Document:

EX-10.8

 Exhibit 10.8 

WARRANT AGREEMENT 
 This
Warrant Agreement (“Agreement”) is executed as of this 17 day of July, 2006 by Business First Bank, a Louisiana banking corporation (“Bank”), in favor of the organizers listed on Exhibit A (each, an “Initial
Holder”), in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement. 
 WHEREAS, the organizers of the
Bank have advanced to the Bank funds to cover the expenses incurred in connection with the organization of the Bank; 
 WHEREAS, in the
event that the Bank does not open, the organizers will bear the risk of loss with respect to such advances; 
 WHEREAS, the organizers of
the Bank have also expended a significant amount of time, effort and financial resources in connection with the organization of the Bank; and 

WHEREAS, in recognition of the financial risks undertaken as well as their efforts in organizing the Bank, the Bank desires to grant to each
Initial Holder warrants to purchase shares of common stock of the Bank (each, a “Warrant” and, collectively, the “Warrants”) in the amounts set forth herein. 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the agreements hereinafter set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Bank and, by acceptance of a Warrant, each Holder (as defined herein) agree as follows: 
 1. Grant of Warrants.
Subject to the terms, restrictions, limitations and conditions stated in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Bank hereby grants to the Initial Holders the number of Warrants set forth beside their names
on Exhibit A. Each Warrant initially shall be exercisable for one (1) fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Bank (“Share”), subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 of
this Agreement. The Initial Holders and all subsequent registered holders of the Warrants (each, a “Holder” and, collectively, the “Holders”) shall have the rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement. 

2. Warrant Certificates. Each Warrant shall be evidenced by a warrant certificate, which shall be substantially in the form attached to
this Agreement as Exhibit B (“Warrant Certificate”). Each Warrant Certificate shall have such marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements thereon as the Bank deems appropriate, so long as they are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as are required to comply with any applicable law, rule or regulation applicable to the Bank or the Shares. The Warrant Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Bank by the manual,
facsimile or imprinted signature of its President or Chief Executive Officer and shall be attested by the manual, facsimile or imprinted signature its Secretary or any assistant secretary. 

3. Term of Warrants. 
 (a)
The term for the exercise of the Warrants shall begin at 9:00 a.m., Baton Rouge, Louisiana time on the date that the Bank opens for business (the “Issue Date”). The term for the exercise of the Warrants shall expire at 2:00 p.m., Baton
Rouge, Louisiana time on the earlier to occur of (i) the tenth anniversary of the Issue Date, or (ii) the date provided in Section 3(b) of this Agreement (the “Expiration Time”). 

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or any Warrant Certificate to the contrary, the Warrants shall expire, to the extent not
exercised, within 45 days following the receipt of 

 
notice from the Bank’s state or primary federal regulator (“Regulator”) that (i) the Bank has not maintained its minimum capital requirements (as determined by the Regulator);
and (ii) the Regulator is requiring exercise or forfeiture of warrants (a “Regulatory Event”). Upon receipt of such notice from the Regulator, the Bank shall promptly notify each Holder that he must exercise the Warrants granted to
him prior to the end of the 45-day period or such earlier period as may be specified by the Regulator or forfeit such Warrant(s). In case of forfeiture, no Holder shall have any cause of action, of any kind or nature, against the Bank or any of its
respective officers or directors with respect to the forfeiture. In addition, the Bank shall not be liable to any Holder due to the failure or inability of the Bank to provide adequate notice to Holder. 

4. Exercise of Warrants. 

(a) The purchase price per Share to be paid by a Holder for Shares subject to the Warrants shall be $10.00, subject to adjustment as set forth
in Section 11 of this Agreement (the “Exercise Price”). Subject to Section 4(b) below, a Holder may exercise Warrants evidenced by a Warrant Certificate in whole or in part at any time prior to the Expiration Time by delivering
to the Secretary of the Bank (i) the Warrant Certificate; (ii) a written notice to the Bank specifying the number of Shares with respect to which Warrants are being exercised (the “Exercise Notice”); and (iii) a check for
the full amount of the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares being acquired. 
 (b) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the
contrary, no Holder may exercise Warrants if such exercise would cause, or would create a material risk of causing, the Bank to be ineligible to be taxed as an “S corporation” under section 1361 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, as may be determined by the board of directors of the Bank in its sole discretion. In the event that a Holder attempts to exercise warrants pursuant to Section 4(a) above and the board of directors of the Bank
determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that such exercise would cause, or would create a material risk of causing, the Bank to be ineligible to be taxed as an “S corporation” under section 1361 of the Code, then the
Bank shall deliver written notice to the Holder (“Bank Notice”) within five (5) business days following receipt of the Exercise Notice that the Warrants may not be exercised at that time. For a period of ten (10) business days
following the date of the Bank Notice, the Holder shall have the option to either (i) retain the Warrants for possible exercise at a future date, or (ii) receive cash for each Warrant equal to the difference between the book value per
share of common stock of the Bank as of the end of the quarter immediately preceding the date on which the Exercise Notice was delivered to the Bank less the exercise price per share; provided, however, that the Holder shall not have the right to
receive cash pursuant to this provision at any time following the occurrence of a Regulatory Event. In the event that the Bank does not receive an election from the Holder within ten (10) business days following the date of the Bank Notice to
either retain the Warrants or receive cash, the Bank shall return the Warrant Certificate, along with the Holder’s check representing payment for the Exercise Price of the Warrants, and the Holder may attempt to exercise the Warrants at a
future date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. 
 5. Delivery of Shares; Partial Exercise. Upon receipt of the items set
forth in Section 4, and subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Bank shall promptly deliver to, and register in the name of, the Holder a certificate or certificates representing the number of Shares acquired by exercise of a Warrant. In
the event of a partial exercise of Warrant(s), a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Shares that remain subject to the Warrant shall be issued by the Bank to such Holder or to his duly authorized assigns. 

  
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 6. Registration of Transfer and Exchange. 

(a) No Warrant may be transferred or assigned, in whole or in part, except to the extent that the shares of common stock underlying such
Warrant, together with all other shares of common stock of the Bank owned by the Holder, could be transferred by the Holder pursuant to the terms of that certain Shareholders’ Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2006 (the
“Shareholders’ Agreement”), by and between the Bank and each of its shareholders, and any transfer of a Warrant shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Shareholders’ Agreement as if such Warrants were shares of common
stock of the Bank. 
 (b) The Bank shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its principal place of business or at such other location designated
by the Bank, a register or registers in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Bank may prescribe, the registrar and transfer agent (the “Securities Registrar”) shall register the Warrant Certificates and the transfers
thereof as provided herein (“Securities Register”). The initial Securities Registrar shall be the Secretary of the Bank, and thereafter, the Securities Registrar may be removed and/or appointed as authorized by the Bank. 

(c) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Warrant Certificate as permitted pursuant to this Section 6, the Bank shall issue
and deliver to the Holder or his duly authorized assigns, one or more new Warrant Certificates of like tenor and in like aggregate amount. 

(d) At the option of the Holder, Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for other Warrant Certificates of like tenor and in like aggregate
amount upon surrender of the Warrant Certificates to be exchanged. Upon such surrender, the Bank shall issue and deliver to the Holder or his duly authorized assigns, one or more new Warrant Certificates of like tenor and in like aggregate amount.

 (e) Every Warrant Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange as permitted pursuant to this
Section 6 shall be accompanied (if so required by the Bank or the Securities Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Bank or the Securities Registrar, duly executed by the registered Holder or
by such Holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing. 
 7. Replacement of Warrant Certificates. 

(a) Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Bank of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Warrant Certificate and, in
the case of loss, theft or destruction, on delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and amount to the Bank or, in the case of mutilation, surrender and cancellation of such Warrant Certificate, the Bank shall issue and
deliver to the Holder or his duly authorized assigns, one or more new Warrant Certificates of like tenor and in like aggregate amount. In the case of loss, theft or destruction of a Warrant Certificate, prior to the issuance of a replacement Warrant
Certificate, the Bank may also require that a bond be posted in such amount as the Bank may determine is necessary as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Warrant Certificate. 

(b) All Warrants shall be held and owned under the express condition that the provisions of this Section are exclusive with respect to the
replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificates and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with
respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender. 

  
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 (c) Upon the issuance of any new Warrant Certificate under this Section, the Bank may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Bank and its agents and counsel) connected therewith. 

(d) Every new Warrant Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Bank, whether or
not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Warrant Certificates duly
issued hereunder. 
 8. Persons Deemed Holders. Prior to the due presentment of a Warrant Certificate for registration of transfer or
exchange as permitted in accordance with Section 6, the Bank, any Securities Registrar and any other agent of the Bank may treat the person in whose name such Warrant Certificate is registered in the Securities Register as the sole Holder of
such Warrant Certificate and of the Warrant represented by such Warrant Certificate for all purposes whatsoever, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Warrant Certificate or in the Warrant
represented by such Warrant Certificate on the part of any person and shall be unaffected by any notice to the contrary. 
 9.
Cancellation. All Warrant Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, exchange or registration of transfer shall be cancelled by the Securities Registrar, and no Warrant Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof, except as
expressly permitted by the provisions of this Agreement. 
 10. Fractional Shares. The Bank shall not be required to issue Warrant
Certificates exercisable for fractional Shares or to issue fractional Shares upon the exercise of Warrants. Warrant Certificates exercisable for fractional Shares shall expire as of the Expiration Date, and a Holder of such Warrant Certificates
shall not be entitled to any consideration of any kind or nature in respect of such Warrant or Warrant Certificate. 
 11. Stock
Dividends, Splits, Etc. 
 (a) If, prior to the Expiration Time, the Bank shall subdivide its outstanding Shares into a greater number of
Shares, or declare and pay a dividend of its Shares payable in additional Shares, the Exercise Price, as then in effect, shall be proportionately reduced, and the Bank shall proportionately increase the number of Shares then subject to exercise
under this Warrant (and not previously exercised.) 
 (b) If, prior to the Expiration Time, the Bank shall combine its outstanding Shares
into a lesser number of Shares, the Exercise Price, as then in effect, shall be proportionately increased, and the Bank shall proportionately reduce the number of Shares then subject to exercise under this Warrant (and not previously exercised.)

 12. Reorganization, Reclassifications, Consolidation or Merger. If, prior to the Expiration Time, there shall be a reorganization
or reclassification of the Shares (other than as provided in Section 11 of this Agreement), or any consolidation or merger of the Bank with another entity or any share exchange pursuant to which the Shares are exchanged for shares of another
entity, the Holder shall be entitled to receive, during the remainder of the term of this Agreement and upon payment of the Exercise Price, the number of shares of stock or other securities or property of the Bank, or of the successor entity (or its
parent company) resulting from such consolidation or merger, or of the entity whose shares or other securities or property are exchanged for Shares in a share exchange, as the case may be, to which a holder of Shares, deliverable upon the exercise
of a Warrant, would have been entitled upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger or share exchange, and, in any case, the Bank shall make 

  
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appropriate adjustments (as determined by the board of directors of the Bank in its sole discretion) in the application of the provisions with respect to the rights and interests of the Holders
so that the provisions set forth in this Agreement (including the adjustment to the Exercise Price and the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants) shall be applicable, as nearly as may be practicable, to any shares or other property
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant. 
 13. Certificate as to Adjustments; Issuance of New Warrant Certificates.
Within thirty (30) days following any adjustment provided for in Section 11 or 12 of this Agreement, the Bank shall give written notice of the adjustment to the Holders as provided in Section 14(a) of this Agreement. The notice shall
state the Exercise Price as adjusted and the increased or decreased number of shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrant(s) and shall set forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation for each. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth herein or in the Warrant Certificates, the Bank may, at its option, issue new Warrant Certificates evidencing the Warrants, in such form as may be approved by the Bank, to reflect any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price and
the number or kind of stock or other securities or property purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants. 
 14. Miscellaneous. 

(a) Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be made hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such
notice or communication and shall be deemed delivered and effective when given personally or mailed by first-class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid as follows (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(i) if given to the Bank, at 5110 Corporate Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808; and (ii) if given to a Holder, at the address set forth for the Holder on the books and records of the Bank. A notice given to the Bank by a Holder with
respect to the exercise of a Warrant shall not be effective until received by the Bank. 
 (b) The Bank shall, at all times, reserve and keep
available out of its authorized and unissued Shares or out of any Shares held in treasury that number of Shares that will from time to time be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants. The Bank shall take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all Shares delivered upon exercise of any Warrants shall, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Certificates for such Shares, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. 

(c) The Bank shall pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges (other than any applicable income taxes)
that may be payable in respect of the issuance and delivery of Warrant Certificates or of certificates for Shares receivable upon the exercise of any Warrants; provided, however, that the Bank shall not be required to pay any tax that may be payable
in respect of the issuance and delivery (i) of any Warrant Certificate or stock certificate registered in a name other than that of the Holder of the Warrant Certificate that has been surrendered, or (ii) of any Warrant Certificate under
Section 7. 
 (d) No Holder, in his capacity as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or shall be deemed for any other
purpose the holder of the Shares or other securities which may at any time be issuable upon the exercise of such Warrant. Nothing contained herein or in any Warrant Certificate shall be construed to confer upon any Holder, in his capacity as such,
any of the rights of a shareholder of the Bank, including any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders of the Bank at any meeting thereof, to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notices of meeting or other actions affecting shareholders. 
 (e) Each Holder, by accepting a Warrant Certificate, accepts and
agrees to the terms of this Agreement. The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon the Bank and the Holders and their 

  
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respective heirs, successors, representatives and permitted assigns. Nothing expressed or referred to herein is intended or will be construed to give any person other than the Bank or the Holders
any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provision herein contained, it being the intention of the Bank and the Holders that this Agreement, the assumption of obligations and statements of
responsibilities hereunder, and all other conditions and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of the Bank and the Holders and for the benefit of no other person. 

(f) This Agreement constitutes the full understanding of the Bank and the Holders, a complete allocation of risks between them and a complete
and exclusive statement of the terms and conditions of their agreement relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior agreements, whether written or oral, that may exist between the Bank and any Holder with respect thereto.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, no conditions, usage of trade, course of dealing or performance, understanding or agreement purporting to modify, vary, explain or supplement the terms or conditions of this Agreement will
be binding unless hereafter or contemporaneously herewith made in writing and signed by the party to be bound, and no modification will be effected by the acknowledgment or acceptance of documents containing terms or conditions at variance with or
in addition to those set forth in this Agreement. 
 (g) The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and
will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement will refer to this Agreement as a whole
and not to any particular provision in this Agreement. Each use herein of the masculine, neuter or feminine gender will be deemed to include the other genders. Each use herein of the plural will include the singular and vice versa, in each case as
the context requires or as is otherwise appropriate. The word “or” is used in the inclusive sense. References to a person are also to its permitted successors or assigns. No provision of this Agreement is to be construed to require,
directly or indirectly, any person to take any action, or omit to take any action, which action or omission would violate applicable law (whether statutory or common law), rule or regulation. 

(h) This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the Expiration Time, or (ii) the close of business on the date on which
all Warrants shall have been exercised. 
 (i) THIS AGREEMENT, EACH WARRANT AND EACH WARRANT CERTIFICATE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WITHOUT REGARD TO THE LAWS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE GOVERN UNDER APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE INVOLVING THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY
AGREE THAT VENUE FOR SUCH DISPUTE SHALL LIE EXCLUSIVELY IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank has caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer as of the date first above written. 

 

			
	BUSINESS FIRST BANK
		
	By:	 	 
		 	Charles E. Roemer, III
		 	President and Chief Executive Officer

  
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 EXHIBIT A 

LIST OF ORGANIZERS 
  

			
	 Organizer
	 	 Warrants Issued

 EXHIBIT B 

FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE 

THE TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS SPECIFIED IN THAT CERTAIN WARRANT AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF                     , 2006, BY BUSINESS FIRST BANK, A LOUISIANA BANKING CORPORATION (“BANK”), IN FAVOR OF THE ORGANIZERS
LISTED ON EXHIBIT A THERETO, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME (“AGREEMENT”). A COPY OF THE FORM OF THE AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AND MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE BANK DURING NORMAL BUSINESS
HOURS. THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE, BY ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CERTIFICATE, AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT. 
  

			
	 No. W-    
	 	Number of Warrants:                        

 BUSINESS FIRST BANK 

WARRANT CERTIFICATE 
 This Warrant
Certificate certifies that                                 , or registered
assigns, is the registered holder of a warrant to purchase the number of fully-paid and non-assessable shares of common stock, $1.00 par value of the Bank (“Shares”) set forth above, at the exercise price, subject to adjustment in certain
events (“Exercise Price”), of $10.00 per share (“Warrant”). 
 The Warrant evidenced by this Warrant Certificate is part of a duly
authorized issue of Warrants issued pursuant to the Agreement, which is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Bank and the Holder. All terms used, but not otherwise defined, in this Warrant Certificate shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Agreement. If any provision of this Warrant Certificate conflicts with a
provision of the Agreement, the provision of the Agreement shall supercede. 
 This Warrant may not be exercised after 2:00 p.m., Baton Rouge, Louisiana
time, on the earlier to occur of (i) the tenth anniversary of the date that Business First Bank opens for business, or (ii) the date provided in Section 3(b) of the Agreement (the “Expiration Time”). 

The Holder may exercise the Warrant evidenced by this Warrant Certificate in whole or in part at any time prior to the Expiration Time by delivering to the
Secretary of the Bank (i) the Warrant Certificate; (ii) a written notice to the Bank specifying the number of Shares with respect to which Warrants are being exercised; and (iii) a check for the full amount of the aggregate Exercise
Price of the Shares being acquired. 
 Upon receipt of the items set forth above, and subject to the terms of the Agreement, the Bank shall promptly deliver
to, and register in the name of, the Holder a certificate or certificates representing the number of Shares acquired by exercise of this Warrant. In the event of a partial exercise of this Warrant, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of
Shares that remain subject to this Warrant shall be issued by the Bank to such Holder or to his duly authorized assigns. 
 The Agreement provides that upon
the occurrence of certain events the Exercise Price and the type and/or number of the Bank’s securities issuable thereupon may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. In such event, the Bank may, at its option, issue a new Warrant
Certificate evidencing the adjustment in the Exercise Price and the number and/or type of securities issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants. 

 Upon surrender for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate, subject to the terms of the Agreement,
the Bank shall issue and deliver to the Holder or his duly authorized assigns, one or more new Warrant Certificates of like tenor and in like aggregate amount. 

Prior to the due presentment of this Warrant Certificate for registration of transfer or exchange, the Bank, any Securities Registrar and any other agent of
the Bank may treat the person in whose name this Warrant Certificate is registered in the Securities Register as the sole Holder of this Warrant Certificate and of the Warrant represented by this Warrant Certificate for all purposes whatsoever, and
shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in this Warrant Certificate or in the Warrant represented by this Warrant Certificate on the part of any person and shall be unaffected by any notice to the contrary. 

The Holder, in his capacity as such, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or shall be deemed from any other purpose the holder of the Shares or
other securities which may at any time be issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant. Nothing contained in this Warrant Certificate shall be construed to confer upon the Holder, in his capacity as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the
Bank, including any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders of the Bank at any meeting thereof, to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notices of meeting or other actions
affecting shareholders. 
 Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be made by the Holder to the Bank shall be in writing, duly signed by
the Holder and shall be deemed delivered and effective when given personally or mailed by first-class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid to the Bank, at 5110 Corporate Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808 (or such other address as
designated in writing to the Holder by the Bank). A notice given to the Bank by a Holder with respect to the exercise of this Warrant shall not be effective until received by the Bank. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank has caused this Warrant Certificate to be duly executed under its corporate seal. 

Dated as of                     , 2006. 

 

			
	BUSINESS FIRST BANK
	a Louisiana banking corporation
		
	By:	 	 
		 	 Charles E. Roemer, III

		 	 President and Chief Executive Officer

 [SEAL] 
 Attest: 

 

			
	
	 
	Name:	 	 
	Title:EX-10.1

 Exhibit 10.1 

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 

THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into between NUCOR CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation with its principal place of business in Charlotte, North Carolina, on behalf of itself and each of its affiliates and subsidiaries (all such entities, collectively, “Nucor”), and DAVID A. SUMOSKI
(“Executive”), a resident of Tennessee as of the date hereof, but who will be relocating to the Charlotte, North Carolina area pursuant to the performance of his duties following his promotion discussed herein. 

WHEREAS, Executive has heretofore been employed at Nucor Corporation’s Nucor Steel Memphis, Inc. subsidiary as an at-will employee of
Nucor in the position of Vice President of Nucor Corporation and General Manager of Nucor Steel Memphis, Inc. (the “Prior Position”); and 

WHEREAS, Nucor has offered Executive a promotion to the position of Executive Vice President of Engineered Bar Products effective
September 14, 2014, contingent upon Executive’s execution of this Agreement, and Executive has accepted the promotion; and 

WHEREAS, Nucor Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved Executive’s promotion to the position of
Executive Vice President of Engineered Bar Products contingent upon Executive’s execution of this Agreement; and 
 WHEREAS, prior to
the effective date of the promotion, Executive and Nucor discussed the requirements of the restrictive covenants contained in this Agreement as a condition to Executive’s promotion; and 

WHEREAS, Nucor’s promotion of Executive entitles Executive to receive increased compensation and benefits that Executive did not have
prior to his promotion; and 
 WHEREAS, Executive agrees and acknowledges that in his new position of Executive Vice President of Engineered
Bar Products he will acquire greater access to and knowledge of Nucor’s trade secrets and confidential information which Executive did not have prior to his promotion; and 

WHEREAS, the parties wish to formalize their employment relationship in writing and for Nucor to employ Executive under the terms and
conditions set forth below; and 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration for the promises and mutual agreements contained herein, the parties
agree, effective as of September 14, 2014, as follows: 
 1. Employment. Nucor agrees to employ Executive in the position of
Executive Vice President of Engineered Bar Products, and Executive agrees to accept employment in this position, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, including the confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation
provisions which Executive acknowledges were discussed in detail prior to and made an express condition of his promotion to Executive Vice President of Engineered Bar Products. Executive acknowledges that the Board’s approval of
Executive’s promotion to Executive Vice President of Engineered Bar Products is conditioned upon Executive’s execution of this Agreement. 

2. Compensation and Benefits During Employment. Nucor will provide the following compensation and benefits to Executive: 

(a) Nucor will pay Executive a base salary of $344,500 per year, paid not less frequently than monthly in accordance with
Nucor’s normal payroll practices, subject to 

 
withholding by Nucor and other deductions as required by law. The parties acknowledge and agree that this amount exceeds the base salary Executive was entitled to receive in the Prior Position.
Executive’s base salary is subject to adjustment up or down by the Board at its sole discretion and without notice to Executive. 

(b) Provided Executive remains in the position of an executive officer of Nucor Corporation, Executive will be a participant in
and eligible to receive awards of incentive and equity-based compensation under and in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions of the Nucor Corporation Senior Officers Annual Incentive Plan, the Nucor Corporation Senior Officers
Long-Term Incentive Plan, and the Nucor Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”), each as modified from time to time by, and in the sole discretion of, the Board of Directors of Nucor Corporation.

 (c) Provided Executive remains in the position of an executive officer of Nucor Corporation, Executive will be eligible
for all other employee benefits that are generally made available by Nucor Corporation to its executive officers. 
 3. Compensation
Following Termination. 
 (a) From the date of Executive’s termination of employment with Nucor, whether by
Executive or Nucor for any or no reason, and provided that (i) Executive executes and returns to Nucor a separation and release agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Nucor, in its sole discretion, releasing any and all claims
Executive has or may have against Nucor at the time of his termination of employment from Nucor, (ii) Executive is employed as an Executive Vice President of Nucor at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with Nucor, and (iii),
except in the event Executive’s employment with Nucor is terminated in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations due to Executive’s disability, Executive is at least fifty eight (58) years of age and has served as an
Executive Vice President of Nucor for at least five (5) consecutive years at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with Nucor (the “Monthly Payment Requirements”), Nucor will pay Executive the Monthly Amount
(as defined below) for twenty-four (24) months following Executive’s termination. Nucor shall have no obligation to make any payments of the Monthly Amount if, at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with Nucor, all of
the Monthly Payment Requirements are not satisfied. The “Monthly Amount” shall be an amount equal to (i) the product of (A) the amount of Executive’s highest base salary level during the twelve (12) month period
immediately prior to his date of termination, multiplied by (B) 3.36, (ii) divided by twelve (12). Subject to the provisions of Section 24 of this Agreement, the payments of any Monthly Amount due shall be made at the end of each
month following Executive’s termination of employment with Nucor on Nucor’s regular monthly payroll date. 
 (b) In
exchange for Nucor’s agreement to pay the Monthly Amount as set forth in this Section 3, and other good and valuable consideration, including without limitation the compensation and benefits set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement,
Executive agrees to strictly abide by the terms of Sections 8 through 13 of this Agreement. 
 (c) If Executive is employed
by Nucor at the time of Executive’s death, Nucor’s obligations to make any payments of the Monthly Amount under this Agreement will automatically terminate and Executive’s estate and executors will have no rights to any payments of
the Monthly Amount under this Agreement. If Executive dies during the first twelve (12) months following Executive’s termination from employment with Nucor, then Nucor will pay Executive’s estate the payments of the Monthly Amount due
pursuant to Section 3(a) of this 

  
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Agreement through the end of the twelfth (12th) month following Executive’s termination from employment with Nucor. If Executive
dies twelve (12) or more months after termination of Executive’s employment with Nucor, then Nucor’s obligations to make any payments of the Monthly Amount under Section 3(a) of this Agreement will automatically terminate without
the necessity of Nucor providing notice, written or otherwise. 
 (d) The amounts payable pursuant to this Section 3 of
this Agreement shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any amounts payable to Executive pursuant to the Nucor Corporation Severance Plan for Senior Officers and General Managers (the “Severance Plan”), which payments, if any,
shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the Severance Plan. 
 4. Duties and Responsibilities; Best Efforts. While employed
by Nucor, Executive shall perform such duties for and on behalf of Nucor as may be determined and assigned to Executive from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer of Nucor Corporation or the Board. Executive shall devote his full time and best
efforts to the business and affairs of Nucor. During the term of Executive’s employment with Nucor, Executive will not undertake other paid employment or engage in any other business activity without the prior written consent of the Board. 

5. Employment at Will. The parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement does not create employment for a definite term and that
Executive’s employment with Nucor is at will and terminable by Nucor or Executive at any time, with or without cause and with or without notice, unless otherwise expressly set forth in a separate written agreement executed by Executive and
Nucor after the date of this Agreement. 
 6. Change in Executive’s Position. In the event that Nucor transfers, demotes,
promotes, or otherwise changes Executive’s compensation or position with Nucor, the restrictions and post-termination obligations set forth in Sections 8 through 13 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. 

7. Recognition of Nucor’s Legitimate Interests. Executive understands and acknowledges that Nucor competes in North America and
throughout the world in the research, manufacture, fabrication, marketing, sale, distribution and/or placement of steel or steel products (including but not limited to flat-rolled steel, steel shapes, structural steel, light gauge steel framing,
steel plate, steel beams and pilings, rail ties, steel joists and girders, steel deck, steel fasteners, metal building systems, wire rod, welded-wire reinforcement rolls and sheets, cold finished steel bars and wire, special quality bar products,
guard rail, fabricated concrete reinforcement bars, and structural welded-wire reinforcement) or steel or steel product inputs (including but not limited to scrap metal and direct reduced iron ) (all such activities, collectively, the
“Business”). As part of Executive’s employment with Nucor, Executive acknowledges he will continue to have access to and gain knowledge of significant secret, confidential and proprietary information of the full range of
operations of Nucor. In addition, Executive will continue to have access to training opportunities, contact with vendors, customers and prospective vendors and customers of Nucor, in which capacity he is expected to develop good relationships with
such vendors, customers and prospective vendors and customers, and will gain intimate knowledge regarding the products and services of Nucor. Executive recognizes and agrees that Nucor has spent and will continue to spend substantial effort, time
and money in developing relationships with its vendors and customers, that many such vendors and customers have long term relationships with Nucor, and that all vendors, customers and accounts that Executive may deal with during his employment with
Nucor, are the vendors, customers and accounts of Nucor. Executive acknowledges that Nucor’s competitors would obtain an unfair advantage if Executive disclosed Nucor’s Secret Information or Confidential Information (as defined in Sections
8 and 9, respectively) to a competitor, used it on a competitor’s behalf, or if he were able to exploit the relationships he develops as an employee of Nucor to solicit business on behalf of a competitor. 

  
 3 

 8. Covenant Regarding Nucor’s Secret Information. Executive recognizes and agrees
that he will have continued access to certain sensitive and confidential information of Nucor (a) that is not generally known in the steel business, which would be difficult for others to acquire or duplicate without improper means,
(b) that Nucor strives to keep secret, and (c) from which Nucor derives substantial commercial benefit because of the fact that it is not generally known (the “Secret Information”), including without limitation:
(i) Nucor’s process of developing and producing raw material, and designing and manufacturing steel and iron products; (ii) Nucor’s process for treating, processing or fabricating steel and iron products; (iii) Nucor’s
non-public financial data, strategic business plans, competitor analysis, sales and marketing data, and proprietary margin, pricing, and cost data; and (iv) any other information or data which meets the definition of “trade secrets”
under the North Carolina Trade Secrets Protection Act. Executive agrees that unless he is expressly authorized by Nucor in writing, Executive will not use or disclose or allow to be used or disclosed Nucor’s Secret Information. This covenant
shall survive until the Secret Information is generally known in the industry through no act or omission of the Executive or until Nucor knowingly authorizes the disclosure of or discloses the Secret Information, without any limitations on use or
confidentiality. Executive acknowledges that he did not have knowledge of Nucor’s Secret Information prior to his employment with Nucor and that the Secret Information does not include Executive’s general skills and know-how. 

9. Agreement to Maintain Confidentiality. 

(a) As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall include all confidential and proprietary
information of Nucor, including, without limitation, any of the following information to the extent not generally known to third persons: financial and budgetary information and strategies; plant design, specifications, and layouts; equipment
design, specifications, and layouts; product design and specifications; manufacturing processes, procedures, and specifications; data processing or other computer programs; research and development projects; marketing information and strategies;
customer lists; vendor lists; information about customer preferences and buying patterns; information about prospective customers, vendors and prospective vendors, or business opportunities; information about Nucor’s costs and the pricing
structure used in sales to customers; information about Nucor’s overall corporate business strategy; and technological innovations used in Nucor’s business, to the extent that such information does not fall within the definition of Secret
Information. 
 (b) During Executive’s employment with Nucor and at all times after the termination of Executive’s
employment with Nucor, (i) Executive covenants and agrees to treat as confidential all Confidential Information submitted to Executive or received, compiled, developed, designed, produced, accessed, or otherwise discovered by the Executive from
time to time while employed by Nucor, and (ii) Executive will not disclose or divulge the Confidential Information to any person, entity, firm or company whatsoever or use the Confidential Information for Executive’s own benefit or for the
benefit of any person, entity, firm or company other than Nucor. This restriction will apply throughout the world; provided, however, that if the restrictions of this Section 9(b) when applied to any specific piece of Confidential
Information would prevent Executive from using his general knowledge or skills in competition with Nucor or would otherwise substantially restrict the Executive’s ability to fairly compete with Nucor, then as to that piece of Confidential
Information only, the scope of this restriction will apply only for the Restrictive Period (as defined below) and only within the Restricted Territory (as defined below). 

(c) Executive specifically acknowledges that the Confidential Information, whether reduced to writing or maintained in the mind
or memory of Executive, and whether compiled or 

  
 4 

 
created by Executive, Nucor, or any of its vendors, customers, or prospective vendors or customers derives independent economic value from not being readily known to or ascertainable by proper
means by others who could obtain economic value from the disclosure or use of the Confidential Information. Executive also acknowledges that reasonable efforts have been put forth by Nucor to maintain the secrecy of the Confidential Information,
that the Confidential Information is and will remain the sole property of Nucor or any of its vendors, customers or prospective vendors or customers, as the case may be, and that any retention and/or use of Confidential Information during or after
the termination of Executive’s employment with Nucor (except in the regular course of performing his duties hereunder) will constitute a misappropriation of the Confidential Information belonging to Nucor. Executive acknowledges and agrees that
if he (i) accesses Confidential Information on any Nucor computer system within thirty (30) days prior the effective date of his voluntary resignation of employment with Nucor and (ii) transmits, copies or reproduces such Confidential
Information in any manner or deletes any such Confidential Information, he is exceeding his authorized access to such computer system. 

10. Noncompetition. 

(a) Executive hereby agrees that for the duration of Executive’s employment with Nucor, and for a period of twenty-four
(24) months thereafter (the “Restrictive Period”), Executive will NOT, within the Restricted Territory, do any of the following: 

(i) engage in, whether as an employee, consultant, or in any other capacity, any business activity (A) that is the same
as, or is in direct competition with, any portion of the Business, and (B) in which Executive engaged in during the course of his employment with Nucor (any such activities described in this Section 10(a)(i), “Competing
Activities”); 
 (ii) commence, establish or own (in whole or in part) any business that engages in any Competing
Activities, whether (i) by establishing a sole proprietorship, (ii) as a partner of a partnership, (iii) as a member of a limited liability company, (iv) as a shareholder of a corporation (except to the extent Executive is the
holder of not more than five percent (5%) of any class of the outstanding stock of any company listed on a national securities exchange so long as Executive does not actively participate in the management or business of any such entity) or
(v) as the owner of any similar equity interest in any such entity; 
 (iii) provide any public endorsement of, or
otherwise lend Executive’s name for use by, any person or entity engaged in any Competing Activities; or 
 (iv) engage
in work that would inherently call on him in the fulfillment of his duties and responsibilities to reveal, rely upon, or otherwise use any Confidential Information or Secret Information. 

(b) For purposes of this Agreement: 

(i) The term “Restricted Territory” means Executive’s geographic area of responsibility at Nucor which
Executive acknowledges extends to the full scope of Nucor operations throughout the world. “Restricted Territory” therefore consists of the following alternatives reasonably necessary to protect Nucor’s legitimate business
interests: 
 (A) Western Europe, the Middle East, South America, Central America and North America, where Executive
acknowledges Nucor engages in the Business, but if such territory is deemed overbroad by a court of law, then 

  
 5 

 (B) The United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican
Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, Argentina and Brazil, where Executive acknowledges Nucor engages in the Business, but if such territory is deemed overbroad by a court of law, then; 

(C) The United States, Canada and Mexico, where Executive acknowledges Nucor engages in the Business, but if such territory is
deemed overbroad by a court of law, then; 
 (D) The contiguous United States, where Executive acknowledges Nucor engages in
the Business, but if such territory is deemed overbroad by a court of law, then; 
 (E) Any state in the United States
located within a three hundred (300) mile radius of a Nucor plant or facility that engages in any aspect of the Business, but if such territory is deemed overbroad by a court of law, then; 

(F) Any state in the United States where a Customer or Prospective Customer is located. 

(ii) The term “Customer” means the following alternatives: 

(A) any and all customers of Nucor with whom Nucor is doing business at or immediately prior to the time of Executive’s
termination of employment with Nucor, but if such definition is deemed overbroad by a court of law, then; 
 (B) any
customer of Nucor with whom Executive or Executive’s direct reports had significant contact or with whom Executive or Executive’s direct reports directly dealt on behalf of Nucor at or immediately prior to the time of Executive’s last
date of full time employment with Nucor, but if such definition is deemed overbroad by a court of law, then; 
 (C) any
customer of Nucor with whom Executive had significant contact or with whom Executive directly dealt on behalf of Nucor at or immediately prior to the time of Executive’s last date of full time employment with Nucor but if such definition is
deemed overbroad by a court of law, then; 
 (D) any customer of Nucor about whom Executive had obtained Secret Information
or Confidential Information by virtue of his employment with Nucor and with whom Executive had significant contact or with whom Executive directly dealt on behalf of Nucor at or immediately prior to the time of Executive’s last date of full
time employment; 
 Provided, however, that the term “Customer” shall not include any business or
entity that no longer does business with Nucor without any direct or indirect interference by Executive or violation of this Agreement by Executive, and that ceased doing business with Nucor prior to any direct or indirect communication or contact
by Executive. 

  
 6 

 (iii) The term “Prospective Customer” means any person or entity
who does not currently or has not yet purchased the products or services of Nucor, but who, at or immediately prior to the time of Executive’s last date of full-time employment with Nucor has been targeted by Nucor as a potential user of the
products or services of Nucor, and whom Executive or his direct reports participated in the solicitation of or on behalf of Nucor. 

(iv) The term “solicit” means to initiate contact for the purpose of promoting, marketing, or selling products
or services similar to those Nucor offered during the tenure of Executive’s employment with Nucor or to accept business from Customers or Prospective Customers. 

(c) Executive specifically agrees that the post-termination obligations and restrictions in this Section 10 and in
Sections 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13 will apply to Executive regardless of whether termination of employment is initiated by Nucor or Executive and regardless of the reason for termination of Executive’s employment. Further, Executive acknowledges and
agrees that Nucor’s payments of the compensation described in Section 3, as well as any payments under the Severance Plan, are intended to compensate Executive for the limitations on Executive’s competitive activities described in
this Section 10 and Sections 11 and 12 for the Restrictive Period regardless of the reason for termination. Thus, for example, in the event that Nucor terminates Executive’s employment without cause, Executive expressly agrees that the
obligations and restrictions in this Section 10 and Sections 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13 will apply to Executive notwithstanding the reasons or motivations of Nucor in terminating Executive’s employment. 

11. Nonsolicitation. Executive hereby agrees that for the duration of Executive’s employment with Nucor, and for the Restrictive
Period, Executive will NOT, within the Restricted Territory, do any of the following: 
 (a) solicit, contact, or attempt to
influence any Customer to limit, curtail, cancel, or terminate any business it transacts with, or products it receives from Nucor; 

(b) solicit, contact, or attempt to influence any Prospective Customer to terminate any business negotiations it is having with
Nucor, or to otherwise not do business with Nucor; 
 (c) solicit, contact, or attempt to influence any Customer to purchase
products or services from an entity other than Nucor, which are the same or substantially similar to, or otherwise in competition with, those offered to the Customer by Nucor; or 

(d) solicit, contact, or attempt to influence any Prospective Customer to purchase products or services from an entity other
than Nucor, which are the same or substantially similar to, or otherwise in competition with, those offered to the Prospective Customer by Nucor. 

12. Antipiracy. 

(a) Executive agrees for the duration of the Restrictive Period, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, encourage,
contact, or attempt to induce any employees of Nucor (i) with whom Executive had regular contact with at or immediately prior to the time of Executive’s last 

  
 7 

 
date of full time employment with Nucor, and (ii) who are employed by Nucor at the time of the encouragement, contact or attempted inducement, to end their employment relationship with
Nucor. 
 (b) Executive further agrees for the duration of the Restrictive Period not to hire for any reason any employees
described in Section 12(a) of this Agreement. 
 13. Assignment of Intellectual Property Rights. 

(a) Executive hereby assigns to Nucor Executive’s entire right, title and interest, including copyrights and patents, in
any idea, invention, design of a useful article (whether the design is ornamental or otherwise), and any other work of authorship (collectively the “Developments”), made or conceived solely or jointly by Executive at any time during
Executive’s employment by Nucor (whether prior or subsequent to the execution of this Agreement), or created wholly or in part by Executive, whether or not such Developments are patentable, copyrightable or susceptible to other forms of
protection, where the Developments: (i) were developed, invented, or conceived within the scope of Executive’s employment with Nucor; (ii) relate to Nucor’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development; or
(iii) result from any work performed by Executive on Nucor’s behalf. 
 (b) The assignment requirement in
Section 13(a) shall not apply to an invention that Executive developed entirely on his own time without using Nucor’s equipment, supplies, facilities or Secret Information or Confidential Information except for those inventions that
(i) relate to Nucor’s business or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (ii) result from any work performed by Executive for Nucor. 

(c) In connection with any of the Developments assigned pursuant to Section 13(a): (i) Executive will promptly
disclose them to Nucor’s management; and (ii) Executive will, on Nucor’s request, promptly execute a specific assignment of title to Nucor or its designee, and do anything else reasonably necessary to enable Nucor or its designee to
secure a patent, copyright, or other form of protection therefore in the United States and in any other applicable country. 

(d) Nothing in this Section 13 is intended to waive, or shall be construed as waiving, any assignment of any Developments
to Nucor implied by law. 
 14. Severability. It is the intention of the parties to restrict the activities of Executive only to the
extent reasonably necessary for the protection of Nucor’s legitimate interests. The parties specifically covenant and agree that should any of the provisions in this Agreement be deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction too broad for the
protection of Nucor’s legitimate interests, the parties authorize the court to narrow, limit or modify the restrictions herein to the extent reasonably necessary to accomplish such purpose. In the event such limiting construction is impossible,
such invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed severed from this Agreement and every other provision of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. 

15. Enforcement. Executive understands and agrees that any breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of
Sections 8 through 13 of this Agreement shall be considered a material breach of this Agreement, and in the event of such a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, Nucor shall be entitled to pursue any and all of its remedies under law or in
equity arising out of such breach. If Nucor pursues either a temporary restraining order or temporary injunctive relief, then Executive agrees to expedited discovery with respect thereto and waives any requirement that Nucor post a bond. Executive
further agrees that in the event of his breach of any of the provisions of Sections 8 through 13 of this Agreement, unless otherwise prohibited by law: 

(a) Nucor shall be entitled to (i) cancel any unexercised stock options granted under any senior officer equity incentive
compensation plan from and after the date of this Agreement (the “Post-Agreement Date Option Grants”), (ii) cease payment of any Monthly Amounts otherwise due hereunder, (iii) seek other appropriate relief, including,
without limitation, repayment by Executive of any (A) Monthly Amounts already paid hereunder and (B) benefits already paid under any severance plan (including the Severance Plan) or similar benefit plans; and 

  
 8 

 (b) Executive shall (i) forfeit any (A) unexercised Post-Agreement Date
Option Grants and (B) any shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units granted under any senior officer equity incentive compensation plan that vested during the six (6) month period immediately preceding Executive’s
termination of employment (the “Vested Stock”) and (ii) forfeit and immediately return upon demand by Nucor any profit realized by Executive from the exercise of any Post-Agreement Date Option Grants or sale or exchange of
any Vested Stock during the six (6) month period preceding Executive’s breach of any of the provisions of Sections 8 through 13 of this Agreement. 

Executive agrees that any breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Sections 8 through 13 will cause Nucor irreparable harm which cannot be
remedied through monetary damages and the alternative relief set forth in Sections 15(a) and (b) shall not be considered an adequate remedy for the harm Nucor would incur. Executive further agrees that such remedies in Sections 15(a) and
(b) will not preclude injunctive relief. 
 If Executive breaches or threatens to breach any of the provisions of Sections 10, 11 or 12 of this
Agreement and Nucor obtains an injunction, preliminary or otherwise, ordering Executive to adhere to the restrictive period required by the applicable paragraph, then the applicable restrictive period will be extended by the number of days that have
elapsed from the date of Executive’s termination until the time the injunction is granted. 
 Executive further agrees, unless otherwise prohibited by
law, to pay Nucor’s attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in successfully enforcing its rights pursuant to this Section 15, or in defending against any action brought by Executive or on Executive’s behalf in violation of or under
this Section 15 in which Nucor prevails. Executive agrees that Nucor’s actions pursuant to this Section 15, including, without limitation, filing a legal action, are permissible and are not and will not be considered by Executive to
be retaliatory. Executive further represents and acknowledges that in the event of the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive’s experience and capabilities are such that Executive can obtain employment and that
enforcement of this Agreement by way of injunction will not prevent Executive from earning a livelihood. 
 16. Reasonableness of
Restrictions. Executive has carefully considered the nature and extent of the restrictions upon him and the rights and remedies conferred upon Nucor under Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15 and hereby acknowledges and agrees that the same are
reasonable in time and territory, are designed to eliminate competition which would otherwise be unfair to Nucor, do not interfere with Executive’s exercise of his inherent skill and experience, are reasonably required to protect the legitimate
interests of Nucor, and do not confer a benefit upon Nucor disproportionate to the detriment to Executive. Executive certifies that he has had the opportunity to discuss this Agreement with such legal advisors as he chooses and that he understands
its provisions and has entered into this Agreement freely and voluntarily. 

  
 9 

 17. Applicable Law. Following Executive’s promotion to Executive Vice President of
Engineered Bar Products, Executive’s primary place of employment will be Nucor’s corporate headquarters located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Accordingly, this Agreement is made in, and shall be interpreted, construed and governed
according to the laws of, the State of North Carolina, regardless of choice of law principles of any jurisdiction to the contrary. Each party, for themselves and their successors and assigns, hereby irrevocably (a) consents to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the North Carolina State courts located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and (b) waives any objection to any such action based on venue or forum non conveniens. Further, Executive hereby irrevocably consents to the
jurisdiction of any court or similar body within the Restricted Territory for enforcement of any judgment entered in a court or similar body pursuant to this Agreement. This Agreement is intended, among other things, to supplement the provisions of
the North Carolina Trade Secrets Protection Act, as amended from time to time, and the duties Executive owes to Nucor under the common law, including, but not limited to, the duty of loyalty. 

18. Executive to Return Property. Executive agrees that upon (a) the termination of Executive’s employment with Nucor and
within three (3) business days thereof, whether by Executive or Nucor for any reason (with or without cause), or (b) the written request of Nucor, Executive (or in the event of the death or disability of Executive, Executive’s heirs,
successors, assigns and legal representatives) shall return to Nucor any and all property of Nucor regardless of the medium in which such property is stored or kept, including but not limited to all Secret Information, Confidential Information,
notes, data, tapes, computers, lists, customer lists, names of customers, reference items, phones, documents, sketches, drawings, software, product samples, rolodex cards, forms, manuals, keys, pass or access cards and equipment, without retaining
any copies or summaries of such property. Executive further agrees that to the extent Secret Information or Confidential Information are in electronic format and in Executive’s possession, custody or control, Executive will provide all such
copies to Nucor and will not keep copies in such format but, upon Nucor’s request, will confirm the permanent deletion or other destruction thereof. 

19. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement discharges and cancels all previous agreements regarding Executive’s employment
with Nucor, including without limitation that certain Executive Agreement by and between Nucor Corporation and Executive dated as of December 10, 2009, and constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with regard to the subject matter
hereof. No agreements, representations, or statements of any party not contained herein shall be binding on either party. Further, no amendment or variation of the terms or conditions of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by
both parties. 
 20. Assignability. This Agreement and the rights and duties created hereunder shall not be assignable or delegable
by Executive. Nucor may, at its option and without consent of Executive, assign its rights and duties hereunder to any successor entity or transferee of Nucor Corporation’s assets. 

21. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Nucor and Executive and their respective
successors, assigns, heirs and legal representatives. 
 22. No Waiver. No failure or delay by any party to this Agreement to enforce
any right specified in this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, nor will any single or partial exercise of a right preclude any further or later enforcement of the right within the period of the applicable statute of limitations. No
waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless such waiver is set forth in a written instrument executed by the party waiving compliance. 

23. Cooperation. Executive agrees that both during and after his employment, he shall, at Nucor’s request, render all assistance
and perform all lawful acts that Nucor considers necessary or 

  
 10 

 
advisable in connection with any litigation involving Nucor or any of its directors, officers, employees, shareholders, agents, representatives, consultants, clients, customers or vendors.
Executive understands and agrees that Nucor will reimburse him for any reasonable documented expense he incurs related to this cooperation and assistance, but will not be obligated to pay him any additional amounts. 

24. Compliance with Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if (a) Executive is a
“specified employee” under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) as of the date of his separation from service and (b) any amount or benefit that Nucor determines would
constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code would otherwise be payable or distributable under this Agreement by reason of Executive’s separation from service, then to the extent
necessary to comply with Code Section 409A: (i) if the payment or distribution is payable in a lump sum, Executive’s right to receive payment or distribution of such non-exempt deferred compensation will be delayed until the earlier
of Executive’s death or the seventh month following Executive’s separation from service, and (ii) if the payment, distribution or benefit is payable or provided over time, the amount of such non-exempt deferred compensation or benefit
that would otherwise be payable or provided during the six (6) month period immediately following Executive’s separation from service will be accumulated, and Executive’s right to receive payment or distribution of such accumulated
amount or benefit will be delayed until the earlier of Executive’s death or the seventh month following Executive’s separation from service and paid or provided on the earlier of such dates, without interest, and the normal payment or
distribution schedule for any remaining payments, distributions or benefits will commence. 
 For purposes of this Agreement, the term
“separation from service” shall be defined as provided in Code Section 409A and applicable regulations, and Executive shall be a “specified employee” during the twelve (12) month period beginning April 1 each year
if Executive met the requirements of Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii) or (iii) of the Code (applied in accordance with the regulations thereunder and disregarding Section 416(i)(5) of the Code) at any time during the twelve
(12) month period ending on the December 31 immediately preceding his separation from service. 
 [Signatures Appear on
Following Page] 

  
 11 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive and Nucor Corporation have executed this Agreement on the dates
specified below. 
  

					
	EXECUTIVE
	
	 /s/ David A. Sumoski

	David A. Sumoski
	Date:	 	 9/15/14

	
	NUCOR CORPORATION
	
	 /s/ John J. Ferriola

	John J. Ferriola
	Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
	Date:	 	 9/15/14

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