MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design and manufacturing, and Prover Technology AB today announced that Synopsys has invested in Prover, which supplies signaling design automation solutions for engineering the safety critical systems that control trains, switches and signals. The funds will enable Prover to accelerate its research and development efforts and expand its operations in Europe, North America and Asia.

A key part of a modern railway engineering process is signaling design automation, which uses formal verification, a safety analysis method based on mathematical proof. Formal verification is strongly recommended by safety standards organizations such as CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization), and several leading operators demand it from their suppliers. The reason: formal verification increases safety and quality, and provides more efficient processes for otherwise costly and time- consuming safety testing. It has proven to be a valuable solution for the operator of the Paris metro, which has one of the most complex railway networks in the world.

"RATP (Regie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) and Prover have been working closely together since 2004," said Pierre Chartier, safety director for RATP. "The collaboration has been focused on formal verification of interlocking and CBTC (communication-based train control) systems. By using formal techniques, we hope to reduce costs while maintaining the highest possible level of quality. Prover's experience in the field has made them a valuable partner."

"The growth of signaling design automation in railway systems plays a critical role in enhancing safety and increasing efficiencies in train throughput and cost reduction," said Randy Tinsley, vice president, Strategy & Corporate Development at Synopsys. "Our investment in Prover allows Synopsys to promote the application of technologies traditionally used for designing integrated circuits in different industries."

Having established a broad customer base, Prover's technology solution is well positioned to become the industry standard for specification and automated engineering of interlocking systems. As more attention is being paid to green transportation systems, the railway industry is expected to continue to expand significantly in the coming years. Prover's relationship with Synopsys will enable Prover to take advantage of these growth opportunities.

"Having Synopsys on board enables us to capitalize on opportunities that were previously out of our reach, and to undertake larger and more complex engineering projects," said Gunnar Stalmarck, CEO, Prover Technology. "There is a strong technology alignment with both companies providing the tools needed to engineer increasingly complex systems in their respective fields, and both are considered industry leaders and innovators."

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. is a world leader in EDA software for semiconductor design. The company delivers technology-leading semiconductor design and verification platforms and IC manufacturing software products to the global electronics market, enabling the development and production 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 has offices in more than 60 locations throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com/.

About Prover Technology

Prover Technology provides software products and services for development of control and signaling systems. The company was founded in 1989 and is privately held. It is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden with wholly owned subsidiaries in France and USA. Prover Technology's customer base includes Airbus, Ansaldo, Bombardier, New York City Transit, RATP (Paris Metro), Swedish National Rail, Thales, and many others. For more information and office locations, visit Prover Technology's web site at http://www.prover.com/.

Synopsys is a registered trademark of Synopsys, Inc. Any other trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.

   Editorial Contacts:
   Marcus Tallhamn
   Prover Technology
   +1 650 722 2750
   marcus@prover.com

   Yvette Huygen
   Synopsys, Inc.
   650-584-4547
   yvetteh@synopsys.com

SOURCE: Synopsys, Inc.

CONTACT: Marcus Tallhamn of Prover Technology, +1-650-722-2750,
marcus@prover.com; or Yvette Huygen of Synopsys, Inc., +1-650-584-4547,
yvetteh@synopsys.com

Web site: http://www.synopsys.com/