Press Release

For More Information, Call:

ELLEN M. DYLLA

INVESTOR RELATIONS

October 27, 2009

(979) 849-6550

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE

QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

ANGLETON, TX, OCTOBER 27, 2009 – Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: BHE), a leading contract manufacturing provider, announced sales of $510 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, compared to $642 million for the same quarter in the prior year. The Company reported third quarter net income of $16 million, or $0.25 per diluted share. In the comparable period of 2008, net income was $24 million, or $0.35 per diluted share. Excluding restructuring charges and a discrete tax benefit related to a previously closed facility, the Company would have reported net income of $17 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2009 and $20 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008.

“We are seeing positive signs that the economy is beginning to slowly recover as our customers are more confident,” said Cary T. Fu, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our team has done a great job during this downturn. We’ve expanded our customer base and service capabilities, aggressively reduced our costs, realigned our capacity and improved our efficiencies. These actions have put us in a great position to benefit from the economic recovery.”

Third Quarter 2009 Financial Highlights

·	Operating margin for the third quarter was 2.3% on a GAAP basis and 3.0%, excluding restructuring charges.

·	Cash flows provided by operating activities for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2009 were approximately $41 million and $117 million, respectively.

·	Cash and long-term investments balance was $484 million at September 30, 2009. Long-term investments consist of $46 million of auction rate securities.

·	Accounts receivable was $378 million at September 30, 2009; calculated days sales outstanding were 67 days.

·	Inventory was $294 million at September 30, 2009; inventory turns were 6.5 times.

·	Repurchases of common shares for the third quarter totaled $6 million or 0.4 million shares.

·	Restructuring charges for the third quarter of 2009 were approximately $3.8 million primarily related to capacity reduction and severance related costs in Europe.

·	Income tax benefit includes a $2.4 million ($0.04 per diluted share) discrete tax benefit related to a revaluation loss in Mexico.

Fourth Quarter 2009 Outlook

Sales for the fourth quarter of 2009 are expected to range from $520 million to $560 million. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter, excluding restructuring charges, are expected to be between $0.22 and $0.26.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

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.

Forward-Looking Statements

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, our sales and diluted earnings per share (excluding restructuring charges) guidance for the fourth quarter of 2009, 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. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated.

All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to Benchmark as of the date of this release, and Benchmark assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Persons are advised to consult further disclosures on related subjects in Benchmark’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its press releases.

Additional Information

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 24 facilities in ten countries. Benchmark’s Common Shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BHE.

A conference call hosted by Benchmark management will be held today at 10:00 am (Central time) to discuss the financial results of the Company and its future outlook. This call will be broadcast via the Internet and may be accessed by logging on to our website at www.bench.com.

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Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Results

(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

(UNAUDITED)

		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2009			2008			2009			2008

Income from operations (GAAP)	$	11,674		$	21,857		$	34,199		$	65,446
Restructuring charges		3,754			253			5,901			253
Non-GAAP income from operations	$	15,428		$	22,110		$	40,100		$	65,699


Net income (GAAP)	$	16,416		$	23,635		$	37,209		$	68,106
Restructuring charges, net of tax		3,647			228			5,343			228
Discrete US tax benefit		(2,668	)		(3,440	)		(2,668	)		(3,440	)
Non-GAAP net income	$	17,395		$	20,423		$	39,884		$	64,894


Earnings per share: (GAAP)
Basic	$	0.25		$	0.36		$	0.57		$	1.01
Diluted	$	0.25		$	0.35		$	0.57		$	1.00

Earnings per share: (Non-GAAP)
Basic	$	0.27		$	0.31		$	0.61		$	0.96
Diluted	$	0.27		$	0.31		$	0.61		$	0.95

Weighted average shares used in calculating
earnings per share:
Basic		64,754			66,268			64,955			67,693
Diluted		65,194			66,630			65,206			68,251

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009			2008			2009			2008

Net sales	$	510,461		$	641,672		$	1,489,030		$	2,008,397
Cost of sales		473,648			597,503			1,386,027			1,873,240

Gross profit		36,813			44,169			103,003			135,157

Selling, general and administrative expenses		21,385			22,059			62,903			69,458
Restructuring charges		3,754			253			5,901			253

Income from operations		11,674			21,857			34,199			65,446

Other income (expense):
Interest income		382			1,680			1,710			6,909
Interest expense		(350	)		(378	)		(1,051	)		(1,102	)
Other		(575	)		(790	)		(970	)		1,547
Total other income (expense), net		(543	)		512			(311	)		7,354

Income before income taxes		11,131			22,369			33,888			72,800

Income tax benefit (expense)		5,285			1,266			3,321			(4,694	)

Net income	$	16,416		$	23,635		$	37,209		$	68,106


Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period		64,754			66,268			64,955			67,693
Incremental common shares attributable to restricted shares and the assumed exercise of outstanding equity instruments		440			362			251			558
Denominator for diluted earnings per share		65,194			66,630			65,206			68,251
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.25		$	0.36		$	0.57		$	1.01
Diluted	$	0.25		$	0.35		$	0.57		$	1.00

The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 reflect an immaterial correction of the Company’s prior period financial statements related to stock-based compensation expense.

Assets

Current assets:
Cash and cash-equivalents	$	438,044
Accounts receivable, net		378,492
Inventories, net		293,550
Other current assets		47,499
Total current assets		1,157,585

Long-term investments		46,306
Property, plant and equipment, net		127,867
Other assets, net		61,398
Goodwill, net		37,912

Total assets	$	1,431,068

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:
Current installments of capital lease obligations	$	285
Accounts payable		239,697
Accrued liabilities		60,396
Total current liabilities		300,378

Capital lease obligations, less current installments		11,459

Other long-term liabilities		24,654

Shareholders’ equity		1,094,577

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	1,431,068