CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH CHARLIE HUANG

Exhibit 10.91

CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
WITH CHARLIE HUANG

     THIS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), made effective as of July 29, 2008 (the “Effective Date”), between CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and CHARLIE HUANG (“Executive”), supersedes any previous employment agreement between the parties.

     WHEREAS, Executive is currently employed by the Company as Senior Vice President, Business Development; and

     WHEREAS, the Company and Executive wish to enter into a formal employment agreement on the terms and conditions as set forth herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and agreements set forth below, it is mutually agreed as follows:

1. TERM AND DUTIES.

      1.1 EFFECTIVE DATE. The Company hereby continues to employ Executive and Executive hereby accepts continued employment pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement as of the Effective Date. Executive has been employed and shall continue to be employed on an at-will basis, meaning that either Executive or the Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time, with or without Cause (as defined in Section 4.2 hereof), in the manner specified herein.

      1.2 SERVICES.

          (a) Executive shall continue to have the title of Senior Vice President, Business Development. Executive’s duties will be assigned to Executive by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), or such other persons as may be specified by the CEO.

          (b) Executive shall be required to comply with all applicable company policies and procedures, as such shall be adopted, modified or otherwise established by the Company from time to time.

      1.3 NO CONFLICTING SERVICES. During his employment with the Company, Executive agrees to devote his full productive time and best efforts to the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. Executive further agrees, as a condition to the performance by the Company of each and all of its obligations hereunder, that so long as Executive is employed by the Company or receiving compensation or any other consideration from the Company, he will not directly or indirectly render services of any nature to, otherwise become employed by, serve on the board of directors of, or otherwise participate or engage in any other business except as expressly authorized under the Company’s Code of Business Conduct. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to preclude Executive from having outside personal investments and involvement with appropriate community activities, or from devoting a reasonable amount of time to such matters, provided that they shall in no manner interfere with or derogate from

Executive’s work for the Company and that they comply with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct.

      1.4 OFFICE. The Company shall maintain an office for Executive at the Company’s corporate headquarters, which currently are located in San Jose, California.

2. COMPENSATION.

     The Company shall pay to Executive, and Executive shall accept as full consideration for his services hereunder, compensation consisting of the following:

      2.1 BASE SALARY. As of the Effective Date, the Company shall pay Executive a base salary of Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000) per year (“Base Salary”), payable in installments in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices, less such deductions and withholdings required by law or authorized by Executive. The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) shall review the amount of the Base Salary from time to time, but no less frequently than annually.

      2.2 BONUS. Executive shall participate in the Company’s Senior Executive Bonus Plan or its successor (the “Bonus Plan”) at an annual target bonus of seventy five percent (75%) of Executive’s Base Salary (the “Target Bonus”) pursuant to the terms of such Bonus Plan (the criteria for earning a bonus thereunder are set annually by the Compensation Committee). The Board or the Compensation Committee shall review the amount of the Target Bonus from time to time, but no less frequently than annually.

      2.3 EQUITY GRANTS. Executive has previously been granted stock options by the Company which remain in full force and effect in accordance with the terms of the stock option agreements documenting such grants. Executive shall be eligible to receive additional grants of either restricted stock or stock options, or both, as the Compensation Committee may determine from time to time. All stock options shall be granted at not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Any awards shall vest in accordance with the Company’s vesting policy for additional grants to executive officers of the Company in effect on the date of the grant by the Compensation Committee, and shall contain such other terms and conditions as shall be set forth in the agreement documenting the grant.

      2.4 INDEMNIFICATION. In the event Executive is made, or threatened to be made, a party to any legal action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a director or officer of the Company or serves or served any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture or other entity in any capacity at the Company’s request, Executive shall be indemnified by the Company, and the Company shall pay Executive’s related expenses when and as incurred, all to the fullest extent not prohibited by law as more fully described in and subject to the terms of the form of Indemnity Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.

3. EXPENSES AND BENEFITS.

      3.1 REASONABLE AND NECESSARY BUSINESS EXPENSES. In addition to the compensation provided for in Section 2 hereof, the Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable, customary and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. Executive shall first account for such expenses by submitting a statement itemizing such expenses prepared in accordance with the policy set by the Company for reimbursement of such expenses. The amount, nature and extent of reimbursement for such expenses shall always be subject to the control, supervision and direction of the Chief Financial Officer, the CEO and the Board, or such other persons as may be specified from time to time by the CEO.

      3.2 BENEFITS. During Executive’s full-time employment with the Company, pursuant to this Agreement:

          (a) Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s standard U.S. health insurance, life insurance and disability insurance plans, as such plans may be modified from time to time; and

          (b) Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s qualified and non-qualified retirement and other deferred compensation programs pursuant to their terms, as such programs may be modified from time to time.

      3.3 SARBANES-OXLEY ACT LOAN PROHIBITION. To the extent that any company benefit, program, practice, arrangement, or any term of this Agreement would or might otherwise result in the Company’s extension of a credit arrangement to Executive not permissible under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (a “Loan”), the Company will use reasonable efforts to provide Executive with a substitute for such Loan, which is lawful and of at least equal value. If this cannot be done, or if doing so would be significantly more expensive to the Company than making a Loan, then the Company need not make or maintain a Loan or provide a substitute for it.

4. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

      4.1 GENERAL. Executive’s employment by the Company under this Agreement shall terminate immediately upon delivery to Executive of written notice of termination by the Company subject to any cure period specified below, upon the Company’s receipt of written notice of termination by Executive at least thirty (30) days before the specified effective date of such termination, or upon Executive’s death or Permanent Disability (as defined in Section 4.4 hereof). In the event of such termination, except where Executive is terminated for Cause (as defined in Section 4.2 hereof) or as the result of a Permanent Disability or death, or where Executive voluntarily terminates his employment other than a Constructive Termination (as defined in Section 4.3 hereof), and upon execution by Executive at or about the effective date of such termination of the Executive Transition and Release Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Transition Agreement”), the Company shall provide Executive with the benefits as set forth in the Transition Agreement.

      4.2 DEFINITION OF CAUSE. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall be deemed to mean (1) Executive’s gross misconduct or fraud in the performance of his duties under this Agreement; (2) Executive’s conviction or guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere with respect to any felony or act of moral turpitude; (3) Executive’s engaging in any material act of theft or material misappropriation of company property in connection with his employment; (4) Executive’s material breach of this Agreement, after written notice delivered to Executive identifying such breach and his failure to cure such breach, if curable, within thirty (30) days following delivery of such notice; (5) Executive’s material breach of the Proprietary Information Agreement (as defined in Section 8 hereof) and, where such breach is curable, if such breach is not cured within thirty (30) days following delivery of written notice thereof from the Company; (6) Executive’s material failure/refusal to perform his assigned duties, and, where such failure/refusal is curable, if such failure/refusal is not cured within thirty (30) days following delivery of written notice thereof from the Company; or (7) Executive’s material breach of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct as such code may be revised from time to time, and, where such breach is curable, if such breach is not cured within thirty (30) days following delivery of written notice thereof from the Company.

      4.3 CONSTRUCTIVE TERMINATION. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4 to the contrary, Executive may, upon at least thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Company, voluntarily end his employment upon or within ninety (90) days following the occurrence of an event constituting a Constructive Termination and be eligible to receive the benefits set forth in the Transition Agreement in exchange for executing and delivering that agreement in accordance with Section 9.3 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, “Constructive Termination” shall mean:

          (a) a material adverse change, without Executive’s written consent, in Executive’s authority, duties or title causing Executive’s position to be of materially less stature or responsibility, after written notice delivered to the Company of such change and the Company’s failure to cure such change, if curable, within thirty (30) days following delivery of such notice;

          (b) any change, without Executive’s written consent, to Executive’s reporting structure causing Executive to no longer report to the CEO or the current Chief Administrative Officer of the Company, after written notice delivered to the Company of such change and the Company’s failure to cure such change, if curable, within thirty (30) days following delivery of such notice;

          (c) a reduction, without Executive’s written consent, in Executive’s Base Salary in effect on the Effective Date (or such higher level as may be in effect in the future) by more than ten percent (10%) or a reduction by more than ten percent (10%) in Executive’s stated Target Bonus in effect on the Effective Date (or such greater Target Bonus amount as may be in effect in the future) under the Bonus Plan;

          (d) a relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment by more than thirty (30) miles, unless Executive consents in writing to such relocation;

          (e) any material breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement, after written notice delivered to the Company of such breach and the Company’s failure to cure such breach, if curable, within thirty (30) days following delivery of such notice; or

          (f) any failure by the Company to obtain the written assumption of this Agreement by any successor to the Company.

     In the event of an event or circumstance constituting Constructive Termination, the Company may notify Executive at any time prior to expiration of the cure period that it will not cure the circumstance, in which case the cure period shall end immediately upon such notification.

      4.4 PERMANENT DISABILITY. For purposes of this Agreement, “Permanent Disability” shall mean any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can reasonably be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can reasonably be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months and that renders Executive unable to perform effectively all of the essential functions of his position pursuant to this Agreement, with or without reasonable accommodation.

      4.5 CHANGE IN CONTROL.

          (a) Should there occur a Change in Control (as defined below) and if within three (3) months prior to or thirteen (13) months following the Change in Control either (i) Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated without Cause or (ii) Executive resigns his employment as a result of an event constituting a Constructive Termination, then, in exchange for executing and delivering the Transition Agreement, and subject to the terms of the Transition Agreement except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.5(a), Executive shall be entitled to all of the benefits set forth therein, except that (1) in addition to the amount of the payment described in paragraph 5(a) of the Transition Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to an additional amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of Executive’s annual Base Salary at the highest annual Base Salary rate in effect at any time during the term of this Agreement (the “Highest Base Salary”), which amount shall be paid at the same time as the payment under such paragraph 5(a); (2) in addition to the amount of the payment described in paragraph 6(a) of the Transition Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to an additional amount equal to thirty seven and one half percent (37.5%) of Executive’s Highest Base Salary; and (3) in lieu of the acceleration described in paragraph 4(a) of the form of Transition Agreement attached hereto, all unvested equity compensation awards (including stock options, restricted stock, and restricted stock units) that are outstanding and held by Executive on the Transition Commencement Date shall immediately vest and become exercisable in full on the Transition Commencement Date, provided, that, if Executive’s termination of employment without Cause or by reason of Constructive Termination occurs within three months prior to a Change in Control, any unvested equity compensation awards that do not vest on the Transition Commencement Date shall vest in full immediately prior to the effective time of the Change in Control. Any acceleration of vesting pursuant to this Section 4.5(a) shall have no effect on any other provisions of the equity compensation awards or the plans governing such awards.

          (b) For purposes of this Section 4.5, a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur upon the consummation of any one of the following events:

          (a) In the event Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause or Executive voluntarily terminates his employment with the Company other than in connection with a Constructive Termination, then Executive will be paid only (i) any earned but unpaid Base Salary and any outstanding expense reimbursements submitted and approved pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof, and (ii) other unpaid vested amounts or benefits under the Company compensation, incentive and benefit plans in which Executive participates, in each case under this clause (ii) as of the effective date of such termination; and

          (b) In the event Executive’s employment is terminated on account of death or Permanent Disability, then, in addition to all amounts payable pursuant to Section 4.6(a), upon execution by Executive or Executive’s representative or a representative of Executive’s estate, as soon as reasonably practicable but in no event later than one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of Executive’s termination of employment, of the Release Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, and such Release Agreement becoming effective, the Company shall provide Executive or his estate, as the case may be, the following benefits to which Executive would not otherwise be entitled: (i) all unvested equity compensation awards (including stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units) outstanding and held by Executive on the date of his termination that would have vested over the twelve (12) months following the date of termination had Executive continued in employment under his Employment Agreement during that period shall immediately vest and become exercisable in full on the date of such termination, such equity compensation awards and all previously vested equity compensation awards shall remain exercisable for twenty-four (24) months from the date of such termination (but not later than the expiration of the term of the applicable equity compensation award ), and there shall be no further vesting of any equity compensation awards thereafter; provided that this acceleration will have no effect on any other provisions of the awards; and (ii) solely in the event of termination on account of Permanent Disability, if Executive elects to continue coverage under Cadence’s medical, dental and vision insurance plans pursuant to COBRA, Cadence will pay Executive’s COBRA premiums for twelve (12) months following such termination. In the event that Executive performs full-time or part-time employment or consulting services during the 12-month period following his termination on account of Permanent Disability without the written consent of the Company, then all equity compensation awards the vesting of which had been accelerated pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be forfeited and Executive shall return to the Company all stock obtained or on which restrictions terminated upon such vesting and the proceeds from the sale of any such stock, and all stock, net of exercise price, obtained upon the exercise of options that vested pursuant to the preceding sentence and the proceeds, net of exercise price, from the sale of any such stock.

          (c) In the event Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause, or on account of death or Permanent Disability, or Executive voluntarily terminates his employment with the Company other than in connection with a Constructive Termination, Executive shall not become a party to the Transition Agreement and shall not be bound by any of the terms and provisions thereof.

5. EXCISE TAX.

     In the event that any benefits payable to Executive pursuant to the Transition Agreement (“Termination Benefits”) (i) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section

280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any comparable successor provisions, and (ii) but for this Section 5 would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any comparable successor provisions (the “Excise Tax”), then Executive’s Termination Benefits hereunder shall be either (a) provided to Executive in full, or (b) provided to Executive as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such benefits being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, when taking into account applicable federal, state, local and foreign income and employment taxes, the Excise Tax, and any other applicable taxes, results in the receipt by Executive, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under the Excise Tax and Executive shall have no right to Termination Benefits in excess of the amount so determined. Unless the Company and Executive otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Section 5 shall be made in writing in good faith by a nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the Company (the “Accountants”). In the event of a reduction of benefits hereunder, Executive shall be given the choice of which benefits to reduce. If Executive does not provide written identification to the Company of which benefits he chooses to reduce within ten (10) days after written notice of the Accountants’ determination, and Executive has not disputed the Accountants’ determination, then the Company shall select the benefits to be reduced. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 5, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of the Code, and other applicable legal authority. The Company and Executive shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section 5. The Company shall bear the cost of all fees the Accountants charge in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 5.

6. DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

          (a) Each of the parties expressly agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that the enforceability of this Agreement is not thereby impaired, any and all disputes, controversies or claims between Executive and the Company arising under this Agreement, except those arising under Section 6(d) hereof or under the Proprietary Information Agreement (as defined in Section 8 hereof), shall be determined exclusively by final and binding arbitration before a single arbitrator in accordance with the JAMS Arbitration Rules and Procedures, or successor rules then in effect, and that judgment upon the award of the arbitrator may be rendered in any court of competent jurisdiction. This includes, without limitation, any and all disputes, controversies, and/or claims arising out of or concerning Executive’s employment by the Company or the termination of his employment or this Agreement, and includes, without limitation, claims by Executive against directors, officers or employees of the Company, whether arising under theories of liability or damages based on contract, tort or statute, to the full extent permitted by law. As a material part of this agreement to arbitrate claims, the parties expressly waive all rights to a jury trial in court on all statutory or other claims. This Section 6 does not purport to limit either party’s ability to recover any remedies provided for by statute, including attorneys’ fees.

          (b) The arbitration shall be held in the San Jose, California metropolitan area, and shall be administered by JAMS or, in the event JAMS does not then conduct arbitration proceedings, a similarly reputable arbitration administrator. Under such proceeding, the parties

shall select a mutually acceptable, neutral arbitrator from among the JAMS panel of arbitrators. Except as provided herein, the Federal Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of such arbitration proceeding. The arbitrator shall apply the substantive law (and the law of remedies, if applicable) of the State of California, or federal law, if California law is preempted, and the arbitrator is without jurisdiction to apply any different substantive law. The parties agree that they will be allowed to engage in adequate discovery, the scope of which will be determined by the arbitrator, consistent with the nature of the claims in dispute. The arbitrator shall have the authority to entertain a motion to dismiss and/or a motion for summary judgment by any party and shall apply the standards governing such motions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The arbitrator shall render an award that shall include a written statement of opinion setting forth the arbitrator’s findings of fact and conclusions of law. Judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The parties intend this arbitration provision to be valid, enforceable, irrevocable and construed as broadly as possible.

          (c) The Company shall be responsible for payment of the arbitrator’s fees as well as all administrative fees associated with the arbitration. The parties shall be responsible for their own attorneys’ fees and costs (including expert fees and costs), except that if any party prevails on a statutory claim that entitles the prevailing party to reasonable attorneys’ fees (with or without expert fees) as part of the costs, the arbitrator may award reasonable attorneys’ fees (with or without expert fees) to the prevailing party in accord with such statute.

          (d) The parties agree, however, that damages would be an inadequate remedy for the Company in the event of a breach or threatened breach of Section 1.3 of this Agreement or any provision of the Proprietary Information Agreement (as defined in Section 8 hereof). In the event of any such breach or threatened breach, Cadence may, either with or without pursuing any potential damage remedies, obtain from a court of competent jurisdiction, and enforce, an injunction prohibiting Executive from violating Section 1.3 of this Agreement or any provision of the Proprietary Information Agreement (as defined in Section 8 hereof) and requiring Executive to comply with the terms of those agreements.

7. COOPERATION WITH THE COMPANY AFTER TERMINATION OF THE EMPLOYMENT PERIOD.

     Following his termination of full-time employment for any reason (other than death), Executive shall provide the Company with reasonable cooperation in all matters relating to the winding up of his pending work on behalf of the Company and the orderly transfer of any such pending work to other employees of the Company as may be designated by the Company. Such cooperation shall be provided by Executive at mutually-convenient times. Executive also agrees to participate as a witness in any litigation or regulatory proceeding to which the Company or any of its affiliates is a party at the request of the Company upon delivery to Executive of reasonable advance notice. With respect to the cooperation/participation described in the preceding sentences, the Company will reimburse Executive for all reasonable and documented expenses incurred by Executive in the course of such cooperation/participation. Furthermore, Executive agrees to return to the Company all property of the Company, including all hard and soft copies of records, documents, materials and files relating to confidential, proprietary or sensitive company information in his possession or control, as well as all other company-owned property in his possession or control, at the time of the termination of his full-time employment,

except to the extent that the Company determines that retention of any of such property is necessary, desirable or convenient in order to permit Executive to satisfy his obligations under this Section 7 or under the Transition Agreement, after which time Executive shall promptly return all such retained company property.

8. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AGREEMENT.

     The Executive’s Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement was executed on October 26, 2005 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Proprietary Information Agreement”).

9. GENERAL.

      9.1 WAIVER. Neither party shall, by mere lapse of time, without giving notice or taking other action hereunder, be deemed to have waived any breach by the other party of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Further, the waiver by either party of a particular breach of this Agreement by the other shall neither be construed as, nor constitute, a continuing waiver of such breach or of other breaches of the same or any other provision of this Agreement.

      9.2 SEVERABILITY. If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator finds any provision of this Agreement to be unenforceable, the provision shall be deemed amended as necessary to conform to applicable laws or regulations, or if it cannot be so amended without materially altering the intention of the parties, the remainder of the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect as if the offending provision were not contained herein.

      9.3 NOTICES. All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be considered effective either (a) upon personal service, or (b) upon delivery by facsimile and depositing such notice in the U.S. Mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested and, if addressed to the Company, in care of the CEO at the Company’s principal corporate address, and, if addressed to Executive, at his most recent address shown on the Company’s corporate records or at any other address that Executive may specify in any appropriate notice to the Company, or (c) upon only depositing such notice in the U.S. Mail as described in clause (b) of this paragraph, or (d) upon delivery by email, if addressed to the Company to generalcounsel@cadence.com and if addressed to Executive to such email address as Executive may specify by notice to the Company.

      9.4 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile and in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same instrument and in making proof hereof it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.

      9.5 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The parties hereto acknowledge that each has read this Agreement, understands it, and agrees to be bound by its terms. The parties further agree that this Agreement, the exhibits to this Agreement, any existing equity compensation award agreements between the parties, and the documents, plans and policies referred to in this Agreement (which are hereby incorporated herein by reference) constitute the complete and exclusive statement of the agreement between the parties and supersedes all proposals (oral or written), understandings, agreements, representations, conditions, covenants, and all other

communications between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that the Proprietary Information Agreement, and Executive’s agreement, made prior to the Effective Date of this Agreement, to abide by the Company’s policies, including but not limited to the Company’s Employee Handbook, Sexual Harassment Policy and Code of Business Conduct, as amended from time to time, remain in full force and effect and govern Executive’s conduct from the date of execution of such agreements until the Effective Date of this Agreement.

      9.6 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

      9.7 ASSIGNMENT AND SUCCESSORS. The Company shall have the right to assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to an entity that, directly or indirectly, acquires all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit and shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company. Executive shall not have any right to assign his obligations under this Agreement and shall only be entitled to assign his rights under this Agreement upon his death, to his estate or designated beneficiary, or as otherwise agreed to by the Company.

      9.8 AMENDMENTS. This Agreement, and the terms and conditions of the matters addressed in this Agreement, may only be amended in writing executed both by the Executive and the CEO of the Company.

      9.9 TERMINATION AND SURVIVAL OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS. This Agreement shall terminate upon the termination of Executive’s full-time employment for any reason; provided, however, that the following provisions of this Agreement shall survive its termination: Executive’s obligations under Section 7 hereof; the Company’s obligations to provide compensation earned through the termination of the employment relationship plus all reimbursements to which Executive is entitled, under Sections 2 and 3 hereof; the Company’s obligations and Executive’s obligations under Section 5 hereof; the Company’s obligations and Executive’s obligations enumerated in the Transition Agreement, if applicable; the Company’s obligation to indemnify Executive pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof and the referenced Indemnity Agreement; the dispute resolution provisions of Section 6 hereof; and, to the extent applicable, this Section 9.

      9.10 FORMER EMPLOYERS. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he is not subject to any employment, confidentiality or other agreement or restriction that would prevent him from fully satisfying his duties under this Agreement or that would be violated if he did so. Without the Company’s prior written approval, Executive will not:

          (a) disclose any proprietary information belonging to a former employer or other entity without its written permission;

          (b) contact any former employer’s customers or employees to solicit their business or employment on behalf of the Company in violation of Executive’s existing obligations to his former employer; or

          (c) distribute announcements about or otherwise publicize Executive’s employment with the Company.

     Executive shall indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any liabilities, including reasonable defense costs, it may incur because he is alleged to have broken any of these promises or improperly revealed or used such proprietary information or to have threatened to do so, or if a former employer challenges Executive’s entering into this Agreement or rendering services pursuant to it.

      9.11 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY VERIFICATION REQUIREMENT. If Executive has not already done so, he will timely file all documents required by the Department of Homeland Security to verify his identity and his lawful employment in the United States. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if Executive fails to meet any such requirements promptly after receiving a written request from the Company to do so, his employment will terminate immediately upon notice from the Company and he will not be entitled to any compensation from the Company of any type

      9.12 HEADINGS. The headings of the several sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted solely for the convenience of reference and are not a part of and are not intended to govern, limit or aid in the construction of any term or provision hereof.

      9.13 TAXES AND OTHER WITHHOLDINGS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company may withhold from amounts payable hereunder all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and other amounts that are required to be withheld by applicable laws or regulations, and the withholding of any amount shall be treated as payment thereof for purposes of determining whether Executive has been paid amounts to which he is entitled.

      9.14 TAX MATTERS. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Transition Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that the Company in good faith determines that any payment resulting from Executive’s termination of employment provided for in this Agreement or the Transition Agreement constitutes a “deferral of compensation” and that the Executive is a “specified employee,” both within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, no such amounts shall be payable to Executive pursuant to this Agreement or the Transition Agreement prior to the earliest of (a) Executive’s death following the Termination Date (as such term is defined in the Transition Agreement) or (b) the date that is six months following the date of Executive’s “separation from service” with the Company (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code). In addition, with regard to any provision herein or in the Transition Agreement that provides for reimbursement of costs and expenses or in-kind benefits, except as permitted by Section 409A of the Code, (i) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits, to be provided in any other taxable year, provided that the foregoing clause (ii) shall not be deemed to be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect and (iii) such payments shall be made on or before the last day of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense occurred.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on this 29th day of July 2008.

EXHIBIT A

INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

     This Indemnity Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of                      , is made by and between Cadence Design Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                      ,                      of the Company (the “Indemnitee”).

RECITALS

     A. The Company is aware that competent and experienced persons are increasingly reluctant to serve as directors or officers of corporations unless they are protected by comprehensive liability insurance and indemnification, due to increased exposure to litigation costs and risks resulting from their service to such corporations;

     B. Plaintiffs often seek damages in such large amounts and the costs of litigation may be so substantial (whether or not the case is meritorious), that the defense and/or settlement of such litigation is often beyond the personal resources of officers and directors;

     C. The Company believes that its directors and officers and the directors and officers of its subsidiaries should be able to serve as such, and in such other capacities as the Company may request, as the case may be, free from undue concern about the risk of large judgments and other expenses that may be incurred as a result of the good faith performance of their duties to the Company or its subsidiaries;

     D. The Company recognizes that the long period of time that may elapse before the trial or other disposition of legal proceedings may extend beyond the normal time for retirement for such director or officer, with the result that the Indemnitee, after retirement or in the event of the Indemnitee’s death, the Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors or administrators, may be faced with limited ability and undue hardship in maintaining an adequate defense, which may discourage such director or officer from serving in that position;

     E. Based upon their experience as business managers, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has concluded that, to retain and attract talented and experienced individuals to serve as directors and certain officers of the Company and its subsidiaries and to encourage such individuals to take the business risks necessary for the success of the Company and its subsidiaries, it is necessary, and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, for the Company to contractually indemnify such individuals, and to assume for itself maximum liability for claims against such persons in connection with their service;

     F. The Company desires and has requested the Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director and/or an officer of the Company and/or the subsidiaries of the Company, free from undue concern for claims for damages arising out of or related to such services to the Company and/or the subsidiaries of the Company; and

     G. The Indemnitee is willing to serve, or to continue to serve, the Company and/or the subsidiaries of the Company provided that the Indemnitee is furnished the indemnity provided for herein.

AGREEMENT

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

     1.  Definitions .

          (a)  Change in Control . For purposes of this Agreement, a “change in control” shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

          (b)  Covered Person . For purposes of this Agreement, a “covered person” shall include the Indemnitee and any heir, executor, administrator or other legal representative of the Indemnitee following the Indemnitee’s death or incapacity.

          (c)  Disinterested Directors . For purposes of this Agreement, “disinterested directors” mean any director of the Company who is not or was not a party to the proceeding in respect of which indemnification is being sought by a covered person.

          (d)  Expenses . For purposes of this Agreement, “expenses” include all direct and indirect costs of any type or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, all attorneys’ fees and related disbursements and other out-of-pocket costs) actually and reasonably incurred by a covered person in connection with either the investigation, defense or appeal of a proceeding or establishing or enforcing a right to indemnification or advancement under this Agreement, Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or otherwise.

          (e)  Independent Legal Counsel . For purposes of this Agreement, “independent legal counsel” means a law firm or a member of a law firm that neither is presently nor in the past five years has been retained to represent (i) the Company or a covered person in any matter material to either such party, or (ii) any other party to the proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification or advancement hereunder. “Independent legal counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or the covered person in an action to determine such covered person’s right to indemnification or advancement under this Agreement.

          (f)  Proceeding . For purposes of this Agreement, “proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, investigative or of any other type whatsoever, and including any of the foregoing commenced by or on behalf of the Company, derivatively or otherwise.

          (g)  Subsidiary . For purposes of this Agreement, “subsidiary” means any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities is owned directly or indirectly by the Company, and one or more other subsidiaries, or by one or more other subsidiaries.

     2.  Agreement to Serve . The Indemnitee agrees to serve and/or continue to serve the Company and/or its subsidiaries in the Indemnitee’s present capacity, so long as the Indemnitee is duly appointed or elected or until such time as the Indemnitee tenders a written resignation; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to create any right to continued employment or other form of service for the Company or its subsidiaries by Indemnitee.

     3.  Maintenance of Liability Insurance .

          (a) The Company hereby covenants and agrees that, so long as the Indemnitee shall continue to serve as an officer or director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and thereafter so long as the Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible proceeding by reason of such service, the Company, subject to Section 3(b), shall use reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain in full force and effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (“D&O Insurance”) in reasonable amounts from established and reputable insurers.

          (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain D&O Insurance if the Company determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, the premium costs for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided, the coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an insufficient benefit, or the Indemnitee is covered by similar insurance maintained by a subsidiary of the Company.

     4.  Mandatory Indemnification .

          (a)  Right to Indemnification . In the event a covered person was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any proceeding, by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company (including

any subsidiary or affiliate thereof or any constituent corporation or any of the foregoing absorbed in any merger) or is or was serving at the request of the Company (including such subsidiary, affiliate or constituent corporation) as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, such person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Company’s Bylaws, against all expenses, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, forfeitures, ERISA excise and other taxes and penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith. Such indemnification shall continue after the Indemnitee has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors, administrators and other legal representatives; provided, however, that except for a proceeding pursuant to Section 7, the Company shall indemnify any such person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

          (b)  Exception for Amounts Covered by Insurance . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify a covered person for expenses or liabilities of any type whatsoever (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, forfeitures, ERISA excise and other taxes and penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) which have been paid directly to such person or a third party on the covered person’s behalf by D&O Insurance.

          (c)  Partial Indemnification; Successful Defense . If a covered person is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of any expenses or liabilities of any type whatsoever (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, forfeitures, ERISA excise and other taxes and penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) incurred by the covered person in the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of a proceeding, but not entitled, however, to indemnification for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify such person for such total amount, except as to the portion thereof to which the covered person is not entitled by applicable law, the Company’s Bylaws or this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that a covered person has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in whole or in part, in the defense of a proceeding, or in the defense of any claim, issue or m