UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

  

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FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 20, 2013

 

 

 

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware		0-18630		95-4274680
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:       (213) 625-4700

 

Not Applicable

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Item 8.01      Other Events.

 

On March 20, 2013, Cathay General Bancorp (the “Company”) announced in a press release that it has redeemed for $129 million, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, 129,000, or 50%, of the 258,000 shares of its Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, (the “Series B Preferred Stock”) that had been issued and sold to the U.S. Treasury under its TARP Capital Purchase Program. Since the issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock, the Company has paid the U.S. Treasury approximately $54.7 million in dividends through February 15, 2013. On an ongoing basis, the redemption of 50% of the Series B Preferred Stock reduces the Company’s obligation for quarterly dividends by approximately $1.6 million.

 

The press release announcing the redemption is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 

The foregoing information and the attached exhibit are intended to be furnished only and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

 

 

Item 9.01      Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits

 

99.1

Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated March 20, 2013.

  

SIGNATURE

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: March 20, 2013

	CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
	By:	/s/ Heng W. Chen
		Heng W. Chen
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

 

Number	Exhibit
99.1	Press Release of Cathay General Bancorp dated March 20, 2013.