hope-20210318

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

March 18, 2021

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


HOPE BANCORP INC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

000-50245

95-4849715

(State of incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

3200 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1400

Los Angeles, California 90010

(Address of principal executives offices, including zip code)

(213) 639-1700

(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):

☐ 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:

Common Stock

par value $0.001 per share

HOPE

NASDAQ Global Select Market

(Title of class)

(Trading Symbol)

(Name of exchange on which registered)

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 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On March 18, 2021, Chung Hyun Lee, a Director of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Hope Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) notified the Company of his intention to retire from the Board when his current term expires at the Company’s upcoming 2021 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), and accordingly, not to stand for re-election as a Director. Mr. Lee’s decision to retire and not to stand for re-election was not the result of any disagreements with the Board or the Company on matters related to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

Additionally, on March 18, 2021, Jin Chul Jhung, a Director, notified the Company of his intention to retire from the Board when his current term expires at the Company’s upcoming Annual Meeting, and accordingly, not to stand for re-election as a Director. Mr. Jhung’s decision to retire and not to stand for re-election was not the result of any disagreements with the Board or the Company on matters related to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

On March 23, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the foregoing. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits


Exhibit No.						Description of Exhibit

99.1						Press release dated March 23, 2021
104						Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

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.


		HOPE BANCORP, INC.

Date: March 23, 2021	By:	/s/ Kevin S. Kim
		Kevin S. Kim
		Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer