Avnet Joins the Mentor Graphics FAST Partner Program.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

WILSONVILLE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2003

Mentor Graphics Corporation today announced Avnet Cilicon has joined its FPGA Advantage Solutions Thrust (FAST) Partner Program. Through the FAST Partner Program, Avnet Cilicon will receive access to Mentor Graphics leading field-programmable gate array (FPGA) design tools, methodologies and training and can serve as a certified Mentor Graphics design resource to customers implementing FPGA design.

The FAST Partner Program equips FPGA service providers with Mentor's FPGA Advantage(R) tool suite, the only integrated FPGA design flow for design creation, debug, simulation and synthesis. The program also provides comprehensive assessments, training and certifications in FPGA design methodologies from Mentor Consulting. These assessments provide an in-depth analysis of design processes and environments to help customers find and implement the best solutions for optimized design quality and efficiency.

"Avnet is pleased to join the FAST program," said Rafael Cruz, vice president of Avnet's Design Centers. "This partnership will benefit Avnet customers who currently struggle to meet timing and capacity requirements when using high capacity FPGAs. Customers can now outsource these difficult designs to our FPGA Advantage Certified design center engineers. When using the Mentor FPGA Advantage tools we expect to be able to show customers significant speed and capacity improvements over their existing design approaches."

Avnet Electronics Marketing is the largest operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet Inc. (NYSE:AVT), one of the world's largest technology marketing, distribution and services companies. Avnet Design Services, the technical arm of Avnet Electronics Marketing, provides a variety of technical resources and capabilities to speed design cycles, including reference designs and development kits, technical marketing, FPGA or ASIC design services and Avnet Design Service's Field Applications Engineers (FAEs). The company's Chicago and Austin locations will participate in the FAST Partner Program with other locations ramping up later in the year.

"Signing Avnet Cilicon as our newest FPGA Partner helps us significantly expand this program in the United States as well as proliferate the adoption of FPGA design," said Bill Martin, vice president, Mentor Consulting and Education Services, Mentor Graphics. "While the FPGA market continues to grow, the number of qualified design engineers is at a premium. Working with Avnet Cilicon, we can provide more qualified resources to help customers with FPGA design as well as teach them how to use the leading industry tools."

The Mentor Graphics FPGA portfolio also includes best-in-class tools and services for co-verification, embedded software, PCB and FPGA integration, and intellectual property. These solutions enable design partners to provide their customers with the most comprehensive tools and services available to help them overcome time, market and design pressures.

Participation in the FAST Partner Program is available for a small initiation fee and subject to renewal after one year. More information on Mentor's FAST Partner Program is available at www.mentor.com/consulting/fpga_partners. For more information on Avnet Cilicon visit www.em.avnet.com/cilicon.

About Mentor Graphics

Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of about $650 million and employs approximately 3,500 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777; Silicon Valley headquarters are located at 1001 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, California 95131-2314. World Wide Web site: www.mentor.com.

Mentor Graphics and FPGA Advantage are registered trademarks of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.