Pioneer Chooses Mentor Graphics Catapult C Synthesis Tool for R&D of Digital Signal Processing Applications

WILSONVILLE, Ore., May 23, 2006 - Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq: MENT) today announced that Pioneer Corporation's Mobile Systems Development Center has chosen Catapult{reg} C Synthesis and Precision{reg} RTL synthesis tool to create digital signal processing (DSP) hardware. Pioneer selected the Catapult C Synthesis tool based on the superior design productivity, ease of use and the track record of this product after comparing it with other high-level synthesis tools.

"It was very impressive that Catapult C Synthesis tool allowed us to automatically implement VHDL from pure ANSI C++ in just a few days versus three weeks it took using other high-level synthesis tool. It assured us the quality of results and improved design productivity. We also expect that Catapult C Synthesis will improve the reusability of our IP when implementing the design onto ASICs in future, with its ability to optimize for ASIC technologies and micro architectures. It is very beneficial that it saves us months of costly manual effort," said Yoshikazu Takeuchi, Pioneer's Mobile Systems Development Center.

Mentor offers total support for an electronic system level (ESL) hardware design solution. Catapult C Synthesis inputs pure ANSI C++ code and automatically generates RTL targeted to FPGA or ASIC technologies. Pioneer's designers report that the Catapult C Synthesis tool helps them achieve optimal architecture and create the best implementation in terms of latency, power consumption and size. For verification, Pioneer's designers can use the Catapult C tool's SystemC verification extension, which allows them to reuse the original C++ testbench to run RTL simulation using Mentor Graphics' ModelSim{reg} verification tool. By using Mentor's FPGA logic synthesis tool, Precision RTL Synthesis, Pioneer engineers can create an FPGA implementation without timing violation and also verify and measure performance of the final implementation.

"Even when we need to quickly get our algorithms in development at labs to market, it is certain to produce results beyond our expectations," said Koichi Nagaki, manager of Pioneer's Mobile Entertainment Business Group.

"Pioneer has an extensive reputation for delivering solid electronics products. We are confident that Catapult C will continue to deliver state of the art high-level synthesis performance that Pioneer has come to expect in order to maintain their established product reputation," said Simon Bloch, general manager of the Design Creation and Synthesis Division, Mentor Graphics. "In addition, Pioneer's selection of Catapult C Synthesis is the latest illustration of the strong momentum Mentor has achieved with its ESL in the Japanese market."

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 over $700 million and employs approximately 4,000 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/.

Mentor Graphics, Catapult, ModelSim, and Precision are registered 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:

Nate James
Mentor Graphics
503.685.0449
nathan_james@mentor.com

Sonia Harrison
Mentor Graphics
503.685.1165
sonia_harrison@mentor.com