ARM and TSMC Sign Long-Term Strategic Agreement

20 July 2010

Enables broad processor and Physical IP optimization on TSMC’s most advanced technology nodes

Cambridge, UK and Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C. – July 20, 2010 - ARM and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (TWSE: 2330, NYSE: TSM) today jointly announced a long-term agreement that provides TSMC with access to a broad range of ARM processors and enables the development of ARM physical IP across TSMC technology nodes. This agreement supports the companies’ mutual customers to achieve optimized Systems-On-Chip (SoC) based on ARM processors and covers a wide range of process nodes extending down to 20nm.

The agreement provides TSMC access to optimize the implementation of ARM® processors on TSMC process technologies, including ARM Cortex™ processor family and CoreLink™ interconnect fabric for AMBA® protocols. It also establishes a long-term relationship with ARM for the development of physical IP, including memory products and standard cell libraries targeting the most advanced TSMC 28nm and 20nm processes.

“The signing of this agreement is a significant semiconductor industry milestone because it formalizes a forward looking, long-term relationship between two of the industry’s leading companies,” explained Mike Inglis, executive vice president and general manager, ARM Processor Division. “I am pleased that ARM and TSMC will be working together to enable ARM processor based SoCs leveraging both companies’ advanced technologies.”

ARM and TSMC will collaborate on creating TSMC technology optimized processor core implementations for benchmarking of optimal power, performance and area. Typical implementations will target consumer-centric market segments including wireless, portable computing, tablet PCs and high performance computing.

“We believe this effort will enhance the value of our Open Innovation Platform that efficiently empowers innovation throughout the supply chain,” said Dr. Fu-Chieh Hsu, Vice President of Design and Technology Platform and Deputy Head of R&D at TSMC. “The combination of ARM’s industry leading IP and TSMC’s world-class technology and manufacturing provides our mutual customers with compelling benefits for advanced semiconductor applications.”

“Through our industry leadership in processor and physical IP and our strategic alliances with leading foundries and EDA companies, ARM is enabling faster time to volume production of SoCs,” said Simon Segars, executive vice president and general manager, ARM, Physical IP division. “This new agreement assures the industry that ARM and TSMC will collectively provide IP development leadership for advanced process technologies well into the future.”

About ARM
ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM’s comprehensive product offering includes 32-bit RISC microprocessors, graphics processors, video engines, enabling software, cell libraries, embedded memories, high-speed connectivity products, peripherals and development tools. Combined with comprehensive design services, training, support and maintenance, and the company’s broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. Find out more about ARM by following these links:

ARM website: http://www.arm.com/
ARM Connected Community: http://www.arm.com/community/
ARM Blogs: http://blogs.arm.com/
ARMFlix on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ARMflix
ARM on Twitter:

• http://twitter.com/ARMMobile
• http://twitter.com/ARMCommunity
• http://twitter.com/ARMEmbedded
• http://twitter.com/ARMLowPwr
• http://twitter.com/KeilTools

ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. Cortex and CoreLink are trademarks 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 Limited.; ARM Taiwan Limited; ARM France SAS; ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; ARM Belgium N.V.; ARM Germany GmbH; ARM Embedded Technologies Pvt. Ltd.; ARM Norway, AS and ARM Sweden AB

About TSMC
TSMC is the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, providing the industry’s leading process technology and the foundry’s largest portfolio of process-proven libraries, IPs, design tools and reference flows. The Company’s managed capacity in 2009 totaled 9.96 million (8-inch equivalent) wafers, including capacity from two advanced 12-inch GIGAFABs™, four eight-inch fabs, one six-inch fab, as well as TSMC’s wholly owned subsidiaries, WaferTech and TSMC China, and its joint venture fab, SSMC. TSMC is the first foundry to provide 40nm production capabilities. Its corporate headquarters are in Hsinchu, Taiwan. For more information about TSMC please visit http://www.tsmc.com.

Open Innovation Platform is a registered trademark of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. The TSMC Open Innovation Platform ™ promotes timeliness-driven innovation among the semiconductor design community, ecosystem partners, and TSMC’s complete technology portfolio. The Open Innovation Platform includes a set of ecosystem interfaces and collaborative components initiated and supported by TSMC that efficiently empowers innovation throughout the supply chain thereby enabling creation and sharing of newly created revenue and profitability. TSMC’s Active Accuracy Assurance (AAA) initiative is a critical part of the Open Innovation Platform, providing the accuracy and quality required by ecosystem interfaces and collaborative components.

Contacts:

Erik Ploof
ARM
Tel: 1-425-880-6033
Email: erik.ploof@arm.com

Ferda Mehmet
A&R Edelman
Tel: 1-650-762-2946
Mobile: 1-415-308-7877
Email: Ferda.Mehmet@ar-edelman.com

Michael Kramer 
Corporate Public Relations
TSMC
Tel: +886-3-5636688 ext. 7126216
Email: pdkramer@tsmc.com