UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO

§ 240.13d-2(a)

(Amendment No.  )¹

Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, $0.10 par value per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

08160H101

(CUSIP Number)

GLENN W. WELLING

ENGAGED CAPITAL, LLC

610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 250

Newport Beach, California 92660

(949) 734-7900

 

STEVE WOLOSKY

OLSHAN FROME WOLOSKY LLP

1325 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

(212) 451-2300

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

November 8, 2018

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ¨.

Note:  Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits.  See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

1              The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Flagship Master Fund, LP
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				WC
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				CAYMAN ISLANDS
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							2,050,614
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							2,050,614
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				2,050,614
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				4.7%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, LP
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							2,050,614
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							2,050,614
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				2,050,614
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				4.7%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, Ltd.
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				CAYMAN ISLANDS
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							2,050,614
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							2,050,614
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				2,050,614
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				4.7%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				CO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital, LLC
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							2,236,787
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							2,236,787
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				2,236,787
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				5.1%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				OO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Holdings, LLC
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							2,236,787
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							2,236,787
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				2,236,787
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				5.1%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				OO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Glenn W. Welling
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				USA
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							2,236,787
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							2,236,787
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				2,236,787
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				5.1%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				IN

  

The following constitutes the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (the “Schedule 13D”). The Reporting Persons (as defined below) became the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Issuer’s (as defined below) outstanding Shares (as defined below) as a result of an involuntary change in circumstances following the decrease in the number of outstanding Shares of the Issuer as reported in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2018.

Item 1.

Security and Issuer.

This statement relates to the common stock, $0.10 par value per share (the “Shares”), of Benchmark Electronics, Inc. , a Texas corporation (the “Issuer”). The address of the principal executive offices of the Issuer is 4141 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251.

Item 2.

Identity and Background.

(a)

This statement is filed by:

(i)

Engaged Capital Flagship Master Fund, LP (“Engaged Capital Flagship Master”), a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, with respect to the Shares directly and beneficially owned by it;

(ii)

Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, LP (“Engaged Capital Fund”), a Delaware limited partnership, as a feeder fund of Engaged Capital Flagship Master;

(iii)

Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, Ltd. (“Engaged Capital Offshore”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, as a feeder fund of Engaged Capital Flagship Master;

(iv)

Engaged Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Engaged Capital”), as the general partner and investment adviser of Engaged Capital Flagship Master and the investment adviser of a certain managed account (the “Engaged Capital Account”);

(v)

Engaged Capital Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Engaged Holdings”), as the managing member of Engaged Capital; and

(vi)

Glenn W. Welling, as the Founder and Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”) of Engaged Capital and the sole member of Engaged Holdings.

Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.” Each of the Reporting Persons is party to that certain Joint Filing Agreement, as further described in Item 6. Accordingly, the Reporting Persons are hereby filing a joint Schedule 13D.

(b)       The address of the principal office of each of Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Engaged Capital Offshore is c/o Conyers Trust Company (Cayman) Limited, Cricket Square, Hutchins Drive, P.O. Box 2681, Grand Cayman KY1-1111, Cayman Islands. The address of the principal office of each of Engaged Capital Fund, Engaged Capital, Engaged Holdings and Mr. Welling is 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 250, Newport Beach, California 92660. The officers and directors of Engaged Capital Offshore and their principal occupations and business addresses are set forth on Schedule A and are incorporated by reference in this Item 2.

(c)       The principal business of Engaged Capital Flagship Master is investing in securities. Each of Engaged Capital Fund and Engaged Capital Offshore is a private investment partnership that serves as a feeder fund of Engaged Capital Flagship Master. Engaged Capital is a registered investment advisor and serves as the investment adviser to each of Engaged Capital Flagship Master, Engaged Capital Fund, Engaged Capital Offshore and the Engaged Capital Account. Engaged Capital is also the general partner of each of Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Engaged Capital Fund. Engaged Holdings serves as the managing member of Engaged Capital. Mr. Welling is the Founder and CIO of Engaged Capital, the sole member of Engaged Holdings and a director of Engaged Capital Offshore.

(d)       No Reporting Person, nor any person listed on Schedule A, annexed hereto, has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e)       No Reporting Person, nor any person listed on Schedule A, annexed hereto, has during the last five years, been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

(f)       Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Engaged Capital Offshore are organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Engaged Capital Fund, Engaged Capital and Engaged Holdings are organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Mr. Welling is a citizen of the United States of America. The citizenship of the persons listed on Schedule A is set forth therein.

Item 3.

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

The Shares purchased by Engaged Capital Flagship Master and held in the Engaged Capital Account were purchased with working capital (which may, at any given time, include margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of business). The aggregate purchase price of the 2,050,614 Shares beneficially owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master is approximately $53,776,827, including brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 186,173 Shares held in the Engaged Capital Account is approximately $4,922,329, including brokerage commissions.

Item 4.

Purpose of Transaction.

The Reporting Persons purchased the Shares based on the Reporting Persons’ belief that the Shares, when purchased, were undervalued and represented an attractive investment opportunity. Depending upon overall market conditions, other investment opportunities available to the Reporting Persons, and the availability of Shares at prices that would make the purchase or sale of Shares desirable, the Reporting Persons may endeavor to increase or decrease their position in the Issuer through, among other things, the purchase or sale of Shares on the open market or in private transactions or otherwise, on such terms and at such times as the Reporting Persons may deem advisable.

The Reporting Persons have engaged, and intend to continue to engage, in communications with the Issuer’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and management team regarding means to create shareholder value. The Reporting Persons previously ran a successful proxy contest at the Issuer’s 2016 annual meeting of shareholders at which two of its director nominees were elected to the Board.

No Reporting Person has any present plan or proposal which would relate to or result in any of the matters set forth in subparagraphs (a) - (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D except as set forth herein or such as would occur upon or in connection with completion of, or following, any of the actions discussed herein. The Reporting Persons intend to review their investment in the Issuer on a continuing basis. Depending on various factors including, without limitation, the Issuer’s financial position and investment strategy, the price levels of the Shares, conditions in the securities markets and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Persons may in the future take such actions with respect to their investment in the Issuer as they deem appropriate including, without limitation, engaging in additional communications with management and the Board of the Issuer, engaging in discussions with shareholders of the Issuer and others about the Issuer and the Reporting Persons’ investment, making proposals to the Issuer concerning changes to the capital allocation strategy, capitalization, ownership structure, including a sale of the Issuer as a whole or in parts, Board structure (including Board composition) or operations of the Issuer, purchasing additional Shares, selling some or all of their Shares, engaging in short selling of or any hedging or similar transaction with respect to the Shares, or changing their intention with respect to any and all matters referred to in Item 4.

Item 5.

Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

(a)       The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 43,710,356 Shares outstanding as of November 7, 2018, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as reported in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2018.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Flagship Master beneficially owned 2,050,614 Shares, constituting approximately 4.7% of the Shares outstanding. Each of Engaged Capital Fund and Engaged Capital Offshore, as feeder funds of Engaged Capital Flagship Master, may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,050,614 Shares owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master, constituting approximately 4.7% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, 186,173 Shares were held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding.

Engaged Capital, as the general partner and investment adviser of Engaged Capital Flagship Master and the investment adviser of the Engaged Capital Account, may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,236,787 Shares owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master and held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 5.1% of the Shares outstanding. Engaged Holdings, as the managing member of Engaged Capital, may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,236,787 Shares owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master and held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 5.1% of the Shares outstanding. Mr. Welling, as the Founder and CIO of Engaged Capital and sole member of Engaged Holdings, may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,236,787 Shares owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master and held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 5.1% of the Shares outstanding.

Each Reporting Person, as a member of a “group” with the other Reporting Persons for the purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), may be deemed the beneficial owner of the Shares directly owned by the other Reporting Persons.  The filing of this Schedule 13D shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Persons are, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, the beneficial owners of any securities of the Issuer he or it does not directly own. Each of the Reporting Persons specifically disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein that he or it does not directly own.

(b)       By virtue of their respective positions with Engaged Capital Flagship Master, each of Engaged Capital Fund, Engaged Capital Offshore, Engaged Capital, Engaged Holdings and Mr. Welling may be deemed to have sole power to vote and dispose of the Shares reported owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master.

By virtue of their respective positions with the Engaged Capital Account, each of Engaged Capital, Engaged Holdings and Mr. Welling may be deemed to have sole power to vote and dispose of the Shares held in the Engaged Capital Account.

(c)       Schedule B annexed hereto lists all transactions in securities of the Issuer by the Reporting Persons during the past 60 days. All of such transactions were effected in the open market.

(d)       No person other than the Reporting Persons is known to have the right to receive, or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or proceeds from the sale of, the Shares.

(e)       Not applicable.

Item 6.

Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

On January 4, 2019 the Reporting Persons entered into a Joint Filing Agreement in which the Reporting Persons agreed to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D with respect to the securities of the Issuer to the extent required by applicable law. The Joint Filing Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Other than as described herein, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships among the Reporting Persons, or between the Reporting Persons and any other person, with respect to the securities of the Issuer.

Item 7.

Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

99.1

Joint Filing Agreement, dated January 4, 2019.

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. 

January 4, 2019	Engaged Capital Flagship Master Fund, LP
	By:	Engaged Capital, LLC General Partner
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, LP
	By:	Engaged Capital, LLC General Partner
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, Ltd.
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Director

 

 

	Engaged Capital, LLC
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Holdings, LLC
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Sole Member

 

 

	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
	Glenn W. Welling

 

SCHEDULE A

Directors and Officers of Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, Ltd.

Name and Position	Principal Occupation	Principal Business Address	Citizenship
Glenn W. Welling Director*
Mark John Cook Director	Company Director	3rd Floor, Harbour Centre George Town Grand Cayman Cayman Islands	Australia
Mark Victor Murray Director	Company Director	2F Landmark Square 64 Earth Close Seven Mile Beach Grand Cayman Cayman Islands	United Kingdom & British Overseas Territory Citizen (Cayman Islands)

---

 

^*Mr. Welling is a Reporting Person and, as such, the information with respect to Mr. Welling called for by Item 2 of Schedule 13D is set forth therein.

 

SCHEDULE B

Transactions in Securities of the Issuer During the Past 60 Days

Nature of the Transaction

Securities Purchased/(Sold)

Price Per Share($)

Date of Purchase / Sale

 

Engaged Capital, LLC

(Through the Engaged Capital Account)

 

Sale of Common Stock	(15,881)	23.1257	11/14/2018
Sale of Common Stock	(16,119)	23.5150	11/14/2018