WILSONVILLE, OR, Oct. 21 -- Mentor Graphics today announced third-quarter revenues rose 3% year-on-year to $162 million while cutting its net loss in half, to $6 million.

Separately, the company guided for sales of $205 million in the December quarter.

The GAAP loss was the result of special charges for in-process R&D associated with the acquisition of In Design Automation, Mentor said.

"Although growth in the third quarter was slow, it was primarily due to the timing of major orders," said Wally Rhines, chairman and CEO.

Bookings grew 2% in the quarter although the book-to-bill was below 1.0. Rhines said year-to-date bookings have grown 8% and Mentor expects record fourth-quarter and full-year bookings.

Bookings in the Pacific Rim climbed 20%, while North America was up 5%. Europe slipped 10% and Japan was flat, although the latter's bookings are strong by historical levels.

Forty percent of the company's sales were in the Americas, 30% in Europe, 20% in Japan, and 10% in the Pacific Rim.

Pro forma gross margin was 86%. Gross margin on a GAAP basis was 84%.

Mentor (www.mentor.com) is leading supplier of PCB design tools.