Mentor Graphics Launches FPGA Partner Program to Provide FPGA Advantage Software to Certified Design Firms.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

WILSONVILLE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 2002

Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT) today announced its FAST (FPGA Advantage Solutions Thrust) Partner Program that provides third-party FPGA (field-programmable gate array) design centers with its industry-leading hardware description language (HDL) design flow FPGA Advantage(R), along with assessments, training and certification in field-programmable logic design methodologies from Mentor Consulting.

As the complexity of field-programmable logic has continued to increase, so has the trend to outsource the designs to independent, third-party design firms to gain a time-to-market advantage. Through this program, FPGA design firms will gain access to the latest Mentor Graphics(R) tools and expertise, and manufacturers will be able to easily identify resources that have been trained by Mentor Consulting on FPGA design methodologies.

Mentor Graphics also announced its first partner in the program, North Shore Circuit Design, based in Austin, Texas. North Shore Circuit Design was founded in 1991 and today staffs an experienced team of 20 circuit designers, layout designers, engineers and programmers.

"This partnership represents a great value proposition for us," said Brad Martin, managing partner, North Shore Circuit Design. "Not only do we add FPGA Advantage to our capabilities, but we also gain from the experience and expertise of Mentor's global consulting organization."

FAST Partner Program Requirements and Benefits

For a small initiation fee, partner companies receive FPGA Advantage licenses as well as the expertise of Mentor Consulting in evaluating and improving their design methodologies. By implementing FPGA Advantage, independent design houses will benefit from the suite's deep integration between design creation, simulation, synthesis and place and route. In exchange, third-party service providers sign a services agreement, consenting to use FPGA Advantage according to Mentor Graphics methodologies and to provide Mentor Graphics with feedback on the tool. After completing a series of assessments and training as appropriate, the partners are then designated as a "Mentor FPGA Approved Design Services Partner," and will gain added recognition under Mentor Graphics marketing efforts.

Participation in the FAST Partner Program is available for a small initiation fee, subject to renewal after one year. More information on Mentor's FAST Partner Program is available at www.mentor.com/consulting/fpga_partners.

"As the demand for FPGA designs continues to grow, so does the demand for FPGA designers who are trained on all of the latest tools and methodologies," said Phil Bishop, vice president and general manager, Mentor Consulting. "This program combines the FPGA design methodology expertise of our consulting organization with the power of FPGA Advantage."

"This program offers small design firms an unprecedented opportunity to enhance their business through a great discount on our leading FPGA design tools and by improving their processes with training and advice from Mentor's consulting organization," said Paolo Spazzini, general manager, HDL Design division, Mentor Graphics. "Now when our FPGA Advantage customers are looking for FPGA design resources they will be able to select from a pool of Mentor-certified service providers."

About FPGA Advantage

FPGA Advantage is the industry's first and only completely integrated FPGA design flow. By combining HDL creation, verification and synthesis, FPGA Advantage delivers a single flow solution that simplifies the development of complex, multi-million gate FPGAs. The design flow provides designers with the most efficient HDL design environment for VHDL, Verilog and mixed-language and the easy-to-use interface is ideal for design teams across multiple sites and locations. All versions of FPGA Advantage support all major FPGA vendors.

About Mentor Consulting

Mentor Consulting is a leader in worldwide semiconductor intellectual property services and maintenance and a provider of innovative solutions addressing today's design and verification challenges. Its infrastructure and methodology solutions for SoC design, board process, system verification and design reuse are used worldwide by forward-looking electronics companies to optimize their design productivity and advance adoption of the latest industry design best practices. For more information on these and other products and services email Mentor Consulting at [e-mail] or visit www.mentor.com/consulting.

About Mentor Graphics

Mentor Graphics Corporation 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 $600 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.