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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Benchmarq Microelectronics, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)
081603102
(CUSIP Number)
March 20, 1998
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which
this Schedule is filed:
/___/ Rule 13d-1(b)
/_X_/ Rule 13d-1(c)
/___/ Rule 13d-1(d)
* 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).
Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of
information contained in this form are not required to respond
unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.
SEC 1745 (3-98) Page 1 of 12
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CUSIP No. 081603102
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
IRS IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
West Highland Capital, Inc.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See
Instructions)
(a)/X /
(b)/ /
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
California
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 0
BENEFICIALLY ---------------------------------------
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 600,000
REPORTING ---------------------------------------
PERSON 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 0
---------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
600,000
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9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
600,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES (See Instructions)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
8.4%
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12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
CO and IA
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Page 2 of 12
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CUSIP No. 081603102
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
IRS IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Estero Partners, LLC
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See
Instructions)
(a)/X /
(b)/ /
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
California
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 0
BENEFICIALLY ---------------------------------------
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 498,000
REPORTING ---------------------------------------
PERSON 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 0
---------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
498,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
498,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES (See Instructions)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
7.0%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
OO
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Page 3 of 12
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CUSIP No. 081603102
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
IRS IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Lang H. Gerhard
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See
Instructions)
(a)/X /
(b)/ /
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States
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NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 0
BENEFICIALLY ---------------------------------------
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 600,000
REPORTING ---------------------------------------
PERSON 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 0
---------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
600,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
600,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES (See Instructions)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
8.4%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
IN
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Page 4 of 12
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CUSIP No. 081603102
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
IRS IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
West Highland Partners, L.P.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See
Instructions)
(a)/X /
(b)/ /
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
California
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NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 0
BENEFICIALLY ---------------------------------------
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 420,000
REPORTING ---------------------------------------
PERSON 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 0
---------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
420,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
420,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES (See Instructions)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
5.9%
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12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
PN
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Page 5 of 12
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CUSIP No. 081603102
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
IRS IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Buttonwood Partners, L.P.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See
Instructions)
(a)/X /
(b)/ /
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
California
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 0
BENEFICIALLY ---------------------------------------
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 78,000
REPORTING ---------------------------------------
PERSON 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 0
---------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
78,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
78,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES (See Instructions)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
1.1%
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12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
PN
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Page 6 of 12
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CUSIP No. 081603102 13G
ITEM 1.
(a) The name of the issuer is Benchmarq Microelectronics,
Inc. ("BMRQ").
(b) The principal executive office of BMRQ is located at
17919 Waterview Parkway, Dallas, TX 75252.
ITEM 2.
(a) The names of the persons filing this statement are West
Highland Capital, Inc. ("WHC"), Lang H. Gerhard ("Gerhard"),
Estero Partners, LLC ("LLC"), West Highland Partners, L.P.
("WHP") and Buttonwood Partners, L.P. ("BP") (collectively, the
"Filers").
(b) The principal business office of the Filers is located
at 300 Drake's Landing Road, Suite 290, Greenbrae, CA 94904.
(c) WHC is a California corporation, LLC is a California
limited liability company, WHP and BP are California limited
partnerships and Gerhard is a United States citizen.
(d) This statement relates to shares of Common Stock of
BMRQ (the "Stock").
(e) The CUSIP number of the Stock is 081603102.
Page 7 of 12
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CUSIP No. 081603102 13G
ITEM 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to rule 240.13d-
1(b), or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is
a:
(a) ___ Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of
the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).
(b) ___ Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15
U.S.C. 78c).
(c) ___ Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19)
of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
(d) ___ Investment company registered under section 8 of
the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).
(e) ___ An investment adviser in accordance with 240.13d-
1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
(f) ___ An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in
accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).
(g) ___ A parent holding company or control person in
accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G)
(h) ___ A savings association as defined in section 3(b)
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).
(i) ___ A church plan that is excluded from the definition
of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3).
(j) ___ Group, in accordance with section 240.13d-
1(b)(1)(ii)(J)
Page 8 of 12
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CUSIP No. 081603102 13G
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP.
The beneficial ownership of the Stock of the persons named in
Item 2 of this statement is as follows at the date hereof:
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 600,000 shares
(b) Percent of class: 8.4%.
(c) Number of shares as to which the Filers have:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0.
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
600,000.
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of: 0.
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of: 600,000.
Page 9 of 12
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CUSIP No. 081603102 13G
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of
the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the
beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of
securities, check the following /___/.
ITEM. 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF
ANOTHER PERSON
WHC is a registered investment adviser whose clients have the
right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends
from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the Stock. Gerhard is
the sole shareholder of WHC and the Manager of LLC. WHC, LLC and
Gerhard are the general partners of WHP and BP, which are
investment limited partnerships. Other than WHP, no single
client of WHC holds more than 5 percent of the Stock.
Page 10 of 12
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CUSIP No. 081603102 13G
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY
WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT
HOLDING COMPANY
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE
GROUP
Not applicable.
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and
are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or
influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were
not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a
participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.
DATED: March 31, 1998
/s/ Lang H. Gerhard WEST HIGHLAND PARTNERS, L.P.
Lang H. Gerhard
WEST HIGHLAND CAPITAL, INC. By: /s/ Lang H. Gerhard
Lang H. Gerhard,
General Partner
By: /s/ Lang H. Gerhard
Lang H. Gerhard, President BUTTONWOOD PARTNERS, L.P.
ESTERO PARTNERS, LLC
By: /s/ Lang H. Gerhard
Lang H. Gerhard,
General Partner
By: /s/ Lang H. Gerhard
Lang H. Gerhard, Manager
Page 11 of 12
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SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 081603102
EXHIBIT A
AGREEMENT REGARDING JOINT FILING
OF STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 13D OR 13G
The undersigned agree to file jointly with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") any and all statements on
Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G (and any amendments or supplements
thereto) required under section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with purchases by the
undersigned of securities of Benchmarq Microelectronics, Inc.
For that purpose, the undersigned hereby constitute and appoint
West Highland Capital, Inc., a California corporation, as their
true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and
authority for and on behalf of the undersigned to prepare or
cause to be prepared, sign, file with the SEC and furnish to any
other person all certificates, instruments, agreements and
documents necessary to comply with section 13(d) and
section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
in connection with said purchases, and to do and perform every
act necessary and proper to be done incident to the exercise of
the foregoing power, as fully as the undersigned might or could
do if personally present.
DATED: March 31, 1998.
/s/ Lang H. Gerhard WEST HIGHLAND PARTNERS, L.P.
Lang H. Gerhard
WEST HIGHLAND CAPITAL, INC. By: /s/ Lang H. Gerhard
Lang H. Gerhard,
General Partner
By: /s/ Lang H. Gerhard
Lang H. Gerhard, President BUTTONWOOD PARTNERS, L.P.
ESTERO PARTNERS, LLC
By: /s/ Lang H. Gerhard
Lang H. Gerhard,
General Partner
By: /s/ Lang H. Gerhard
Lang H. Gerhard, Manager
Page 12 of 12
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