WILSONVILLE, OR, Jan. 11 -- Mentor Graphics said preliminary fourth-quarter bookings and revenues suggest records in both categories, with revenues expected to exceed First Call consensus estimates of $204 million.

Bookings were up about 40% year-over-year. Backlogs rose 35% from a year ago, the company said.

However, special charges are expected to result in GAAP basis earnings below guidance. Pro-forma earnings are expected to modestly exceed consensus estimates.

Bookings was broad-based across all regions and product lines. North America

was up 15%, Europe 50%, and Japan and the Pacific Rim both up over 100% vs. last year.

Mentor will release fourth quarter and full year results after market close on Jan. 27.

ARLINGTON, VA, Jan. 10 -- Manufacturer-to-dealer sales of consumer electronics will reach a record-high of $125.7 billion in 2005, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, an 11% climb year-on-year.

CEA estimated 2004 would exceed initial expectations, reaching $113.5 billion, up 11% over 2003.

"These numbers reflect that consumer electronics is a hot industry," said CEA president and CEO Gary Shapiro. "Sales continue to surpass our expectations and break existing records year after year, because this is an everchanging industry that delivers innovative products that enhance consumers' lives."

Digital television continued to be a frontrunner, with sales rising 78% to $10.7 billion. Unit sales were up 63% to 7.3 million. Sales of LCD TVs topped $2 billion in 2004 and will surpass $3 billion in 2005. Plasma TVs will experience similar growth as unit sales reached 853,000 in 2004 and then grow to over 1.4 million units in 2005.

MP3 player unit sales more than doubled, to over 6.9 million units and revenues tripled to $1.2 billion. CEA forecasts revenues will hit $1.7 billion on 10 million units sold and in 2005. Satellite radio and video navigation are also helping to drive the aftermarket category. Mobile navigation devices sales topped $782 million in 2004, up 35%. Navigation device sales will hit $935 million in 2005, CEA said.

Flash media card sales rose 200% to more than $3 billion in 2004, CEA estimates. Demand for storage will push the market to nearly $6 billion this year.

Portable PC product revenues were up 10% to a record $17.2 billion. 2005 revenues are forecast to surpass $18 billion.

Phones with built-in digital cameras have helped add to the projected growth of 15% in revenues in 2004. Unit sales topped 79.6 million units and will grow to 89.2 million units in 2005. Wireless will reach a new high of $11.3 billion in 2005, CEA forecasts.

ANGLETON, TX, Jan. 10 -- Benchmark Electronics will add a third manufacturing site in Asia by the end of the quarter to meet increased customer demand.

The contract manufacturing provider said today it will lease a facility in Ayudhaya, Thailand, 30 miles north of the Bangkok Airport. This 60,000 sq. ft. facility will be the company's second in Ayudhaya.

The new plant will perform systems integration.

Benchmark said the facility will be fully operational by the end of the first quarter. The company currently operates 17 facilities worldwide, including four in Asia.

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VANCOUVER, Jan. 10 -- Nam Tai Electronics Inc. reported fourth-quarter sales rose 40% to $150 million, a new record and ahead of the company's Oct. 29 guidance of $135 million.

December sales topped $55 million, up 70% year-on-year, and also beating the EMS provider's previous monthly high set in June 2004.

For the year, sales topped $530 million, up 30% over 2003 sales.

The company attributed the growth to FPC subassemblies, CMOS sensor modules for mobile phones and LCD modules.

Joseph Li, chief executive said in a press release, "We are extremely pleased with the sales, which exceeded our original upper guidance. High oil prices and a strong yen has resulted in greater outsourcing, especially by Japanese manufacturers during the period, which resulted in additional orders from our customers.

The company has factories expected to come online after March.

The company also stated that chief financial officer Charles Wong and his assistant, Joseph Silva, have resigned for personal reasons. Both were in their probationary periods. Li will assume the CFO position on an interim basis.