Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 30, 2017
Business Combinations [Abstract]
ACQUISITIONS	ACQUISITIONS During fiscal 2017, Cadence completed two business combinations for total cash consideration of $142.8 million, after taking into account cash acquired of $4.2 million. The total purchase consideration was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective estimated fair values on the acquisition dates. Cadence will also make payments to certain employees over a period of up to three years subject to continued employment and other performance-based conditions. Cadence recorded a total of $76.4 million of acquired intangible assets (of which $71.5 million represents in-process technology), $90.2 million of goodwill and $19.6 million of net liabilities consisting primarily of deferred tax liabilities. Acquired intangibles with definite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining estimated economic life of the underlying products and technologies. The weighted-average amortization period for definite-lived intangible assets acquired is 5.6 years. In-process technology consists of projects that had not reached technological feasibility by the date of acquisition and are considered indefinite-lived intangible assets until the completion or abandonment of the project. Upon completion of the project, the assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The recorded goodwill is related to expected synergies from combining operations of the acquired companies and is not deductible for tax purposes. Results of operations and the estimated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities are recorded in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. Pro forma results of operations for the business combinations completed during fiscal 2017 have not been presented because the effects of these acquisitions, individually and in the aggregate, would not have been material to Cadence’s financial results. The fair values of acquired intangible assets and assumed liabilities were determined using significant inputs that are not observable in the market. For an additional description of these fair value calculations, see Note 16 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. During fiscal 2016, Cadence completed two business combinations for total cash consideration of $42.4 million, after taking into account cash acquired of $1.8 million. The total purchase consideration was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective estimated fair values on the acquisition dates. Cadence will also make payments to certain employees over a period of up to four years subject to continued employment and other conditions. Cadence recorded a total of $23.6 million of goodwill, $23.2 million of acquired intangible assets and $2.6 million of net liabilities consisting primarily of deferred revenue. A trust for the benefit of the children of Lip-Bu Tan, Cadence’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and director, owned less than 3% of nusemi inc, one of the companies acquired in 2017, and less than 2% of Rocketick Technologies Ltd., one of the companies acquired in 2016. Mr. Tan and his wife serve as co-trustees of the trust and disclaim pecuniary and economic interest in the trust. The Board of Directors of Cadence reviewed the transactions and concluded that it was in the best interests of Cadence to proceed with the transactions. Mr. Tan recused himself from the Board of Directors’ discussion of the valuation of nusemi inc and Rocketick Technologies Ltd. and on whether to proceed with the transactions. Acquisition-related Transaction Costs Transaction costs associated with acquisitions were $0.6 million, $1.1 million and $0.7 million during fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These costs consist of professional fees and administrative costs and were expensed as incurred in Cadence’s consolidated income statements.

ACQUISITIONS

During fiscal 2017, Cadence completed two business combinations for total cash consideration of $142.8 million, after taking into account cash acquired of $4.2 million. The total purchase consideration was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective estimated fair values on the acquisition dates. Cadence will also make payments to certain employees over a period of up to three years subject to continued employment and other performance-based conditions. Cadence recorded a total of $76.4 million of acquired intangible assets (of which $71.5 million represents in-process technology), $90.2 million of goodwill and $19.6 million of net liabilities consisting primarily of deferred tax liabilities.

Acquired intangibles with definite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining estimated economic life of the underlying products and technologies. The weighted-average amortization period for definite-lived intangible assets acquired is 5.6 years. In-process technology consists of projects that had not reached technological feasibility by the date of acquisition and are considered indefinite-lived intangible assets until the completion or abandonment of the project. Upon completion of the project, the assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives.

The recorded goodwill is related to expected synergies from combining operations of the acquired companies and is not deductible for tax purposes.

Results of operations and the estimated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities are recorded in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. Pro forma results of operations for the business combinations completed during fiscal 2017 have not been presented because the effects of these acquisitions, individually and in the aggregate, would not have been material to Cadence’s financial results. The fair values of acquired intangible assets and assumed liabilities were determined using significant inputs that are not observable in the market. For an additional description of these fair value calculations, see Note 16 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

During fiscal 2016, Cadence completed two business combinations for total cash consideration of $42.4 million, after taking into account cash acquired of $1.8 million. The total purchase consideration was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective estimated fair values on the acquisition dates. Cadence will also make payments to certain employees over a period of up to four years subject to continued employment and other conditions. Cadence recorded a total of $23.6 million of goodwill, $23.2 million of acquired intangible assets and $2.6 million of net liabilities consisting primarily of deferred revenue.

A trust for the benefit of the children of Lip-Bu Tan, Cadence’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and director, owned less than 3% of nusemi inc, one of the companies acquired in 2017, and less than 2% of Rocketick Technologies Ltd., one of the companies acquired in 2016. Mr. Tan and his wife serve as co-trustees of the trust and disclaim pecuniary and economic interest in the trust. The Board of Directors of Cadence reviewed the transactions and concluded that it was in the best interests of Cadence to proceed with the transactions. Mr. Tan recused himself from the Board of Directors’ discussion of the valuation of nusemi inc and Rocketick Technologies Ltd. and on whether to proceed with the transactions.

Acquisition-related Transaction Costs

Transaction costs associated with acquisitions were $0.6 million, $1.1 million and $0.7 million during fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These costs consist of professional fees and administrative costs and were expensed as incurred in Cadence’s consolidated income statements.