'Liberate Me' Trial Program Allows Designers to Test Drive Advanced Physical Verification Software On Current Designs With Improved Productivity and Turnaround Time

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 4, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magma^® Design Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:LAVA), a provider of chip design software, today announced the availability of the Quartz DRC^™ and Quartz LVS 2009.05 physical verification tools. This new version dramatically improves designer productivity and includes functionality improvements for advanced process nodes, including 45/40 and 32/28 nanometer, through optimizations specifically targeted for standard multi-core, multi-CPU computers. To ease adoption, this version offers improved compatibility with third-party legacy physical verification tools. Magma also announced the "Liberate Me" program, enabling engineers to test drive Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS at no charge for 60 days.

When integrated with Magma's Talus^® platform for digital implementation, Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS can slash 1-2 weeks off the tapeout cycle by eliminating all iterations between physical design, and physical verification. Timing and design for manufacturing (DFM) surprises are also eliminated because in-situ metal fill, hotspot fixing and other chip finishing operations are performed within Talus.

"Design complexity more than doubles with every process node. Without significant tool enhancements, designer productivity can plummet," said Anirudh Devgan, general manager of Magma's Custom Design Business Unit. "With the performance improvements in the latest release of the Quartz physical verification solutions, Magma extends its technology leadership and enables designers to dramatically shorten project cycles, especially when compared to third-party legacy tools."

"Liberate Me" Free Trial Program

To free designers from the runtime bottlenecks of legacy tools and make it easier for them to leverage the Quartz tools' advanced technology to accelerate physical verification of large integrated circuits (ICs), Magma today launched the "Liberate Me" program. This program offers a free 60-day trial of the latest versions of Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS. Engineers can request the software at  www.magma-da.com/liberate-me.

About Magma

Magma's software for designing integrated circuits (ICs) is used to create complex, high-performance chips required in cellular telephones, electronic games, WiFi, MP3 players, DVD/digital video, networking, automotive electronics and other electronic applications. Magma's EDA software for IC implementation, analysis, physical verification, circuit simulation and characterization is recognized as embodying the best in semiconductor technology, enabling the world's top chip companies to "Design Ahead of the Curve"^™ while reducing design time and costs. Magma is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., with offices around the world. Magma's stock trades on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol LAVA. Visit Magma Design Automation on the Web at  www.magma-da.com.

Magma is a registered trademark Quartz and "Design Ahead of the Curve" are trademarks, of Magma Design Automation Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Forward-looking Statements:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements that Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS are compatible with third-party physical verification tools, and provide increased performance and faster runtime, and other statements about the features and benefits of Magma's software, 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 the ability of Magma's products to produce the desired results and Magma's ability to keep pace with rapidly changing technology. Further discussion of these and other potential risk factors may be found in Magma's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ( www.sec.gov). Magma undertakes no additional obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

CONTACT:  Magma Design Automation Inc.
          Monica Marmie, Director, Marketing Communications
          (408) 565-7689
          
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