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Strong shareholder support for East West Bancorp (EWBC) 2026 director, pay and plan votes

Filing Impact
(Moderate)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

East West Bancorp, Inc. reported the results of its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders held on May 18, 2026. A total of 124,578,151 common shares, or approximately 90.95% of shares entitled to vote, were represented in person or by proxy.

Stockholders elected eleven directors for one-year terms, approved 2025 executive compensation on an advisory basis, and approved amendments to the 2021 Stock Incentive Plan and a new 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. They also ratified KPMG LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026.

Positive

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Negative

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Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders Governance
Results of a shareholder vote on proposals at an annual or special meeting.
Shares represented 124,578,151 shares Common stock represented at 2026 annual meeting (90.95% entitled)
Say-on-pay support 110,797,650 votes for 2025 executive compensation advisory vote (95.18% of votes cast)
2021 Plan amendment support 114,335,164 votes for Amendment and restatement of 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (98.29% of votes cast)
ESPP approval votes 116,357,656 votes for Approval of 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (99.92% of votes cast)
Auditor ratification votes 122,787,826 votes for Ratification of KPMG LLP for fiscal year ending December 31, 2026
Broker non-votes on proposals 1–4 7,975,106 shares Broker non-votes recorded on director, pay and plan items
say-on-pay financial
"The advisory vote to approve the Company’s executive compensation (“say-on-pay”) for 2025 was approved"
A say-on-pay is a shareholder vote that gives investors a chance to approve or disapprove a company’s executive compensation packages, typically held at annual meetings. It matters because the vote signals investor satisfaction with how leaders are paid—like customers rating how well managers are rewarded—and can push boards to change pay plans, reducing governance risk and affecting investor confidence and stock value even though the vote is usually advisory rather than legally binding.
2021 Stock Incentive Plan financial
"approval of the amendment and restatement of the East West Bancorp, Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan"
Employee Stock Purchase Plan financial
"Approval of the Adoption of the East West Bancorp, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan"
An employee stock purchase plan is a company program that lets workers buy shares through small payroll deductions, often at a discount to the market price and after a set offering period. Think of it like a workplace savings plan that turns into ownership: it encourages employees to share in the company’s success and can create predictable buying or selling of stock that investors watch because it affects supply, demand and employee incentives.
broker non-votes financial
"Votes Cast For | Votes Against | Votes Abstained | Broker Non-Votes"
Broker non-votes occur when a brokerage firm is unable to vote on a shareholder’s behalf during a company election or decision because the shareholder has not given specific voting instructions, and the broker is not allowed or chooses not to vote on certain matters. They are important because they can affect the outcome of votes, especially when the results are close, by effectively reducing the total number of votes cast.
independent registered public accounting firm financial
"ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm"
An independent registered public accounting firm is an outside accounting company officially registered with the government regulator to examine and report on a public company's financial records and controls. Investors treat its reports like an impartial inspector’s certificate — they add credibility to financial statements, help spot errors or misleading claims, and reduce the risk that shareholders are relying on unchecked or biased numbers.
Understanding 8-K Material Events →
0001069157false00010691572026-05-182026-05-18



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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
May 18, 2026

EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

000-24939
(Commission File Number)

95-4703316
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

135 N Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor, Pasadena, California 91101
(Address of principal executive offices) (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:
☐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))
 
☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per shareEWBCThe Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐


Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

On May 18, 2026, East West Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The Company’s stockholders considered five proposals at the Annual Meeting, each of which was described in more detail in the Company’s definitive proxy statement (the “2026 Proxy Statement”) for the Annual Meeting, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 8, 2026. There were 124,578,151 shares of common stock represented at the Annual Meeting in person or by valid proxies, which was approximately 90.95% of the shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The final results of the voting for each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders at the Annual Meeting are as set forth below.

Proposal 1: Election of Directors

The Company’s stockholders elected the eleven director nominees named in the 2026 Proxy Statement for a one-year term until the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders and to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified. The voting results were as follows:
Votes Cast ForVotes AgainstVotes AbstainedBroker Non-Votes
Manuel P. Alvarez116,188,758241,029173,2587,975,106
Peter Babej115,868,646561,471172,9287,975,106
Molly Campbell113,818,8542,601,009183,1827,975,106
Archana Deskus115,883,756547,787171,5027,975,106
Serge Dumont114,106,5462,313,310183,1897,975,106
Mark Hutchins115,677,538752,191173,3167,975,106
Paul H. Irving110,811,5995,602,264189,1827,975,106
Sabrina Kay115,019,4761,385,599197,9707,975,106
Jack C. Liu112,305,6204,109,078188,3477,975,106
Dominic Ng113,532,5672,888,548181,9307,975,106
Lester M. Sussman115,180,6311,245,564176,8507,975,106

Proposal 2: Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

The advisory vote to approve the Company’s executive compensation (“say-on-pay”) for 2025 was approved by the Company’s stockholders by the vote set forth in the table below.
Votes Cast ForVotes AgainstVotes AbstainedBroker Non-Votes
110,797,6505,606,345199,0507,975,106
(95.18% of total votes cast)





Proposal 3: Approval of the Amendment and Restatement of the East West Bancorp, Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan

The Company’s stockholders voted to approve the amendment and restatement of the East West Bancorp, Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan by the vote set forth in the table below.
Votes Cast ForVotes AgainstVotes AbstainedBroker Non-Votes
114,335,1641,985,957281,9247,975,106
(98.29% of total votes cast)

Proposal 4: Approval of the Adoption of the East West Bancorp, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company’s stockholders voted to approve and adopt the East West Bancorp, Inc. 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan by the vote set forth in the table below
Votes Cast ForVotes AgainstVotes AbstainedBroker Non-Votes
116,357,65688,216157,1737,975,106
(99.92% of total votes cast)

Proposal 5: Ratification of Auditors

The Company’s stockholders ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 by the vote set forth in the table below.
Votes Cast ForVotes AgainstVotes AbstainedBroker Non-Votes
122,787,8261,618,044172,281—
(98.70% of total votes cast)

No other matters were submitted for stockholder action.





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.



EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.
Date: May 19, 2026
By:/s/ Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles
Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer




Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

FAQ

What did East West Bancorp (EWBC) shareholders vote on at the 2026 annual meeting?

Shareholders voted on director elections, executive compensation, equity incentive plans, and auditor ratification. Eleven directors were elected, 2025 say-on-pay was approved, amendments to the 2021 Stock Incentive Plan and a 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan passed, and KPMG LLP was ratified as auditor.

How many East West Bancorp (EWBC) shares were represented at the 2026 annual meeting?

124,578,151 common shares were represented at the meeting, accounting for about 90.95% of shares entitled to vote. This high participation level indicates strong shareholder engagement in governance matters and support for voting outcomes across all five proposals presented.

How did East West Bancorp (EWBC) shareholders vote on 2025 executive compensation?

Shareholders approved 2025 executive compensation in an advisory say-on-pay vote. There were 110,797,650 votes for, 5,606,345 against, and 199,050 abstentions, with 7,975,106 broker non-votes, representing 95.18% support of total votes cast on the compensation proposal.

What were the results for East West Bancorp’s 2021 Stock Incentive Plan amendment?

Shareholders approved amending and restating the 2021 Stock Incentive Plan. Votes for totaled 114,335,164, with 1,985,957 against and 281,924 abstentions, plus 7,975,106 broker non-votes. The filing notes this represented 98.29% of total votes cast on the plan proposal.

Did East West Bancorp (EWBC) shareholders approve the 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan?

Yes, shareholders approved and adopted the 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The proposal received 116,357,656 votes for, 88,216 against, and 157,173 abstentions, along with 7,975,106 broker non-votes, corresponding to 99.92% of total votes cast on this plan.

Which auditor did East West Bancorp (EWBC) shareholders ratify for 2026?

Shareholders ratified KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. The ratification received 122,787,826 votes for, 1,618,044 against, and 172,281 abstentions, with no broker non-votes reported on this item.

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