Chartered and Synopsys Develop 90 Nanometer-Scale Chip Design Technologies

Synopsys joins Chartered's NanoAccess Alliance,
develops design libraries and qualifies tools for 90nm COT flow

The 90nm libraries consist of standard cells, I/O components and memory compilers, and are optimized for Synopsys' Galaxy(TM) design and Discovery(TM) verification platforms. The Synopsys offering features multiple standard cell libraries characterized for multiple voltage thresholds, as well as new signal integrity and power management design views. These capabilities enable designers to effectively target the performance and power requirements of their products in silicon. Advanced chip design is further supported with run-set and technology files optimized for Chartered's 90nm process and Synopsys' industry-leading IC physical design tools, including Hercules(TM) and Star-RCXT(TM). The two companies have also begun validation of a joint 90nm reference design flow.

"Companies are depending on Chartered and Synopsys, as key players in the semiconductor supply chain, to provide more of the design solution for leading-edge technologies," said Kevin Meyer, vice president of worldwide marketing and services at Chartered. "We're setting the foundry standard for 90nm with a design platform that supports one of the most popular customer-owned tooling design flows and uses common third-party libraries instead of proprietary foundry offerings to ensure design portability. This means companies can choose Chartered as their manufacturing partner and also implement multi-sourcing strategies as needed."

"Synopsys is dedicated to working with leading foundries to ensure chip designers of a smooth path to silicon," said Rich Goldman, vice president of Strategic Market Development at Synopsys. "Chartered and Synopsys are long-term partners in the qualification of physical verification tools and library development. We have worked to provide our mutual customers with early, unrestricted access to the libraries that they need to design with Chartered's leading-edge technologies. Our joint efforts at 90nm forge an even tighter link between process libraries and tools."

Synopsys is an inaugural member of Chartered's NanoAccess Alliance and joins an extensive ecosystem of industry-leading library, electronic design automation, intellectual property, and outsourced design and manufacturing services companies. The NanoAccess Alliance brings together critical SoC technologies and services with Chartered's NanoAccess semiconductor manufacturing processes for 90nm and beyond. Chartered and the NanoAccess Alliance companies promote access to open design solutions that allow foundry customers more control over their leading-edge design and manufacturing options. (See September 18, 2003 press release, "Chartered Launches NanoAccess Alliance to Enable Chip Design on Foundry-Proven 90nm Process Platform")

Availability

The production releases of 90nm libraries, Hercules run-set files and Star-RCXT technology files are anticipated in the first calendar quarter of 2004. Early adopters can immediately leverage functional and timing views to characterize the performance of critical design elements. The 90nm offering augments Synopsys libraries available today for Chartered's processes from 0.35 micron to 0.13 micron.

About Chartered

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, one of the world's top three dedicated semiconductor foundries, is forging a customized approach to outsourced semiconductor manufacturing by building lasting and collaborative partnerships with its customers. The Company provides flexible and cost-effective manufacturing solutions for customers, enabling the convergence of communications, computing and consumer markets. In Singapore, Chartered operates five fabrication facilities and has a sixth fab, which will be developed as a 300mm facility.

A company with both global presence and perspective, Chartered is traded on both the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: CHRT) and on the Singapore Exchange (SGX-ST: CHARTERED). Chartered's 3,500 employees are based at 11 locations around the world. Information about Chartered can be found at www.charteredsemi.com.

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is the world leader in electronic design automation (EDA) software for semiconductor design. The company delivers technology-leading semiconductor design and verification platforms to the global electronics market, enabling the development of complex systems-on-chips (SoCs). Synopsys also provides intellectual property and design services to simplify the design process and accelerate time-to-market for its customers. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California and is located in more than 60 offices throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com/.

Chartered and Synopsys Safe Harbour Statements under the provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: the difficulties, interruptions and unforeseen delays in the progress and implementation of our collaborative efforts with Synopsys; changes in market outlook and trends; customer demands; rate of semiconductor market recovery; economic conditions in the United States as well as globally; the performance level of and technology mix in our fabrication facilities and competition. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained. In addition to the foregoing factors, a description of certain other risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially can be found in the section captioned "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F and our First Quarter 2003 Quarterly Report on Form 6-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based on the current view of management on future events. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release also contains forward-looking statements by Synopsys within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding the expected dates of availability of 90nm libraries, Hercules run-set files and Star-RCXT technology files for the Chartered 90nm process. These statements are based on Synopsys' current expectations and beliefs. Actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these statements as a result of unforeseen difficulties in integrating these tools with Chartered's manufacturing process and uncertainties attendant to any product offering, as well other factors contained in Synopsys' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Discovery, Galaxy, Hercules and Star-RCXT are trademarks of Synopsys, Inc. NanoAccess is a trademark of Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Chartered Singapore            
             Maggie Tan, +65-360-4705                    
             tanmaggie@charteredsemi.com     
             or
             Wired Island, Ltd. (for Chartered)               
             Laurie Stanley, +1-510-656-0999
             laurie@wiredislandpr.com
             or
             Synopsys          
             Isela Gamboa, +1-650-584-1644
             igamboa@synopsys.com