Magma Validated as "Ready for IBM Technology;" Extensive Efforts Validate "The Fastest Path From RTL to Silicon" on Leading-Edge SoC Designs

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2003--Magma Design Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:LAVA), a provider of chip design solutions, today announced that it has validated its design flow and is among the first solution providers to be awarded IBM's "Ready For IBM Technology" mark for IBM's 0.13-micron process technologies. Common customers have already used the Magma-IBM design flow to tape out chips ranging in size from 8 million gates to 12 million gates, and three more designs are preparing to tape out with IBM's 0.13-micron and 0.18-micron CMOS technologies.

Through this effort Magma has qualified libraries and technology files for IBM's 0.13-micron CMOS technologies and integrated them into Magma's RTL-to-GDSII system, which includes gain-based synthesis technology in Blast Create and Blast Fusion and offers physical design handoff for chip finishing and tape-out verification. Now designers can get qualified libraries and technology data in the form of Magma Library Volcanoes, reference flow scripts and related technical documentation. The joint effort also builds on IBM's intellectual property and the implementation of those IP blocks using Magma's unique technologies, such as GlassBox(TM) models for abstracting full logical, physical and electrical data.

"Working with IBM through such a long-term relationship enables us to give our mutual customers an easy way to achieve their design goals," said Venk Shukla, Magma's senior vice president, marketing and business development. "This solution combines Magma's high-capacity, high-speed front end starting from RTL synthesis to completely validated correlation to IBM's high reliability silicon manufacturing capability. Whether they utilize an ASIC or COT (customer-owned tooling) model, Magma can support their designs."

IBM's "Ready for IBM Technology" solutions are designed to help OEM customers speed time to market, reduce development risk, lower development costs and improve return on investment. The "Ready for IBM Technology" mark identifies solutions that have been tested and validated for compatibility with IBM Microelectronics products by the solution developers and assures that these solutions are compatible with IBM Microelectronics products. The support of third-party software, hardware and service providers helps IBM expand its technology appeal to OEMs by bringing additional value to the solution a customer purchases.

IBM Business Partners who are validated will be marketed visibly in the Global Solutions Directory http://www.software.ibm.com/solutions/isv -- making it easier for customers to find solutions quickly and easily with the designation "Ready for IBM Technology."

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 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 No. 1 U.S. patent holder for 10 consecutive years. More information about IBM Microelectronics can be found at: http://www.ibm.com/chips.

About Magma Design Automation

Magma software is used to design fast, multimillion-gate integrated circuits, providing "The Fastest Path from RTL to Silicon"(TM), to enable chip designers to reduce the time required to produce complex ICs. Magma's products for prototyping, synthesis, and place & route provide a single executable for RTL-to-GDSII chip design. The company's Blast Create(TM), Blast Fusion(R), Blast Fusion APX(TM), Blast Plan(TM) and Blast Noise(R) products utilize Magma's patented FixedTiming(R) methodology and single data model architecture to reduce the timing-closure iterations often required between the logic and physical processes in conventional IC design flows.

Magma maintains headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., as well as facilities in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, Calif.; Boston, Mass.; Durham, N.C.; Austin and Dallas, Texas; Newcastle, Wash.; and in Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. The company's stock trades on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol LAVA. Visit Magma Design Automation on the Web at www.magma-da.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements about the features and benefits of Magma's system, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to, Magma's ability to keep pace with rapidly changing technology and its products ability to produce desired results. Further discussion of these and other potential risk factors may be found in Magma's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2002 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 7, 2003, and from time to time in Magma's SEC reports. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Magma disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Note to Editors: Blast Fusion, Blast Noise, FixedTiming and Magma are registered trademarks, and Blast Create, Blast Fusion APX, Blast Plan, GlassBox, "The Fastest Path from RTL to Silicon" and Volcano are trademarks of Magma Design Automation. All other product and company names are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Magma Design Automation Inc.
             Monica Marmie, 408/864-2027
             monical@magma-da.com