2014 11-K




UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

 
FORM 11-K
 

 
(Mark One)
 
ý
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014
 
or
 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from              to              .
 
Commission file number 000-24939
 
A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
 
EAST WEST BANK EMPLOYEES 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
 
B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:
 
EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.
135 North Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor
Pasadena, California 91101




EAST WEST BANK EMPLOYEES 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXHIBIT:
 
 
 
Exhibit 23.1 — Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 

NOTE:
All other schedules required by 29 CFR 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they are not applicable.





REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
To the Participants and 401(k) Committee of
East West Bank Employees 401(k) Savings Plan
Pasadena, California
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of East West Bank Employees 401(k) Savings Plan as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2014. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2014 in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
The supplemental Schedule H, Line 4a — Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions and Schedule H, Line 4i — Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2014 and for the year then ended have been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of East West Bank Employees 401(k) Savings Plan’s financial statements. The supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the information presented in the supplemental schedules reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental schedules. In forming our opinion on the supplemental schedules, we evaluated whether the supplemental schedules, including their form and content, are presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental schedules are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements as a whole.
 
 
 
 
/s/ Crowe Horwath LLP
 
 
 
South Bend, Indiana
June 23, 2015

1



EAST WEST BANK EMPLOYEES 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
ASSETS
 
 

 
 

Investments:
 
 

 
 

Participant-directed investments — at fair value (Notes 1, 2, 3 and 4)
 
$
167,331,668

 
$
140,025,022

Total investments
 
167,331,668

 
140,025,022

Receivables:
 
 

 
 

Notes receivable from participants
 
1,941,728

 
1,778,851

Participant contributions
 
2,407

 
366,609

Employer contributions
 
1,589

 
106,354

Total receivables
 
1,945,724

 
2,251,814

Total assets
 
169,277,392

 
142,276,836

LIABILITIES
 

 

NET ASSETS, REFLECTING ALL INVESTMENTS AT FAIR VALUE
 
169,277,392

 
142,276,836

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
 
$
169,277,392

 
$
142,276,836

 
 
 
 
 
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

2



EAST WEST BANK EMPLOYEES 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014
ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO
 
 

Investment income:
 
 

Net appreciation in fair value of investments (Note 4)
 
$
9,876,621

Dividend and interest income
 
2,422,535

Net investment income
 
12,299,156

Other income:
 
 

Interest income on notes receivable from participants
 
75,973

Other income
 
75,973

Contributions:
 
 

Participant
 
13,370,305

Participant rollover
 
3,624,814

Employer, net of forfeitures
 
4,495,380

Total contributions
 
21,490,499

Total additions
 
33,865,628

DEDUCTIONS FROM NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO
 
 

Benefits paid
 
6,805,586

Administrative expenses
 
59,486

Total deductions
 
6,865,072

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
 
27,000,556

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS:
 
 

Beginning of year
 
142,276,836

End of year
 
$
169,277,392

 
 
 
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

3



EAST WEST BANK EMPLOYEES 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013
 
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN
The following description of the East West Bank Employees 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information. Plan participants should refer to the Plan document for a more extensive description of the Plan’s provisions.

General — The Plan is a defined contribution plan designed to provide retirement benefits financed by participants’ tax deferred contributions and contributions from East West Bank, the Plan’s sponsor (the “Bank” or the “Plan Sponsor”) and East West Insurance Services, Inc. (“EWIS”). East West Bank and EWIS are wholly owned subsidiaries of East West Bancorp, Inc. The Plan is administered by East West Bank’s 401(k) Committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Bank. Prudential Trust Company (the “Trustee”) serves as the trustee for the Plan. The Plan became effective January 1, 1986 and was restated on January 1, 2013. The Plan is subject to the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). On January 17, 2014, East West Bancorp, Inc. acquired MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc. (“MetroCorp”). All MetroCorp employees who became employees of the Bank were able to enroll into the Plan with the same terms as all the Bank’s employees and provided the option to rollover their account and loan balances from the MetroCorp Bancshares 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan, which was subsequently terminated.

Eligibility — Under the terms of the Plan, employees become eligible to participate in the Plan as of the first day of the first calendar month beginning after the date the employee attains the age of 18 years and completes three months of service with the Company. Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the Plan at a 3% contribution rate unless the participant elects another rate, including 0%. Plan participants who are automatically enrolled and do not direct investment of their accounts will be invested by default into the age-appropriate portfolio mix available under GoalMaker®, a computer asset allocation program available to the plan participants. Roth 401(k) investment option is also available to participants.

Contributions — Eligible employees may elect to defer up to 80% of their compensation before taxes (limited to $17,500 in 2014 and 2013). Plan participants are also able to designate part or all of their contributions as Roth 401(k) contributions, which are made on an after-tax basis. Prior to April 1, 2014, the Bank and EWIS matched 50% of the first 6% of the Plan participant’s deferred compensation. Effective April 1, 2014, employer matching contributions increased to 75% of the first 6% of the Plan participant’s deferred compensation. Plan participants who are age 50 or older may also elect to contribute an additional $5,500 to the Plan in both 2014 and 2013. Plan participants may also contribute amounts representing rollover eligible distributions from other tax-qualified plans into the Plan.

Investments — Plan participants direct and allocate the investments of their contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan.

Vesting, Benefits, and Benefits Payable — Plan participants are 100% vested in their contributions to the Plan made from their eligible compensation and in amounts rolled over from a former employer’s qualified retirement plan or transferred from another plan, and in each case, the earnings thereon. Plan participants become vested in the matching contributions received from the Plan Sponsor at the rate of 20% per year for each full year of service after the first year such that the Plan participants become 100% vested after five years of credited service.

Benefits are recorded when paid. If a participant’s account is less than $1,000 and an election is not made, the Trustee will distribute the vested interest in the participant’s account to the participant in the form of a lump-sum payment. If the Plan participant’s vested account is greater than $1,000 and not exceeding $5,000 and has not made a distribution election, the Plan will automatically roll over the Plan participant’s distribution to an individual retirement account (“IRA”) designated under the Plan. However, if the value of the Plan participant’s vested account is in excess of $5,000, the Plan participant may elect to (1) receive a lump-sum distribution or (2) receive installments over a period no more than the participant’s assumed life expectancy. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, no amounts were owed to terminated participants who had elected to withdraw their benefits.

Forfeited Accounts — At December 31, 2014 and 2013, forfeited nonvested accounts totaled $21,350 and $352,000 respectively. These accounts will be used to pay certain plan expenses, reduce future employer contributions and, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be allocated to participants. During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, employer contributions were reduced by $597,115 and $7,499, respectively, from forfeited nonvested accounts. No plan expenses were paid with funds from forfeited nonvested accounts during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. No discretionary allocations were made during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

4




Participant Accounts — Each Plan participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution, employer matching contributions, the Plan’s earnings or losses, and if applicable, rollovers from plans of prior employers. Allocations of earnings or losses are based on the Plan participant’s account balances as defined in the Plan document.

Notes Receivable from Participants — Active participants in the Plan are eligible for loans under the Plan. The minimum loan amount is $1,000. The maximum aggregate amount of loan amount to any plan participant is the lesser of $50,000 (reduced by the highest loan balance outstanding during the 12-month period preceding the date of the new loan) or 50% of the vested account balance. Loan transactions are treated as transfers to (from) the investment fund from (to) the participant loan fund. Loan terms range from one to five years for general purpose loans or up to 20 years for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans are secured by a portion of the vested balances in the Plan participants’ accounts. The loan interest rate, determined quarterly, is set at 1% above the bank prime rate as reported by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Principal and interest are paid ratably through payroll deductions.

2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Basis of Accounting — The accompanying financial statements have been prepared using the accrual basis in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

Valuation of Investments — The Plan’s investments are stated at their fair value. Shares of mutual funds are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year-end. Common stock is valued at quoted market prices. Investment in the guaranteed income fund is valued based on the Plan’s investment contract with Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (“PRIAC”) which is reported at contract value. Contract value is the value determined by the insurance company in accordance with the terms of the contract.

Fully Benefit–Responsive Investment Contracts — Fully benefit–responsive investment contracts held by a defined contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value. However, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined contribution plan attributable to fully benefit–responsive investment contracts because the contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. The Plan’s guaranteed income fund invests in PRIAC’s general account. Investments in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits presents the fair value of the Plan’s investment in investment contract, which approximates contract value.

Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for benefits and changes therein and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date the financial statements are prepared. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Risk Management — The Plan utilizes various investment instruments, including mutual funds that invest in the securities of foreign countries. Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility.  In addition, investments that include securities of foreign companies involve special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These risks include devaluation of currencies, less reliable information about issuers, different securities transaction clearance and settlement practices, and possible adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies and their markets may be less liquid and their prices may be more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. companies. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and those changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and participants’ account balances.

Administrative Expenses — Investment transaction expenses are offset against the related investment income. Other administrative and non-investment expenses of the Plan are either paid by the Plan Sponsor, which is a party-in-interest, or through the Plan expense account. Expenses paid by the Plan Sponsor, which are not reflected in the accompanying financial statements, constitute exempt party-in-interest transactions under ERISA.

Investment Income — The Plan presents in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits the net appreciation in the fair value of investments, which consists of realized gains or losses and unrealized appreciation or depreciation on those investments. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.


5



Notes Receivable from Participants — Notes receivable from participants are reported at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest, with no allowance for credit losses recorded. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Repayments of principal and interest are received through payroll deductions and the notes are collateralized by the participants’ account balances. If a participant fails to make loan repayments more than 90 days after the scheduled due date, the note receivable is deemed to be in default. The Plan Sponsor will offset the loan against the vested account balances.

Reclassification — Certain amounts in prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.
 
3.  FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 
Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 establishes a framework that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (“Level 1” measurements), the next priority to quote values based on observable inputs (“Level 2” measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (“Level 3” measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC 820 are described as follows: 
Level 1 — Inputs to the valuation methodology that are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets;
Level 2 — Inputs to the valuation methodology that include:
Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other;
Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability;
Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; 
Level 3 — Inputs to the valuation methodology that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required to be recorded at fair value, the Plan considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and risk of nonperformance. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques applied maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.


6



The following tables categorize the Plan's investments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
as of December 31, 2014
 
 
Fair Value
Measurements
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Common stock
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

East West Bancorp, Inc.
 
$
34,254,465

 
$
34,254,465

 
$

 
$

Total common stock
 
34,254,465

 
34,254,465

 

 

Mutual funds
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed income - intermediate bond funds
 
11,638,398

 
11,638,398

 

 

Balanced - value funds
 
8,574,328

 
8,574,328

 

 

Large cap stock - value funds
 
8,805,655

 
8,805,655

 

 

Large cap stock - blend funds
 
19,356,059

 
19,356,059

 

 

Large cap stock - growth funds
 
21,775,423

 
21,775,423

 

 

Mid cap stock - value funds
 
6,949,031

 
6,949,031

 

 

Mid cap stock - blend funds
 
5,500,755

 
5,500,755

 

 

Mid cap stock - growth funds
 
4,634,757

 
4,634,757

 

 

Small cap stock - blend funds
 
5,630,600

 
5,630,600

 

 

Small cap stock - growth funds
 
3,559,812

 
3,559,812

 

 

International stock - blend funds
 
12,602,777

 
12,602,777

 

 

Total mutual funds
 
109,027,595

 
109,027,595

 

 

Investment contract
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Guaranteed income fund
 
24,049,608

 

 

 
24,049,608

Total investment contract
 
24,049,608

 

 

 
24,049,608

Total investments measured at fair value
 
$
167,331,668

 
$
143,282,060

 
$

 
$
24,049,608

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

7



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
as of December 31, 2013
 
 
Fair Value
Measurements
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Common stock
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

East West Bancorp, Inc.
 
$
30,419,429

 
$
30,419,429

 
$

 
$

Total common stock
 
30,419,429

 
30,419,429

 

 

Mutual funds
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed income - intermediate bond funds
 
9,868,111

 
9,868,111

 

 

Balanced - value funds
 
7,634,984

 
7,634,984

 

 

Large cap stock - value funds
 
6,670,588

 
6,670,588

 

 

Large cap stock - blend funds
 
14,814,459

 
14,814,459

 

 

Large cap stock - growth funds
 
18,610,815

 
18,610,815

 

 

Mid cap stock - value funds
 
5,064,258

 
5,064,258

 

 

Mid cap stock - blend funds
 
4,137,858

 
4,137,858

 

 

Mid cap stock - growth funds
 
3,465,678

 
3,465,678

 

 

Small cap stock - blend funds
 
4,741,273

 
4,741,273

 

 

Small cap stock - growth funds
 
2,765,800

 
2,765,800

 

 

International stock - blend funds
 
11,143,679

 
11,143,679

 

 

Total mutual funds
 
88,917,503

 
88,917,503

 

 

Investment contract
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Guaranteed income fund
 
20,688,090

 

 

 
20,688,090

Total investment contract
 
20,688,090

 

 

 
20,688,090

Total investments measured at fair value
 
$
140,025,022

 
$
119,336,932

 
$

 
$
20,688,090

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There were no transfers between levels for the year ended December 31, 2014.

The following table presents the changes in the fair value of Level 3 investments for the year ended December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
Guaranteed
 
Income Fund
Balance as of December 31, 2013
$
20,688,090

Interest income
519,804

Purchases
13,858,320

Sales
(11,016,606
)
Balance as of December 31, 2014
$
24,049,608

 
 
 
Common Stock
 
East West Bancorp, Inc. common stock that is held in participant directed brokerage accounts is stated at fair value as quoted on a recognized securities exchange, valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the Plan year, and is classified as Level 1 investment.
 
Mutual Funds
 
Mutual funds are stated at fair value as quoted on a recognized securities exchange, valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the Plan year, and are classified as Level 1 investments.
 

8



Guaranteed Income Fund
 
The Plan invests in a guaranteed income fund offered by the Trustee. The fair value of the Plan’s investment contract has been determined to approximate contract value, as the terms of the contract provides for all distributions at contract value, frequent re-setting of contractual interest rates based upon market conditions, no significant liquidity restrictions and no defined maturities. Generally, there are no events that could limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value and there are no events that allow the issuer to terminate the contract which require the Plan to settle at an amount different than contract value. In addition, management has determined that no adjustment from contract values is required for credit quality considerations.

Contract value represents contributions made to the contract, plus earnings at guaranteed crediting rates, less withdrawals and fees. The average yield earned by the Plan, based on actual earnings, was 2.40% and 2.50% as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The average yield earned, based on the interest rate credited to participants, was 2.40% and 2.50% as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. No adjustment is required to mediate between the average earnings credited to the Plan and the average earnings credited to the participants. The same crediting interest rate is applied to the entire contract value and is reviewed on a semi-annual basis for resetting. The factors considered in establishing the crediting interest rate include, current economic and market conditions, the general interest rate environment and both actual and expected experience of a reference portfolio within the general account. The guaranteed minimum interest rate is 1.50%. The guaranteed income fund is classified as a Level 3 investment given the unobservable inputs used to determine contract value.
 
The valuation methodologies described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Plan’s valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair values of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

4.  INVESTMENTS
 
The following table presents the Plan’s investments, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
East West Bancorp, Inc.
 
$
34,254,465

 
$
30,419,429

Prudential Guaranteed Income Fund
 
$
24,049,608

 
$
20,688,090

Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral
 
$
14,940,867

 
$
10,974,439

American Funds The Growth Fund of America
 
$
14,282,547

 
$
11,935,389

American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund
 
$
12,602,777

 
$
11,143,679

Metropolitan West Total Return Bond Fund
 
$
11,630,492

 
$

MFS Total Return Fund
 
$
8,574,328

 
$
7,634,984

PIMCO Total Return Fund Administrative
 
$

 
$
9,868,111

 
 
 
 
 

The following table presents the change in fair value of the Plan’s investments, including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the period, for the year ended December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014
Common stock
 
$
2,381,914

Mutual funds
 
7,494,707

Total
 
$
9,876,621

 
 
 
 

9



5.  PARTY-IN-INTEREST TRANSACTIONS
 
A party-in-interest is defined under Department of Labor regulations as any fiduciary, counsel or employee of the Plan, any party rendering services to the Plan, the employer, and certain others. The Plan holds a guaranteed investment contract managed by a custodian, therefore, this transaction and the Plan’s payment of custodian fees qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Notes receivable from participants also reflect party-in-interest transactions. Fees paid by the Bank for administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 amounted to $27,260. Certain administrative functions are performed by officers or employees of the Company. No such officer or employee received compensation from the Plan.
 
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Plan held 884,900 and 869,872 shares, respectively, of common stock of East West Bancorp, Inc., the parent company of the Plan Sponsor, with a fair value of $34,254,465 and $30,419,429, respectively. The only common stock held by the Plan is the common stock of East West Bancorp, Inc. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Plan recorded dividend income from the Plan’s investment in East West Bancorp’s common stock of $649,610.
 
6.  PLAN TERMINATION
 
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Bank has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of the Plan’s termination, all participants will be notified and all participant accounts will become 100% vested. Participants may direct the distribution of their participant accounts in a manner permitted by the Plan as soon as practicable.

7. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS
 
The Internal Revenue Service has issued an opinion letter dated March 31, 2008, indicating that the prototype adopted by the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). The Plan has been amended since from the original prototype document; however, the Plan Sponsor believes that the Plan is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and the Plan and related Trust continue to be tax-exempt. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.
 
U.S. GAAP require plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the organization has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the Internal Revenue Service. The plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the plan and has concluded that, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for plan years prior to 2011.


10



SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES

11



EAST WEST BANK EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN
EIN 95-2795851            Plan Number: 001
SCHEDULE H, LINE 4a — SCHEDULE OF DELINQUENT PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total that Constitute Nonexempt Prohibited Transactions
 
 
 
Participant Contributions Transferred Late to Plan in 2012
 
Contributions Not Corrected
 
Contributions Corrected Outside Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (“VFCP”)
 
Contributions Pending Correction in VFCP
 
Total Fully Corrected Under VFCP and Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2002-51
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$ 8,736
 
$ —
 
$ 8,736
 
$ —
 
$ —
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


12



EAST WEST BANK EMPLOYEES 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
EIN 95-2795851            Plan Number: 001
SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i — SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR) AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Identity of Issuer, Borrower, Lessor, or Similar Party
 
Description of Investment, Including Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral, Par, or Maturity Value
 
Cost
 
Current Value
*
Prudential Guaranteed Income Fund
 
Unallocated contract - 885,717 shares
 
**
 
$
24,049,608

 
MFS Total Return Fund
 
Mutual fund - 470,858 shares
 
**
 
8,574,328

 
T Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Fund
 
Mutual fund - 61,436 shares
 
**
 
4,634,757

 
American Funds Washington Mutual Investors Fund
 
Mutual fund - 185,221 shares
 
**
 
7,553,310

 
American Funds The Growth Fund of America
 
Mutual fund - 337,091 shares
 
**
 
14,282,547

 
American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund
 
Mutual fund - 272,434 shares
 
**
 
12,602,777

 
Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund Institutional
 
Mutual fund - 167,124 shares
 
**
 
6,949,031

 
Vanguard Mid Cap Index Fund
 
Mutual fund - 35,960 shares
 
**
 
5,500,755

 
American Funds Fundamental Investors
 
Mutual fund - 84,793 shares
 
**
 
4,415,192

 
Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund Advisor
 
Mutual fund - 183,590 shares
 
**
 
3,559,812

 
Franklin Flex Cap Growth Fund
 
Mutual fund - 146,260 shares
 
**
 
7,492,876

 
Dodge and Cox Income Fund
 
Mutual fund - 574 shares
 
**
 
7,906

 
Metropolitan West Total Return Bond Fund
 
Mutual fund - 1,066,040 shares
 
**
 
11,630,492

 
Royce Total Return Fund
 
Mutual fund - 88,712 shares
 
**
 
1,307,615

 
MFS Value Fund
 
Mutual fund - 35,843 shares
 
**
 
1,252,345

 
Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund Admiral
 
Mutual fund - 77,376 shares
 
**
 
4,322,985

 
Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral
 
Mutual fund - 78,682 shares
 
**
 
14,940,867

*
East West Bancorp, Inc.
 
Common stock - 884,900 shares
 
**
 
34,254,465

 
Total investments
 
 
 
 
 
167,331,668

*
Loans to participants
 
Participant loans (maturing 2015 to 2034 with interest rates of 3.25% to 9.25% collateralized by participants’ account balances)
 
**
 
1,941,728

 
Total assets
 
 
 
 
 
$
169,273,396

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
 
Party-in-interest
**
 
Cost information is not required for participant-directed investments and therefore is not included.


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SIGNATURE
 
The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
Date: June 23, 2015

 
EAST WEST BANK EMPLOYEES 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ IRENE H. OH
 
 
 
 
Irene H. Oh
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)



14