UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

April 3, 2009
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)

 

 

EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Commission file number 000-24939

 

 

135 N Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor, Pasadena, California 91101

(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)

 

(626) 768-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

ITEM 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

 

(a) Dismissal of Previous Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

On April 3, 2009, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of East West Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 and from January 1, 2009 through April 2, 2009, there were no disagreements between the Company and Deloitte on any matter of accounting principle or practice, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure that, if not resolved to Deloitte’s satisfaction, would have caused it to make reference to the matter in conjunction with its report on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the relevant year; and there were no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

The audit reports of Deloitte on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

 

The Company furnished a copy of the above disclosure to Deloitte and requested that Deloitte provide a letter addressed to the Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the statements made above. A copy of such letter, dated April 7, 2009, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.

 

(b) Engagement of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Additionally on April 3, 2009, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm commencing with the audit for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009. During the Company’s two fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 and through April 2, 2009, neither the Company, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted with KPMG regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and no written report or oral advice was provided by KPMG to the Company that KPMG concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was the subject of either a disagreement as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K or a reportable event as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

16.1         Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated April 7, 2009

 

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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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Date: April 8, 2009

 

 

	EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.
	By:	/s/ Douglas P. Krause
		Douglas P. Krause Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.		Number Description
Exhibit 16.1		Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated April 7, 2009

 

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