SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response: 0.5
  
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
POON JOSEPH C H

(Last) (First) (Middle)
777 NORTH BROADWAY

(Street)
LOS ANGELES CA 90012

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP [ CATY ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X Director 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/12/2008
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 08/12/2008 M 2,000 A $8.25 2,000 D
Common Stock 08/12/2008 J(1) V 2,000 D $0 0 D
Common Stock 08/12/2008 J(1) V 2,000 A $0 48,440 I Trustee of the Poon Family Trust
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option $8.25 08/12/2008 M 2,000 09/17/1999 09/17/2008 Common Stock 0 $0 0 D
Stock Option $10.625 01/20/2001(2) 01/20/2010 Common Stock 2,000 2,000 D
Stock Option $15.0475 01/18/2002(2) 01/18/2011 Common Stock 2,000 4,000 D
Stock Option $16.275 02/21/2003(2) 02/21/2012 Common Stock 2,000 6,000 D
Stock Option $19.925 01/16/2004(2) 01/16/2013 Common Stock 3,800 9,800 D
Stock Option $24.8 11/20/2004(3) 11/20/2013 Common Stock 11,000 20,800 D
Stock Option $37 02/17/2006(4) 02/17/2015 Common Stock 3,500 24,300 D
Stock Option $36.24 01/25/2007(5) 01/25/2016 Common Stock 3,500 27,800 D
Stock Option $23.37 02/21/2009(6) 02/21/2018 Common Stock 3,500 31,300 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. Transfer title from indiividual name to the Poon Family Trust.
2. The option is fully exercisable.
3. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 11/20/04.
4. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/17/06.
5. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 1/25/07.
6. The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/21/09.
Remarks:
Joseph C.H. Poon 08/12/2008
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.