CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP — Director's Dealing 2012

Aug 17, 2012

SEC Form 4 — Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership

Issuer: CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP (CATY)
CIK: 0000861842
Period of Report: 2012-08-15

Reporting Person: CHENG DUNSON K (Director, Chairman, President, & CEO)

Non-Derivative Transactions

Date	Security	Code	Shares	Price	A/D	Holdings After	Ownership
2012-08-15	Common Stock	A	1568	—	Acquired	7756	Direct

Holdings (Non-Derivative)

Security	Shares	Ownership
Common Stock	62660	Direct
Common Stock	102224	Indirect
Common Stock	445577	Indirect
Common Stock	182452	Indirect

Holdings (Derivative)

Security	Exercise Price	Expiration	Underlying	Shares	Ownership
Stock Option	$19.925	2013-01-16	Common Stock (153060)	153060	Direct
Stock Option	$24.80	2013-11-20	Common Stock (246940)	400000	Direct
Stock Option	$37.00	2015-02-17	Common Stock (154940)	554940	Direct
Stock Option	$32.47	2015-03-22	Common Stock (245060)	800000	Direct
Stock Option	$33.54	2015-05-12	Common Stock (264694)	1064694	Direct
Stock Option	$36.24	2016-01-25	Common Stock (154940)	1219634	Direct
Stock Option	$23.37	2018-02-21	Common Stock (154970)	1374604	Direct
Stock Option	$23.37	2018-02-21	Common Stock (100000)	1474604	Direct
Restricted Stock Units	$		Common Stock (12384)	1486988	Direct
Restricted Stock Units	$		Common Stock (21913)	1508901	Direct
Restricted Stock Units	$		Common Stock (11862)	1520763	Direct

Footnotes

F1: Shares of Cathay General Banorp (the "Company") common stock acquired under the Company's 2005 Incentive Plan. As a condition to receiving these shares, the reporting person agreed to hold and not transfer, for the entire period during which the Company has any obligations outstanding under the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program (disregarding any warrants to purchase common stock of the Company that the U.S. Treasury may hold) (the "Restriction Period"), all of the shares received. This transfer restriction will terminate upon the earlier of the end of the Restriction Period or the date of the reporting person's death or permanent disability.

F2: The option is fully exercisable.

F3: The option vests in 5 equal annual installments beginning 2/21/09.

F4: Consists of long term restricted stock units within the meaning of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder ("EESA"). Each unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of CATY Common Stock.

F5: These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on March 23, 2013, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.

F6: These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on December 15, 2013, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.

F7: These restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in a single installment on May 8, 2014, or earlier in the event of death or disability, and are subject to certain transfer restrictions under EESA.