Accelerated Technology to Boost Local Economy by Heading Embedded Systems Division of Oregon-based Company

Acquisition by Mentor Graphics Promises Employment Opportunities in Mobile

MOBILE, Ala., March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Accelerated Technology, Inc.(TM) (ATI), provider of embedded software and development tools, announced that they will remain in Mobile, Alabama after being recently acquired by Oregon- based software and hardware solutions provider, Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq: MENT - news). Accelerated Technology will spearhead Mentor's Embedded Systems Division and expects to initially invest $21 million into the local economy the first year of the acquisition. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed at this time.

With generous funding from the acquisition, Accelerated Technology (www.acceleratedtechnology.com ) will move into a new facility equipped with all the tools necessary to run Mentor's Embedded Systems Division. Investments in the Mobile facility will also create many new employment opportunities in the high tech industry for residents along the gulf coast. It is estimated that the employee base will rise by 10% per year over a five year period.

Accelerated Technology will also work more closely with the University of South Alabama to establish additional scholarships and create training opportunities for future employees. Accelerated Technology credits its worldwide presence and prominent success to the expertise of its present employee base.

Mobile is an ideal city for a high tech business. By purchasing ATI, Mentor (www.mentor.com ) will be able to capitalize on the area's low cost of living and wealth of surrounding colleges and universities.

"After nurturing Accelerated Technology for the past 12 years, it was difficult to relinquish total control of the business. After strong consideration and ironclad commitments from Mentor Graphics, I determined that it was in the shareholders and employees best interest to go through with the acquisition," said Neil Henderson, president of Accelerated Technology. "A fortunate benefit of the acquisition is the boost to Mobile's economy, and as we continue to grow, our reputation worldwide as a first class software provider in the International marketplace."

Founded in 1990, Accelerated Technology began marketing their real-time software to the embedded industry from a small office in Mobile, many miles from the Silicon Valley. In addition to this unique characteristic, ATI created a niche market by providing top-notch software with source code and charging no royalties fees. It was this combination and a strong corporate environment that propelled the company to its current international success.