<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001144204-12-047630.txt : 20121025
<SEC-HEADER>0001144204-12-047630.hdr.sgml : 20121025
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120822162316
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001144204-12-047630
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120822

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000863436
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS [3672]
		IRS NUMBER:				742211011
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3000 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
		CITY:			ANGLETON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77515
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9798496550

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3000 TECHNOLOGY DR
		CITY:			ANGLETON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77515
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    <TD STYLE="width: 68%; padding: 0; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
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        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Benchmark Electronics, Inc.&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">3000 Technology Drive&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Angleton, TX 77515&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Main Telephone 979-849-6550&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">FAX 979-848-5294&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><IMG SRC="image_001.jpg" ALT=""></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">August 22, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><U>VIA EDGAR</U></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Securities and Exchange Commission</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Division of Corporation Finance</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">100 F Street, N.E.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Washington, D.C. 20549</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -1in">Attention: Mr.
Patrick Gilmore, Accounting Branch Chief</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; padding: 0">Re:</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify; padding: 0">Benchmark Electronics, Inc.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in">Form 10-K for Fiscal
Year Ended December 31, 2011</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in">Filed February 29, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in">File No. 001-10560</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Dear Mr. Gilmore:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: left">The following information and comments are
made in response to your letter dated August 10, 2012 (the &ldquo;Comment Letter&rdquo;) to Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;).
Referring to specific points communicated to the Company in the Comment Letter, we hereby submit the following responses on behalf
of the Company.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><U>Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2011</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><U>Item 7. Management&rsquo;s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><U>Overview, page 30</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; padding: 0"><I>1.</I></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0"><I>We refer to comment 5 of our comment letter dated November 30, 2009 and your response letter dated December 14, 2009 in
which you stated that you would consider including additional disclosure of how the anticipated performance of the industries you
serve could potentially affect your revenues. Given that you report your revenues by industry and you state on page 32 that your
future sales are dependent on the success of your customers, we continue to believe that trend information regarding your customers
would help investors understand the risks or potential growth of your business operations. For example, it is unclear whether the
16%, 15%, 13% and 3% decrease in sales in fiscal year 2011 to customers in the medical devices industry, testing and instrumental
industry, computers and related products for business enterprises industry, and telecommunications equipment industry, respectively,
and the 8% increase in sales to customers in the industrial control equipment industry during the same period are isolated events
or attributable to certain trends. To the extent possible, consider including in subsequent filings a discussion regarding the
anticipated performance of these industries and how such performance may affect your operations. See Section III.A of SEC Release
No. 33-8350.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.75in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Response: </B>We did not include a discussion about the overall
performance of individual industries in our Form 10-K because the underlying reasons for the changes in our revenues by industry
sector were not related to trends in these industries, but rather, were due to Company-specific circumstances such as the impact
of the Thailand flood or customer-specific demand changes. In future filings, we will include information regarding trends in specific
industries if we are aware of overall industry performance trends that may affect our operations, as well as any isolated events
that may impact our revenues by industry as reported.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Securities and Exchange Commission</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">August 22, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Page 2</P>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><U>Results of Operations</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><U>Year Ended December 31, 2011 Compared with Year Ended
December 31, 2010</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><U>Income Tax Expense (Benefit), page 37</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; padding: 0"><I>2.</I></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0"><I>We note that in 2011, you had an increase in tax incentives in certain foreign jurisdictions and a reduced tax rate for
a subsidiary in China. We further note from disclosure in Note 9 that your tax incentives and holidays expire at various dates
through 2015. Considering the significance of the tax incentives and holidays to your net income, please tell us what consideration
was given to disclosing further details regarding each significant tax incentive and holiday and the related expiration date. Please
refer to Item 303(a)(3)(i) of Regulation S-K and Section III.B of SEC Release 33-8350.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Response:</B> In future filings, we will expand our MD&amp;A
discussions to disclose further details regarding each significant tax incentive and tax holiday, including expiration dates, to
supplement the information that we have included in the footnotes to our financial statements. For example, we disclosed in Note
9 that we have been granted tax incentives for our subsidiaries in China, Malaysia and Thailand that expire on various dates through
2015 and are subject to certain conditions with which we expect to comply. As a result, we included on page 19 in Risk Factors
that &ldquo;We are subject to the risk of increased taxes&rdquo; and disclosed that our taxes could increase if these tax incentives
are retracted or if they are not renewed upon expiration. In addition, in Note 9, we disclosed the net impact of these incentives
on income tax expense and earnings per share.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><U>Liquidity and Capital Resources, page 39</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; padding: 0"><I>3.</I></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0"><I>We note that your operating cash flow discussion provides little insight into the changes in your financial condition. In
this regard, you list certain working capital changes in 2011 without explaining the underlying reasons for the changes. For example,
we note that in 2011, the change in accounts receivable had a favorable impact on cash flows of $27.7 million whereas in 2010,
there was an unfavorable impact on cash flows of $40.2 million, however your disclosures do not explain these changes or provide
a comparison of these periods. Please tell us what consideration was given to providing a more robust discussion of your operating
cash flows pursuant to the guidance of Item 303(a)(1) of Regulation S-K and Section IV.B.1 of SEC Release 33-8350. This comment
also applies to your subsequent Form 10-Q&rsquo;s.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Response:</B> As the underlying reasons for the changes in
our operating assets and liabilities were not the result of any change in our sales terms or credit policies or the result of any
material trend or uncertainty, we did not include a discussion of the underlying reasons for the changes. We will provide a more
robust discussion of our operating cash flows in future filings to the extent the underlying reasons for the changes in our operating
cash flows are due to changes in our business activities or operations.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Securities and Exchange Commission</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">August 22, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Page 3</P>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><U>Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><U>Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><U>Note 16 - Restructuring and Thailand Flood Related Charges,
Net of Insurance, page 69</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><I>&nbsp;</I></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; padding: 0"><I>4.</I></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0"><I>We note you recognized losses of $59.5 million related to the flooding in Thailand and your disclosure that because the
situation in Thailand is still evolving, significant uncertainty remains regarding the ultimate financial impact the flooding will
have on the company. We further note that during the six months ended June 30, 2012, you recognized additional flood related charges
of $14.9 million. If there is a reasonable possibility that a loss exceeding amounts already recognized may have been incurred,
in your next periodic filing, please either disclose an estimate (or, if true, state that an estimate is immaterial in lieu of
providing quantified amounts) of the additional loss or range of loss, or state that such an estimate cannot be made. Please refer
to paragraphs 3 through 5 of ASC 450-20-50 and SAB Topic 5Y.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Response:</B> We do not expect additional Thailand flood
related costs in the third or fourth quarter of 2012 to be significant. The costs incurred during 2012 consist of non-impairment
losses and included the costs associated with restoring operations in Thailand. We will disclose in our next periodic filing an
estimate of the additional flood related costs or an estimated range of such costs exceeding amounts already recognized.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; padding: 0"><I>5.</I></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0"><I>We also note that you have estimated and recorded recoveries from insurance amounting to $56.2&nbsp;million for losses and
costs related to the flooding in Thailand. Please explain the procedures you undertake in estimating and determining the amount
of insurance recoveries to record including why certain amounts are not recoverable. Additionally, please tell us your consideration
for disclosing any material limitations related to such recoveries including an explanation of amounts you do not expect to recover
through insurance.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Response:</B> After consideration of available information,
including consultation with professional advisors and written assurances from our insurance company, we recorded estimated insurance
recoveries in the fourth quarter of 2011 of $56.2 million. The estimated insurance recoveries included $46.2 million of property
losses from the involuntary conversion of property, plant and equipment and inventory and $10.0 million of other costs directly
related to the flooding in Thailand. During the second quarter of 2012, our estimated property losses and the corresponding estimated
recoveries from insurance for these property losses were reduced by $5.0 million. Through August 1, 2012, we have received $36.6
million of insurance proceeds, including $26.6 million for property losses and $10.0 million for other flood related costs. We
do not expect any uncertainties or limitations associated with these recorded insurance recoveries nor do we believe there are
any factors that would restrict us from realizing these insurance recoveries.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">As a result of the flooding and temporary closing of our Thailand
facilities, we incurred $28.3 million of other flood related costs during the fourth quarter of 2011 and through June 30, 2012.
Of these costs $10.0 million were recorded as insurance recoveries in the fourth quarter of 2011 and were subsequently collected
in the first quarter of 2012. While all of these charges consist of costs directly attributable to the Thailand flood which we
expect to recover from our business interruption coverage insurance, we have not recorded additional insurance recoveries of $18.3
million at this time. We will record insurance recoveries for claims subject to our business interruption coverage when the appropriate
recognition criteria have been met. We cannot estimate the timing of the receipt of insurance proceeds we will ultimately realize,
and there may be a substantial delay between the incurrence of losses and the recovery under our insurance policies.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Securities and Exchange Commission</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">August 22, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Page 4</P>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><U>Item 11. Executive Compensation (Incorporated by Reference
from the Definitive Proxy Statement filed on March 28, 2012)</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; padding: 0"><I>6.</I></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0"><I>It appears that you have identified only three named executive officers including your chief executive officer, chief financial
officer, and president. Please tell us how you determined that the other individuals listed on the company&rsquo;s website under
&ldquo;Leadership Team,&rdquo; including the two Group Presidents, are not executive officers within the definition of &ldquo;executive
officer&rdquo; in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and Rule 402(a)(3) of Regulation S-K. Rule 405 defines an executive officer
as the president, any vice president in charge of a principal business unit, division or function (such as sales, administration
or finance), any other officer who performs a policy making function or any other person who performs similar policy making functions
for the company.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Response:</B> The Company carefully considered the job responsibilities
of each of its senior executives, including the individuals listed on the Company&rsquo;s website under the heading &ldquo;Leadership
Team&rdquo;, and the Company determined that only the Company&rsquo;s chief executive officer, chief financial officer and president,
perform &ldquo;policy-making functions&rdquo; for the Company and consequently concluded that the other senior executives were
not executive officers as defined under Rule 405. The Company&rsquo;s board of directors, chief executive officer, chief financial
officer and president are solely responsible for the policy-making functions of the Company.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><U>Long-Term Equity-Based Incentive Compensation, page 14</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; padding: 0"><I>7.</I></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0"><I>In response to our prior comment 5 in the letter dated January 15, 2010, you stated in a letter dated January 29, 2010 that
you would describe the elements of individual performance or individual contributions taken into account in setting any element
of a named executive officer&rsquo;s compensation. We note your disclosure that the Compensation Committee performed a &ldquo;subjective
evaluation of each executive&rsquo;s performance and responsibilities&rdquo; in awarding long-term equity-based compensation but
have not described each individual&rsquo;s performance and responsibilities. Please confirm that you will include this disclosure,
to the extent applicable, in future filings.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Response:</B> In future filings, to the extent applicable,
we will describe the elements of individual performance or individual contributions taken into account in awarding long-term equity-based
compensation to a named executive officer.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">In connection with our responses, we acknowledge that:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; padding: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0">the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; padding: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0">staff comments or changes to disclosures in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the &ldquo;Commission&rdquo;) from taking any action with respect to the filing; and</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; padding: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0">the Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the
federal securities laws of the United States.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions or
further comments, please contact me at (979)&nbsp;848-5304.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Sincerely,</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Benchmark Electronics, Inc.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">By:<U> /s/ Gayla J. Delly&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Gayla J. Delly</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Chief Executive Officer</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; padding: 0">Cc:</TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0">Donald F. Adam, Chief Financial Officer, Benchmark Electronics, Inc.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0">Kenneth S. Barrow, General Counsel, Benchmark Electronics, Inc.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0">Cravath, Swaine &amp; Moore LLP</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; padding: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="padding: 0">KPMG LLP</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin: 0"></P>

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