<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-16-024640.txt : 20160513
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-16-024640.hdr.sgml : 20160513
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160513175924
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-16-024640
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160511
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160513
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160513

ISSUER:		

	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

	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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Gifford Robert K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001340986

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10560
		FILM NUMBER:		161649880

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		370 WABASHA STREET NORTH
		CITY:			ST. PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55102
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-05-11</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000863436</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BHE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001340986</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gifford Robert K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>30956 LA MER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAGUNA NIGUEL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92677</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6109</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are represented by a restricted stock unit award bearing the right to receive Common Shares and are scheduled to vest in ratable quarterly installments over a one-year period from the grant date of March 11, 2016.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert K Gifford</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-05-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex24_gifford.htm
<DESCRIPTION>LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>

<html>

<head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />




&nbsp;</head>

<body><a name="page_1"></a><DIV bclPageBorder STYLE="PADDING-TOP: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; WIDTH: 100%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in">

<DIV bclHeader>


<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:center 3.25in right 6.5in;text-align:center;"><font face=Calibri,sans-serif lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>


</DIV>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face=Calibri,sans-serif lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">Exhibit
24</font></b></p>

<p align=right style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman Bold,serif" style="font-variant:small-caps;"><b><font face="Times New Roman Bold,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">Benchmark Electronics,
Inc.</font></b></font></p>

<p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">Authorization and Designation to Sign and File &#167;16
Forms and Form 144s</font></b></p>

<p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">The
undersigned does hereby authorize and designate James Walker, Don Adam and
Scott Peterson (the &#8220;</font><i><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">Authorized Persons</font></i><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">&#8221;) to prepare, sign and file on his/her
behalf: (i) any and all Forms ID, 3, 4 and 5, including any amendments thereto,
relating to equity securities of Benchmark Electronics, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the &#8220;</font><i><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">Company</font></i><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">&#8221;),&#160; with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the &#8220;</font><i><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">SEC</font></i><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">&#8221;)&#160; pursuant to the requirements of Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (&#8220;</font><i><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">Section 16</font></i><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">&#8221;), and the
rules promulgated thereunder; and (ii) any and all Forms 144 relating to equity
securities of the Company with the SEC pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, in each case, which may be necessary or desirable as a
result of his/her ownership of or transaction in securities of the Company.&#160; The
undersigned hereby further authorizes and designates the Authorized Persons to
do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned that may
be necessary or desirable to prepare, sign and file the forms contemplated hereby.&#160;
The undersigned hereby confirms any action relating to the preparation, signing
and filing of any of the foregoing forms performed by the above mentioned
individuals on his/her behalf and revokes any prior Authorization and
Designation relating to the securities of the Company.&#160; This authorization,
unless earlier revoked in writing, shall be valid until the cessation of the
undersigned&#8217;s reporting obligations under Section 16 and Rule 144 with respect to
securities of the Company.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Authorization and Designation
this 12<sup>th</sup> day of May, 2016.</font></p>

<p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align=left><table border=1 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 style="border:none;border-collapse:collapse;margin-left:5.4pt;width:100%;">
 <tr>
  <td valign=top width=48% style="border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:normal;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=52% style="border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:normal;">Signature:&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><u><font face="Times New Roman,serif" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:normal;">/s/
  Robert K. Gifford</font></u></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=48% style="border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:normal;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=52% style="border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:normal;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
<tr>
  <td valign=top width=48% style="border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:normal;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 <td valign=top width=52% style="border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;">
  <p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:left;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:normal;">Printed Name: Robert K.
  Gifford</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table></div>



<p align=left style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;margin-left:2.5in;text-align:left;text-indent:.5in;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" lang=EN-US style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;">&nbsp;</font></p>




<DIV bclFooter>


<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:center 3.25in right 6.5in;text-align:center;"><font face=Calibri,sans-serif lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>


</DIV>
</DIV><HR noshade align="center" width="100%" size=2></BODY></HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
