San Jose, CA -- April 10, 1996 -- Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd., announced today that it has been awarded the "Golden Wafer" award by Rockwell Semiconductor Systems of Newport Beach, California. Chartered is the first company to win the award, which recognizes vendors for outstanding performance based on quality, customer support and yield.

Rockwell initiated the "Golden Wafer" award to recognize those suppliers providing the most consistent quality, lowest wafer manufacturing costs to Rockwell, and the best-of-class customer support in terms of available technology, cycle time and flexibility.

Supplemental to Rockwell’s internal wafer manufacturing capability, Chartered has provided Rockwell with foundry services for a variety of technologies since 1991. In addition, Rockwell is an equity partner in Chartered’s Fab 2 wafer fabrication facility.

"Rockwell chose Chartered to win this award because of their overall performance and commitment to continuous improvement," said Gerald Hamilton, Director of Foundry Operations at Rockwell Semiconductor Systems.

Tom Gurnee, chief operating officer of Chartered, said, "This award recognizes our commitment to provide outstanding service, as defined by our skilled workforce and state-of-the-art technology. The success of our customers is the target for all of our efforts and sets the standard for our performance."

Rockwell Semiconductor Systems is the fastest growing business segment of Rockwell. Based in Newport Beach, CA, it comprises the Multimedia Communications Division and the Wireless Communications Division. The Multimedia Communications Division is the world leader in facsimile and PC modem devices for personal communications electronics. The Wireless Communications Division offers total system solutions for advanced cordless telephony and global positioning system (GPS) receiver engines and is developing products and technologies to address the Personal Communications Services (PCS) and wireless packet data markets.

Rockwell (NYSE:ROK) is a diversified, high-technology company holding leadership market positions in automation, avionics, semiconductor systems, aerospace, defense electronics, and automotive component systems, with annual worldwide sales of $13 billion.

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing (CSM) is a dedicated foundry that provides quality manufacturing and exceptional customer service for semiconductor companies worldwide. Using a broad range of leading-edge CMOS processes, CSM manufactures devices for applications as diverse as graphics, memory, computing, communications and networking. CSM is headquartered in Singapore, with offices in Taiwan and the United States. CSM is a member company of Singapore Technologies Semiconductors (STS), which comprises four companies that provide design, wafer fabrication, assembly and test, marketing and distribution. STS is a strategic business unit of Singapore Technologies.