ANGLETON, TX, OCTOBER 23, 2008 - Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: BHE), a leading contract manufacturing provider, announced sales of $642 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, compared to $673 million for the same quarter in the prior year. Third quarter net income was $24 million, or $0.36 per diluted share. In the comparable period of 2007, net income was $22 million, or $0.30 per diluted share.

Excluding restructuring charges, amortization of intangibles, the impact of stock-based compensation costs and a discrete tax benefit relating to a previously closed facility, the Company would have reported net income of $21 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008. Excluding restructuring charges, integration costs, amortization of intangibles, the impact of stock-based compensation costs and a discrete tax benefit relating to a previously closed facility, the Company would have reported net income of $17 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2007.

“The recent deterioration and unprecedented volatility in end market demands which began in late September resulted in revenue softness that began to materialize in the third quarter,” said Cary T. Fu, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. “Generally, I am pleased with our overall operating performance during the quarter and am confident in the ability of our organization to manage through, and take advantage of, the additional outsourcing opportunities that this environment may bring. Our revenue diversification and new program wins have been strong, but not strong enough to allow us to sidestep the current macro downturn.”

Recent demand weakness is expected to continue into the fourth quarter of 2008. While it is not possible to forecast with precision the specific impacts to each of the industries we serve, it is anticipated that the slowdown in technology spending will continue. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2008 are expected to range from $600 million to $640 million. To maintain consistency with published analysts’ reports, earnings guidance going forward will only exclude restructuring charges and will no longer exclude the impact of stock-based compensation and amortization of intangibles. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter, excluding restructuring charges, are expected to be between $0.25 and $0.32.

This press release includes financial measures for earnings and earnings per share that exclude certain items and therefore are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). A detailed reconciliation between the GAAP results and results excluding special items (non-GAAP) is included at the end of this press release. By disclosing this non-GAAP information, management intends to provide investors with additional information to further analyze the company’s performance and underlying trends. Management utilizes a measure of net income and earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis that excludes certain items to better assess operating performance and to help investors compare our results with our previous guidance.

The non-GAAP information included in this press release is not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP information of other companies. Non-GAAP information should not be viewed as a substitute for, or superior to, net income or other data prepared in accordance with GAAP as measures of our profitability or liquidity. Users of this financial information should consider the types of events and transactions for which adjustments have been made.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the scope of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “predict,” and similar expressions, and the negatives of such expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements may be deemed to include, among other things, the statement that “it is anticipated that the slowdown in technology spending will continue”, that we are “confident in the ability of our organization to not only manage through, but to take advantage of, the additional outsourcing opportunities that this environment may bring”, and our sales and diluted earnings per share, excluding restructuring charges, guidance for the fourth quarter of 2008, as well as other statements, express or implied, concerning: future operating results or the ability to generate sales, income or cash flow; and Benchmark’s business and growth strategies, including expected internal growth and performance goals. Although Benchmark believes that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, such statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including but not limited to industry and economic conditions, and customer actions.

All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to Benchmark as of the date of the release, and Benchmark assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. Persons are advised to consult further disclosures on related subjects in Benchmark’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its press releases.

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. provides electronics manufacturing, design and engineering services to original equipment manufacturers of computers and related products for business enterprises, medical devices, industrial control equipment, testing and instrumentation products, and telecommunication equipment. Benchmark’s global operations include 20 facilities in ten countries. Benchmark’s Common Shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BHE.


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2008			2007			2008			2007

Income from operations (GAAP)	$	22,267		$	14,880		$	66,678		$	69,952
Stock-based compensation		384			628			2,432			2,440
Restructuring charges and integration costs		253			1,451			253			7,001
Amortization of intangibles		446			447			1,340			1,341

Non-GAAP income from operations	$	23,350		$	17,406		$	70,703		$	80,734



Net income (GAAP)	$	23,925		$	22,009		$	68,976		$	72,406
Stock-based compensation, net of tax		306			443			1,740			1,688
Restructuring charges and integration costs, net of tax		228			1,043			228			5,211
Amortization of intangibles, net of tax		284			291			854			905
Income tax benefit		(3,440	)		(6,481	)		(3,440	)		(6,481	)

Non-GAAP net income	$	21,303		$	17,305		$	68,358		$	73,729



Numerator for basic earnings per share - net
income (GAAP)	$	23,925		$	22,009		$	68,976		$	72,406
Interest expense on convertible debt, net of tax		—			—			—			147

Numerator for diluted earnings per share (GAAP)	$	23,925		$	22,009		$	68,976		$	72,553


Earnings per share: (GAAP)
Basic	$	0.36		$	0.30		$	1.02		$	1.00
Diluted	$	0.36		$	0.30		$	1.01		$	0.99

Numerator for basic earnings per share - net
income (Non-GAAP)	$	21,303		$	17,305		$	68,358		$	73,729
Interest expense on convertible debt, net of tax		—			—			—			147

Numerator for diluted earnings per
share (Non-GAAP)	$	21,303		$	17,305		$	68,358		$	73,876


Earnings per share: (Non-GAAP)
Basic	$	0.32		$	0.24		$	1.01		$	1.02
Diluted	$	0.32		$	0.24		$	1.00		$	1.01

Weighted average shares used in calculating
earnings per share:
Basic		66,268			72,951			67,693			72,314
Diluted		66,630			73,626			68,251			73,313


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,

	2008			2007			2008			2007

Net sales	$	641,672		$	672,595		$	2,008,397		$	2,181,372
Cost of sales		597,376			633,818			1,872,859			2,033,612

Gross profit		44,296			38,777			135,538			147,760

Selling, general and administrative expenses		21,329			21,999			67,266			69,466
Amortization of intangibles		446			447			1,340			1,341
Restructuring charges and integration costs		253			1,451			253			7,001

Income from operations		22,268			14,880			66,679			69,952

Other income (expense):
Interest income		1,680			3,106			6,909			7,555
Interest expense		(378	)		(411	)		(1,102	)		(1,786	)
Other income (expense)		(790	)		725			1,547			1,578
Total other income, net		512			3,420			7,354			7,347

Income before income taxes		22,780			18,300			74,033			77,299

Income tax expense (benefit)		(1,145	)		(3,709	)		5,057			4,893

Net income	$	23,925		$	22,009		$	68,976		$	72,406


Numerator for basic earnings per share - net income	$	23,925		$	22,009		$	68,976		$	72,406
Interest expense on convertible debt, net of tax		—			—			—			147
Numerator for diluted earnings per share	$	23,925		$	22,009		$	68,976		$	72,553


Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period		66,268			72,951			67,693			72,314
Incremental common shares attributable to restricted shares and the exercise of outstanding equity instruments		362			675			558			999
Denominator for diluted earnings per share		66,630			73,626			68,251			73,313
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.36		$	0.30		$	1.02		$	1.00
Diluted	$	0.36		$	0.30		$	1.01		$	0.99

Assets

Current assets:
Cash and cash-equivalents	$	341,361
Accounts receivable, net		415,455
Inventories, net		362,692
Other current assets		51,204

Total current assets		1,170,712

Long-term investments		47,907
Property, plant and equipment, net		141,745
Other assets, net		25,810
Goodwill, net		283,194

Total assets	$	1,669,368


Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	$	273
Accounts payable		289,725
Accrued liabilities		58,697

Total current liabilities		348,695

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, less current installments		11,749
Other long-term liabilities		41,501
Shareholders’ equity		1,267,423


Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	1,669,368

Press Release
For More Information, Call:

ELLEN M. DYLLA
INVESTOR RELATIONS	October 23, 2008
(979) 849-6550