FREMONT, Calif. –– June 12 ,2000 - nTool Corporation today announced its supply chain project tracking system, using an Internet based B-to-B infrastructure has been adopted by UMC. nTool's eProject enables fabless semiconductor customers to manage all aspects of their chip development projects online through a single browser interface. eProject is the only web-based application server spanning the whole IC production life cycle, from design start to Backend assembly and test.

Robert Chin, IT director at UMC said, "Enhancing our customers' competitiveness is a major focus within UMC's overall foundry strategy. By leveraging the tremendous benefits of the Internet, we can further increase that competitiveness. To that end, we have developed a comprehensive range of innovative eServices to complement our industry-leading foundry manufacturing. We anticipate that nTool's supply chain project tracking system will be an important element of our overall e-commerce strategy."

Roger Chen, president of nTool Corporation said, "Our mission is to integrate management, engineering, and manufacturing information together based on our robust semiconductor industry-specific e-commerce infrastructure. We are pleased that companies that utilize UMC's world-class fabs will have access to our supply chain project tracking system."

The eProject interface covers engineering data and WAT reports, bin maps, inventory updates, test, and quality reports. Customers can also utilize the system to place purchase orders on-line. Through this e-commerce infrastructure, fabs can exchange and propagate WIP data among the eProject servers, allowing both customers and vendors to have a global view of supply chain status.

eProject is the only web-based application server that encompasses the whole semiconductor production life cycle. Its centralized and web-based project server engine allows customers to manage projects on-line under a multi-user and personalized environment. With the integration of the customer eProject server and vendor eProject servers, the process of locating and acquiring required services has been greatly streamlined. Customers can use the single browser window to locate service vendors, design document sets, and other information, including standard service cycle times. Upon the completion of a project design cycle, eProject automatically delivers the manufacturing orders through the eProject server, which automates the customers' procurement tasks. As part of the eCommerce solution suite for early stage cost analysis, nTool also provides Chipsizer and ePackage.

eProject was created to greatly facilitate project management for fabless companies that typically deal with a long list of service providers, such as design service/IP companies, foundries such as UMC, and assembly/test service houses.

NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements in the foregoing announcement are forward looking within the meaning of the U.S. Federal Securities laws, including statements about future outsourcing, wafer capacity, technologies, business relationships and market conditions. Investors are cautioned that actual events and results could differ materially from these statements as a result of a variety of factors, including conditions in the overall semiconductor market and economy; acceptance and demand for products; and technological and development risks.

Spun off from MacroTech Research, Inc. in December 1999, nTool Corporation launched the industry's first online project collaboration and forecast application, eProject, dedicated for semiconductor industry in February 2000. The nTool product development team is comprised of professionals with business, technical and marketing expertise as well as deep domain experience in the area of semiconductor design and manufacturing. nTool is funded by corporate and private investors from throughout the semiconductor industry.

Its office is located at 48511 Warm Springs Blvd., Suite 211, Fremont, Calif. 94539.
Telephone: 510-353-9666.
Facsimile: 510-353-0332.
Email: info@ntool.com.
Web Site: http://www.ntool.com.