Philips Semiconductors Licenses Mentor Graphics Virtual Library of IP Cores

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Philips Semiconductors Licenses Mentor Graphics Virtual Library of IP Cores

SAN JOSE, Calif., August 2, 1999 - Mentor Graphics (NASDAQ: MENT) and Philips Semiconductors today announced a multi-year licensing deal of the Mentor Graphics Inventra^TM Virtual Library^TM soft cores to support the Philips Semiconductors CoReUse Program. Furthermore, the Mentor Graphics IP Division will serve as Philips Semiconductors' supplier of IP cores and will support the company transition to an increasingly design-reuse centric model.

The use of IP cores is a critical element advancing the trend of increasing integration of components for systems-on-chip (SoC) design. This partnership enables Philips Semiconductors to reuse design information to accelerate their design cycle for products in existing and new market opportunities. Philips Semiconductors' CoReUse Program, which addresses the reuse of hardware intellectual property, consists of a reuse methodology, a core-based design flow and a library of reusable blocks.

Philips Semiconductor selected Mentor Graphics as their design reuse partner in order to quickly acquire an extensive array of industry-standard IP functions that were of a consistent quality and delivered within a common commercial and legal framework. Moreover, this partnership gives Philips Semiconductors access to the Mentor Graphics virtual library product which offers the industry's most extensive selection of IP cores.

"Philips Semiconductors has identified design reuse as a critical factor in meeting accelerating design cycles for high-growth markets," said Theo Claasen, Chief Technology Officer of Philips Semiconductors. "The CoReUse Program is the backbone of our platform strategy, which allows us to respond quickly and effectively to the design requirements of systems-on-silicon for the consumer and telecommunications markets. Our strategic partnership with the Mentor Graphics IP Division provides us with the full complement of cores and services we require to raise our overall design productivity and enable us to better target these important markets."

"The Mentor Graphics IP Division's primary objective is to partner with our customers to enable them to derive the maximum benefit from design reuse and IP cores-based systems integration and verification," said Mick O'Brien, general manager of Mentor Graphics' IP Division. "Since Philips Semiconductors instituted such a rigorous selection process for a preferred supplier of IP cores, their choosing the Inventra Division validates our IP cores and IP business model."

About Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products and consulting services for the world's largest electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of over $500 million and employs approximately 2,600 people worldwide. Company headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com.

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Mentor Graphics is a registered trademark and Inventra and Virtual Library are trademarks of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

For more information, please contact:
Mentor Graphics Contact Lorie Bowlby Marketing Communications 408.487.7263 lorie_bowlby@mentor.com Public Relations Contact Trisha Ristagno The Benjamin Group 408.559.6090 trisha_ristagno@benjamingroup.com	Philips Semiconductors Media Relations Contact: Marijke Sas +31 40 2722091 marijke.sas@ehv.sc.philips.com