( ESNUG 564 Item 1 ) -------------------------------------------- [11/18/16]
Subject: What 238 IC EDA users think about the Siemens/Mentor buyout
IT'S COMPLICATED: I want to thank the 238 chip designers and chip verifiers
who answered this quickie survey on Monday's surprise Siemens/Mentor buyout
offer. Here's the results:
SURVEY QUESTION
Q: As an EDA user is this (choose one) GOOD or BAD or
NEUTRAL news for your company? Why? Detail your
reasons, please.
GOOD: ############################ 29%
BAD: ############################################## 46%
NEUTRAL: ####################### 23%
And then there were those IC EDA users who answered *both* GOOD and BAD:
simultanously
both GOOD & BAD: ########################### 27%
Which is how chip designers and verifiers say "it's complicated..."
The reasons for those who see the Siemens/MENT deal as BAD or BADish:
creates a Synopsys/Cadence duopoly: ################ 16%
reduces EDA competition: ################### 19%
EDA prices will go up: ######## 8%
kills off Mentor tech support: ############ 12%
hurts Calibre/BDA AFS: ############# 13%
hurts Tessent scan/test/ATPG: ########### 11%
Siemens competes against us: ######### 9%
MENT serves Siemens, not users: ######## 8%
Siemens won't invest in MENT IC EDA: ##### 5%
EDA is losing Wally & Greg: ###### 6%
good employeees will leave MENT: #### 4%
The reasons for those who see the Siemens/MENT deal as GOOD or GOODish:
Synopsys/Cadence didn't get them: ######## 8%
this deal finally stabilizes Mentor: ##################### 21%
it helps EDA competition: ############# 13%
EDA prices will go down: ### 3%
brings EDA dev into Europe: ### 3%
Germans make MENT SW quality better: ##### 5%
Siemens will invest in MENT IC EDA: ################# 17%
no change, just like ARM/SoftBank: ####### 7%
good employees will stay in MENT: ###### 6%
Because of so many unexpected simultaneous GOOD and BAD answers, it appears
that there's still no clear consensus by the IC EDA users on this other than
a *fear* of a Synopsys/Cadence duopoly followed by the *hope* that this deal
finally stabilizes Mentor. (Notice how 19% see this a reducing competition,
while 13% see this as helping competition -- in the same survey!)
Basically this survey says that, for IC EDA users at least, an awful lot
hinges on what the Siemens management does with Calibre, BDA AFS, Veloce,
ModelSim/Questa, Tessent, Sierra, and Calypto product lines and especially
their related MENT management and R&D. If Siemens goes in hacking away,
the only people cheering loudly will be Aart and Lip-Bu.
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SYNOPSYS/CADENCE DUOPOLY FEARS
GOOD!
It's better than Cadence acquiring it. At least no monopoly of
Cadence and Synopsys.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
NEUTRAL: don't know what Siemens wants to do with the Mentor tools.
But it's a GOOD news that is was not Cadence that purchased Mentor!
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD: "two big" (Cadence/Synopsys) will be kinda monopolists.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
The jury is out. Not GOOD if it means less competition for Cadence.
But GOOD if Siemens increase the support for the IC design tools and
thereby increases competition it could be good.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
As a EDA user: it is bad news.
Number of big EDA suppliers reduced.
Mentor as a EDA supplier is not independent any longer.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
OK. A good outcome for at least some of the MENT users and
employees. The possible other outcomes of MENR being bought by
Cadence, Synopsys, Ansys, etc might not have fared to well
for MENT employees and customers.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
This is bad, as now only 2 key players are left in EDA.
The EDA game will be less interesting to SW developers.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
VERY BAD. Cadence is salivating to raise prices on us.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
NEUTRAL.
We are mainly use Cadence and a few Synopsys tools. This confirms
the EDA industry is a de facto duopoly.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD (ish).
We are a relatively limited Mentor user (primarily Calibre).
I prefer this 3rd party buy -- rather than MENT purchased by
SNPS or CDNS. This way we have a chance to keep the
competitive environment even though I don't have a feel for
how Siemens will handle this purchase.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD. No direct competition for Synopsys and Cadence on EDA.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I consider it GOOD. It was very likely that there would be a
consolidation in the EDA industry. This option is better than
MENT being bought by CDNS or SNPS since it keeps the threeway
competitive structure.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I feel this is bad for semi industry. Mentor out of EDA is
bad, period. It could be OK if Siemens sells off the EDA
and emulation business, but it's hard to see how it works.
If those parts go to Aart or Lip-Bu, it's very bad.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD BAD BAD!!!
Mentor is about the only thing that keeps Cadence on its toes. Cadence
will get worse than ever. I've extensively used both Cadence and
Mentor tools, mostly analog/RF and layout but also digital.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I don't know.
On the whole, I don't see the rationale behind this move.
But if Siemens decides to sell-off EDA to Synopsys or Cadence then it
will not be a good news for IC design companies.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
My answer is BAD.
Less competition. A monopoly doesn't benefit the consumer.
This would be close to a monopoly with only Synopsys and
Cadence being the major suppliers of critical tools.
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THIS DEAL STABLIZES MENTOR
As a EDA user, as long as Siemens doesn't make the MENT tools
proprietary, it's good news as it gives the #3 EDA company more
backing and $$$ strength. Maybe even some cross-pollination.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD.
With Cadence and Synopsys acquiring companies that they cannot
integrate (e.g. Jasper or Spyglass), a Mentor acquisition by
Siemens looks like a solid step for the survival of Mentor
products in the market.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Good. It stabilizes MENT.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Good. This secures Mentor tools.
With Siemens driving we imagine longer term thinking and quieter RnD
plans. It may also reinforce the strong European positioning of Mentor.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD. Deeper pockets for Mentor will allow them to generate
even better products and make better strategic decisions.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Good if Siemen's resources preserves the stability of Mentor, and
prevents more consolidation in EDA.
I don't see the synergy between the companies (trying to research).
It strikes me like GE acquiring Synopsys would.
I'm hoping for the best.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
EDA User - I think this is GOOD.
I think Mentor was falling behind the other two, maybe a fresh infusion
of $$ and direction with this acquisition. I do hope there is minimal
synergy!! I also don't want them to touch the analog simulators or the
DFT, PCB tools.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
As an EDA user, I think this is GOOD news for my company.
I believe this acquisition will provide Mentor the resources
they desperately need to improve the quality of their tools
and services. This will ultimately benefit my company.
Among the 3 major EDA vendors, Mentor is the smallest and
weakest. When the smallest and weakest improves, it will
give pressures to bigger ones, e.g. Synopsys and Cadence, to
improve, also. This will lead the EDA industry to enter a
competitive cycle and in the end, the whole EDA industry
will improve. Subsequently, all EDA users will benefit.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Good, since MENT should get cash to make its products better.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Can be seen as GOOD. Mentor was hedge funds owned. It is now owned
by a company that wants to play in IoT and has a large R&D budget.
Can be seen as BAD. Some Mentor tools & support uncertainty. Clearly
some consolidation will occur, impacting some customers.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD
I think Siemens sees this as a long term investment they need to
implement IoT and "Industry 4.0". After years in which Mentor was
the toy of some investment guys (Icahn & friends) the situation
is now much more stable.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
As an EDA user: it is definitely GOOD !
Mentor could have disappeared if bought by Cadence, now they'll be part
of a much BIGGER entity which will secure its future; this means that
we shall still be able to count on a third important player and not be
forced to use either CDNS or SNPS.
Mentor is a different spirit, very much customer oriented, and they
bring valuable tools. It's great that this acquisition secures this
key EDA player.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD
Longer term, we want to see product differentiation for users to
switch out of Cadence as price alone is not going to make it.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
We don't compete with Siemens, so it is GOOD news.
Deeper pockets for investment, etc.
Good, probably if Siemens INVESTS. Mentor probably has the most
diverse EDA portfolio and this may allow them to better integrate
their wares into the IoT space. They're also the smallest and so
it gives them more of an opportunity to take share from the bigger
players with Siemens' investment (if they invest). So it's a
growth opportunity all around.
Probably bad for MENT employess. Mentor has its own culture and
I'm not certain it will mesh well with Siemens' culture.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD. Synopsys and Cadence will have a run for their money now.
Mentor was always a no-services, no-IP-attached EDA provider, so
they have very solid tools, and these tools now will become even
more solid, given Siemens has the means ($$$) to increase research.
I believe in the near future we will have more people adopting
Mentor tools, since they just gonna get better by the day.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Good. Hopefully, Siemens is investing more resource to improve
Mentor tools.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
EDA user: GOOD news
Siemens seem to be purchasing for the long term. That means investment
in improving existing tools and developing new ones. It also means
better competition with Aart and Lip-Bu; both potentially having to
raise their game.
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RAISES PRICES, REDUCES COMPETITION
a. software cost will go up. (Have to make back the acquisition price.)
b. support will probably decline in quality (look at DesignSync)
c. software slow down due to lower investment in R&D (cost savings)
d. Seimens is not a EDA company.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad. When company A purchases company B, A tends to raise the prices
of B's products to cover or partially cover the acquisition prices.
It may take a few years for contracts to expire; typically, customers
need to watch out for the new pricing.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Competition is always good for the customer. One less player
means less option and bad for the user.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad. Likely the beginning of all EDA vendors being bought up
by the behemoths. Stakes will keep going higher... before
long there will only be a few players in the semiconductor
market, and each will have its own in-house EDA.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad.
If Siemens bungles the acquisition, then we are stuck with two other
EDA vendors who are going to increase their prices.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad for our company
Since we use MGC EDA tool minimally, it doesn't affect our business in
near future, but nobody knows for long term impact.
But still this news is not good since there is less competition.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD.
Competition is always good for customers and bad for competitors.
This knocks out the third biggest EDA vendor.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD or NEUTRAL - I manage the verification at USA branch of
German corporation. This deal will most likely solidify our
corporate agreement, possibly making costs of software lower;
but at the 'hidden' cost of lost competition from other
possible vendors.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD.
Siemens may sell Mentor's EDA BU which is 40% of their revenue to
the other two EDA vendors. EDA tool prices will increase.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad/Good? I think history is a good judge of what happens when
there is less competition in the marketplace. (Bad.)
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EXACTLY WHY DID SIEMENS BUY MENTOR?
As and EDA user this is NEUTRAL for my company (I think).
As a former EDA insider (15 years), my guess is that Siemens
will keep the embedded software division (just like Intel
buying Wind River) and sell off the rest. I can't see any
reason for Siemens to keep anything other than the embedded
software.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
To be successful Mentor must closely follow the very fast changes in
semiconductor fabs (transistor modelling, high level system simulation,
SPICE, DRC/LVS...). Siemens is the wrong partner for that.
So I see the long term risk that Mentor disappears from EDA market.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I am a Mentor Questa customer. I've read some of the news coverage
from Siemens and it seems like a square peg round hole acquisition.
Siemens is buying the potential for growth, but unless they invest
in the short term the business will decline.
Overall, I'm NEUTRAL since I don't know enough about Siemens strategy.
My opinion is that Questa is behind VCS and Incisive, so I hope they
invest in Questa and the interest isn't just focused PCB and Calibre.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
NEUTRAL: From the news it seems that Siemens is growing its
software business and looking to diversify its revenue so
I don't believe MGC will go anywhere soon -- but long term
who knows...
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD!
I think Siemens AG acquiring Mentor is mainly to get back into the
semiconductor foundry business.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Don't know.
Still scratching my head why Siemens would acquire MENT. Reaffirmation
that I am still an engineer who expects things to be logical. Sigh.
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FEAR MENTOR WILL FOCUS ON SIEMENS, NOT CUSTOMERS
I believe this is BAD news. An EDA provider is gone from the
market. Siemens as EDA user/customer would now push Mentor
to meets its own internal tool need rather than keeping the
tools universal. Siemens needs would be pushed forward in
terms of SW development, neglecting other features.
Another reason is that a major EDA supplier is gone, reducing
EDA competition even more.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD. As a user, I view any acquisition of a formerly independent
tool vendor by a user of the acquired company's tools as bad.
They become too focused on the needs, wishes, requirements of the
acquiring company.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Good and Bad.
As an EDA User, I think it is bad for EDA tools companies to
be acquired by companies that make products with those tools.
I think you get split priorities with resources being applied
to the latest opportunity.
However, I think the only thing worse for focus in a company
than being acquired is a company waiting to be acquired.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD -
If anything, Siemens is going to distract Mentor R&D away from SW
used for designing chips and refocus them on SW for heavy industry.
For this reason, my expectation is that Mentor's EDA products will
be held back by this.
If this happens, Synopsys/Cadence will become complacent.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
My answer is BAD.
Mentor will now have one major customer and their solutions will be
tailored for Siemens, not the rest of the industry.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad because Siemens will probably want to focus the development and
support efforts for their own needs, not considering other customers.
The revenues from Mentor's products are probably very low compared
to the overall Siemens' revenues.
Also, Mentor will not be "neutral" anymore. This is kind of like
if Intel buys Cadence. Which semi company would then want to use
Cadence's tools?
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD for our company.
Fear Mentor will lose focus on the semiconductor industry by
being spread too thin across too many markets to be effective.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
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WHAT ABOUT TESSENT/TEST/SCAN/ATPG?
BAD. Currently see Mentor Graphics as the company investing the
most in DFT. That can only go south. We also receive on site
support from MG on a level an order of magnitude better than with
Synopsys or Cadence. We have seen some tool issues feedback and
resolved with an engineering build released by R&D within 4 days
of our reporting an error. I'm afraid a parent company will
dilute that, divert investment, and the only direction I see
is south.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I think this is BAD. I wonder what is going to happen with
all the ATPG and DFT products now? Their FAE support is
by far the best out of the big three based on my experience.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD. Mentor were more genuinely technically focused than the either
Synopsys nor Cadence. Losing that in test and scan is bad.
Plus the new buyer will prioritise R&D towards automotive simulation
etc at expense of physical tools like Sierra, Calibre, and BDA.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Good/Bad.
Not sure how Siemens will take it forward especially the DFT, physical
verification, and PCB design tools where Mentor is very strong and
has great products.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
NEUTRAL. Our DFT flow Mentor products are few.
Outside of scan test, another EDA is fully deployed inside our company.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD
Removing a competitor reduces negotiating and product improvements that
arise through competition. I am concerned that the big players will
look to acquire a broken up Mentor and pick up the Calibre and Tessent
pieces.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
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WHAT ABOUT CALIBRE AND BDA AFS?
UNSURE.
We support Calibre and use thousands of AFS licences.
If either Sawicki or Ravi leave, it's time to call up Anirudh.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD
Mentor will pull back from the big EDA market (Calibre, BDA) and
only offer SW tools (embedded, PCB) which are used by Siemens.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad as a significant player in semi EDA will disappear.
Siemens has no use for Calibre and AFS, nor ModelSim and Veloce.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD
Siemens is not an EDA company. Stay out of the software business.
They are just trying to milk the dominant position of Mentor Calibre.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD or GOOD. It's not clear what Siemens will do in the long term
with Calibre-, AFS-, Veloce-, Modelsim/Questa-, and other tool lines.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Can't be good. I expect customer service and new product development
to suffer due to 'business alignment' (cost cutting to make the share-
holders happier.) This cost cutting always happens and the end users
always suffer to some degree. Could Calibre's dominance faulter?
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
NEUTRAL -
Main reason is the hope we will continue getting the same tools and
support as before with a possibility of enhancement in features.
Mentor Calibre and AFS will not be canned as it was not in competition
with Siemens.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Uncertain.
Siemens delivering tools like Calibre doesn't make sense unless
they think they can act like Applied Materials. With a shift
like that it'll be good growth for Siemens.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
At best NEUTRAL, but probably BAD.
Siemens makes all kind of stuff. If I'm at a company that competes,
why would they sell Calibre to me? It's the only tool supported by
TSMC for some advanced process nodes. Siemens could crush us by
refusing us Calibre.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Conditional GOOD.
At one time AT&T provided internal EDA tools which were vastly superior
to any third party offering. It is my understanding that Intel uses
such and approach internally as well. At one time I designed an IC for
Siemens manufactured by AT&T using AT&T design tools.
If the fabs still provide access to a Siemens/Mentor Calibre with full
support of their processes it will be good for the IC designers.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I think this is bad news. We are a medium sized company, just in the
progress of integrating BDA AFS. Mentor is not cheap but a good match
to arrogant Cadence. And now Siemens? Give me a break. Semiconductor
is not on their radar.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD.
Just switched from Olympus-SoC to Nitro-SoC. My mgmt will be furious
if we did all that work for nothing.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Doing MEMS with Pyxis here. Hope it doesn't get killed off.
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THIS IS LIKE ARM WITH SOFTBANK
This seems like a bad news. Really bad. I am user of the Mentor
tools. This disturbs the synergy of the EDA industry. Companies
who don't understand the EDA business are getting in and are
going to affect Moore's Law.
ANSYS acquired Apache -- no synergy at all. Upper management
does not know how to handle the issues with this acquired
business. They don't talk the same language and it gets
frustrating for the acquired company to make a case. Apache
could have scaled great heights. But not any more.
ARM acquired by Japan SoftBank. Total nonsense.
Now this. Mentor will have hard time explaining to this German
giant how the EDA business works and how to sell EDA tools.
If Burger King acquires Synopsys, I won't be surprised.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
NEUTRAL. Mainly because it does not change the landscape.
I am not sure if Mentor will be dropping any product because
of the acquisition. It looks like Softbank's ARM acquisition.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Good? Bad? This deal makes no sense (similar to SoftBank buying ARM).
Siemens is not at all in EDA, their PLM could very well live without
added EDA tools.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I am still puzzled and think of it similar to SoftBank and ARM, some
form of investment no one understands yet.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Who knows? Apart from bean counting, the synergy of Mentor with
Siemens is not obvious to me (though a bit more than Softbank/ARM).
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
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BUT SIEMENS KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT EDA...
This is good and bad news. BAD if Siemens decides to become a
half-hearted EDA vendor. GOOD news if they think EDA is a strategic
part of their business. But I have a hard time imagining that.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD -- German and Japanese M&A models are different from North
Americans. Look into ARM. However Siemens will replace all
local executive management by people coming from Germany, this
is how they operate worldwide, so it is coming. It will be
bad because these new Siemens execs don't know EDA.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
If I were a MENT employee, I'd be ecstatic. Siemens is a great
company here in Europe. In fact, I'm jealous.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad -- Siemens has different priorities
They look at bottom line roi-return on investment !!
Altera-Intel is still TBD !! Unsure !!
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
As an EDA user I think is BAD because:
- Siemens left since a long time the semiconductor business
- The reasons for acquiring Mentor are probably more related
to electromechanical and power systems CAD than on IC EDA.
- I do not see this as a move towards a lot of investment
in the EDA arena and this, in the long term, takes away a
major player in the field reducing competition and
therefore improvement.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I hope Siemens keeps Catapult. We're too invested in it to
drop it now. Would they even understand C-based synthesis?
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD -- Will distract Mentor's EDA focus, and new corporate
masters may lead to good EDA people leaving. Mentor has
had a very nice corporate culture.
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MENTOR KILLER SUPPORT WILL GO IN THE TOILET
Bad, support was excellent, it could become bad support similar
to when IBM bought Platform LSF, support went from top to bad.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD
Service will degrade and tools will be more expensive.
Also new tool features will come later than sooner.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
NEUTRAL (inclining towards BAD)
My development team uses MG, our concerns are:
- quality/speed of technical support may deteriorate.
- complexity of license contracts may increase.
Besides that nothing much changes.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad or Good.
We just focus on the tools usage.
All tools feature and support do not change, then it is neutral.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Neutral, given the tools we use from Mentor, as long as they continue
to be supported, I don't see any significant change.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD -
MENT is working very well now, and it's fast and high tech.
It can't improve. Only go bad.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad - Mentor has been pretty agile of late, being acquired by a big
company might mean layoffs and sharp people who enjoyed working for
the smaller more agile Mentor, may leave for other companies in the
Bay Area & elsewhere.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I am a user of Mentor products so I see it as neutral as long
as they keep their university/student use policy neutral.
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BUT SIEMENS COMPETES AGAINST US!
BAD -
Having a competitor (Siemens) own one of our main EDA vendors
(Mentor) raises questions when we need to send sensitive
layout/schematic databases to help resolve a Calibre problem.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad for us. Siemens is a competitor. We will be less likely
to purchase Mentor in the future.
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BAD
Siemens will know because of my Mentor tools or tool support what
I do in my projects. We compete against Siemens.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
An EDA User: BAD - Mentor customer, Siemens competitor.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD
This will make it very difficult to send testcases in the future,
quite possibly, can no longer send testcases, due to conflict of
interest or export control.
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GERMAN COMPANIES BRING QUALITY & NEW MARKETS
As a user this is good.
The quality of EDA offerings in general has been either neutral or
going down. Siemens purchase will get Mentor tools to track customer
needs more closely. In general this should force the quality and
functionality of EDA tools up by a few notches.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD. Siemens focuses on execution. Mentor tools are technologically
great, for me they are the best. That is wy I use them and replaced
Cadence by Mentor, but their ecosystem and execution was all over the
place. Siemens is now gonna put this into a 'german' frame: solid,
robust, reliable. Also expect these to become less buggy, they simply
are gonna work (my bet) from now on, compared to Synopsys and Cadence,
Mentor is pretty much like that already. With a German culture it
will just increase and will become 'observable'.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Good. I think that it becoming a European company introduces an
interesting dynamic. Perhaps also encouraging healthy competition
between Europe and the US.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
NEUTRAL news for our company - since we trust Siemens to not
break things but sad to see an American company go to Germans.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I think that this notice is GOOD. Up to now the biggest SW companies
are located in US. A sort of balance could only help the European
IC developer/foundry communities.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Good. America has lost its mind. I'm glad to see a German company
taking it over. Globalization is the future!
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
More jobs going to foreign companies?! Not good for USA!
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Hopefully, customers will now better understand the value of EDA
technology and the importance of a healthy EDA marketplace.
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LOSING WALLY AND GREG HURTS ALL EDA
BAD.
Mentor is no longer independent. Losing Wally & Greg kills EDA.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Wally Rhines is a well respected industry strategist. Him being
gone will be painful.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Likely BAD.
I have the highest respect for Wally's long term vision and Mentor's
ability to maintain complex products (like ModelSim/Questa) and
methodologies (like UVM) and keep them successful.
I fear with Wally gone how EDA will languish.
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BAD. Losing both Wally and Greg hurts the EDA ecosystem.
Siemens sells their current PLM software completely different than EDA
software is being sold. They have no understanding of EDA from a
selling side, Siemens is just some user company. If they change the
EDA biz model, this will be hell.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD for the users.
Mentor is the last of true independent EDA company and is also
startup friendly in terms of pricing and contracts. The startup
ecosystem as a whole will loose this flexibility.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
That does worry me as EDA user. How independent will MENT remain?
Luckily we are mostly on Cadence anyway, but still, if this is
the future for EDA, that does worry me....
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
This disturbance will affect positively both SNPS and CDNS.
Good human capital replacement opportunities will be made
available to both by this merger.
For a MGC employee, 26% more cash out coupled with more job
opportunities, this is really a great news.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD.
Siemens is not likely motivated to support medium sized
medical/industrial companies that only would purchase tools
from them. Today I can call Wally or Greg if I have an
issue. I've been cultivating my relationship with Mentor
management for years. (I miss Marc Corbacho as he is a dear
friend). So my 30+ year relationship with them is probably
going to change for the worse.
I'll have to start being nice to Aart again. ;-)
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
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