, are at increased risk for IR drop-related failures."

About the Simplex IP Partners Program

The Simplex IP Partners Program, launched in June 2001 as the industry's first IP power grid library program, provides users of Simplex's VoltageStorm SoC power grid verification product with pre-validated power grid libraries for a variety of system-on-chip components, including standard cells, I/Os, embedded processor cores and memories. The pre-validated power grid libraries available through the program provide SoC designers with direct access to VoltageStorm SoC's fast, hierarchical verification while maintaining the transistor-level accuracy required for deep-submicron power integrity analysis. Current members include ARM, NurLogic Design, Inc., Virage Logic and Virtual Silicon Technology, Inc.

About Simplex Solutions, Inc.

Simplex Solutions, Inc. provides software and services for the design and verification of integrated circuits (ICs) to enable its communications, computer and consumer-products customers to achieve first-time production success and rapid delivery of complex systems-on-chip. Simplex's customers use its products and services prior to manufacture to design and verify ICs to help ensure that they will perform as intended, taking into account the complex effects of deep-submicron semiconductor physics. Simplex can be reached at 408-617-6100 or on the Internet at www.simplex.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, information regarding the benefits of Simplex's IP Partners Program, ARM's future use and recommendation of VoltageStorm SoC, ARM's partnership with Simplex to enable targeted training for its semiconductor Partners and Simplex's intention to provide such training, ARM's recommendation to its Partners to develop a power grid sign-off strategy) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the results of Simplex to differ materially from management's current expectations.

Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors including, among others: future strategic decisions made by Simplex, ARM and other program members; competitive developments; demand for advanced semiconductor chips and the verification software that supports their production; members' continued involvement in the program; the ability of power grid libraries provided through the program to integrate with third party custom IP; and the rapid pace of technological change in the semiconductor industry. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties described in Simplex's and ARM's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Simplex assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this release.

NOTE: ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc; its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM, INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan; and ARM France SAS.

Simplex Solutions, the Simplex logo and VoltageStorm are trademarks of Simplex Solutions. All other trademarks mentioned here are the property of their respective owners.