Mentor Graphics QuickUse IP Repository Adopted by Faraday

WILSONVILLE, Ore., January 8, 2003 - Mentor Graphics Corporation today announced that Faraday Technology, a leading provider of silicon-proven IP and SoC design services, has selected Mentor's QuickUseTM Repository as its IP repository solution and knowledge management infrastructure.  Based on Mentor's proven QuickUseTM Development System (QDS), the QuickUse Repository provides a Web-based design data management system to enable enterprise-wide design reuse for improved design efficiency and product quality.  The engagement with Faraday includes Mentor Consulting services to customize the QuickUse Repository.

With headquarters in Hsinchu, Taiwan and branch offices around the world serving diverse companies from small start-ups to large multinational IC design and system houses, Faraday Technology recognized the need for a Web-based global infrastructure for managing IP and design processes.  Faraday decided to adopt Mentor's IP repository solution after a thorough survey.

"As a global supplier of IP and SoC design services, Faraday offers diversified IPs ranging from CPU, DSP, system interface, digital and analog IPs to memory and cell libraries, and our ASIC team tapes out more than 300 customer projects a year.  We recognized the need for a superior Web-based infrastructure for managing IP," said Thomas Hsieh, special project director, Faraday Technology.  "The capabilities of QuickUse Repository, along with the expertise of Mentor's consulting organization is a combination we couldn't find anywhere else."

"The large scope of the initial implementation at Faraday demonstrates the value of the rich feature set and the scalability of the QDS system," said Bill Martin, vice president of Mentor's Consulting division.  "We look forward to an ongoing relationship with Faraday supporting the needs of a large and growing organization."

The QuickUse Repository software is designed to maximize the success of enterprise-wide IP management.  To meet the needs of a wide range of users, including designers of IP-based systems, IP portal/exchange librarians and system administrators, the repository is accessible three ways: through a Web browser; through a Java-based GUI client; or through a command line interface.  To ensure the quality and reduce the risk of IP-based design, the QuickUse Repository includes unique IP qualification capabilities to measure the IP against established industry design standards such as VSIA and OpenMORE, as well as custom design standards that can be entered into the system.  To support distributed design collaboration, the QuickUse Repository provides issue tracking, history and audit trail facilities integrated together using a common communication backplane.  The QuickUse Repository also includes a full-featured API (application programming interface) to allow users to integrate with existing enterprise systems and design processes.

The QuickUse Development System (QDS)
The QuickUse Development System (QDS) is a complete Internet-based knowledge management solution that automates IP management and SoC design processes and serves as the foundation for the QuickUse Repository.  At the heart of QDS is tool-independent enterprise data and flow management software featuring an extensible core application program interface.  According to the most recent market data from Gartner's Dataquest, Mentor Graphics is the EDA leader in enterprise data management solutions¹.

About Faraday Technology Corporation
Faraday Technology Corporation has been providing remarkable ASIC design services and valuable IPs (Intellectual Properties) for customers ranging from small start-ups to large multinational IC design houses and system houses.  With more than 450 employees and annual revenue of 97 million USD in 2002, Faraday is the largest organization of its type in the Asia-Pacific area.  Headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, Faraday has branch offices around the world, including the U.S.A., Japan and Europe.  More information on Faraday is available at http://www.faraday.com.tw

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.  The company's infrastructure and methodology solutions for System-on-Chip 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 services and products email Mentor Consulting at mentor_consulting@mentor.com or visit www.mentor.com/consulting.

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 more than
$600 million and employs approximately 3,700 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.

¹Gartner, October 2002

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