CHARTERED ADDS AVANT!'S LIBRA LIBRARIES AND HERCULES-II
VERIFICATION TOOLS TO ITS 0.13-MICRON PROCESS SOLUTIONS

Avant! and Chartered Extend Relationship to Include
"Communications-Smart" Solutions

FREMONT, Calif. and MILPITAS, Calif., March 5, 2001 - Avant! Corporation (Nasdaq: AVNT) and Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing (Nasdaq: CHRT and SGX-ST: Chartered) today announced an extension of their ongoing relationship by providing customers with additional "communications-smart" solutions. In particular, the availability of Avant!'s Libra libraries and Hercules-II verification rule decks for Chartered's all-copper, low-k dielectric, 0.13-micron communications-smart manufacturing process. The cooperation between Avant! and Chartered delivers advanced solutions to companies dealing with the stringent silicon density, performance, and reliability requirements of communications products, as well as next-generation consumer and peripheral electronics.

The Avant! 0.13-micron Libra libraries will feature optimized silicon standard cells, in-line and staggered I/Os for 2.5 volt and 3.3 volt applications, and four memory compilers that are optimized for Chartered's system-on-chip (SOC) process offerings. Avant! will support both Libra-Visa process-specific and Libra-Passport multi-foundry libraries for Chartered's 0.13-micron technology. Design kits for early adopters are targeted for late first quarter 2001 availability and Chartered silicon-validated libraries from Avant! are expected to be available in the third quarter of 2001.

Chartered, which has a strategic network of electronic design automation (EDA) and intellectual property (IP) partners, has also expanded its verification portfolio by adding support of the Hercules-II verification tools from Avant!. Support will be provided for all technology nodes starting with 0.25-micron down to and including 0.13-micron. Design rule decks for early adopters are available immediately and can be obtained by contacting Chartered.

"We are building on the success of our working relationship with Avant! to ensure that customers have complete solutions for our new 0.13-micron process," said Kevin Meyer, vice president of worldwide business development at Chartered. "Avant! libraries have a proven track record of acceptance by Chartered customers, and we are confident that the new 0.13-micron Libra libraries will produce the level of design success and quality of support that our customers require. Likewise, adding the Hercules-II verification tools to Chartered's EDA offering provides our customers with more choices in their EDA tool selection."

"We are pleased that Chartered has expanded its relationship with Avant! by supporting our Libra-Visa Library at 0.13-micron technology, our multi-foundry Libra-Passport Library, and our industry-leading Hercules-II physical verification tool," said Gerald C. Hsu, chairman, CEO, and president of Avant! Corporation. "The cooperation between Avant! and Chartered will result in the most advanced design solution for our mutual customers. Teaming libraries and integrated circuit design automation (ICDA) tool development with the knowledge provided by top tier silicon foundries, such as Chartered, is the most efficient approach to solving the complex issues and challenges of evolving semiconductor technology."

Previous generations of the Avant! Libra libraries have been used successfully for designs manufactured with Chartered's 0.50-micron through 0.18-micron processes. The Libra 0.13-micron libraries have been enhanced to provide improved synthesis optimization capabilities, to consider very deep-submicron (VDSM) parasitic and manufacturing effects, and to fully support the Avant! SinglePass RTL-to-GDSII design methodology.

Hercules-II provides Chartered's customers with industry-leading features, accuracy and performance for the physical verification of their designs, helping them reduce time to market.

About Chartered
Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing is one of the world's top three silicon foundries. The Company's business model is distinguished by its strategy to build trusted long-term relationships, where manufacturing is part of a larger customer-service focus that includes joint development and implementation of new process technologies supporting novel applications within the broad communications market. Chartered operates five semiconductor fabrication facilities at its Singapore headquarters, with a sixth fab under construction.

A Company with both global presence and perspective, Chartered is traded on both the Nasdaq Stock Market in the United States (Nasdaq: CHRT) and on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited in Singapore (SGX-ST: CHARTERED). The Company reported 2000 revenues of over US$1.1 billion. More than 4,300 Chartered employees are based at 11 locations around the world. Information about Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing can be found at www.charteredsemi.com

About Avant!
Avant! Corporation develops, markets, and supports integrated circuit (IC) design automation software solutions (from system definition to mask synthesis) for the rapid design of multimillion gate products including system on chip (SoC). These ICs power the consumer electronics, Internet infrastructure, wireless, telecommunications, and automotive products. The Company is the leading provider of physical foundation IP libraries for IC design and provides a full suite of software for integrated circuit design, process simulation, device modeling, and mask synthesis.

Avant! is a global company with over 50 offices in 18 countries. Telephone: 510-413-8000. Fax: 510-413-8080. Worldwide web: www.avanticorp.com.

Avant!, Libra Libraries, Libra, Libra-Visa, Libra-Passport, Optimized Silicon, and SinglePass are trademarks of Avant! Corporation. All other company and product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners and should be treated as such.

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