[DEF 14A] COMMERCIAL METALS Co Definitive Proxy Statement
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Commercial Metals Company (CMC) has released its 2026 proxy for a virtual annual meeting on January 14, 2026. Stockholders of record as of November 17, 2025, when 111,047,945 common shares were outstanding, may vote online, by phone, by mail, or during the webcast. They are asked to elect three Class I directors to terms ending in 2029, ratify Deloitte & Touche LLP as auditor for fiscal 2026, and approve an advisory vote on executive compensation, all recommended FOR by the Board.
The proxy highlights 2025 performance: net earnings of $84.7 million, cash flows from operating activities of $715.1 million, Core EBITDA of $837.3 million, an estimated $50 million EBITDA benefit from the TAG program, and $198.8 million of share repurchases under an $850 million authorization. CMC also agreed to acquire Concrete Pipe & Precast and Foley Products to expand its precast platform and emphasizes an independent, diverse Board, strong governance practices, and pay-for-performance executive compensation design.
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
2024 PROXY STATEMENT i

Notice of 2025 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
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When Wednesday, January 14, 2026, |
Where Virtual meeting via live audio webcast Register in advance at: www.proxydocs.com/CMC
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Who Can Vote Stockholders of record at the |
How to Vote: It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. We urge you to vote by using any of these methods. Via the Internet: www.proxypush.com/CMC By Telephone: 1-866-362-4503 By Mail: Mark, sign, date and mail your proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. At the Annual Meeting: Attend the Annual Meeting and vote your shares during the live webcast. |
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Proposal |
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Board Vote Recommendation |
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Election of three director nominees to serve as Class I directors until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders |
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FOR each of the |
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Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2026 |
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Advisory vote on executive compensation |
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FOR |
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Any other business that may properly come before the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) |
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This Notice, the Proxy Statement and the proxy card are being made available, and the Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials is being sent commencing on approximately November 25, 2025 to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 17, 2025.
In order to attend the Annual Meeting, you must register in advance at www.proxydocs.com/CMC prior to the deadline of January 12, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time (“CT”). Following registration, you will immediately receive a confirmation e-mail, which will include information about when you should expect to receive a unique link to gain access to the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you will be able to attend the Annual Meeting, PLEASE VOTE YOUR SHARES PROMPTLY BY EITHER SIGNING AND RETURNING THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD OR CASTING YOUR VOTE VIA TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET AS DIRECTED ON THE PROXY CARD. YOU MAY ALSO VOTE YOUR SHARES DURING THE LIVE WEBCAST OF THE ANNUAL MEETING.
By Order of the Board of Directors,

Jody Absher
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
Irving, Texas
November 25, 2025
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: The Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available free of charge at www.proxydocs.com/CMC. Please reference the control number on your proxy card and on the Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials. |
Table of Contents
Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Stockholders |
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Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
81 |
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Proxy Statement Summary |
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Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation |
83 |
Information About the Meeting and Voting |
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Equity Compensation Plans |
84 |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
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2027 Annual Meeting and Stockholder Proposals |
85 |
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Proposal 1: Election of Directors |
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Other Business |
85 |
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Corporate Governance; Board and Committee Matters |
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Appendix A: Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures |
A-1 |
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Sustainability at CMC |
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Frequently Referenced Topics |
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Compensation Committee Report |
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Board Committees |
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis |
42 |
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Director Qualifications and Skills |
33 |
Executive Compensation |
56 |
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Fiscal Year 2025 Summary Compensation Table |
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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation |
77 |
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Pay Versus Performance |
69 |
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Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions |
78 |
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Audit Committee Report |
79 |
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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements; Available Information
This proxy statement includes estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, initiatives, objectives, and expected operating results that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements may appear throughout this proxy statement. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by phrases such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “future,” “intends,” “may,” “plans to,” “ought,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “appears,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “outlook” or other similar words or phrases, as well as by discussions of strategy, plans, or intentions. Our forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and beliefs as of the date of this proxy statement. Although we believe that our expectations are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual results may vary materially. We describe risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including, but not limited to, in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2025. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.
References to our website in this proxy statement are provided as a convenience, and the information on our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be a part of this proxy statement or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC.
Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Stockholders
To Be Held On January 14, 2026
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Commercial Metals Company (“we,” “CMC,” or the “Company”) for use at the Annual Meeting to be held virtually via live audio webcast on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., CT, and at any and all postponements or adjournments of the Annual Meeting. The approximate date on which this proxy statement and accompanying proxy card are first being made available to stockholders is November 25, 2025.
In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the SEC, instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to each stockholder of record, we are furnishing proxy materials to our stockholders on the Internet. You will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials, unless you specifically request a printed copy. Instead, on or about November 25, 2025, we will mail to our stockholders a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our proxy materials and annual report on the Internet. The Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials will instruct you as to how you may access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials. The Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials will also instruct you as to how you may submit your proxy on the Internet.
Shares represented by each proxy, if properly executed and returned to us prior to the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions in the accompanying proxy card and the Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials, will be voted as directed, but if not otherwise specified, will be voted as follows:
A stockholder executing a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted (or in the case of voting by telephone or the Internet, prior to the close of voting) by giving written notice to our Corporate Secretary of the Company or by subsequently executing and delivering a new proxy.
Stockholders of record can simplify their voting and reduce our cost by voting their shares by telephone or the Internet. The telephone and Internet voting procedures are designed to authenticate stockholders’ identities, to allow stockholders to vote their shares, and to confirm that their instructions have been properly recorded. If a stockholder’s shares are held in the name of a bank, broker, trust or other nominee, the availability of telephone and Internet voting will depend upon the voting processes of the bank, broker, trust or other nominee. Accordingly, stockholders should follow the voting instructions on the form they receive from their bank, broker, trust or other nominee.
Instructions for voting by telephone or the Internet are contained in the Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials you received. You may also vote your shares during the live webcast of the Annual Meeting. Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 17, 2025 are entitled to notice of and to attend and/or vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments of the Annual Meeting. The list of stockholders will be available for inspection by stockholders during the Annual Meeting at www.proxydocs.com/CMC and during the 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting at our principal executive office located at 6565 North MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800, Irving, Texas 75039.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 1
Proxy Statement Summary
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement and does not contain all of the information that you should consider. You should read the entire proxy statement carefully before voting.
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Date and Time January 14, 2026 10:00 a.m. CT |
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Location Virtual meeting via live audio webcast Register in advance at: www.proxydocs.com/CMC |
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Record Date November 17, 2025 |
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Voting
Stockholders as of the close of business on the record date are entitled to vote. Each share of common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote for each director to be elected and one vote for each of the other matters to be voted upon.
Proposal |
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Board Vote Recommendation |
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Election of three director nominees to serve as Class I directors until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders |
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FOR each of the |
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Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2026 |
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FOR |
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Advisory vote on executive compensation |
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83 |
FOR |
2 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Proxy Statement Summary
Significant Developments
Fiscal year 2025 marked a pivotal chapter in our journey—one defined by bold execution of our strategy and a relentless focus on building a stronger, more resilient company. Our strategic vision is centered on driving sustainable improvements to margins, earnings, cash flow, and returns on capital, while reducing volatility across our business. We are executing this vision through three interconnected paths: investing in our people and pursuing excellence, delivering value-accretive organic growth, and enhancing our capabilities with strategically aligned inorganic growth.
1 We have not reconciled the forward-looking estimates of TAG-related EBITDA benefits to comparable GAAP measures because applicable information for future periods, on which these reconciliations would be based, is not readily available due to uncertainty regarding, and the potential variability of metal margins, U.S. trade policy, cost levels of key production inputs, construction activity and related product demand, etc. Accordingly, reconciliations of the forward-looking estimates of TAG-related EBITDA benefits to net earnings are not available at this time without unreasonable effort. Benefit estimates are based on the value of changes to key margin, cost, or efficiency drivers achieved through the TAG program as compared to a baseline fiscal 2024 starting point.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 3
Proxy Statement Summary
Fiscal Year 2025 Highlights
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$715.1M Cash Flows From Operating Activities |
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$84.7M Net Earnings |
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$837.3M Core EBITDA(1) |
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$50M EBITDA benefit from Tag program(3)
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$198.8M VALUE OF Shares repurchased under $850M Buyback program(2) |
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THIRD consecutive year of |
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133 CMC facilities had no recordable injuries in fiscal year 2025 |

4 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Proxy Statement Summary
Director Nominee Highlights
Dawne S. Hickton Chair, CEO and President of Age: 68 Director Since: 2025 Committees: Other Public Company Boards: 1 |
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Peter R. Matt President and CEO of CMC Age: 63 Director Since: 2020 Committees: None Other Public Company Boards: None |
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Robert S. Wetherbee Executive Chairman of the Board Age: 66 Director Since: 2023 Committees: Other Public Company Boards: 2 |
Continuing Director Highlights
Dennis V. Arriola Former CEO of Avangrid, Inc. Age: 64 Director Since: 2024 Committees: Other Public Company Boards: 2 |
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Lisa M. Barton President and CEO of Alliant Age: 60 Director Since: 2020 Committees: Other Public Company Boards: 1 |
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Gary E. McCullough Retired – Former CEO of ARI Age: 66 Director Since: 2021 Committees: Other Public Company Boards: 1 |
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John R. McPherson Former EVP and Chief Financial Age: 57 Director Since: 2022 Committees: Other Public Company Boards: None |
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Tandra C. Perkins SVP, Chief Digital and Administrative Officer Age: 54 Director Since: 2024 Committees: Other Public Company Boards: None |
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Charles L. Szews Retired – Former President Age: 69 Director Since: 2014 Committees: Other Public Company Boards: 2 |
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2026 PROXY STATEMENT 5
Proxy Statement Summary
Current Board Highlights
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Board Skills, Experience & Diversity Matrix
The skills and experiences set forth below are critical to the Board’s ability to provide effective oversight of the Company and are directly relevant to the Company’s business. Our Board currently consists of ten directors with four directors in Class I and three directors in each of Class II and Class III. Ms. Raiss is included in the matrix below, but has decided to retire as a director of the Company and not stand for re-election upon expiration of her current term at the Annual Meeting. The Board has determined not to fill the vacancy that will occur as a result of Ms. Raiss’s retirement, and as a result, effective at the Annual Meeting, the number of Board members will be reduced from ten to nine persons.

6 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Proxy Statement Summary
Board Refreshment since 2021
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s work on director succession and refreshment has resulted in six new directors being added to our Board since 2021. This intentional and planned approach has resulted in a mix of skills, experience, tenure, and diversity that promotes and supports the Company’s long-term growth strategy.
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2026 PROXY STATEMENT 7
Proxy Statement Summary
Governance Highlights
Board Composition |
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• Independent Chairman of the Board with robust duties • Diversity in Board composition (ethnically/racially or gender diverse directors make up 60% of our Board) • Regular executive sessions of independent directors at Board and committee meetings |
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• Nine of ten directors are independent • Commitment to proactive Board refreshment with six new directors in the last five years • All Board committees are composed of independent directors |
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Effective Practices |
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• Directors are limited to three other public company directorships and the CEO is limited to one other public company directorship • Annual Board and committee self-evaluations and individual director evaluations • Non-employee director stock ownership guidelines require at least 5x annual cash retainer • Quarterly committee oversight of cybersecurity resilience |
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• Succession planning for senior management • Robust risk management framework, with multiple layers of risk assessment and mitigation • Board and committees regularly review environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters • Annual review of committee charters and Corporate Governance Guidelines
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Stockholder Rights |
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• One class of outstanding shares with each share entitled to one vote • Stockholder right to call special meetings • Annual advisory approval of executive compensation |
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• Stockholder proxy access right • Majority voting with director resignation policy for uncontested elections • No poison pill |
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Executive Compensation Advisory Vote
We are asking stockholders to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, our named executive officer (“NEO”) compensation as described in this proxy statement. Our Board recommends a FOR vote because it believes that our compensation policies and practices are reasonable, competitive, and highly focused on pay-for-performance principles, as described in more detail in Proposal 3 on page 83.
8 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Proxy Statement Summary
Aligning Pay and Performance
The Compensation Committee of our Board (the “Compensation Committee”) designs compensation programs to align the actions of our NEOs with the long-term interests of our stockholders based on the fundamental philosophy to pay for performance.
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Elements of Target 2025 Compensation
The Compensation Committee designs compensation programs to align the actions of our NEOs with the long-term interests of our stockholders based on the fundamental philosophy to pay for performance. As illustrated below, for fiscal year 2025, approximately 86% of the targeted annual compensation for the CEO and, on average, 74% of the targeted annual compensation for our other NEOs was variable or “at risk” and tied to CMC’s performance.


2026 PROXY STATEMENT 9
Proxy Statement Summary
Compensation Governance Practices
The following are highlights of CMC’s compensation governance framework, which the Compensation Committee believes reinforces our pay-for-performance philosophy:
What we do |
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Target total compensation at approximately the 50th percentile of Peer Data (as defined on page 47) |
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At least 50% of long-term incentive awards are in the form of PSUs |
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Independent executive compensation consultant |
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Limited perquisites |
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Double trigger vesting upon a change in control for equity awards |
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Double trigger for market-based severance upon a change in control |
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Analyze risk when setting executive compensation |
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Clawback policy for executive incentive compensation |
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Majority of NEO compensation is at risk |
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Robust NEO and director stock ownership and retention guidelines |
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Multiple performance metrics and multi-year vesting timeframes, emphasizing Adjusted Earnings (Comp), Adjusted EBITDA (Comp), ROICC and Relative TSR measures |
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What we doN't DO |
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No hedging, pledging or short sales of CMC stock by directors, officers or employees |
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No guaranteed incentive bonus payments |
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No repricing of stock options without stockholder approval |
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No dividend equivalents on stock options |
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No tax gross-up reimbursement payments to our executives for excise taxes on payments received in connection with a change in control or under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) |
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No acceleration of vesting upon retirement for equity awards |
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No exceptions to the prohibition on pledging CMC stock as collateral |
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10 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Information About the Meeting and Voting
These materials were provided to you because our Board is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting, and at any postponements or adjournments of the Annual Meeting. This proxy statement describes the matters on which you, as a stockholder, are entitled to vote. It also provides information that is intended to assist you in making an informed vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. Pursuant to rules adopted by the SEC, we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, on or about November 25, 2025, we intend to mail a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials to our stockholders of record and beneficial owners. The Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials will explain how you may access the proxy materials on the Internet and how you may vote your proxy. If you receive a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials by mail and would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting printed materials included in the Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials. Our Board encourages you to take advantage of the availability of the proxy materials on the Internet.
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Why did my household receive only one copy of the Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy materials? |
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In addition to furnishing proxy materials electronically, we take advantage of the SEC’s “householding” rules to reduce the delivery cost of materials. Under such rules, only one Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials or, if you have requested paper copies, only one set of proxy materials is delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless we have received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. If you are a stockholder sharing an address with another stockholder and wish to receive a separate Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials or separate copy of our proxy materials, you may so request by contacting our Corporate Secretary of CMC at (214) 689-4300 or by mail to 6565 North MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800, Irving, Texas 75039. A separate copy will be promptly provided following receipt of your request, and you will receive separate materials in the future. If you currently share an address with another stockholder but are nonetheless receiving separate copies of the materials, you may request delivery of a single copy in the future by contacting our Corporate Secretary at the contact information shown above. |
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Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting? |
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Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 17, 2025 are entitled to notice of and to attend and/or vote at the Annual Meeting or any postponements or adjournments of the Annual Meeting. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each director to be elected and one vote for each of the other proposals. |
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How can I attend the 2026 Annual Meeting? |
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As permitted by Delaware law and the Company’s amended and restated bylaws, the Annual Meeting will be held solely as a virtual meeting via live audio webcast. You must register in advance at www.proxydocs.com/CMC to receive a unique link to gain access to attend the Annual Meeting. |
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How can I vote my shares? |
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You can vote your shares in one of four ways: • By Submitting a Proxy by Internet. Go to: www.proxypush.com/CMC, where you may submit a proxy by Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To be valid, your proxy must be received by the Annual Meeting. • By Submitting a Proxy by Telephone. To submit a proxy using the telephone, call the number listed on the proxy card any time. You may submit a proxy by telephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Follow the simple prompts and instructions provided by the recorded message. To be valid, your proxy must be received by the Annual Meeting. • By Submitting a Proxy by Mail. If you choose to submit your proxy by mail, simply mark your proxy, date and sign it and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. To be valid, your proxy must be received by the Annual Meeting. • During the Annual Meeting. To vote during the live webcast of the Annual Meeting, you must first register at www.proxydocs.com/CMC. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via e-mail, including |
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 11
Information About the Meeting and Voting
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your unique link that will allow you to access the Annual Meeting and to submit questions prior to the Annual Meeting. Please be sure to follow instructions found on your proxy card and/or voting authorization form and subsequent instructions that will be delivered to you via e-mail. Stockholders will be able to log into the Annual Meeting platform beginning at 9:45 a.m. (CT) on January 14, 2026 pursuant to the unique access instructions they receive following their advance registration at www.proxydocs.com/CMC. The Control Number provided on your voting information form or proxy card is necessary to vote. Please review the materials provided to you and vote as soon as possible. |
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How can I revoke my proxy or substitute a new proxy or change my vote? |
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You may revoke your proxy, substitute a new proxy, or change your vote by: • Submitting in a timely manner a new proxy through the Internet or by telephone that is received by the Annual Meeting; • Requesting, executing and mailing a later-dated proxy card that is received by the Annual Meeting; • Sending written notice of revocation to our Corporate Secretary at 6565 North MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800, Irving, Texas 75039 (which must be received by 5:00 p.m. (CT) on January 12, 2026); or • Voting during the virtual Annual Meeting. If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker or other holder of record. |
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How many shares must be present to conduct the Annual Meeting? |
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We must have a “quorum” to conduct the Annual Meeting. A quorum is a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, represented in person or by proxy. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present. As of the close of business on November 17, 2025, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, there were 111,047,945 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding, not including approximately 18,012,719 treasury shares. There were no shares of our preferred stock outstanding on November 17, 2025. |
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How do I vote if I cannot attend the virtual Annual Meeting? |
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By voting your shares by telephone or the Internet by following the instructions on the Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials or, if you requested a printed copy of our proxy materials, by signing, dating and returning the proxy card you received, you will enable Peter R. Matt, Paul J. Lawrence and Jody K. Absher, each of whom is named on the proxy card as a “Proxy Holder,” to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting in the manner you indicate. When you vote your shares by proxy, you can specify whether your shares should be voted for or against each of the director nominees identified in Proposal 1. You can also specify how you want your shares voted with respect to Proposals 2 and 3, which are described elsewhere in this proxy statement. Management of the Company is not aware of any matters other than those described in this proxy statement that may be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. If you vote by proxy and any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for consideration, the Proxy Holders will have discretion to vote for you on those matters. |
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How may I submit questions at the virtual Annual Meeting? |
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We are committed to ensuring that our stockholders have similar opportunities to participate in our virtual Annual Meeting as they would at an in-person meeting. To submit questions at the Annual Meeting, you must first register in advance at www.proxydocs.com/CMC prior to the deadline of January 12, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (CT). Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via e-mail, including your unique link that will allow you to access the Annual Meeting and will also permit you to submit questions. The Control Number provided on your voting information form or proxy card is necessary to access the virtual meeting site. All questions must be submitted in advance of the Annual Meeting by January 12, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (CT). In order to ensure an efficient and organized meeting, stockholders will not be permitted to ask questions that were not submitted in advance of the Annual Meeting. Appropriate, pre-submitted questions related to the business of the Annual Meeting (the proposals being voted upon) will be answered during the Annual Meeting, subject to time constraints. Any such questions that cannot be answered during the Annual Meeting due to time constraints will be posted and answered on the Investors section of our website as soon as practical after the Annual Meeting. More information regarding the question and answer process, including the number and |
12 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Information About the Meeting and Voting
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types of questions permitted, the time allotted for questions, and how questions will be recognized and answered are found in the rules of conduct for the Annual Meeting, which will be available at www.proxydocs.com/CMC. |
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What if during the check-in time or during the Annual Meeting I have technical difficulties or trouble accessing the virtual meeting website? |
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We will have technicians ready to assist you with any technical difficulties you may have accessing the virtual Annual Meeting website. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual Annual Meeting website during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the Annual Meeting login page and included in the meeting access e-mail. Registration support is also available by directing your question(s) to the e-mail address displayed on the registration page. |
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What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner? |
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If your shares are registered in your name with our transfer agent, Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., you are the “stockholder of record” of those shares, and the materials have been provided directly to you by CMC. In contrast, if you purchased your shares through a bank, broker, trust or other nominee, the bank, broker, trust or other nominee is the “stockholder of record” of those shares. Generally, when this occurs, the bank, broker, trust or other nominee automatically puts your shares into “street name,” which means that the bank, broker, trust or other nominee holds your shares in its name or another nominee’s name and not in your name, but keeps records showing you as the real or “beneficial owner.” If you hold shares beneficially in “street name,” the materials have been forwarded to you by your bank, broker, trust or other holder of record. |
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What are broker non-votes? |
A: |
A broker non-vote occurs when a bank, broker, trust or other nominee does not vote on a particular proposal because the bank, broker, trust or other nominee does not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owner and does not have the discretion to direct the voting of the shares. Broker non-votes are included in the number of shares present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum. Broker non-votes are not counted as votes cast either “for” or “against” a director nominee’s election and are not counted for purposes of determining the voting power with respect to a particular proposal. As described below, banks, brokers, trusts and other nominees will not have discretion to vote on the election of directors or the advisory vote on executive compensation. |
Q: |
Will my shares be voted if I do not provide instructions to my bank, broker, trust or other nominee? |
A: |
If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” by a bank, broker, trust or other nominee, the bank, broker, trust or other nominee, as the record holder of the shares, is required to vote those shares in accordance with your instructions. Under applicable New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules, if you hold your shares through a bank, broker, trust or other nominee, and your bank, broker, trust or other nominee delivers this proxy statement to you, but you do not give instructions to the bank, broker, trust or other nominee, the bank, broker, trust or other nominee does not have the discretion to vote on the election of directors or the advisory vote on executive compensation. THEREFORE, UNLESS YOU PROVIDE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS TO THE BANK, BROKER, TRUST OR OTHER NOMINEE HOLDING SHARES ON YOUR BEHALF, THE BANK, BROKER, TRUST OR OTHER NOMINEE WILL NOT HAVE DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO VOTE YOUR SHARES ON THESE PROPOSALS. We strongly encourage you to vote your proxy or provide voting instructions to the bank, broker, trust or other nominee so that your vote on these matters will be counted. Under NYSE rules, if you hold your shares through a bank, broker, trust or other nominee and your bank, broker, trust or other nominee delivers this proxy statement to you, but you do not give instructions to the bank, broker, trust or other nominee, the bank, broker, trust or other nominee will have the discretion to vote on the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2026. |
Q: |
What are the proposals and what is the required vote for each? |
A: |
• Proposal 1: Election of Directors. In an uncontested election of directors, each director is elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast. A majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “against” such director nominee. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast either “for” or “against” a director nominee’s election and therefore will have no effect on the outcome. Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, in an uncontested election of directors, any director nominee who has a greater number of votes “against” his or her election than votes “for” such election is required to promptly tender his or her resignation following certification of the stockholder vote. Such resignation will be effective only upon the acceptance |
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 13
Information About the Meeting and Voting
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thereof by our Board, and such director will continue in office until such resignation is accepted or, if not accepted, until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee”) shall promptly consider the tendered resignation and a range of possible responses based on the circumstances, if known, that led to the election results and recommend to our Board whether to accept or reject the resignation offer or whether other action should be taken with respect thereto. Our Board will act upon such recommendation(s) within 120 days following certification of the stockholder vote and shall promptly disclose its decision regarding whether to accept the director’s resignation offer. Any director who tenders a resignation pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines shall not participate in either the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s deliberations or recommendation or our Board’s deliberations, in each case regarding whether to accept the resignation offer or take other action. If directors who have tendered resignations constitute a majority of the directors then in office, then, with respect to each tendered resignation, all directors, other than the director who tendered the particular resignation under consideration, may participate in the deliberations and action regarding whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation or to take other action with respect thereto. • Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares having voting power represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required to adopt Proposal 2 to ratify Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2026. An abstention on Proposal 2 will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal 2. Broker non-votes are not applicable to Proposal 2. • Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation. Proposal 3 is being submitted to enable stockholders to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our NEOs. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares having voting power represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required to adopt Proposal 3. An abstention on Proposal 3 will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal 3. A broker non-vote will not have any effect on Proposal 3 and will not be counted. Proposal 3 is an advisory vote only, and therefore it will not bind CMC or our Board. However, our Board and the Compensation Committee will consider the voting results, as appropriate, when making future decisions regarding executive compensation. |
Q: |
What are the recommendations of our Board? |
A: |
Our Board recommends that you vote: |
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• FOR Proposal 1 – the election of the three director nominees nominated by our Board and named in this proxy statement; • FOR Proposal 2 – the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2026; and • FOR Proposal 3 – the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers. |
Q: |
Who will count the votes at the Annual Meeting? |
A: |
We have retained BetaNXT to provide hosting services related to the Annual Meeting and to assist as master tabulator and inspector of election. |
Q: |
What happens if the Annual Meeting is adjourned? |
A: |
If we adjourn the Annual Meeting, we will conduct the same business at the adjourned meeting, and our Board can decide to set a new record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, or decide to only allow the stockholders entitled to vote at the original meeting to vote at the adjourned meeting. According to CMC’s amended and restated bylaws, when a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. However, if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which the meeting was originally scheduled to take place, notice of the place, if any, date, and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting must be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, our Board will fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting and will give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting. |
Q: |
Whom can I contact if I have questions? |
14 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Information About the Meeting and Voting
A: |
If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting or how to vote your shares, please call the office of our Corporate Secretary at (214) 689-4300. |
Q: |
Where can I find the voting results? |
A: |
We plan to report the voting results in a Current Report on Form 8-K, which we expect to file with the SEC (www.sec.gov) within four business days of the Annual Meeting. |
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 15
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
On the basis of filings with the SEC and other information, we believe that based on 111,047,945 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of the close of business on November 17, 2025, the following persons beneficially owned more than five percent (5%) of our outstanding common stock:
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Name and Address |
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Amount and |
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Percent of |
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BlackRock, Inc.(1) |
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50 Hudson Yards |
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13,705,272 |
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12.3 |
% |
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12.3 |
% |
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The Vanguard Group(2) |
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100 Vanguard Blvd. |
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12,640,764 |
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11.4 |
% |
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Dimensional Fund Advisors LP(3) |
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6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One |
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7,611,397 |
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6.9 |
% |
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State Street Corporation(4) |
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One Congress Street, Suite 1 |
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6,037,475 |
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5.4 |
% |
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16 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth information known to us about the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the close of business on November 17, 2025 by each current director, our NEOs and all current directors and executive officers as a group based on 111,047,945 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of the close of business on November 17, 2025. We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Under such rules, a person is generally deemed to beneficially own a security if such person has sole or shared voting or investment power with respect to that security, including with respect to securities that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days. Unless stated otherwise in the notes to the table, each person named below has sole authority to vote and dispose of the shares listed.
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Name |
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Owned Shares |
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Percentage of |
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Directors and Director Nominees (excluding Mr. Matt) |
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Dennis V. Arriola |
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5,016 |
(1) |
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* |
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Lisa M. Barton |
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22,640 |
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* |
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Dawne S. Hickton |
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539 |
(2) |
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* |
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Gary E. McCullough |
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25,468 |
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* |
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John R. McPherson |
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23,267 |
(3) |
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* |
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Tandra C. Perkins |
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3,897 |
(4) |
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* |
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Sarah E. Raiss |
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100,548 |
(5) |
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* |
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Charles L. Szews |
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60,620 |
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* |
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Robert S. Wetherbee |
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11,057 |
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* |
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Named Executive Officers |
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* |
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Peter R. Matt |
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83,423 |
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* |
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Paul J. Lawrence |
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190,181 |
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* |
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Kekin M. Ghelani |
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2,818 |
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* |
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Jody K. Absher |
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58,411 |
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* |
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Jennifer J. Durbin |
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59,357 |
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* |
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All directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group (15 persons) |
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692,594 |
(6) |
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* |
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* Percentage ownership of less than one percent (1%).
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 17
Proposal 1
Election Of Directors
Information about our Board and the Director Nominees
Our certificate of incorporation divides our Board into three classes. Our Board currently consists of ten directors with four directors in Class I and three directors in each of Class II and Class III. Ms. Raiss, as a Class I director, has decided to retire as a director of the Company and not stand for re-election upon expiration of her current term at the Annual Meeting. The Board has determined not to fill the vacancy that will occur as a result of Ms. Raiss’s retirement, and as a result, effective at the Annual Meeting, the number of Board members will be reduced from ten to nine persons.
The term of office of our current Class I directors expires at the Annual Meeting. There are three Class I director nominees standing for election at the Annual Meeting.
The term of the Class I directors elected at the Annual Meeting ends at the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders. The term of the Class II directors ends at the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders and the term of the Class III directors ends at the 2028 annual meeting of stockholders.
Proxies cannot be voted for the election of more than three persons to our Board at the Annual Meeting.
Each director nominee named in this proxy statement has consented to being named in this proxy statement and to serve if elected. If any director nominee is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the shares represented by the proxies will be voted for the person, if any, designated by our Board to replace such director nominee. However, CMC has no reason to believe that any director nominee will be unable to serve. All of the director nominees, as well as the continuing directors, plan to attend the Annual Meeting.
Changes to our Board During 2025
In connection with our Board’s succession planning, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee conducted a search process to select qualified director candidates.
In its evaluation of potential director candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee took into account many factors, including each candidate’s: general understanding of elements relevant to the success of a large publicly traded company in the current business environment; understanding of our business, industry and markets including construction or manufacturing experience; educational and professional background; prior board experience; and ethics, integrity, values, inquisitive and objective perspectives, practical wisdom, judgment and availability. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluated potential candidates in the context of our Board as a whole, with the objective of recommending a director candidate that would be the most likely to help drive the success of the business and represent the long-term interest of our stockholders.
Selected candidates were interviewed by members of our Board as well as executive management. A background review of the ultimate candidates was conducted by an independent professional agency specializing in the performance of such background reviews. As a result of this process, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee selected Dawne S. Hickton from a slate of qualified candidates and recommended her to our Board for appointment during fiscal year 2025. On July 11, 2025, our Board voted to increase the size of our Board from nine to ten directors (and to increase the size of Class I from three to four directors) and to appoint Ms. Hickton as a Class I director, effective October 14, 2025. Ms. Raiss, a Class I director, will retire from the Board at the Annual Meeting after 15 years of distinguished service to the Company. Accordingly, the Board has not nominated Ms. Raiss for re-election as a Class I director.
After the retirement of Ms. Raiss, without reclassifying the directors or adding a new director to fill the vacancy caused by her retirement, the Board will have nine directors, consisting of three Class I directors, three Class II directors and three Class III directors. The seat on our Board currently held by Ms. Raiss will be eliminated concurrently with her retirement at the Annual Meeting, without any further action of the Company or by our Board, and at such time the size of our Board will be automatically reduced from ten persons to nine persons.
18 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
proposal 1: election of directors
Director Nominees
Class I – Term to Expire in 2029*
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Dawne S. Hickton Chair, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Cumberland Additive, Inc. |
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Age: 68 |
Committees: |
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• Audit • Finance |
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Director Since: 2025 |
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Experience: Since June 2022, Ms. Hickton has served as Chair, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Cumberland Additive, Inc., a private company focused on new technologies for specialty metals additive manufacturing. From June 2019 to June 2022, Ms. Hickton served as Executive Vice President and President, Critical Mission Solutions, a division of Jacobs Solutions Inc. (formerly Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.), an international technical professional services firm. Ms. Hickton was previously the Chief Executive Officer of RTI International Metals, Inc., a vertically integrated global supplier of titanium mill products and fabricated metal components for the aerospace, defense, and energy industries. Ms. Hickton also serves on the boards of directors of Elevra Lithium Limited and of VMO Aircraft Leasing. Qualifications: As a current chief executive officer and former chief executive officer of a publicly traded company, Ms. Hickton brings to the Board chief executive leadership experience, as well as extensive operational, commercial, financial, and strategic experience in manufacturing and government services. Her experience from service on other public company boards provides our Board with a broad range of perspectives valuable to the further implementation of our overall growth strategy. |
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Other Current |
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• Elevra Lithium Limited |
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Former • Jacobs Solutions Inc. • F.N.B. Corporation |
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*The terms of office of the Class I directors will expire at the Annual Meeting. If elected, each director nominee will serve until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 19
proposal 1: election of directors
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Peter R. Matt President and Chief Executive Officer of CMC |
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Age: 63 |
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Director Since: 2020 |
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Experience: Mr. Matt has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of CMC since September 1, 2023 and previously served as President of CMC from April 2023 to August 2023. Prior to joining CMC, Mr. Matt served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Constellium N.V. (“Constellium”), a global aluminum fabrication company from 2016 to 2023. Prior to joining Constellium, Mr. Matt served as a Managing Partner for Tumpline Capital, LLC from 2015 to 2016. From 1985 to 2015, he held various leadership positions with Credit Suisse. Qualifications: Mr. Matt brings to the Board a wealth of financial, strategic, and executive managerial experience. He has previously helped engineer the turnaround of a global manufacturing company with extensive work on corporate and operational finance, financial planning, strategy, governance, and a range of other public company topics. Over his 30 years as a banker, he worked closely with a wide range of industrial companies, including a number of steel companies, across a range of financial and strategic products, including asset finance, restructuring, public and private debt and equity securities, and a variety of mergers and acquisitions transactions. |
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20 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
proposal 1: election of directors
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Robert S. Wetherbee Executive Chairman of the Board and Former Chief Executive Officer of ATI Inc.* |
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Age: 66 |
Committees: |
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• Compensation • Nominating and Corporate Governance |
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Director Since: 2023 |
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Chairman of the Board of CMC since September 2024 * Mr. Wetherbee will retire as Executive Chairman of the Board of ATI Inc., effective May 14, 2026. |
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Experience: Since July 1, 2024, Mr. Wetherbee has served as Executive Chairman of the Board of ATI Inc. (“ATI”), a publicly traded global producer of high-performance specialty materials and solutions for the global aerospace and defense markets, and critical applications in electronics, medical, and specialty energy. Previously, Mr. Wetherbee served as Chief Executive Officer of ATI from June 2023 to June 2024 and President and Chief Executive Officer of ATI from 2019 to June 2023. Mr. Wetherbee has been a member of the board of directors of ATI since 2019 and became Board Chair of ATI in 2021. Mr. Wetherbee previously served as Executive Vice President of ATI Flat Rolled Products Group from 2015 until 2018, and was the President of ATI Flat Rolled Products from 2014 until 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Wetherbee served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Minerals Technologies, Inc., a publicly traded, technology-driven specialty minerals company, from 2013 until 2014. He previously served as President of ATI’s tungsten business from 2010 until 2012, following a 29-year career with Alcoa in roles of increasing responsibility. Qualifications: As executive chairman of the board and former chief executive officer of a publicly traded company, Mr. Wetherbee brings to the Board substantial experience in executive leadership, public company governance, business development, and strategic planning. Over the course of his career, Mr. Wetherbee has held a variety of senior management positions and has obtained significant experience with respect to mergers and acquisitions, operational matters, implementation of new technologies, and value creating initiatives. With over 30 years of experience in the metals industry and an established track record of driving organic growth and delivering sustainable profitability, Mr. Wetherbee provides our Board with valuable industry insights and meaningful strategic guidance. |
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Other Current |
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Public Directorships: • ATI Inc. • GATX Corporation |
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2026 PROXY STATEMENT 21
proposal 1: election of directors
Directors Continuing in Office
Class Ii – Term to Expire in 2027
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Dennis V. Arriola Former Chief Executive Officer of Avangrid, Inc. |
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Age: 64 |
Committees: |
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• Audit • Finance |
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Director Since: 2024 |
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Experience: Mr. Arriola is an Operating Partner for Sandbrook Capital, a private investment firm that focuses on investments in global energy infrastructure. From 2020 to 2022, he held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Avangrid, Inc., a leading sustainable energy company with $41 billion in assets operating across 24 states. Mr. Arriola's professional career has also included key leadership roles in executive, operating, and financial functions at Sempra and SunPower Corporation. Qualifications: As the former chief executive officer of a publicly traded company, Mr. Arriola brings to the Board chief executive leadership experience, as well as extensive financial, audit, operational, and strategic planning experience gained from serving in a variety of roles throughout his career. His service on the boards of directors of other publicly traded companies provides our Board with a broad range of perspectives valuable to the further implementation of our overall strategy. |
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Other Current • ConocoPhillips • Meritage Homes Corporation |
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22 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
proposal 1: election of directors
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John R. McPherson Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial & Strategy Officer of Vulcan Materials Company |
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Age: 57 |
Committees: |
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• Finance (Chair) • Audit |
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Director Since: 2022 |
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Experience: Mr. McPherson served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial & Strategy Officer of Vulcan Materials Company (“Vulcan Materials”), a publicly traded company principally engaged in the production, distribution, and sale of construction materials and industrial and specialty chemicals, from 2014 until 2018, as President of its East Region from 2012 until 2014 and as Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development from 2011 until 2012. Prior to joining Vulcan Materials, Mr. McPherson served from 1995 until 2011 in a variety of roles with McKinsey & Company, Inc. (“McKinsey”), including from 2007 through 2011 as a director (senior partner). From 1990 until 1993, Mr. McPherson worked with Goldman Sachs & Company as an investment banker. Qualifications: As a former chief financial officer, Mr. McPherson brings to the Board a comprehensive understanding of public company finance. Mr. McPherson also has extensive knowledge of audit, risk, compliance, and public company reporting requirements. Mr. McPherson’s years of experience as a consultant at McKinsey and as head of strategy at Vulcan Materials enable him to make valuable contributions to the oversight and implementation of the Company’s strategic objectives. |
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Former |
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• Forterra, Inc. |
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2026 PROXY STATEMENT 23
proposal 1: election of directors
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Tandra C. Perkins Senior Vice President, Chief Digital and Administrative Officer of The Phillips 66 Company |
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Age: 54 |
Committees: |
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• Finance • Compensation |
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Director Since: 2024 |
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Experience: Ms. Perkins is the Senior Vice President, Chief Digital and Administrative Officer at The Phillips 66 Company, a leading energy company and provider. From July 2020 to October 2022, she served as Vice Chair of Growth and Strategy for KPMG. Prior to this role, Ms. Perkins held several leadership positions within KPMG over the course of her 21-year tenure with the organization, including as partner-in-charge and other leadership positions at KPMG’s Houston office. Qualifications: Ms. Perkins brings to the Board strong business acumen and 30 years of professional experience across multiple industries including industrial manufacturing and energy. Her service as a chief digital and administrative officer provides our Board with knowledge of cybersecurity and information technology, enterprise services, and innovation. Ms. Perkins’ experience in growth and strategy enables her to make valuable contributions to implement the Company’s strategic objectives. |
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24 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
proposal 1: election of directors
Class IIi – Term to Expire in 2028
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Lisa M. Barton President and Chief Executive Officer of Alliant Energy Corporation |
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Age: 60 |
Committees: |
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• Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair) • Compensation |
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Director Since: 2020 |
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Experience: Ms. Barton is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Alliant Energy Corporation (“Alliant Energy”), a public utility holding company. From 2022 to January 2024, she served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Alliant Energy. From 2021 to 2022, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for American Electric Power Company, Inc. (“AEP”), one of the largest electric energy companies in the U.S. From 2019 through 2020, Ms. Barton was Executive Vice President – Utilities for AEP. From 2011 through 2018, Ms. Barton served as Executive Vice President – AEP Transmission. During her tenure at AEP, she established AEP Transmission Holding Company and its affiliates, oversaw transmission operations, and grew and managed an $18 billion asset base. Prior to joining AEP, Ms. Barton worked for Northeast Utilities, Ransmeier and Spellman and Strategic Energy LLC. Qualifications: Ms. Barton brings to the Board extensive business knowledge and strong leadership, managerial, and strategic experience gained through her various roles at Alliant Energy and AEP. Her experience as an executive of publicly traded companies provides our Board with experience in the areas of financial planning and oversight, leadership, business planning and operations, financial and risk management, safety management systems, customer and regulatory matters, and strategic planning. Ms. Barton’s active participation in national forums on the subject of energy policy and her knowledge of cyber and physical security matters provides our Board with valuable insight into these areas. |
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Public Directorships: • Alliant Energy Corporation |
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2026 PROXY STATEMENT 25
proposal 1: election of directors
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Gary E. McCullough Retired – Former Chief Executive Officer of ARI Packaging, Inc. |
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Director Since: 2021 |
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Experience: From 2014 to 2017, Mr. McCullough served as the Chief Executive Officer of ARI Packaging, Inc., an innovative provider of packaging solutions. From 2007 to 2011, Mr. McCullough was President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Perdoceo Education Corporation (formerly Career Education Corporation). Prior thereto, Mr. McCullough served as President of Abbott Laboratories’ Ross Products Division. Before joining Abbott Laboratories, Mr. McCullough served as Senior Vice President-Americas for Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company and spent 13 years at The Procter & Gamble Company in brand and general management roles. Mr. McCullough also served as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army for five years, beginning as a Second Lieutenant and rising to the rank of Captain. Qualifications: Mr. McCullough brings to the Board significant executive and managerial expertise gained from experiences in various roles as a chief executive officer, president and senior executive with market-leading consumer and commercial companies. Mr. McCullough has significant experience in strategic planning and execution, organizational integration, and financial matters. His service on the boards of directors of other publicly traded companies provides our Board with a broad range of perspectives valuable to the further implementation of our overall strategy. |
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26 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
proposal 1: election of directors
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Charles L. Szews Retired – Former President and Chief Executive Officer of Oshkosh Corporation |
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Age: 69 |
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Director Since: 2014 |
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Experience: From 2012 to 2015, Mr. Szews served as the Chief Executive Officer of Oshkosh Corporation (“Oshkosh”), a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies. Mr. Szews also served at Oshkosh as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2011 to 2012, as President and Chief Operating Officer from 2007 to 2011 and as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1997 to 2007. Prior to joining Oshkosh, Mr. Szews held a series of executive positions with Fort Howard Corporation for eight years. Prior to Fort Howard Corporation, Mr. Szews was an auditor with Ernst & Young serving in various offices and capacities over a ten-year period. Qualifications: As the former chief executive officer of a large publicly traded corporation, Mr. Szews brings to the Board chief executive leadership experience, as well as extensive financial, audit, operational, strategic planning, and mergers and acquisitions experience gained from serving in a variety of roles throughout his career. Mr. Szews’ previous and current board positions at other publicly traded companies have provided him with many years of audit committee experience, including as chair. In addition, he brings vast experience in manufacturing, technology, and international markets that provide knowledge and insight into our Company’s global operations. |
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Other Current • Group 1 Automotive, Inc. • CACI International Inc. |
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There is no family relationship between any of the directors, executive officers, or any director nominee.
Vote Required
Directors are elected by a majority of votes cast and cumulative voting is not permitted.
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Our Board recommends a vote FOR the election of the nominees for director: |
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 27
Corporate Governance; Board and Committee Matters
Corporate Governance Practices. Because corporate governance practices evolve over time, our Board reviews and approves our Corporate Governance Guidelines, committee charters, and other governance policies at least once a year and updates them as necessary or appropriate. Our Board is guided by our Corporate Governance Guidelines, which address director responsibilities, director access to management and independent advisors, director orientation and continuing education, director retirement, and the annual performance evaluations of our Board, its committees, and individual directors, among other things. The Corporate Governance Guidelines also direct that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consider the periodic rotation of committee members and committee chairs as a means of introducing fresh perspectives and broadening and diversifying the views and experience represented on the committees of our Board.
Director Independence. Our Board has determined, after considering all of the relevant facts and circumstances, that Mses. Barton, Hickton, Perkins, and Raiss and Messrs. Arriola, McCullough, McPherson, Szews, and Wetherbee are independent, as “independent” is defined by the NYSE listing standards, because they have no direct or indirect material relationship with us (either directly or indirectly as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with us) that would cause the independence requirements of the NYSE listing standards not to be satisfied.
Board Leadership Structure. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, as well as our full Board when appropriate, regularly evaluate the leadership structure of our Board to determine what arrangement is most appropriate for the Company and its stockholders. Our Board believes that it is important to maintain flexibility to determine the appropriate leadership structure based on Company circumstances at the time, and that our directors are best positioned to lead this evaluation given their unique insight into our business, leadership team, culture, and opportunities. We do not have a fixed policy as to whether the offices of Chairman of the Board and CEO should be vested in the same person or two different people.
In connection with the retirement of Barbara R. Smith as Executive Chairman of the Board on August 31, 2024, the Board appointed Mr. Wetherbee to serve as independent Chairman of the Board, effective September 1, 2024. Our Board has determined that having an independent director serve as Chairman of the Board is in the best interests of the Company at this time because it allows the Chairman of the Board to focus on leading the Board in its oversight role with respect to the Company, while the CEO focuses on executing the Company’s strategy and managing the Company’s business. Mr. Wetherbee has established strong working relationships with his fellow Board members and has garnered their confidence and respect. A non-management executive session is offered before the conclusion of each Board and committee meeting, which further facilitates the independence of our Board. In the event that the roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO are combined in the future, we anticipate that the Board would appoint a strong lead independent director with a well-defined role similar to the responsibilities undertaken by our current Chairman of the Board. We anticipate that we would disclose any such change in our Board leadership structure to the stockholder community.
Chairman of the Board. The role of the Chairman of the Board is designed to provide leadership to our Board and to provide support to our CEO.
The duties and responsibilities of the Chairman of the Board include:
28 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Corporate Governance; Board and Committee Matters
The Chairman of the Board is also available to receive direct communications from stockholders, in the manner described below, and may periodically, as directed by our Board, be asked to speak for CMC or perform other responsibilities.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight. Our Board is responsible for overseeing our risk management processes. Management is principally responsible for defining, identifying, and assessing the various risks facing CMC, formulating enterprise risk management policies and procedures, and managing our risk exposures on a day-to-day basis. Our Risk Committee, comprised of the members of our executive leadership team, directs this process. Enterprise risks, including ESG risks, are identified and prioritized by the Risk Committee, and each risk is assigned by our Board to a Board committee or the full Board for oversight, depending on the nature of the risk. The Risk Committee provides an annual risk assessment, with periodic updates, as appropriate, to our Board or the applicable Board committee, and our Board or Board committee, as the case may be, assesses the risks and reviews options for risk mitigation presented by the Risk Committee, which includes determining a response strategy and monitoring progress on those strategies. Our Vice President, Strategy, Government Affairs and Sustainability, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, and Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Communications Officer, along with other members of management, as appropriate, provide our Board and its committees with regular updates on ESG topics, including the Company’s progress toward our short-term and long-term goals.
The following shows the allocation of risk oversight among the Board and its committees:
Full Board |
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ESG, strategic and other significant business risks are monitored by the full Board |
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Oversees the management of risks relating to the integrity of financial reporting, business interruption and cybersecurity, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements |
Oversees the management of risks relating to capital allocation, liquidity, and the Company’s strategic business and capital plans |
Oversees the management of risks relating to compensation design and attracting and retaining key employees |
Oversees the management of risks associated with corporate governance, including director succession planning |
As part of our risk assessment process, our Board or an applicable Board committee also receives presentations throughout the year from management regarding specific potential risks and trends as necessary. Annually, the Finance Committee of the Board (the “Finance Committee”) and the full Board review the Company’s strategic business plans, which includes an evaluation of competitive, economic, and other risks that may emerge in the course of executing on the Company’s strategic objectives and plans. We believe that the practices described above facilitate effective Board oversight of our significant risks.
Information Security Risk Oversight and Management. Information security risk is a significant oversight focus area for the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”), as well as the entire Board. Over the course of fiscal year 2025, the Audit Committee received four separate cybersecurity briefings from our information security team, and our full Board received one cybersecurity briefing from our information security team. In the previous three years, we have not experienced any material data compromise to our information systems. We continue to secure our own manufacturing and information technology infrastructure; to train our employees throughout the year about malware, viruses, hacking, phishing, and other information security risks, including how to avoid and mitigate them; and to maintain and enhance measures to protect our sensitive data from failures, breaches, or cyber incidents. To protect against emerging threats, we regularly engage third-party experts to assess our cybersecurity controls and vulnerabilities and upgrade our systems and controls as appropriate. In addition to the practices above, we currently maintain a cyber liability insurance policy.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 29
Corporate Governance; Board and Committee Matters
Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Conduct and Business Ethics, and Financial Code of Ethics. Our Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which reflect the principles by which we operate. When appropriate, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and our Board review and revise our Corporate Governance Guidelines in response to regulatory requirements and evolving leading practices for similarly situated companies. We have also adopted a Code of Conduct and Business Ethics (the “Code of Conduct”), which applies to all of our directors, officers and employees. In addition, we have adopted a separate Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (the “Financial Code of Ethics”), which is applicable to our CEO, CFO and Chief Accounting Officer. We intend to post any amendments to or waivers from our Financial Code of Ethics and any amendments to or waivers from (to the extent applicable to our CEO, CFO or Chief Accounting Officer) our Code of Conduct on our website. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Conduct, Financial Code of Ethics and other information are available at our website, www.cmc.com, by clicking on “Investors,” then “Governance and Board of Directors,” and such information is available in print to any stockholder, without charge, upon request to CMC, 6565 North MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800, Irving, Texas 75039, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or by calling (214) 689-4300.
Annual Board Evaluations. Each year, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee leads our Board through self-evaluations to assess whether our Board, its committees, and its members are functioning effectively, and to identify areas where improvement can be made. This process also includes an evaluation of all directors, including the Chairman of the Board, Lead Director (if any), and committee chairs. As part of the evaluation process, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee engaged a third-party facilitator to conduct a self-evaluation interview with each Board member to enhance participation and encourage candid feedback from the directors. The facilitator compiled and anonymized the results of these interviews and presented summaries that identified common themes, issues and suggestions to the committees and our Board. Our Board and its committees reviewed and discussed the summaries during committee and Board executive sessions, and then, as appropriate, enhanced policies and practices based on the results. We believe this approach, in addition to ongoing feedback, supports our Board’s effectiveness and continuous improvement.
Management Succession Planning. Our Board plays an integral oversight role in talent development by actively engaging in the succession planning for the CEO and other key employees at CMC. Our executive leadership team, facilitated by our Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Communications Officer, annually presents to our Board a review of executive and senior management, including a discussion of those employees who are considered to be potential successors to executive and senior level positions with regard to their readiness and development opportunities. In addition, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee annually reviews an emergency succession plan for the CEO.
Communications by Stockholders and Other Interested Parties. Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with the Chairman of the Board or any of the non-employee and independent directors by submitting a letter addressed to their individual attention or to the attention of non-employee directors c/o Corporate Secretary at P.O. Box 1046, Dallas, Texas 75221.
Stockholder Engagement. We understand the importance of engaging with stockholders and are committed to regularly hearing our stockholders’ perspectives. Our management team has developed a robust stockholder engagement program. Since our last annual meeting of stockholders, we engaged with stockholders on topics of importance to both the Company and stockholders. In fiscal year 2025, we participated in approximately 540 interactions with stockholders. In addition to discussing our business strategy and initiatives, as well as our results and financial performance, we provided an open forum for each stockholder to discuss other matters, such as our human capital management; executive compensation; Board composition, tenure and refreshment; CEO succession planning; and environmental and sustainability topics, including risks presented by climate change. Our engagement efforts and the stockholder feedback we receive are reviewed with our Board and help to promote greater alignment of our governance and executive compensation practices with stockholder interests.
Board Meetings. In fiscal year 2025, the entire Board met seven times, five of which were regularly scheduled meetings. No director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board and (ii) the total number of meetings of committees of the Board for the period during which the director served on the Board or such committee. We expect all directors and director nominees to attend the Annual Meeting. All then-serving directors attended the annual meeting of stockholders held on January 15, 2025.
Executive Sessions. As required by the NYSE listing standards, non-employee and independent directors regularly schedule executive sessions of our Board and its committees in which they meet without the presence of employee directors or management. The presiding director at such executive sessions in fiscal year 2025 was Mr. Wetherbee, who serves as our Chairman of the Board. In fiscal year 2025, the non-employee directors, which included all members of our Board other than Mr. Matt, held four non-employee director executive sessions in connection with Board meetings and no stand-alone meetings.
30 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Corporate Governance; Board and Committee Matters
Board Committees
We have four standing board committees: Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance, and Finance, the principal responsibilities of which are described below. All committee charters can be found on our website, www.cmc.com, by clicking on “Investors,” then “Governance and Board of Directors.”
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Responsibilities: Our Board has a standing Audit Committee that performs the activities more fully described in the Audit Committee Report on page 79. All members of the Audit Committee are financially literate under NYSE standards. Ms. Hickton joined the Audit Committee on October 14, 2025. Ms. Raiss has decided to retire as a director of the Company and not stand for re-election, and as a result, her membership on the Audit Committee will terminate at the Annual Meeting. |
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All members are independent Members: • Mr. McCullough (Chair) • Ms. Barton • Ms. Perkins • Mr. Wetherbee Meetings in 2025: 5 |
Responsibilities: Our Board has a standing Compensation Committee that is responsible for the matters described in the Compensation Committee’s charter, including (i) annually reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the CEO and the other executive officers, (ii) evaluating the performance of the CEO and the other executive officers in light of those goals and objectives, and (iii) determining and approving the CEO’s compensation based on this evaluation as well as setting the compensation of the other executive officers following a review with the CEO of the CEO’s evaluation, recommendations, and decisions as to the performance and compensation of the other executive officers. Additional responsibilities of the Compensation Committee are: • assisting our Board in the discharge of its responsibilities relating to the establishment, administration, and monitoring of fair and competitive compensation and benefits programs for our executive officers and other executives; • making recommendations to our Board with respect to incentive compensation plans, equity-based plans, and other compensation and benefits programs; • administering CMC’s incentive compensation, stock option, and other equity-based plans; and • reviewing and making recommendations to our Board regarding any employment, severance, change in control or separation agreement, or any deferred compensation arrangement, to be entered into with any executive officer. Mr. Wetherbee served as Chair of the Compensation Committee during fiscal year 2025 until January 14, 2025, when Mr. McCullough was appointed Chair of the Compensation Committee. For further discussion of the Compensation Committee’s role in determining executive officer compensation, the role of executive officers in determining or recommending the amount or form of executive compensation, and the Compensation Committee’s engagement and use of an independent third-party compensation consultant, please see the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section beginning on page 42. |
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 31
Corporate Governance; Board and Committee Matters
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All members are independent Members: • Ms. Barton (Chair) • Ms. Raiss • Mr. Szews • Mr. Wetherbee Meetings in 2025: 5 |
Responsibilities: Our Board has a standing Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee that is responsible for the matters described in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s charter, including: • identifying and making recommendations as to individuals qualified to be nominated for election to our Board and Board committees; • monitoring developments in corporate governance matters and overseeing compliance with statutes, rules, and regulations relating thereto, including reviewing, assessing, and making recommendations to our Board with respect to our Corporate Governance Guidelines; • overseeing the annual self-evaluation of the performance of our Board, Board committees, and individual directors; • overseeing and recommending compensation of non-employee directors; • reviewing and overseeing director orientation and continuing education; and • annually reviewing corporate policies, including the Code of Conduct and the Financial Code of Ethics. Ms. Raiss has decided to retire as a director of the Company and not stand for re-election, and as a result, her membership on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will terminate at the Annual Meeting.
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All members are independent Members: • Mr. McPherson (Chair) • Mr. Arriola • Ms. Hickton • Mr. McCullough • Ms. Perkins Meetings in 2025: 4 |
Responsibilities: Our Board has a standing Finance Committee that is responsible for the matters described in the Finance Committee’s charter, including: • reviewing and approving or recommending to our Board, as appropriate, potential strategic transactions including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and other investments, and major capital expenditures, as well as conducting post-transaction reviews and analysis; • approving and making recommendations to our Board with respect to the Company’s annual operating and capital expenditure plan; • approving and making recommendations to our Board with respect to the Company’s (i) financing strategies and debt arrangements and (ii) dividend policy, stock splits, and stock repurchases and debt arrangements; • reviewing the Company’s cash position, capital structure and strategies, and insurance coverage matters; and • approving and making recommendations to our Board with respect to the Company’s issuances, as appropriate, of debt or equity securities. Mr. McCullough served as Chair of the Finance Committee during fiscal year 2025 through January 14, 2025, when he was appointed Chair of the Compensation Committee. Mr. McPherson was appointed Chair of the Finance Committee on January 14, 2025. Ms. Hickton joined the Finance Committee on October 14, 2025. |
32 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Corporate Governance; Board and Committee Matters
Director Nomination Process
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying and evaluating nominees for directors. Our Board, after considering the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, proposes a slate of director nominees to the stockholders for election to our Board. For information on how to submit a candidate for consideration, please see “2027 Annual Meeting and Stockholder Proposals” on page 85.
Director Qualifications and Skills
Directors should possess the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, and be committed to representing the long-term interests of stockholders. Director candidates must also have an inquisitive and objective perspective, practical wisdom, and mature judgment. In addition to considering these qualifications, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider such relevant factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of our Board, the evaluations of other prospective director nominees, and the need for any required expertise on our Board or one of its committees. Dedication of sufficient time, energy and attention to ensure diligent and effective performance of their duties is expected of directors. Non-employee directors may not serve on the board of directors of more than three other publicly traded companies. Directors should be committed to serve on our Board for an extended period of time if elected by stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that the current composition of our Board reflects an appropriate mix of tenure, skill sets, experience, and qualifications that are relevant to the business and governance of the Company.
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Arriola |
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Matt |
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Perkins |
Raiss |
Szews |
Wetherbee |
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Global Business Experience |
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2026 PROXY STATEMENT 33
Corporate Governance; Board and Committee Matters
Board Diversity
Our Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believe that diversity is an important factor in determining the composition of our Board. Although our Board does not maintain a formal diversity policy, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers gender, racial, ethnic, and other diversity criteria in identifying director candidates and making recommendations to our Board.
Demonstrating our Board’s commitment to diversity, three of the five directors most recently appointed to our Board are diverse. Our current Board of ten directors includes two African Americans, one Hispanic American and four women. None of our directors self-identify as LGBTQ+.
34 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Sustainability at CMC
Sustainability Oversight
Since formally launching our sustainability program, we have continued to build upon and improve our long-standing corporate responsibility commitment. We recognize that our sustainability strategy needs to address a wide range of issues. Our Board ultimately oversees the management of sustainability-related matters. Much of this work is done through the Board's committees.
Our executive leadership team and our Board established a Sustainability Leadership Council in 2020 tasked with driving additional progress in the initiatives that promote sustainability and further transparency. In 2025, we further aligned our sustainability strategy with our broader vision, focusing on our areas of impact of (i) caring for our people; (ii) conducting ourselves with integrity; and (iii) reducing our environmental impact.
Our three pillars were defined after reviewing an interrelated set of sustainability standards, in line with industry best practices. This integrated approach to sustainability facilitated recognition of several sustainability priorities, which we discuss in our annual Sustainability Report as well as the “Sustainability” section of our website at www.cmc.com. CMC’s sustainability reporting aligns to the Global Reporting Initiative, International Sustainability Standards Board, and Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure Standards.
Areas of Impact
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We recognize that our people are our most important resource, and we make the safety and wellbeing of our employees our highest priority. We foster an inclusive work environment that provides opportunities for employees to develop and achieve their goals. We also provide support to organizations that have a positive impact on our communities and encourage our people to support causes they believe in. |
We strive to achieve the highest standards of integrity and transparency in corporate governance, ethics and compliance, managing a responsible supply chain and communicating with investors and our communities. We are committed to engaging with our stakeholders to gather feedback and seek to understand their concerns. |
Protecting the environment is important because we live in the communities where we work and we understand the broader challenges we face from climate change. CMC sets goals to reduce our environmental impact and strives to incorporate sustainability into all aspects of our operations, including promoting recycling, energy efficiency and sustainable resources. |
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|
|
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 35
SUSTAINABILITY AT CMC

Nine Key Material Issues
SOCIAL |
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|
Health and Safety Providing safe working conditions through the implementation of a robust occupational health and safety management system, processes for hazard identification and incident investigation and the provision of safety training, needed personal protective equipment and wellness programs and support. |
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Talent Management Cultivating a strong workforce and talent pipeline through robust employee recruitment and engagement practices, reinforcing our core values of dignity and respect through ongoing training and support, providing competitive benefits and supporting employees with opportunities to develop and grow their careers. |
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GOVERNANCE |
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Sustainability Oversight Ensuring that sustainability matters are effectively managed within the overall structure and governance of the company. |
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Responsible Advocacy Engaging with governments and organizations to promote informed public policy, ensuring memberships in industry and trade associations align with CMC’s public commitments and transparently disclosing CMC’s contributions to political campaigns, organizations and parties. |
36 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
SUSTAINABILITY AT CMC
ENVIRONMENTAL |
|
|
Environmental Compliance Ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations across the jurisdictions within which we operate. This includes matters relating to air quality, waste management and water protection, as well as responding to clean-up and remedial action requirements under applicable laws. |
|
Climate Change Identifying and managing CMC’s risks related to climate change as they relate to current and future operations, including asset planning, capital allocation and development, mitigating CMC’s exposure to potential costs linked to carbon pricing and regulatory caps. |
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Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) Emissions Tracking CO2 and other GHG emissions from CMC’s operations, setting Company-wide GHG reduction targets for our steelmaking operations, and monitoring our progress against the targets. |
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Energy Reducing energy consumption through management and efficiency initiatives, including both process improvements and capital investments, and adopting and investing in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. |
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Product Stewardship Assessing and improving the sustainability of our products throughout their lifecycles in support of a circular economy by sourcing raw material sustainably, increasing the use of recycled content and sustainable materials, and decreasing the use of hazardous chemicals. |
|
Caring For Our People |
||
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80% participation in |
Over 12,600 employees across |
Over $1.7M spend on
|
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 37
SUSTAINABILITY AT CMC
|
The ongoing success of our business comes from our continued commitment to our people and giving back to the communities where we live and work. We strive to ensure the safety and well-being of every employee and provide an inclusive workplace environment that engages our employees and helps them achieve fulfilling careers. Occupational Health and Safety (“OH&S”) is one of our core principles and foundational to everything we do. As detailed in our OH&S Policy, our safety culture is fully integrated into our business, and we hold our employees accountable for implementing our OH&S procedures. All suppliers are expected to comply with the safety standards outlined in our Supplier Code of Conduct. CMC utilizes a comprehensive Safety Management System that contains our policies, safety action plans, global incident management system and data dashboards. |
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We continue to enhance our talent management function by implementing a Human Capital Management program to enable leaders to better attract, develop, manage, and retain talent. These practices include developing standards for setting goals, performance evaluations, succession planning, and learning and development. We are committed to pay equity and regularly review our compensation model to ensure fair pay practices across our business. We are committed to building an inclusive culture in which people from all backgrounds and perspectives are able to contribute fully to our growth and the future of CMC. Our Code of Conduct and Business Ethics (“Code of Conduct”) and our employee handbook outline our commitment to equal opportunity in all stages of hiring and employment as well as prohibiting all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Our commitment to caring for our people extends to the local communities where we live and work. We are involved in our communities and support organizations that are having a positive impact, as we work to be recognized as a good corporate citizen and an employer of choice, particularly in communities where we have a longstanding presence. In fiscal year 2025, individual facilities and combined CMC teams participated in more than 106 local community events including school supply drives, food drives and food pantry volunteering, community clean up events, holiday toy drives and many other philanthropic activities. |
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Conducting Ourselves with Integrity |
||
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100% of employees |
140 major CMC
|
106 events to support |
38 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
SUSTAINABILITY AT CMC
|
Our strong corporate governance policies and practices promote accountability and transparency regarding our business and sustainability strategies. We recognize that effective management of enterprise risks is critical to maintaining value for our stakeholders. This culture of accountability, integrity and transparency affirms our unwavering commitment to building sustainable value. Our commitment to ethics and integrity starts at the top with our Board, which is responsible for oversight of CMC’s business and the day-to-day operations conducted by its employees and management as well as our ongoing strategy to enhance long-term value. Our Board is responsible for oversight of sustainability issues, including reviewing and approving CMC’s sustainability strategy and goals related to environmental performance. This oversight includes receiving sustainability updates at least annually from the Vice President, Strategy, Government Affairs and Sustainability. Our Board has ultimate authority and responsibility for overseeing the Company’s risk management arising out of its operations and business strategy. This includes overseeing the Company’s enterprise-wide risk management framework, which establishes the Company’s overall risk management strategy and enables senior management to understand, manage and report on the risks faced by the Company. Our Code of Conduct is critical to our success in operating our business with integrity in interactions with our stakeholders including customers, suppliers and employees. We are committed to working with partners who share our values and our goals of operating ethically and sustainably, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and reliability. We are committed to protecting the Company’s information systems from cybersecurity threats to ensure the safety and privacy of proprietary data and information involving our business, employees, vendors and customers. We have established a comprehensive cybersecurity risk management program to identify, assess and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats to our computer systems, outsourced services, communications systems, industrial processing equipment, hardware and software, and to safeguard our data and our customers’ data. Our cybersecurity program provides what we believe is an effective level of protection of information and our operating systems, while also promoting the timely detection of, and defense against, cyberattacks and other unauthorized access to our information technology systems. Our employees are responsible for complying with our cybersecurity standards and complete training annually. Employees are regularly exposed to phishing awareness campaigns that simulate real-world threats. We routinely engage with our stakeholders to better understand their views on sustainability matters, carefully considering the feedback we receive and acting when appropriate. We publish an annual Sustainability Report, which provides information on how we are addressing the sustainability-related matters that we and our stakeholders view as important to our business. For more information on our sustainability program or policies, please visit the ”Sustainability” section of our website at www.cmc.com. |
|
Reducing our Environmental Impact in 2025 |
||
|
80% less energy
|
Over 8M tons of metal |
98% recycled content
|
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 39
SUSTAINABILITY AT CMC
|
We are committed to doing our part to combat environmental risks by reducing not just our own environmental footprint, but also by leading the way towards improved sustainability for steel manufacturers and the many industries that use our products. We invest in advanced processes and technologies to minimize the use of natural resources while maximizing performance. Our environmental strategy is primarily focused on reducing GHG emissions from our operations by lowering the energy usage of our mills. We do this by continuously looking at ways to improve our operations and implementing innovative technologies and processes. Our electric arc furnace (“EAF”) technology uses 80% less energy and results in 68% fewer GHG emissions per unit produced as compared to global industry average steelmaking operations. We also strive to purchase a greater percentage of energy produced from renewable resources and work with our utilities in their efforts to green their grids. We utilize our Environmental Management System to monitor compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and to track our environmental performance so we can continually evaluate and improve our processes. CMC’s environmental managers and support staff oversee environmental compliance programs and train employees on key topics and practices. CMC’s industry-leading performance in energy intensity is due in large part to the energy-efficient EAF technology we use in melting and producing steel, compared to the BF/BOF process used by traditional integrated steel producers. Both our mini mills and micro mills use 100% recycled scrap steel when making steel, which requires significantly less energy than a BOF and fully embraces the concept of the circular economy. Our micro mills are some of the greenest steel mills in the world and take energy efficiency to the next level due to their continuous manufacturing process that eliminates the need for burning natural gas in a reheat furnace, resulting in significant reductions in energy use and GHG emissions. In addition to reducing our carbon footprint, CMC’s environmental strategy focuses on responsible water management and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. We recognize that water is a valuable natural resource, and our facilities recycle water multiple times throughout our process. We also work to reduce waste sent to landfills by recycling metals that can be used as raw materials for new products in a variety of industries. |
Awards and Recognition
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40 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the following section of this proxy statement entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with management. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee has recommended to our Board that this Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2025.
Gary E. McCullough (Chair)
Lisa M. Barton
Tandra C. Perkins
Robert S. Wetherbee
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 41
|
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|
CMC made tremendous progress across each of these three strategic paths over the last year, marking fiscal year 2025 as a pivotal year for the Company, and one in which we laid the foundation for many years to come.
One of the key aspects of running and growing a great business is our Transform, Advance and Grow (“TAG”) program. The enterprise-wide, transformational, capital-light TAG program aims to drive improved ROIC as well as higher through-the-cycle margins, earnings, and cash flows. The TAG program includes 150+ individual initiatives across operational, commercial, and support functions. Benefits from these initiatives are expected to continue to generate value long after the TAG program fully matures.
1
Investing in Our
People & Pursuing
Excellence
2
Value Accretive
Organic Growth
3
Capability Enhancing
Inorganic Growth
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Executive Summary
Running and Growing a Great Business
42 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Stockholder Alignment and Execution
The following are our fiscal year 2025 business highlights which demonstrate the impact of the decisive strategic actions we have taken over the last several years as we have continued to deliver on our strategic growth plan, evolve our capital allocation framework, and advance our sustainability efforts.
Fiscal Year 2025 Highlights |
||
Financial Results • Net revenue $7,798 million • Net earnings $84.7 million • Adjusted Earnings(1) $357.3 million • Core EBITDA(2) $837.3 million • Core EBITDA margin 10.7%(3) • Cash flow from operating activities of $715.1 million |
Strategic Growth • Achieved first EBITDA positive quarter at new micro mill in Arizona • Successful execution of TAG commercial and operational excellence program; delivered over $50 million in EBITDA benefit in first year(5) • Qualified for $80 million net tax benefit through 48C program at our fourth micro mill now under construction in West Virginia • Streamlined reporting structures to facilitate strategic execution and long-term success of TAG program |
Stockholder Value • Return on Invested Capital(4) of 7.4% • $280 million returned to stockholders through dividends and share repurchases, representing a 7% increase from fiscal year 2024 • CMC has paid 244 consecutive quarterly dividends |
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 43
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Aligning Executive Pay and Company Performance
Evolution of Executive Compensation Plan Design
For fiscal years 2025 and 2026, we implemented changes to our executive compensation program, which are intended to reward for the execution of the key aspects of our business strategy. Some of the highlights include:
|
|
fy2025 |
long-term incentive plan |
|
|
|
• Relative TSR Comparator Group: Introduced the S&P 400 Materials Index as our comparator group to reward management for TSR performance against a broader set of companies |
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|
fy2026 |
Annual CASH incentive plan |
|
|
|
• 80% of the program will be tied to Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) and Working Capital, which are key business priorities • 20% of the program will be tied to team-wide achievement of strategic objectives. For fiscal year 2026, this will be based on the successful achievement of our TAG fiscal year 2026 roadmap long-term incentive plan • Increase the weighting on Relative TSR from 25% of the PSU mix to 50% of the PSU mix to enhance the emphasis on stock price performance |
|
|
Pay and Performance Alignment
The Compensation Committee oversees compensation programs to align the actions of our NEOs with the long-term interests of our stockholders based on the fundamental philosophy to pay for performance. The Commercial Metals 2013 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (the “Long-Term Incentive Plan”) and the Commercial Metals Company 2013 Cash Incentive Plan (the “Annual Cash Incentive Plan”) are designed to focus our executives on several key performance indicators. Specifically, payouts under the 2025 Annual Cash Incentive Plan are determined based on Adjusted Earnings (Comp) and ROICC (each as defined below) and vesting of performance-based stock units (“PSUs”) is based on Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) and Relative TSR (each as defined below) for the 2023-2025 performance period.
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44 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Compensation Governance Practices
The following are highlights of CMC’s compensation governance framework which the Compensation Committee believes reinforces our pay-for-performance philosophy:
What we do |
||||
|
Target total compensation at approximately the 50th percentile of Peer Data (as defined on page 47) |
|
|
At least 50% of long-term incentive awards are in the form of PSUs |
|
Independent executive compensation consultant |
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Limited perquisites |
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Double trigger vesting upon a change in control for equity awards |
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Double trigger for market-based severance upon a change in control |
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Analyze risk when setting executive compensation |
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Clawback policy for executive incentive compensation |
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Majority of NEO compensation is at risk |
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Robust NEO and director stock ownership and retention guidelines |
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Multiple performance metrics and multi-year vesting timeframes, emphasizing Adjusted Earnings (Comp), Adjusted EBITDA (Comp), ROICC and Relative TSR measures |
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What we doN't DO |
||||
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No hedging, pledging or short sales of CMC stock by directors, officers or employees |
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No guaranteed incentive bonus payments |
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No repricing of stock options without stockholder approval |
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No dividend equivalents on stock options |
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No tax gross-up reimbursement payments to our executives for excise taxes on payments received in connection with a change in control or under Section 409A of the Code |
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No acceleration of vesting upon retirement for equity awards |
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|
No exceptions to the prohibition on pledging CMC stock as collateral |
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|
2025 Say-on-Pay Vote
At the Company’s 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, the Company received approximately 97.1% support for its say-on-pay proposal. While the say-on-pay vote is advisory and not binding, the Compensation Committee strongly values the opinions of our stockholders as expressed in the say-on-pay vote. The Compensation Committee believes that our 2025 support level demonstrates a strong alignment of our compensation programs with our stockholders’ interests.
The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the outcome of our future say-on-pay votes when making future compensation decisions for the NEOs.
Named Executive Officers
CMC’s executive compensation program applies to senior executives and senior level employees; however this Compensation Discussion and Analysis focuses on the compensation paid or awarded to the following executive officers, collectively referred to as the NEOs:
For fiscal year 2025, the NEOs were:
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 45
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Compensation Objectives and Principles
The Compensation Committee believes that it is in the best interests of stockholders for CMC to establish and maintain a competitive executive compensation program by focusing on the following objectives:
Objective |
|
How We Accomplish this Objective |
Attract and Retain Top-Caliber Talent |
|
• Offer median base salaries and competitive employee benefits coupled with meaningful short- and long-term “variable” incentives • Benchmark executive compensation against a peer group of appropriately sized competitors for executive talent • Provide long-term incentive vehicles with multi-year vesting periods |
Pay-for-Performance |
|
• A significant portion of executive potential compensation is based upon our financial performance • Annual Cash Incentive Bonus (as defined on page 49) is based solely on financial goals • Long-term incentive grants are 60% performance-based for the President and CEO and 50% performance-based for the other NEOs |
Align Executive and Stockholder Interests |
|
• A significant portion of executive pay is delivered in the form of long-term incentives that track the Company’s stock price in addition to financial goals • 25% of PSUs vest based on Relative TSR, which requires CMC to have strong TSR relative to peers. For FY2026, this has been increased to 50% of the PSU mix. |
Determination of Total Compensation
Independent Compensation Advisor
The Compensation Committee engages an independent compensation consultant to assist it in an ongoing review of CMC’s executive compensation program. The review includes an analysis of market compensation best practices and developments, external regulatory requirements, the competitive market for executive talent, the evolving culture and demands of the business, and our compensation philosophy, including the features of our compensation program and the extent to which they support the execution of our business and talent needs.
Since September 2019, the Compensation Committee has engaged FW Cook as its independent compensation consultant on an annual basis. All work performed by the independent compensation consultant with regard to our executive compensation program is tasked and overseen directly by the Compensation Committee. At the direction of the Compensation Committee, our management provides information and analyses to the independent compensation consultant. As discussed further below, CMC participates in and purchases various compensation surveys and studies that management, the independent compensation consultant, and the Compensation Committee use to analyze executive compensation. The Compensation Committee believes that utilizing information from multiple compensation surveys supports an objective and well-rounded view of executive compensation practices.
Neither FW Cook, nor its affiliates, provide any other material services to CMC or its affiliates. The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of FW Cook pursuant to the NYSE rules, and the Compensation Committee has concluded that FW Cook’s work for the Compensation Committee did not raise any conflicts of interest.
46 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Role of Management and CEO in Compensation Decisions
We believe in aligning executive and stockholder interests through an executive compensation program designed with input from management in an ongoing dialogue with the Compensation Committee and, as appropriate, the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant regarding internal, external, cultural, business, and motivational challenges and opportunities facing us and our executives. To that end, the executive team, with assistance from the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant, analyzes trends and recommends improvements to the Company’s compensation programs. Specifically, during fiscal year 2025, Mr. Matt reviewed with the Compensation Committee his recommendations (without any recommendation as to his own compensation) regarding base salary adjustments, annual bonus and long-term incentive awards for the other NEOs. In addition, during fiscal year 2025, Mses. Durbin and Absher, Mr. Matt, CMC’s Senior Director of Global Compensation, and CMC’s Assistant Corporate Secretary attended Compensation Committee meetings at the invitation of the Chair of the Compensation Committee. While the Compensation Committee receives management’s input with respect to executive compensation, all decisions regarding compensation for the NEOs are made by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee also meets regularly in executive session (without the attendance of any member of management).
Role of Peer Companies
Compensation REFERENCE Group
Our executive compensation program is designed so that base pay and total short- and long-term compensation is competitive with market practices. Market practices, or benchmarks, are based on peer group data and compensation survey data. FW Cook assisted the Compensation Committee with its review of the compensation peer group for continued appropriateness for fiscal year 2025. FW Cook recommended, and the Compensation Committee approved the removal of four companies and the addition of 12 companies. These changes were intended to provide a robust set of companies for executive pay comparisons with CMC positioned within a reasonable range of the median for key financial metrics (revenue and market capitalization). The expanded reference group included companies from a broader range of industries, which were intended to reflect CMC’s evolving business profile.
The Compensation Committee also uses compensation survey data in its evaluation of compensation for the NEOs. Survey data provides insight into positions that may not generally be reported in proxy statements and information about the compensation of executives of non-public companies. To assist the Compensation Committee in evaluating fiscal year 2025 compensation levels, the Compensation Committee reviewed information from the following surveys: Willis Towers Watson CDB Executive Reports and FW Cook Executive Survey. For purposes of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation reference group data and compensation survey data are collectively referred to as “Peer Data.”
Our compensation reference companies are listed in the following table:
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Peer Companies |
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AECOM |
|
Martin Marietta Materials |
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Snap-on |
Alcoa Corp. |
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Knife River |
|
Silgan Holdings Inc. |
Allegheny Technologies, Inc. |
|
MasTec |
|
Steel Dynamics, Inc. |
Arcosa |
|
Olin |
|
Terex |
Axalta Coating Systems |
|
Oshkosh Corp. |
|
The Timken Company |
Carpenter Technology Corp. |
|
Owens Group |
|
Trinity Industries |
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. |
|
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co |
|
United States Steel Corp. |
Crown Holdings |
|
Resideo Technologies Inc. |
|
Westlake Corp. |
EMCOR Group |
|
RPM International |
|
Worthington Industries |
Performance Peer Group
The performance peer group is used to measure Relative TSR performance for purposes of the PSU program. For fiscal year 2025, FW Cook recommended, and the Compensation Committee approved, changing the performance peer group to the S&P 400 Materials Index. This change was intended to reward management for TSR performance against a broader set of companies and recognize that CMC competes for investor dollars among companies in a variety of industries.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 47
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Compensation Mix: Components and Objectives of Short- and Long-Term Compensation
In accordance with our overall compensation philosophy and program, our executives are provided with a mix of base salary, short-term incentives, long-term incentives, and employee benefits. As shown in the charts below, our compensation philosophy places a significant portion of the potential compensation for each NEO “at risk”, such that compensation will vary based on CMC’s performance.
Base Salary
We pay an annual base salary to each of our NEOs in order to provide them with a fixed rate of cash compensation that is “non-variable” during the fiscal year. While the Compensation Committee generally targets base salary at the 50th percentile of the Peer Data, actual base salary may be above or below the 50th percentile based on the Compensation Committee’s review of the underlying scope of an NEO’s responsibilities, individual performance and experience, tenure in the NEO’s current position or with CMC, internal pay equity, and retention concerns.


For fiscal year 2025, the Compensation Committee elected to make the changes to base salary outlined in the table below after reviewing the competitiveness of each executive’s base salary versus the market data and assessing the individual performance of each executive. Mr. Matt received a larger increase in base salary as the Compensation Committee continued to progress the executive through the market range following his initial appointment as CEO in fiscal year 2024. Mses. Absher and Durbin both received larger increases in base salary to help position each executive closer to the market median.
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Executive |
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Fiscal Year |
|
% Change from |
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Peter R. Matt |
|
|
$ |
1,100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.0 |
% |
|
|
Paul J. Lawrence |
|
|
$ |
660,000 |
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|
|
|
|
2.3 |
% |
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|
Kekin M. Ghelani (1) |
|
|
$ |
575,000 |
|
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|
|
- |
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|
|
Jody K. Absher |
|
|
$ |
570,000 |
|
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|
|
9.6 |
% |
|
|
Jennifer J. Durbin |
|
|
$ |
565,000 |
|
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|
|
|
8.7 |
% |
|
|
48 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Annual Cash Incentive Bonus
Role of the Annual Cash Incentive Bonus
The purpose of the Annual Cash Incentive Plan is to advance the interests of CMC and our stockholders by:
Goal-Setting Process
The Compensation Committee establishes appropriate performance periods, designates those executives eligible to participate, sets the level of potential awards, and determines the financial targets or other performance measures which, if attained, result in payment of awards (the “performance goals”). Management may periodically make recommendations as to these matters, but the Compensation Committee makes all decisions with respect to the implementation of the Annual Cash Incentive Plan.
The performance period for the annual bonus (the “Annual Cash Incentive Bonus”) is our fiscal year. The fiscal year 2025 Annual Cash Incentive Bonus was tied to Adjusted Earnings (Comp) and ROICC. The Compensation Committee believes these metrics focus the executives on effectively utilizing our assets, maximizing operational efficiencies, and seeking profitable growth opportunities.
In October 2024, the Compensation Committee established fiscal year 2025 financial performance goals that aligned with CMC’s fiscal year 2025 business plan. The business plan, which is approved annually by the Finance Committee, is established based on a rigorous financial review process that incorporates an analysis of macroeconomic conditions and a bottom-up process completed by each operating division. Key inputs include:
The Compensation Committee established Adjusted Earnings (Comp) and ROICC targets for fiscal year 2025 that aligned with CMC’s fiscal year 2025 operating plan. Due to market uncertainty, fiscal year 2025 targets were set lower than the fiscal year 2024 targets, and lower than the Company’s fiscal year 2024 actual performance for Adjusted Earnings (Comp) with higher ROICC.
The table below sets forth each NEO’s fiscal year 2025 threshold, target and maximum bonus opportunities, expressed as a percentage of base pay.
2025 Annual Cash Incentive Bonus Opportunity
Expressed as a Percentage of Base Pay for Fiscal Year 2025
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Name |
|
Base Pay |
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Threshold |
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Target |
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Maximum |
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Peter R. Matt |
|
|
$ |
1,100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
62.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
125 |
% |
|
|
|
|
250 |
% |
|
Paul J. Lawrence |
|
|
$ |
660,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
45.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
90 |
% |
|
|
|
|
180 |
% |
|
Kekin M. Ghelani (1) |
|
|
$ |
527,735 |
|
|
|
|
|
40.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
80 |
% |
|
|
|
|
160 |
% |
|
Jody K. Absher (2) |
|
|
$ |
570,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
40.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
80 |
% |
|
|
|
|
160 |
% |
|
Jennifer J. Durbin |
|
|
$ |
565,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
37.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
75 |
% |
|
|
|
|
150 |
% |
|
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 49
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
2025 Annual Cash Incentive Bonus Performance Goals
The following table sets forth the fiscal year 2025 financial performance goals applicable to each NEO under the Annual Cash Incentive Plan, as well as actual performance. Additionally, the Compensation Committee approved an adjustment to neutralize the impact related to the judgment in the previously disclosed Pacific Steel Group litigation. The Compesnation Committee believed that this adjustment was appropriate as the inclusion of the charge would not be reflective of the Company's strong financial performance in fiscal year 2025. All adjustments were made by the Compensation Committee using its discretion, as provided in our plan, to measure annual incentive performance, while maintaining flexibility to provide equitable adjustments that address the impact of material non-operational and unforeseen events. Please refer to Appendix A for additional information. Payouts for performance in between performance levels are determined using straight line interpolation.
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Commercial Metals Company |
|
Weighting |
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Threshold |
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Target |
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Maximum |
|
Actual |
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|||||
Adjusted Earnings (Comp)(1) |
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|
50 |
% |
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|
$216 million |
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|
$375 million |
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$525 million |
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|
|
|
$350 million |
|
|
||||
ROICC(2) |
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
|
|
5.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
7.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
10.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
7.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial Performance Payout Factor |
|
|
|
|
|
96.2 |
% |
|
||||||||||||||
Fiscal year 2025 performance was below target, and as a result, our bonus payouts were below target (96.2% of target).
2025 Annual Cash Incentive Bonus Payouts
The table below shows the payouts received by each NEO for fiscal year 2025 performance. The payouts (as a percentage of target) for the NEOs were consistent with those for other employees whose bonuses were also determined based on these financial measures.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Executive |
|
Payout ($) |
|
Payout |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Peter R. Matt |
|
|
$ |
1,322,530 |
|
|
|
|
|
96 |
% |
|
Paul J. Lawrence |
|
|
$ |
571,362 |
|
|
|
|
|
96 |
% |
|
Kekin M. Ghelani |
|
|
$ |
406,092 |
|
|
|
|
|
96 |
% |
|
Jody K. Absher |
|
|
$ |
438,615 |
|
|
|
|
|
96 |
% |
|
Jennifer J. Durbin |
|
|
$ |
407,591 |
|
|
|
|
|
96 |
% |
|
Long-Term Incentive Program
Through our long-term incentive program, we provide senior executives, including NEOs, the opportunity for equity awards contingent on the attainment of multi-year performance goals. Acting in concert, the Annual Cash Incentive Bonus and the long-term incentive programs provide balanced cash incentives and equity incentives that we believe reward executive focus on delivering both financial results and long-term growth. The target long-term incentive awards are designed to achieve, when combined with base salary and the target Annual Cash Incentive Bonus, total compensation at approximately the 50th percentile of Peer Data.
50 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Fiscal Year 2025 Long-Term Incentive Program
In fiscal year 2025, each NEO received a long-term incentive package consisting of the amounts below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Executive |
|
Target |
|
Target ($) |
|
PSU |
|
RSU |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Peter R. Matt (1) |
|
|
|
500 |
% |
|
|
|
$ |
5,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
60 |
% |
|
|
|
|
40 |
% |
|
Paul J. Lawrence (2) |
|
|
|
250 |
% |
|
|
|
$ |
1,650,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
Kekin M. Ghelani (3) |
|
|
|
175 |
% |
|
|
|
$ |
1,006,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
Jody K. Absher (4) |
|
|
|
200 |
% |
|
|
|
$ |
1,140,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
Jennifer J. Durbin (5) |
|
|
|
175 |
% |
|
|
|
$ |
988,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
The RSU awards granted in fiscal year 2025 vest ratably over a three-year period and will be settled in shares of Company common stock.
Performance-Based Stock Units (PSUs)
The PSU awards granted in fiscal year 2025 are eligible to vest at the end of a three-year performance period, which runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027, and will be settled in shares of Company common stock based 75% on Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) and 25% based on Relative TSR. The Compensation Committee believes that such metrics are aligned with CMC’s long-term business plan and long-term stockholders’ interests.
Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) Portion of PSUs (75%)
In each year of the performance period, the Compensation Committee sets an Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) goal based on the business plan and performance is measured on a cumulative basis as compared to the target level. If a positive ROICC is not attained over the three-year performance period, then under the terms of the award agreements, none of the PSU awards subject to the Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) metric will vest, regardless of the Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) performance achieved. The payout formula is intended to encourage strong, focused performance, with each performance level representing what the Compensation Committee deemed to be stretch, but attainable, performance goals given the economic and market conditions at the time the goals were set. Our approach helps address the challenges with goal setting in a volatile industry in which changes in metal prices can have an outsized impact on our financial results and maintains the motivational value of the program throughout the business cycle. The table below sets forth the vesting percentage and payout levels for the portion of the PSU award that vests based on Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) performance over the three-year performance period ending August 31, 2027. The Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) target for fiscal year 2025, which is the first year in the three-year performance period, was $825 million, and CMC achieved $803 million of Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) in fiscal year 2025.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 51
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
2025-2027 Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) Performance vs. Target
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) Metric |
|||||||||||||||
|
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Percent of PSUs to Vest |
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
200 |
% |
|
Relative TSR Portion of PSUs (25%)
The following table sets forth the vesting percentage and payout levels for the portion of the PSU award that vests based on Relative TSR performance over the three-year performance period ending August 31, 2027.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
TSR Metric |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Percent of PSUs to Vest |
|
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
200 |
% |
|
Fiscal Year 2023-2025 Long-Term Incentive Program
For the PSUs granted on October 10, 2022 to all of the then-serving NEOs, the awards were settled based on CMC’s achievement of Adjusted EBITDA (Comp), ROICC and Relative TSR performance over the three-year performance period ended August 31, 2025 as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Metric |
||||||||||||
|
|
Cumulative |
|
ROICC |
|
TSR Ranking |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Target |
|
|
$3.207 billion |
|
|
|
Positive |
|
|
|
|
50th percentile |
|
|
Actual |
|
|
$3.134 billion |
|
|
|
|
10.6 |
% |
|
|
|
42.5th percentile |
|
Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) Payout: 96% |
|
|||||||||||||
Other Elements of Compensation
As described below, we also provide retirement benefits and health and other welfare benefits to our NEOs.
Retirement and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Programs
Retirement Plan: The primary tax qualified long-term compensation retirement plan we have for our employees in the U.S. is the Commercial Metals Companies Retirement Plan (the “401(k) Plan”). The 401(k) Plan is a defined contribution plan and all Company contributions to the plan are discretionary. Please see footnote 5 to the fiscal year 2025 Summary Compensation Table beginning on page 56 for more detailed information.
Benefit Restoration Plan: As a result of limitations mandated by federal tax law and regulations that limit defined contribution plan retirement benefits of more highly compensated employees, CMC provides the Benefit Restoration Plan (“BRP”), a non-qualified plan for certain executives, including each of the NEOs, designated by the Compensation Committee, who are subject to federally mandated benefit limits in the 401(k) Plan. Following each calendar year-end, we credit to the participant’s account under the BRP a dollar amount equal to the amount of Company contributions that the participant would have received under the 401(k) Plan, but for the limits imposed by law on Company contributions to that plan. A BRP participant may also elect to defer up to 50% of his or her base salary and Annual Cash Incentive Bonus into his or her BRP account under which CMC provides a match on the elected deferrals up to 4.5% of the participant’s BRP-eligible compensation. The Compensation Committee believes that the BRP is an important element of our long-term compensation program in order to help attract and retain talent in a competitive market. Please see footnote 5 to the fiscal year 2025 Summary Compensation Table beginning on page 56 for more detailed information.
52 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Perquisites
We provide car allowances to each of our NEOs. Please see footnote 5 to the fiscal year 2025 Summary Compensation Table beginning on page 56 for more detailed information. We do not own or provide to the NEOs corporate aircraft, security services, an executive dining room or similar perquisites.
Health and Other Welfare Benefits
Our NEOs, along with all other employees, are eligible to participate in medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and disability, short- and long-term disability, and other employee benefits generally made available to employees. In addition, CMC offers a supplemental long-term disability program for executives, including the NEOs, which is intended to replicate the coverage available to non-executive employees.
Termination, Severance and Change in Control Benefits
As of August 31, 2025, the employment agreements with each of our NEOs provide severance benefits upon a qualifying termination of employment. In addition, we have entered into Executive Employment Continuity Agreements (“EECAs”) with each of the NEOs, which provide for enhanced severance benefits in the event of a qualifying termination of employment within two years following a Change in Control (as defined in such agreements). The termination provisions included in the employment agreements and EECAs are further described below in the “Potential Payments and Benefits Upon Termination or Change in Control” section beginning on page 60. The Compensation Committee believes the payments provided for under the employment agreements and EECAs upon a qualifying termination of employment to be reasonable in light of the non-competition obligations imposed upon the NEOs post-termination and in order to ensure that we have the continued attention and dedication of the executives during circumstances that could result in a Change in Control.
Finally, the Annual Cash Incentive Plan provides that in the event of a Change in Control, the Compensation Committee has discretion to take such action as it determines to be in the best interest of the Company to determine the extent to which incentive compensation is considered earned and payable during any performance period.
Deductibility of Executive Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Code generally limits our federal tax deduction for compensation paid in any fiscal year to our CEO and our other “covered employees,” as defined in Section 162(m), to $1,000,000. Although the Compensation Committee has analyzed and will continue to analyze the effect that Section 162(m) and the potential lack of deduction for amounts paid in excess of the deduction limit may have on CMC, the Compensation Committee continues to retain flexibility to make compensation decisions that are based on factors other than Section 162(m) and related consequences when necessary or appropriate (as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion) to enable CMC to continue to attract, retain, reward and motivate its highly-qualified executives. This flexibility may include amending or modifying the design elements of our historical compensation programs to the extent those design elements were principally adopted in an effort to comply with Section 162(m).
Compensation Risk Assessment – NEOs
CMC’s compensation policies are structured to discourage inappropriate risk-taking by our executives. The “Compensation Risk Assessment—Company-Wide Compensation Policies and Programs” section on page 74 describes the Compensation Committee’s assessment, which includes, among other things, FW Cook’s annual risk assessment and the Compensation Committee’s belief that our compensation programs do not encourage excessive risk-taking and thus do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on CMC.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 53
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Stock Ownership Guidelines and Policy Regarding Hedging and Pledging of Company Stock
Our Board has implemented stock ownership guidelines for non-employee directors, executive officers and certain other senior level employees. Our Board believes that minimum ownership guidelines serve to further align the interests of those covered by the guidelines with the interests of our stockholders. Individuals who are hired, promoted into positions covered by the guidelines, or who are elected to serve on our Board, have five years following their hire or promotion or election date, as applicable, to attain the minimum ownership level applicable to their positions. The guidelines require ownership of Company common stock with a value of the greater of the current fair market value or the closing price per share on the date on which the shares were acquired, of not less than the amounts below, as determined on October 31st of each year.
The Compensation Committee has established stock ownership guidelines for our non-employee directors, executive officers and other senior level employees, as set forth in the following table:
Position |
|
Stock Ownership Guidelines |
Non-employee directors |
|
5x the director’s prevailing annual cash retainer award |
President and CEO |
|
5x base salary |
COO |
|
4x base salary |
EVPs, SVPs, CFO, Chief Human Resources and Communications Officer and Chief Legal Officer |
|
3x base salary |
Other executives as may be designated by the Compensation Committee |
|
1x base salary |
Unvested time-vested restricted stock and unvested time-vested RSUs are included when determining the amount of stock ownership, with each share of unvested time-vested restricted stock and each share underlying unvested time-vested RSUs counting as one share of Company common stock. Stock appreciation rights and stock options, whether or not vested, and unearned PSUs do not count for purposes of determining compliance with the stock ownership guidelines. In addition, unvested restricted stock and RSUs that are subject to conditions other than time vesting do not count for the purpose of determining stock ownership levels. All persons subject to the guidelines must retain 50% of the shares of Company common stock issued upon the vesting of any of their restricted stock or RSUs (after payment of taxes) until achievement of the retention levels.
As of October 31, 2025, the measurement date specified in the Company’s stock ownership guidelines, all directors and NEOs have met or, within the applicable period, are expected to meet the stock ownership guidelines.
CMC’s Statement of Company Policy on Insider Trading and Anti-Hedging prohibits all employees from buying or selling Company securities while aware of material non-public information and prohibits the disclosure of material non-public information to others who then trade in our securities. The policy is available on our website, www.cmc.com, by clicking on “Investors” then “Governance and Board of Directors.” As part of this policy, certain other Company securities related transactions by directors, officers and employees are also prohibited. The policy is premised on the belief that even in those circumstances where the proposed transaction may not constitute a violation of law or applicable regulations, it is nonetheless considered inappropriate for any director, officer or other employee of ours to engage in short-term or speculative transactions in our securities, which may be viewed as reducing their incentive to improve our performance or inconsistent with the objectives of our stockholders in general. Therefore, it is our policy that directors, officers and other employees may not engage in any transactions involving our securities which constitute short sales, puts, calls, forwards, futures or other derivative securities. The policy prohibits certain other transactions including hedging or monetization transactions, such as zero-cost collars, forward sale contracts and arrangements pledging Company securities as collateral for a loan.
54 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
equity award timing Policies
The Company does not currently grant awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, or similar option-like instruments. Accordingly,
Clawback Policy
The Compensation Committee adopted a clawback policy, effective as of September 11, 2023, that complies with the NYSE’s clawback rules promulgated under SEC Rule 10D-1. Under this policy, in the event that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement of its financial statements due to the Company’s material noncompliance with any such financial reporting requirement, the policy requires that the Compensation Committee, to the extent legally permitted and pursuant to the terms of the policy, recover from current and former executive officers and Section 16 executive officers any cash bonuses paid pursuant to the Annual Cash Incentive Plan, any PSUs granted pursuant to the Long-Term Incentive Plan, and any other cash bonuses or equity awards that are granted, earned or vest based wholly or in part on the attainment of a financial reporting measure as defined in the NYSE’s clawback rules. The amount subject to recovery is the excess of the incentive compensation received based on the erroneous data over the incentive compensation that would have been received had it been based on the restated results.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 55
Executive Compensation
The following tables, footnotes and narratives, found on pages 56 through 73, provide information regarding the compensation, benefits and equity awards in CMC for the NEOs.
Fiscal Year 2025 Summary Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Name and |
|
Year |
|
Salary |
|
|
Bonus |
|
|
Stock |
|
|
Option |
|
|
Non-Equity |
|
|
All Other |
|
|
Total |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Peter R. Matt |
|
2025 |
|
$ |
1,084,616 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
5,505,805 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,322,530 |
|
|
$ |
109,951 |
|
|
$ |
8,022,901 |
|
President and Chief |
|
2024 |
|
$ |
996,923 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
4,517,044 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
975,026 |
|
|
$ |
90,562 |
|
|
$ |
6,579,555 |
|
Executive Officer |
|
2023 |
|
$ |
307,692 |
|
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,420,865 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
389,322 |
|
|
$ |
94,306 |
|
|
$ |
4,412,185 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Paul J. Lawrence |
|
2025 |
|
$ |
657,692 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,644,583 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
571,362 |
|
|
$ |
68,413 |
|
|
$ |
2,942,051 |
|
Senior Vice President, |
|
2024 |
|
$ |
642,385 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,288,769 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
452,784 |
|
|
$ |
83,957 |
|
|
$ |
2,467,895 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
2023 |
|
$ |
620,385 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,294,742 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
689,000 |
|
|
$ |
91,873 |
|
|
$ |
2,696,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Kekin M. Ghelani(6) |
|
2025 |
|
$ |
517,500 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,501,333 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
406,092 |
|
|
$ |
34,015 |
|
|
$ |
2,458,940 |
|
Senior Vice President, |
|
2024 |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Chief Strategy Officer |
|
2023 |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Jody K. Absher |
|
2025 |
|
$ |
562,308 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,136,241 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
438,615 |
|
|
$ |
47,771 |
|
|
$ |
2,184,936 |
|
Senior Vice President, |
|
2024 |
|
$ |
516,731 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
779,283 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
304,239 |
|
|
$ |
64,347 |
|
|
$ |
1,664,600 |
|
Chief Legal Officer and |
|
2023 |
|
$ |
491,154 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
769,063 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
454,756 |
|
|
$ |
74,399 |
|
|
$ |
1,789,372 |
|
Corporate Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Jennifer J. Durbin |
|
2025 |
|
$ |
558,077 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
985,510 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
407,591 |
|
|
$ |
58,119 |
|
|
$ |
2,009,298 |
|
Senior Vice President, |
|
2024 |
|
$ |
516,731 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
779,283 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
304,239 |
|
|
$ |
64,651 |
|
|
$ |
1,664,904 |
|
Chief Human |
|
2023 |
|
$ |
491,154 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
769,063 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
454,756 |
|
|
$ |
72,940 |
|
|
$ |
1,787,913 |
|
Resources and |
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|
|
|
|
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Communications |
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|||||||
Officer |
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|||||||
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56 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Executive Compensation
Grants of Plan Based Awards
The following table and footnotes provide information regarding grants of plan based awards to NEOs in fiscal year 2025.
Grants of Plan Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
Estimated Possible |
|
|
Estimated Future |
|
|
All Other |
|
|
Grant |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
|
Grant Date |
|
Threshold |
|
|
Target |
|
|
Maximum |
|
|
Threshold |
|
|
Target |
|
|
Maximum |
|
|
or Units |
|
|
Option |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Peter R. Matt |
|
10/14/2024 |
|
$ |
687,500 |
|
|
$ |
1,375,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,750,000 |
|
|
|
30,550 |
|
|
|
61,100 |
|
|
|
122,200 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
3,360,805 |
|
|
|
10/14/2024 |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
40,733 |
|
|
$ |
2,145,000 |
|
Paul J. Lawrence |
|
10/14/2025 |
|
$ |
297,000 |
|
|
$ |
594,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,188,000 |
|
|
|
7,638 |
|
|
|
15,275 |
|
|
|
30,550 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
840,202 |
|
|
|
10/14/2025 |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
15,275 |
|
|
$ |
804,382 |
|
Kekin M. Ghelani |
|
10/14/2024 |
|
$ |
211,094 |
|
|
$ |
422,188 |
|
|
$ |
844,376 |
|
|
|
6,972 |
|
|
|
13,944 |
|
|
|
27,888 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
766,990 |
|
|
|
10/14/2024 |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
13,945 |
|
|
$ |
734,344 |
|
Jody K. Absher |
|
10/14/2025 |
|
$ |
228,000 |
|
|
$ |
456,000 |
|
|
$ |
912,000 |
|
|
|
5,277 |
|
|
|
10,553 |
|
|
|
21,106 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
580,468 |
|
|
|
10/14/2025 |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
10,554 |
|
|
$ |
555,774 |
|
Jennifer J. Durbin |
|
10/14/2024 |
|
$ |
211,875 |
|
|
$ |
423,750 |
|
|
$ |
847,500 |
|
|
|
4,577 |
|
|
|
9,153 |
|
|
|
18,306 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
503,461 |
|
|
|
10/14/2024 |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
9,154 |
|
|
$ |
482,050 |
|
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan Based Awards Table
Each NEO was party to an employment agreement during fiscal year 2025. The agreements generally have an initial term of one year, with automatic one-year renewals thereafter unless terminated by either party. The employment agreements set forth a minimum annual base salary and provide that each executive is eligible to earn a bonus under our compensation program but has no guaranteed bonus amount. Each executive is also eligible to participate in or receive benefits under any plan or arrangement made generally available to our employees. Please see the narrative and tables included in the “Potential Payments and Benefits Upon Termination or Change in Control” section on pages 60 through 67 for a description of the compensation that would be paid to the NEOs in the event of their termination following a Change in Control (as defined below), as well as other events resulting in termination of employment.
Material terms of the grants of plan based awards are described on pages 49 through 50, where we have discussed the Annual Cash Incentive Bonus and pages 50 through 52, where we have discussed the long-term incentive awards. The fiscal year 2025 long-term incentive awards for our NEOs consisted of time-based RSUs and PSUs, with 75% of the PSUs vesting based on CMC’s achievement of financial performance goals related to Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) and ROICC and 25% of the PSUs vesting based on CMC’s TSR performance compared to the performance peer group. The percentage of salary and bonus (as noted in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column) of each of the NEOs as compared to the total compensation in the Fiscal Year 2025 Summary Compensation Table is as follows: Mr. Matt (30%), Mr. Lawrence (42%), Mr. Ghelani (38%), Ms. Absher (46%), and Ms. Durbin (48%).
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 57
Executive Compensation
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table and footnotes provide information regarding PSUs and RSUs outstanding as of the end of fiscal year 2025. As of August 31, 2025, none of our NEOs held outstanding options or stock appreciation rights (“SARs”). The market value of units that have not vested was determined by multiplying the closing market price of our common stock on the NYSE on August 29, 2025, $57.67, by the number of units that have not vested.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2025 Fiscal Year-End
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Name |
|
Number of |
|
Market Value |
|
Equity Incentive |
|
Equity Incentive |
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Peter R. Matt |
|
|
|
11,905 |
|
(1) |
|
|
|
$ |
686,561 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,969 |
|
(2) |
|
|
|
$ |
1,439,962 |
|
|
|
|
|
112,360 |
|
(3) |
|
|
|
$ |
6,479,801 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,733 |
|
(4) |
|
|
|
$ |
2,349,072 |
|
|
|
|
|
122,200 |
|
(5) |
|
|
|
$ |
7,047,274 |
|
|
Paul J. Lawrence |
|
|
|
5,225 |
|
(6) |
|
|
|
$ |
301,326 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,948 |
|
(2) |
|
|
|
$ |
516,031 |
|
|
|
|
|
26,840 |
|
(3) |
|
|
|
$ |
1,547,863 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,275 |
|
(4) |
|
|
|
$ |
880,909 |
|
|
|
|
|
30,550 |
|
(5) |
|
|
|
$ |
1,761,819 |
|
|
Kekin M. Ghelani |
|
|
|
13,945 |
|
(4) |
|
|
|
$ |
804,208 |
|
|
|
|
|
27,888 |
|
(5) |
|
|
|
$ |
1,608,301 |
|
|
Jody K. Absher |
|
|
|
3,104 |
|
(6) |
|
|
|
$ |
179,008 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,411 |
|
(2) |
|
|
|
$ |
312,052 |
|
|
|
|
|
16,230 |
|
(3) |
|
|
|
$ |
935,984 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,554 |
|
(4) |
|
|
|
$ |
608,649 |
|
|
|
|
|
21,106 |
|
(5) |
|
|
|
$ |
1,217,183 |
|
|
Jennifer J. Durbin |
|
|
|
3,104 |
|
(6) |
|
|
|
$ |
179,008 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,411 |
|
(2) |
|
|
|
$ |
312,052 |
|
|
|
|
|
16,230 |
|
(3) |
|
|
|
$ |
935,984 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,154 |
|
(4) |
|
|
|
$ |
527,911 |
|
|
|
|
|
18,306 |
|
(5) |
|
|
|
$ |
1,055,707 |
|
|
58 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Executive Compensation
Option/SARs Exercised and Stock Vested
The following table provides information regarding stock vested during fiscal year 2025 for the NEOs. No options or SARs were issued or exercised by NEOs in fiscal year 2025.
Option/SARs Exercised and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
Options/SARs Awards |
|
Stock Awards |
||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
|
Number of Shares |
|
Value Realized on |
|
Number of Shares |
|
Value Realized on |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Peter R. Matt |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
57,357 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,126,506 |
|
|
Paul J. Lawrence |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
29,553 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,653,429 |
|
|
Kekin M. Ghelani |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Jody K. Absher |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
18,049 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,008,558 |
|
|
Jennifer J. Durbin |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
18,049 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,008,558 |
|
|
Nonqualified Defined Contribution and Other Deferred Compensation Plans
All of the NEOs have previously been designated by the Compensation Committee as being eligible to participate in the BRP. Participants can elect to defer W-2 earnings, including annual bonus awards, up to a maximum of 50% of such earnings. Deferrals are matched up to 4.5% of the participant’s BRP-eligible compensation, with the matching contributions vesting after two years of service. Annually, BRP participants must elect, prior to the fiscal year in which the compensation to be credited or deferred to the BRP is earned, the time at which they want distributions from the BRP. Amounts may be deferred for a minimum of one year. Distribution election options include commencement upon retirement either in a lump sum or installments or at a set future date either in lump sum or installments even if employment continues with us. In the event of death or disability, the participant or his or her estate will receive a lump sum payment. The payment of amounts deferred by NEOs after December 31, 2004 and that are to be paid after termination of employment, will be delayed for six months following termination of employment in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
Amounts deferred into the BRP by the participant as well as contributions by us are credited with market earnings or losses based on the participant’s self-directed investment election and allocation among a group of mutual funds. The mutual funds available in the BRP have investment objectives similar, but not identical to, those funds available to all employees under our tax-qualified plan. There is no above-market or preferential interest rates credited on any compensation deferred in the BRP. Participants may change fund choices on a daily basis to the extent permitted by the funds.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 59
Executive Compensation
The following table and footnotes provide information regarding the non-qualified deferred compensation plan during fiscal year 2025 for the NEOs.
Fiscal Year 2025 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Name |
|
Executive’s |
|
Registrant’s |
|
Aggregate |
|
Aggregate |
|
Aggregate |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Peter R. Matt |
|
|
$ |
124,574 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
75,267 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
40,270 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
444,451 |
|
(2) |
|
Paul J. Lawrence |
|
|
$ |
44,819 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
34,669 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
77,687 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
900,560 |
|
(3) |
|
Kekin M. Ghelani |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,388 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,388 |
|
(4) |
|
Jody K. Absher |
|
|
$ |
40,046 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
15,300 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
58,006 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
532,492 |
|
(5) |
|
Jennifer J. Durbin |
|
|
$ |
65,940 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
26,267 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
72,659 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
828,908 |
|
(6) |
|
Potential Payments and Benefits Upon Termination or Change in Control
Under our executive compensation program, severance payments and the provision of benefits can be triggered upon termination of an NEO’s employment and following a Change in Control (as defined below). These payments may include payments resulting from the employment agreements and EECAs discussed below.
Employment Agreements
Below is a description of the termination provisions included in each of the employment agreements and EECAs in effect as of August 31, 2025. The NEOs are also bound under the terms of their employment agreements to certain non-competition provisions during the term of the employment and for 18 months thereafter and certain non-solicitation restrictions for a period of two years after termination of employment.
If we terminate an NEO’s employment for cause under the terms of their respective employment agreements or under the applicable law or if any such executive terminates his or her own employment without good reason, then we have no further payment obligations to him or her, except accrued but unpaid salary and accrued vacation pay through the date of such executive’s respective termination. If the employment of any of these executives is terminated due to death or disability, such executive or his or her respective estate will be entitled to: (i) any applicable life insurance or disability benefits; (ii) a pro rata share of any applicable bonus as determined by our Board; (iii) payment of any cash incentive due under the Annual Cash Incentive Plan; (iv) vesting of SARs, restricted stock, RSUs and/or stock options to the extent permitted by the terms of the applicable equity incentive plan and award or grant agreements; and (v) to the extent permitted by the 401(k) Plan and BRP, crediting of any Company contributions attributable to the plan year of the termination and accelerated vesting of any unvested Company contributions to such accounts.
60 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Executive Compensation
If we terminate an NEO’s employment without cause, if he or she terminates for good reason, or if we do not renew his or her employment agreement, pursuant to their respective employment agreements, such executive will be entitled to: (i) an amount equal to two times the executive’s then current annual base salary and (ii) to the extent permitted by the 401(k) Plan and BRP, crediting of any Company contribution attributable to the plan year of the termination and accelerated vesting of any unvested Company contributions to such accounts.
Under our NEOs’ employment agreements, “cause” is defined as the executive’s: (i) theft, embezzlement, fraud, financial impropriety, any other act of dishonesty relating to such executive’s employment or any willful violation of Company policies (including the Company’s ethics policies) or lawful directives or any laws, rules or regulations applicable to CMC; (ii) willful commission of acts that would support the finding of a felony or lesser crime involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude; (iii) failure to perform the duties and obligations under such executive’s employment agreement; or (iv) commission of an act in performance of such executive’s duties amounting to gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Under our NEOs’ employment agreements, “good reason” is defined as our breach of the agreement or a significant reduction in the executive’s responsibilities or compensation.
We entered into amended and restated employment agreements with Mr. Lawrence and Mses. Absher and Durbin, in each case, effective October 13, 2023. The termination provisions in such amended and restated employment agreements are consistent with those described above.
EECAs. Each of the NEOs is party to an EECA. The EECA is intended to ensure that we will have the continued attention and dedication of the executive during events that might lead to, and in the event of, a Change in Control of the Company. Should a Change in Control occur, we have agreed to continue to employ each executive for a period of two years thereafter (the “Employment Period”). The EECAs terminate two years after a Change in Control.
During the Employment Period, each executive will continue to receive: (i) an annual base salary equal to at least the executive’s base salary before the Change in Control; (ii) cash bonus opportunities equivalent to that available to the executive under our annual and long-term cash incentive plans in effect immediately preceding the Change in Control; and (iii) continued participation in all incentive plans, including equity incentives, savings, deferred compensation, retirement plans, welfare benefit plans and other employee benefits in place for other executives in similar positions at the Company.
If the executive’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period for any reason (including Constructive Termination (as defined below) other than cause or disability or by the executive without a Constructive Termination, the EECA requires us to pay certain severance benefits to the executive in a lump sum within 30 days following termination. The severance benefits for our NEOs include an amount equal to unpaid salary, vacation pay and certain other amounts considered to have been earned prior to termination as well as two times the sum of (i) the highest annual base salary in effect at any time during the five year period prior to the Change in Control and (ii) the executive’s target cash bonus opportunity for the performance period in which the termination date occurs. Under the terms of the EECA, the severance paid is determined based on a multiple of salary only and does not include a multiple of salary plus bonus. Participation, including that of the executive’s eligible dependents, in Company provided welfare plan benefits will be continued for two years following termination, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, company contributions to retirement plans will be made for the two years following termination (or, if contributions are not permitted by applicable law to the retirement plans, we will pay the executive a lump sum amount equal to the amount of employer contributions that would have been made during such two year period). The executive also will become fully vested in all stock incentive awards and all stock options will remain exercisable for the remainder of their term. The EECA contains a “double trigger” in that there must be present both a Change in Control and a termination of the executive in order to trigger severance payments under these agreements. We believe that this double trigger is a reasonable trigger for severance compensation under the EECAs and that these agreements provide a mechanism for eliminating the distraction to the executives that is inherent in Change in Control events.
Under the EECA, “cause” is defined as the executive’s: (i) material misappropriation with respect to the Company’s business or assets; (ii) persistent refusal or willful failure constituting gross dereliction to substantially perform the executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company, which continues after the executive receives written notice from the Company of such refusal or failure and such refusal or failure is not remedied by the executive within 30 days following receipt of such notice; (iii) conviction of a felony or crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude; or (iv) the use of drugs or alcohol that materially interferes with the executive’s performance of duties.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 61
Executive Compensation
The EECA does not provide for a “tax gross up” reimbursement payment by us to the executive for taxes, including excise taxes under Section 4999 of the Code, which the employee may owe as a result of receipt of payments under the EECA in connection with the Change in Control. The EECA does require us to determine if the payments to an executive under the EECA combined with any other payments or benefits to which the executive may be entitled (in aggregate, the “Change in Control Payments”) would result in the imposition on the executive of the excise tax under Section 4999. We will either reduce the Change in Control Payments to the maximum amount which would not result in imposition of the Section 4999 excise tax or pay the entire Change in Control Payment to the executive if, even after the executive’s payment of the Section 4999 excise tax, the executive would receive a larger net amount.
In the event the executive is terminated more than two years following a Change in Control, no severance benefits are provided under the EECA. The EECA provides that the executive not disclose any confidential information relating to us and, for a period of one year following termination of employment, not compete with the business as conducted by the Company within 100 miles of a Company facility nor solicit or hire employees of the Company or knowingly permit (to the extent reasonably within the executive’s control) any business or entity that employs the executive or in which the executive has an ownership interest to hire Company employees. If a court rules that the executive has violated these provisions, the rights of the executive under the EECA will terminate.
Plan Awards. In addition to the EECAs, although our existing equity incentive plan permits accelerated vesting of stock-based awards as a result of a Change in Control, as defined by such plan, we have adopted a “double trigger” requirement for equity awards such that vesting will accelerate only if the participant has a qualifying termination within 24 months after a qualifying change in control event. A “qualifying termination” means a qualifying retirement (as determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee) occurring at least six months after the award’s grant date, termination as a result of the participant’s total and permanent disability, or termination by us without cause or by the participant for good reason. Further, the Annual Cash Incentive Plan provides that in the event of a Change in Control, the Compensation Committee has discretion to take action to determine the extent to which incentive compensation is considered earned and payable during any performance period and further consistent with our best interests.
The EECA defines a “Change in Control” to be the occurrence of one of the following events: (i) the acquisition of thirty percent (30%) or more of our outstanding voting securities; (ii) the replacement of a majority of the members of our Board by directors not approved by the incumbents; (iii) the sale of substantially all of our assets to an entity of which we own less than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities; or (iv) the merger of the Company resulting in the pre-merger stockholders of the Company not controlling at least fifty percent (50%) of the post-merger voting securities. The cash and equity incentive plans define a Change in Control to be the occurrence of one of the following events: (i) the acquisition of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of our outstanding voting securities; (ii) the replacement of a majority of the members of our Board by directors not approved by the incumbents; (iii) the sale of substantially all of our assets to an entity of which we own less than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities; or (iv) the merger of the Company resulting in the pre-merger stockholders of the Company not controlling at least fifty percent (50%) of the post-merger voting securities. The EECA defines “Constructive Termination” as a material breach of the EECA by the Company, including: (i) the failure to maintain the executive in the position held by him or her prior to the Change in Control, (ii) a material adverse change in the executive’s responsibilities, (iii) the failure to pay the amounts due to the executive under the EECA, (iv) the failure of any successor to the Company to assume the EECA or (v) requiring the executive to relocate more than 50 miles from his workplace without the consent of the executive.
In order to describe the payments and benefits that are triggered for each event, we have created the following tables for each NEO estimating the payments and benefits that would be paid under each element of our compensation program assuming that the NEO’s employment terminated or the Change in Control occurred on August 31, 2025, the last day of fiscal year 2025. In all cases the amounts were valued as of August 31, 2025, based upon, where applicable, a closing share price on August 29, 2025 of $57.67.
62 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Executive Compensation
The amounts in the following tables are calculated as of August 31, 2025 pursuant to SEC rules and are not intended to reflect actual payments that may be made. Actual payments that may be made will be based on the dates and circumstances of the applicable event.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Peter R. Matt |
|
Voluntary |
|
|
Retirement(7) |
|
|
Involuntary |
|
|
For Cause |
|
|
CIC With No |
|
|
CIC |
|
|
Permanent |
|
|
Death |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Termination Compensation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Base Salary(1) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,200,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,200,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Annual Cash Incentive Bonus(1) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,750,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,322,530 |
|
|
$ |
1,322,530 |
|
Long-term Incentives Restricted Stock/PSUs Unvested and Accelerated(2) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
11,239,133 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
11,239,133 |
|
|
$ |
4,660,543 |
|
|
$ |
4,660,543 |
|
Stock Options / SARs Unvested and Accelerated(2) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Benefits and Perquisites: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
BRP, 401(k) and Profit Sharing Contributions(3) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
307,549 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Welfare Continuation Benefit(4) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
44,555 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Life Insurance Proceeds |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
Disability Benefits(5) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,620,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Accrued Vacation Pay(6) |
|
$ |
84,615 |
|
|
$ |
84,615 |
|
|
$ |
84,615 |
|
|
$ |
84,615 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
84,615 |
|
|
$ |
84,615 |
|
|
$ |
84,615 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
84,615 |
|
|
$ |
11,323,748 |
|
|
$ |
2,284,615 |
|
|
$ |
84,615 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
16,625,852 |
|
|
$ |
7,687,688 |
|
|
$ |
7,067,688 |
|
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 63
Executive Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Paul J. Lawrence |
|
Voluntary |
|
|
Retirement(7) |
|
|
Involuntary |
|
|
For Cause |
|
|
CIC |
|
|
CIC |
|
|
Permanent |
|
|
Death |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Termination Compensation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Base Salary(1) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,320,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,320,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Annual Cash Incentive Bonus(1) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,188,000 |
|
|
$ |
571,362 |
|
|
$ |
571,362 |
|
Long-term Incentives Restricted Stock/PSUs Unvested and Accelerated(2) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
3,353,107 |
|
|
$ |
1,499,247 |
|
|
$ |
1,499,247 |
|
Stock Options / SARs Unvested and Accelerated(2) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Benefits and Perquisites: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
BRP, 401(k) and Profit Sharing Contributions(3) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
185,756 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Welfare Continuation Benefit(4) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
91,876 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Life Insurance Proceeds |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
Disability Benefits(5) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
3,867,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Accrued Vacation Pay(6) |
|
$ |
50,769 |
|
|
$ |
50,769 |
|
|
$ |
50,769 |
|
|
$ |
50,769 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
50,769 |
|
|
$ |
50,769 |
|
|
$ |
50,769 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
50,769 |
|
|
$ |
50,769 |
|
|
$ |
1,370,769 |
|
|
$ |
50,769 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
6,189,508 |
|
|
$ |
5,988,378 |
|
|
$ |
3,121,378 |
|
64 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Executive Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Kekin M. Ghelani |
|
Voluntary |
|
|
Retirement |
|
|
Involuntary |
|
|
For Cause |
|
|
CIC |
|
|
CIC |
|
|
Permanent |
|
|
Death |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Termination Compensation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Base Salary(1) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,150,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,150,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Annual Cash Incentive Bonus(1) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
920,000 |
|
|
$ |
406,092 |
|
|
$ |
406,092 |
|
Long-term Incentives Restricted |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,608,359 |
|
|
$ |
469,145 |
|
|
$ |
469,145 |
|
Stock Options / SARs Unvested and Accelerated(2) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Benefits and Perquisites: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
BRP, 401(k) and Profit Sharing Contributions(3) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
91,901 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Welfare Continuation Benefit(4) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
89,370 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Life Insurance Proceeds |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
Disability Benefits(5) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
5,344,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Accrued Vacation Pay(6) |
|
$ |
44,230 |
|
|
$ |
44,230 |
|
|
$ |
44,230 |
|
|
$ |
44,230 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
44,230 |
|
|
$ |
44,230 |
|
|
$ |
44,230 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
44,230 |
|
|
$ |
44,230 |
|
|
$ |
1,194,230 |
|
|
$ |
44,230 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
3,903,860 |
|
|
$ |
6,263,467 |
|
|
$ |
1,919,467 |
|
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 65
Executive Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Jody K. Absher |
|
Voluntary |
|
|
Retirement(7) |
|
|
Involuntary |
|
|
For Cause |
|
|
CIC |
|
|
CIC |
|
|
Permanent |
|
|
Death |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Termination Compensation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Base Salary(1) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,140,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,140,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Annual Cash Incentive Bonus(1) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
912,000 |
|
|
$ |
438,615 |
|
|
$ |
438,615 |
|
Long-term Incentives Restricted Stock/PSUs Unvested and Accelerated(2) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,176,293 |
|
|
$ |
948,037 |
|
|
$ |
948,037 |
|
Stock Options / SARs Unvested and Accelerated(2) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Benefits and Perquisites: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
BRP, 401(k) and Profit Sharing Contributions(3) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
110,516 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Welfare Continuation Benefit(4) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
51,373 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Life Insurance Proceeds |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
Disability Benefits(5) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
6,570,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Accrued Vacation Pay(6) |
|
$ |
43,846 |
|
|
$ |
43,846 |
|
|
$ |
43,846 |
|
|
$ |
43,846 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
43,846 |
|
|
$ |
43,846 |
|
|
$ |
43,846 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
43,846 |
|
|
$ |
43,846 |
|
|
$ |
1,183,846 |
|
|
$ |
43,846 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
4,434,028 |
|
|
$ |
8,000,498 |
|
|
$ |
2,430,498 |
|
66 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Executive Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Jennifer J. Durbin |
|
Voluntary |
|
|
Retirement(7) |
|
|
Involuntary |
|
|
For Cause |
|
|
CIC |
|
|
CIC |
|
|
Permanent |
|
|
Death |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Termination Compensation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Base Salary(1) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,130,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,130,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Annual Cash Incentive Bonus(1) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
847,500 |
|
|
$ |
407,591 |
|
|
$ |
407,591 |
|
Long-term Incentives Restricted Stock/PSUs Unvested and Accelerated(2) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,014,817 |
|
|
$ |
900,921 |
|
|
$ |
900,921 |
|
Stock Options / SARs Unvested and Accelerated(2) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Benefits and Perquisites: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
BRP, 401(k) and Profit Sharing Contributions(3) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
158,882 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Welfare Continuation Benefit(4) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
89,371 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Life Insurance Proceeds |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
Disability Benefits(5) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
7,874,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Accrued Vacation Pay(6) |
|
$ |
43,461 |
|
|
$ |
43,461 |
|
|
$ |
43,461 |
|
|
$ |
43,461 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
43,461 |
|
|
$ |
43,461 |
|
|
$ |
43,461 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
43,461 |
|
|
$ |
43,461 |
|
|
$ |
1,173,461 |
|
|
$ |
43,461 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
4,284,031 |
|
|
$ |
9,225,973 |
|
|
$ |
2,351,973 |
|
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 67
Executive Compensation
CEO Pay Ratio
As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, and in accordance with applicable SEC interpretive guidance, we are providing the ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to the median annual total compensation of all employees excluding the CEO as of August 31, 2025. This ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.
At August 31, 2025, our principal executive officer was Mr. Matt, our President and CEO. Mr. Matt had annual total compensation of $8,022,901 in fiscal year 2025, as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table beginning on page 56. The median annual total compensation of all employees excluding the CEO in fiscal year 2025 was $80,849. Based on this information, the ratio of the annual total compensation of the CEO to the median of the annual total compensation of employees excluding the CEO was 99 to 1.
As allowed by SEC regulations, we used the same median employee that was identified in the preparation of our pay ratio disclosure for fiscal year 2023 because there has been no change in our employee population or employee compensation arrangements that we believe would result in a significant change to our pay ratio disclosure. In fiscal year 2023, we identified our median employee using our employee population as of August 31, 2023, the last day of our 2023 fiscal year. As of August 31, 2023, we had 13,584 full-time and part-time employees globally. In determining the employee population for purposes of identifying the median employee, we included all of our employees in the U.S. (10,343) and all of our employees in Poland (2,885). As permitted by the de minimis exemption under SEC regulations, for purposes of identifying the median employee in fiscal year 2023, we excluded all of the employees from the following countries, which represent in the aggregate less than 5 percent (5%) of our total employees: two employees in Australia, three employees in Canada, 106 employees in China, 12 employees in India, one employee in Indonesia, six employees in Malaysia, five employees in Vietnam, nine employees in Czechoslovakia, one employee in France, 25 employees in Germany, four employees in Netherlands, two employees in Slovakia, eight employees in the United Arab Emirates and 172 employees in the United Kingdom. We then identified the median employee based on base salary and target bonus for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023. Because there was a small number of employees (approximately 141), who earned commissions rather than a bonus or were drivers paid by mile, we used base salary and commissions, or mileage pay paid, respectively for the calendar year 2022, for these employees. Earnings of our employees in Poland were converted from PLN to USD at a rate of PLN 4.0695 to $1.00 which is consistent with conversions for other purposes. We then utilized the same rules which we applied to the calculation of total compensation of the Company’s NEOs, as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table, to determine the annual total compensation of our median employee.
The SEC rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s annual total compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions, and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices. Accordingly, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported above, as other companies have different employee populations and compensation practices and may use different methodologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions in calculating their own pay ratios.
68 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Executive Compensation
Pay Versus Performance Disclosure
In accordance with rules adopted by the SEC pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, we provide the following disclosure regarding executive compensation for our principal executive officers (“PEOs”) and Non-PEO NEOs and Company performance for the fiscal years listed below. The Compensation Committee did not consider the pay versus performance disclosure below in making its pay decisions for any of the years shown.
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average |
|
Average |
|
Value of Initial Fixed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Year |
Summary |
|
Summary |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
TSR |
|
Peer |
|
Net |
|
Adjusted |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
Paul Lawrence |
Paul Lawrence |
Peter Matt |
Paul Lawrence |
Paul Lawrence |
Jody Absher |
Jody Absher |
Paul Lawrence |
Jody Absher |
Kekin Ghelani |
Jennifer Durbin |
Jennifer Durbin |
Jody Absher |
Jennifer Durbin |
Jody Absher |
Tracy L. Porter |
Ty L. Garrison |
Jennifer Durbin |
Barbara R. Smith |
Jennifer Durbin |
|
Tracy L. Porter |
Ty L. Garrison |
Ty L. Garrison |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Year |
|
Summary |
|
Exclusion of |
|
Inclusion of |
|
Compensation |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Year |
|
Average |
|
Average |
|
Average |
|
Average |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 69
Executive Compensation
The amounts in the Inclusion of Equity Values in the tables above are derived from the amounts set forth in the following tables:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Year |
|
Year-End Fair |
|
Change in |
|
Vesting-Date |
|
Change in Fair |
|
Fair |
|
Value of |
|
Total - |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Year |
|
Average |
|
Average |
|
Average |
|
Average |
|
Average |
|
Average |
|
Total - |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
70 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Executive Compensation
Relationship between PEO and Non-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid and total shareholder return (“TSR”)
The following chart sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEOs, the average of Compensation Actually Paid to our Non-PEO NEOs, the Company’s cumulative TSR over the five most recently completed fiscal years, and the cumulative TSR for the S&P 500 Steel Index TSR over the same period.

2026 PROXY STATEMENT 71
Executive Compensation
Relationship Between PEO and Non-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid and net income
The following chart sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEOs, the average of Compensation Actually Paid to our Non-PEO NEOs, and our net income during the five most recently completed fiscal years.

72 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Executive Compensation
Relationship Between PEO and Non-PEO NEO Compensation Actually Paid and Adjusted ebitda (comp)
The following chart sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEOs, the average of Compensation Actually Paid to our Non-PEO NEOs, and our Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) during the five most recently completed fiscal years.

Tabular List of Most Important Financial Performance Measures
The following table presents the financial performance measures that the Company considers to have been the most important in linking Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO 2 and other NEOs for fiscal year 2025 to Company performance. The measures in this table are not ranked.
Return on Invested Capital for Compensation Purposes (
|
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 73
Executive Compensation
Compensation Risk Assessment – Company-wide Compensation Policies and Programs
The Compensation Committee has established and plans to continue to refine Company-wide compensation policies and programs that reward contributions to long-term stockholder value and do not promote unnecessary or excessive risk-taking. In furtherance of this objective, the Compensation Committee undertook, during our most recently ended fiscal year, an assessment of our compensation arrangements, including those for our NEOs. In conducting this assessment, the Compensation Committee asked FW Cook, its independent compensation consultant, to perform, among other things, a review of our (i) compensation philosophy, (ii) peer group companies, (iii) compensation mix, (iv) cash and equity-based incentive plans and (v) administrative procedures. The Compensation Committee also asked FW Cook to examine our cash and equity-based compensation plans in comparison to market practices.
The considerations and findings of the assessment by the Compensation Committee included:
Based upon this assessment, the Compensation Committee does not believe that our Company-wide compensation policies and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
74 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Non-Employee Director Compensation
The compensation arrangements for non-employee directors are described below. The following table and footnotes outline the compensation paid to our non-employee directors for fiscal year 2025, as well as the outstanding equity awards held by the non-employee directors as of August 31, 2025. Mr. Matt did not receive fees for his service on our Board during fiscal year 2025.
Fiscal Year 2025 Director Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Name |
|
Fees Earned |
|
Stock |
|
All Other |
|
Total |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Dennis Arriola |
|
|
$ |
125,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
149,979 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
274,979 |
|
|
Lisa M. Barton |
|
|
$ |
140,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
149,979 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
289,979 |
|
|
Gary E. McCullough |
|
|
$ |
143,750 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
149,979 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
293,729 |
|
|
John R. McPherson |
|
|
$ |
136,250 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
149,979 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
286,229 |
|
|
Tandra C. Perkins |
|
|
$ |
135,417 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
197,506 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
332,923 |
|
|
Sarah E. Raiss |
|
|
$ |
125,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
149,979 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
274,979 |
|
|
Charles L. Szews |
|
|
$ |
150,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
149,979 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
299,979 |
|
|
Robert S. Wetherbee |
|
|
$ |
292,500 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
149,979 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
442,479 |
|
|
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 75
Non-Employee Director Compensation
As of August 31, 2025, each individual who served as a non-employee director during fiscal year 2025 had outstanding the following number of deferred RSUs, RSAs or RSUs:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Director |
|
Deferred |
|
Restricted |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Dennis Arriola |
|
|
|
5,001 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Lisa M. Barton |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
2,906 |
|
|
Gary E. McCullough |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
2,906 |
|
|
John R. McPherson |
|
|
|
11,296 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Tandra C. Perkins |
|
|
|
3,885 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Sarah E. Raiss |
|
|
|
16,362 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,906 |
|
|
Charles L. Szews |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
2,906 |
|
|
Robert S. Wetherbee |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
2,906 |
|
|
Director Retainers and Fees
Our non-employee directors receive annual retainer fees for Board and committee service. None of our employees receive additional compensation for serving as a director. In addition, if the Board or any committee holds more than 10 meetings in a calendar year, members of the Board and such committee are entitled to receive Board and committee meeting fees of $2,000 per additional meeting attended.
Compensation for Board and committee service is summarized below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retainer |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Director Retainer (the “Annual Director Retainer”) |
|
|
$ |
275,000 |
|
(1) |
|
Chairman of the Board |
|
|
$ |
150,000 |
|
|
|
Lead Director |
|
|
$ |
35,000 |
|
|
|
Audit Committee Chair |
|
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
|
|
Compensation Committee Chair |
|
|
$ |
20,000 |
|
|
|
Finance Committee Chair |
|
|
$ |
15,000 |
|
|
|
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair |
|
|
$ |
15,000 |
|
|
|
Director Stock Ownership Guidelines
Under CMC’s stock ownership guidelines, non-employee directors are required to own Company common stock equal in value to five times such person’s annual cash retainer, and each non-employee director has five years from joining the Board to achieve this threshold.
76 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The members of the Compensation Committee during fiscal year 2025 were Mses. Barton and Perkins and Messrs. McCullough (Chair since January 14, 2025) and Wetherbee (Chair until January 14, 2025). No member of the Compensation Committee was at any time during fiscal year 2025, or at any other time, an officer or employee of the Company. None of our executive officers serve as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving either as a member of our Compensation Committee or as a member of our Board. There were no relationships requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K or Item 407(e)(4) of Regulation S-K that involved any member of the Compensation Committee during fiscal year 2025.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 77
Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions
Since 1978, we have had a Code of Conduct that applies to all directors, officers and employees (collectively, “Covered Persons”). The Code of Conduct, as amended, is available on our website, www.cmc.com, by clicking on “Investors,” then “Governance and Board of Directors.”
The Code of Conduct prohibits a Covered Person from engaging in transactions in which he or she may have a conflict of interest without first disclosing the potential conflict of interest to his or her supervisor and seeking prior approval. Additionally, we have adopted a written policy regarding review and approval of related party transactions by the Audit Committee (the “Related Person Transactions Policy”).
CMC’s Related Person Transactions Policy defines a “Related Person Transaction” as any transaction involving an amount in excess of $120,000 in which the Company is a participant and in which a Related Person (as defined below) has or will have a direct or indirect material interest, including, without limitation, any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships. The Related Person Transactions Policy also contains categories of certain transactions that our Board has identified as not constituting Related Person Transactions, because such transactions are not deemed to create a direct or indirect material interest for the Related Person.
A “Related Person” is (i) an executive officer or director of the Company or a nominee for director of the Company, (ii) a beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the Company or (iii) an immediate family member of any of the persons identified in clauses (i) or (ii). Immediate family members include a person’s child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law of such person, and any individual (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such person.
Under the Related Person Transactions Policy, each Related Person Transaction must be approved or ratified in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the policy (i) by the Audit Committee or (ii) if the Audit Committee determines that the approval or ratification of such Related Person Transaction should be considered by all of the disinterested members of our Board, by such disinterested members of our Board by the vote of a majority thereof. In considering whether to approve or ratify any Related Person Transaction, the Audit Committee or the disinterested members of our Board, as the case may be, shall consider all factors that in their discretion are relevant to the Related Person Transaction.
No director participates in any discussion or approval of a Related Person Transaction for which he or she is a Related Person, except that the director is required to provide all material information concerning the Related Person Transaction to the Audit Committee or disinterested directors reviewing such transaction.
There were no transactions considered to be a Related Person Transaction since the beginning of CMC’s 2025 fiscal year through the date of this proxy statement.
78 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Audit Committee Report
The following report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed with the SEC” or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference in such filing.
Our Board annually selects the members of the Audit Committee. During fiscal year 2025, the members of the Audit Committee were Messrs. Szews (Chair), Arriola and McPherson, and Ms. Raiss. On October 14, 2025, Ms. Hickton joined the Audit Committee. Our Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is qualified to serve. Our Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee satisfies all applicable financial literacy requirements, and each member is independent as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the listing standards of the NYSE. Our Board has determined that Ms. Hickton and Messrs. Arriola, McPherson and Szews meet the definition of “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC. During fiscal year 2025, the Audit Committee met seven times.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Audit Committee’s responsibilities are outlined in a charter approved by our Board, a current copy of which can be found on our website at www.cmc.com by clicking on “Investors,” then “Governance and Board of Directors.” On an annual basis, the Audit Committee conducts a self-assessment review and also reviews and assesses the adequacy of its charter.
The role of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities related to the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and disclosures, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the Company’s procedures for monitoring compliance with the Company’s Code of Conduct and Business Ethics, the Company’s policies and procedures to address cybersecurity risks, the qualifications, independence and performance of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and the Company’s internal control systems. The Audit Committee, among other activities described in its charter, has sole authority for the appointment (subject to stockholder ratification), compensation, retention, oversight, termination and replacement of the independent registered public accounting firm, recommends to our Board whether the audited financial statements should be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, reviews quarterly financial statements and earnings press releases with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, reviews with our internal audit staff and independent registered public accounting firm our controls and procedures and is responsible for approving all audit and engagement fees of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also participates in the selection and evaluation of the Company’s lead audit partner. The Audit Committee regularly meets independently as a committee and separately from management with the internal audit staff, the independent registered public accounting firm, as well as the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Legal Officer, and the Chief Accounting Officer.
Management of the Company has the responsibility for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Company’s financial statements, for the appropriateness of the accounting principles and reporting policies that are used by the Company and for the establishment and maintenance of systems of disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, is responsible for auditing the Company’s financial statements and expressing an opinion on the fair presentation of those financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, performing reviews of the unaudited quarterly financial statements and auditing and expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. In performing its functions, the Audit Committee acts only in an oversight capacity and necessarily relies on the work and assurances of the Company’s management, internal audit group and independent registered public accounting firm.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 79
Audit Committee Report
Fiscal YEAR 2025 Actions
During fiscal year 2025, management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2025 with management and with the independent registered public accounting firm. These discussions included a review of the reasonableness of significant judgments and estimates, the quality, not just acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles, disclosures and such other matters as are required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 1301 (Communications with Audit Committees) with the independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s financial reporting procedures, disclosure controls and procedures, and internal control over financial reporting, including the respective reports of management and the independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee’s review does not provide its members with an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles or policies, or appropriate internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.
The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and SEC rules. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence under such standards and has determined that the services provided by Deloitte & Touche LLP are compatible with maintaining its independence.
Fiscal YEAR 2025 Audited Financial Statements
Based on the Audit Committee’s discussions with management, the Company’s internal auditors and Deloitte & Touche LLP, and the Audit Committee’s review of the audited financial statements, including the representations of management and Deloitte & Touche LLP with respect thereto, and subject in all cases to the limitations on the role and responsibilities of the Audit Committee referred to above and set forth in the Audit Committee charter, the Audit Committee recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors, and the Board approved, that the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2025 be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed on October 16, 2025 with the SEC.
Charles L. Szews, Chair
Dennis V. Arriola
John R. McPherson
Sarah E. Raiss
80 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
PROPOSAL 2
Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2026. Deloitte & Touche LLP has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since 1959. The Audit Committee and the Board believe that the continued retention of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm is in the best interests of CMC and its stockholders. Fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP and its member firms and affiliates to us for services provided in the fiscal years ended August 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024 were:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Type of Fees |
|
Fiscal Year |
|
Fiscal Year |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Audit Fees |
|
|
$ |
4,246,031 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,937,393 |
|
|
Audit-Related Fees |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Tax Fees |
|
|
$ |
5,393 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
8,944 |
|
|
All Other Fees |
|
|
$ |
8,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
8,000 |
|
|
Total |
|
|
$ |
4,259,424 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,954,337 |
|
|
“Audit Fees” are fees billed for professional services for the audit of our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and for the review of our condensed consolidated financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, or for services that are normally provided by the accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. “Audit-Related Fees” are fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit and review of our financial statements. “Tax Fees” are billed for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. “All Other Fees” are fees billed for any services not included in the first three categories. For fiscal years 2025 and 2024, “All Other Fees” consisted of fees billed for use of the Deloitte Accounting Research Tool, an online research tool.
The Audit Committee has adopted the following practices regarding the engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm to perform services for us:
For audit services (including statutory audit engagements as required under local country laws), the independent registered public accounting firm shall provide the Audit Committee with the scope and fee budget proposal for the audit services proposed to be performed during the fiscal year. If agreed to by the Audit Committee, the scope and budget for audit services will be formally accepted by the Audit Committee.
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 81
PROPOSAL 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting FIRM
For non-audit services, Company management periodically submits to the Audit Committee for pre-approval a list of non-audit services that it recommends the Audit Committee engage the independent registered public accounting firm to provide for the fiscal year. Company management and the independent registered public accounting firm each confirm to the Audit Committee that each non-audit service on the list is permissible under all applicable legal requirements. In addition to the list of planned non-audit services, a budget estimating non-audit service spending for the fiscal year may be provided. The Audit Committee will review and approve, as it considers appropriate, both the list of permissible non-audit services and the budget for such services. The Audit Committee will be informed routinely as to the non-audit services actually provided by the independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to this pre-approval process. All of the services described above were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to these pre-approval processes. The Audit Committee considers non-audit fees and services when assessing auditor independence.
To ensure prompt handling of unexpected matters, the Audit Committee may periodically delegate to the Chair of the Audit Committee the authority to amend or modify the list of approved permissible non-audit services and fees. The Chair of the Audit Committee will report any action taken in this regard to the Audit Committee at the next Audit Committee meeting.
The Audit Committee has specifically charged the independent registered public accounting firm with the responsibility of ensuring that all audit and non-audit services provided to us have been pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The CFO and independent registered public accounting firm are responsible for tracking all of the independent registered public accounting firm’s fees against the pre-approved budget for such services and periodically reporting that status to the Audit Committee.
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP will attend the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. Our Board requests that stockholders ratify the appointment by the Audit Committee of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to conduct the audit of our financial statements for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2026. In the event that the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to continue to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the fiscal year ending August 31, 2026 if the Audit Committee determines that such a change should be made.
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares having voting power represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required to adopt the proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2026.
|
The Audit Committee and our Board recommend a vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP. |
82 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
PROPOSAL 3
Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
We are providing stockholders with an advisory, non-binding vote on the compensation of our NEOs as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with SEC rules, which is commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay vote.” Our current policy is to hold an advisory say-on-pay vote each year and we expect to hold the next such advisory vote at the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders.
As disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (which starts on page 42), CMC believes that its executive compensation program is reasonable, competitive and strongly focused on pay-for-performance principles. The objectives of CMC’s executive compensation program are to:
Within the objectives listed above, the Compensation Committee generally believes that it is in the interests of CMC and its stockholders that the “variable” compensation performance metrics should be:
While our annual say-on-pay vote is advisory, we value the opinions of our stockholders and carefully and thoughtfully consider our stockholders’ concerns and opinions in our annual evaluation of our executive compensation program.
This proposal gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on the overall compensation of our NEOs and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this proxy statement. For the reasons discussed above, we are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our NEO compensation by voting FOR the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:
“RESOLVED, that the compensation of the named executive officers of CMC, as disclosed in the proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the other compensation tables and accompanying narrative discussion, is approved.”
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares having voting power represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required to adopt the proposal to approve the advisory resolution relating to the compensation of our NEOs as disclosed in this proxy statement. The say-on-pay vote is an advisory vote only, and therefore it will not bind CMC or our Board. However, our Board and the Compensation Committee will consider the voting results as appropriate when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.
|
Our Board recommends a vote FOR the approval of the advisory resolution relating to the compensation of our NEOs as disclosed in this proxy statement. |
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 83
Equity Compensation Plans
The following table presents information about our equity compensation plans as of August 31, 2025:
|
|
A. |
|
B. |
|
C. |
||||||||||||
Plan Category |
|
Number of |
|
Weighted-Average |
|
Number of |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
|
|
|
1,369,204 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
50.37 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,607,024 |
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
1,369,204 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
50.37 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,607,024 |
|
|
General
A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on October 16, 2025 is contained within the annual report. The Annual Report on Form 10-K includes our financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2025. Copies of the Annual Report on Form 10-K and the annual report are available to stockholders online at www.proxydocs.com/CMC by using the control number on your proxy card and on the Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials. Because we are furnishing proxy materials to our stockholders on the Internet, you will not receive a printed copy of the annual report unless you have specifically requested it. You may request a copy of the annual report, without charge, by contacting our Corporate Secretary of the Company by phone at (214) 689-4300 or by mail to 6565 North MacArthur Blvd. Suite 800, Irving, TX 75039.
We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies on behalf of CMC. Our directors, officers and employees may also solicit proxies by mail, telephone, facsimile, personal contact or through online methods. We will reimburse their expenses for doing this. We will also reimburse banks, brokers, trusts and other nominees for their costs in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of our common stock.
84 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
2027 Annual Meeting and Stockholder Proposals
Pursuant to regulations of the SEC, in order to be included in our proxy statement for the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders, stockholder proposals must be received at our principal executive office, 6565 North MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800, Irving, Texas 75039, Attention: Corporate Secretary, no later than July 28, 2026 and must comply with additional requirements established by the SEC. Pursuant to our amended and restated bylaws, a stockholder proposal to bring business before the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders submitted outside of the processes established in Rule 14a-8 promulgated by the SEC or to nominate a person for election to the Board pursuant to the advance notice provisions of our amended and restated bylaws will be considered untimely before September 16, 2026 and untimely after October 16, 2026.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders pursuant to the advance notice provisions on the same basis that it evaluates other nominees for director, provided stockholders submit the required information in writing in a timely manner addressed to the attention of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and delivered to our principal executive office, 6565 North MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800, Irving, Texas 75039, Attention: Corporate Secretary. A stockholder wishing to formally nominate a director for election at a stockholder meeting must comply with the advance notice provisions in our amended and restated bylaws addressing stockholder nominations of directors.
Pursuant to the proxy access provisions of our amended and restated bylaws, a stockholder, or a group of up to 20 stockholders, owning at least 3% of our outstanding common stock continuously for at least three years, may nominate and include in our proxy materials director nominees constituting up to 20% of the Board or two directors, whichever is greater, provided that the stockholder(s) and the nominee(s) satisfy the requirements specified in our amended and restated bylaws. To include a nominee for our Board in our proxy materials, a compliant nomination notice for the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders must be received at our principal executive office, 6565 North MacArthur Blvd., Suite 800, Irving, Texas 75039, Attention: Corporate Secretary, no earlier than June 28, 2026 and no later than July 28, 2026. The nomination notice must contain the information required by the proxy access provisions of our amended and restated bylaws.
Stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than our nominees must provide notice to our Corporate Secretary that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 of the Exchange Act in accordance with and within the time period prescribed in the advance notice provisions of our amended and restated bylaws.
Other Business
Management knows of no other matter that will come before the Annual Meeting. However, if other matters do come before the Annual Meeting, the Proxy Holders will vote in accordance with their best judgment.
By Order of the Board of Directors,

Jody Absher
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
November 25, 2025
2026 PROXY STATEMENT 85
Appendix A
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This proxy statement contains financial measures not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided below. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate financial performance and the Compensation Committee uses non-GAAP financial metrics to set target benchmarks for annual and long-term incentive performance plans. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as alternatives for, the most directly comparable measures derived in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.
Regularly Reported Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA and Core EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA and core EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and core EBITDA to evaluate our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA and core EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives to net earnings (loss) from continuing operations, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. However, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA and core EBITDA provide relevant and useful information, which is often used by investors, analysts, creditors and other interested parties in our industry as they allow: (i) comparison of our earnings to those of our competitors; (ii) supplemental measures of our ongoing core performance; and (iii) the assessment of period-to-period performance trends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amounts shown in millions |
|
2025 |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings |
|
|
$ |
84.7 |
|
|
Interest expense |
|
|
$ |
45.5 |
|
|
Income taxes |
|
|
$ |
22.9 |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
$ |
285.9 |
|
|
Asset impairments |
|
|
$ |
4.6 |
|
|
Unrealized gain on undesignated commodity hedges |
|
|
$ |
(2.8 |
) |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
|
$ |
440.8 |
|
|
Non-cash equity compensation |
|
|
$ |
37.1 |
|
|
Settlement of New Markets Tax Credit transaction |
|
|
$ |
(2.8 |
) |
|
Litigation expense |
|
|
$ |
362.3 |
|
|
Core EBITDA |
|
|
$ |
837.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amounts shown in millions |
|
2025 |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings |
|
|
$ |
84.7 |
|
|
Asset impairments |
|
|
$ |
4.6 |
|
|
Settlement of New Markets Tax Credit transactions |
|
|
$ |
(2.8 |
) |
|
Litigation expense |
|
|
$ |
362.3 |
|
|
Unrealized gain on undesignated commodity hedges |
|
|
$ |
(2.8 |
) |
|
Total adjustments (pre-tax) |
|
|
$ |
361.3 |
|
|
Related tax effects on adjustments |
|
|
$ |
(88.7 |
) |
|
Adjusted Earnings |
|
|
$ |
357.3 |
|
|
2026 PROXY STATEMENT A-1
Appendix A: Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Return on Invested Capital
Return on Invested Capital is a non-GAAP financial measure. Return on Invested Capital is defined as net operating profit, using the statutory tax rate, divided by total assets less cash and cash equivalents less accounts payable and accrued expenses and other payables, averaged using the beginning, ending and quarterly interim balances over a 12-month period. The following table provides the calculation of net operating profit and invested capital, which are used to calculate Return on Invested Capital:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amounts shown in millions, except percentage |
|
2025 |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings before Income Taxes |
|
|
$ |
108 |
|
|
Interest expense |
|
|
|
45 |
|
|
Asset impairments |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
Settlement of New Markets Tax Credit transaction |
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
Litigation expense |
|
|
|
362 |
|
|
Operating Profit |
|
|
$ |
517 |
|
|
Income taxes at statutory rate |
|
|
|
(129 |
) |
|
Net Operating Profit |
|
|
$ |
388 |
|
|
Average total assets |
|
|
|
6,889 |
|
|
Average cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
(882 |
) |
|
Average accounts payable |
|
|
|
(345 |
) |
|
Average accrued expenses and other payables |
|
|
|
(438 |
) |
|
Invested Capital |
|
|
$ |
5,224 |
|
|
Return on Invested Capital |
|
|
|
7.4 |
% |
|
Non-GAAP Financial Measures for Compensation Purposes
Adjusted Earnings (Comp) and Adjusted EBITDA (Comp)
Adjusted earnings from continuing operations for compensation purposes (“Adjusted Earnings (Comp)”) is a non-GAAP financial measure that is equal to earnings from continuing operations before income taxes, excluding certain items related to the achievement of strategic operating goals of the Company that arose after the financial performance goals were set and other items that were fundamentally different in strategic nature from ongoing performance. The adjustment "Settlement of New Markets Tax Credit transactions" represents the recognition of deferred revenue from 2016 and 2017 resulting from the Company’s participation in the New Markets Tax Credit program provided for in the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000 during the development of a micro mill, spooler and T-post shop located in eligible zones as determined by the Internal Revenue Service. The adjustment "Litigation expense" represents a provision recorded in the three months ended November 30, 2024 related to the judgment in the Pacific Steel Group litigation and, with respect to subsequent periods, interest expense on the judgment amount. During the fourth fiscal quarter of 2025, the Company modified its method of calculating adjusted EBITDA to exclude the impact of unrealized gains and losses on undesignated commodity derivatives. This change was primarily driven by heightened volatility in copper forward markets, which introduced significant non-cash fluctuations unrelated to core operations. By removing this volatility, the revised metric provides a more representative view of operating performance and cash-generating capability.
Adjusted EBITDA for compensation purposes (“Adjusted EBITDA (Comp)”) is a non-GAAP financial measure that is equal to Adjusted Earnings (Comp), excluding interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense and the amortization of acquired unfavorable contract backlog. Adjusted Earnings (Comp) and Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) are used as metrics within our annual and long-term incentive performance plans for management. Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) differs from Adjusted EBITDA as regularly reported due to items that were not determined to be relevant to evaluate the achievement of pre-established financial performance goals.
A-2 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Appendix A: Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
A reconciliation of earnings from continuing operations before income taxes to Adjusted Earnings (Comp) and Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) is provided below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amounts shown in millions |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes |
|
|
$371 |
|
|
|
$534 |
|
|
|
$1,515 |
|
|
|
$1,122 |
|
|
|
$636 |
|
|
|
$108 |
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Settlement of New Markets Tax Credit transaction |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(18) |
|
|
|
(7) |
|
|
|
(3) |
|
Loss on debt extinguishment |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Asset impairments |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Gains on sale of assets |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(10) |
|
|
|
(275) |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Acquisition and integration related costs and other |
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Acquisition related earnings |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(12) |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Facility closure |
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Litigation expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
362 |
|
Total Adjustments: |
|
|
52 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
(257) |
|
|
|
(14) |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
364 |
|
Adjusted Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes for Compensation Purposes |
|
|
$423 |
|
|
|
$548 |
|
|
|
$1,258 |
|
|
|
$1,108 |
|
|
|
$636 |
|
|
|
$472 |
|
Income taxes at projected effective tax rate |
|
|
106 |
|
|
|
148 |
|
|
|
368 |
|
|
|
277 |
|
|
|
159 |
|
|
|
122 |
|
Adjusted Earnings (Comp) |
|
|
$317 |
|
|
|
$400 |
|
|
|
$890 |
|
|
|
$831 |
|
|
|
$477 |
|
|
|
$350 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
62 |
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
|
45 |
|
Income taxes at projected effective tax rate |
|
|
106 |
|
|
|
148 |
|
|
|
368 |
|
|
|
277 |
|
|
|
159 |
|
|
|
122 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
166 |
|
|
|
168 |
|
|
|
163 |
|
|
|
219 |
|
|
|
280 |
|
|
|
286 |
|
Amortization of acquired unfavorable contract backlog |
|
|
(29) |
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) |
|
|
$621 |
|
|
|
$762 |
|
|
|
$1,472 |
|
|
|
$1,367 |
|
|
|
$964 |
|
|
|
$803 |
|
2026 PROXY STATEMENT A-3
Appendix A: Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
ROICC
Return on Invested Capital for Compensation Purposes (“ROICC”) is a non-GAAP financial measure. ROICC is net adjusted operating profit, using the Company’s projected effective tax rate, divided by the sum of stockholders equity, long-term debt, current maturities of long-term debt, less cash and cash equivalents in excess of base cash, averaged using the beginning, ending and quarterly interim balances over a 12-month period and adjusted, as needed, to exclude impacts related to the achievement of strategic operating goals of the Company that arose after the financial performance goals were set. See above for the reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings before income taxes for compensation purposes to earnings from continuing operations before income taxes. The following table provides the calculation of net adjusted operating profit and invested capital for compensation purposes, which are used to calculate ROICC:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amounts shown in millions, except percentages |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted Earnings Before Income Taxes for Compensation Purposes |
|
|
$423 |
|
|
|
$548 |
|
|
|
$1,258 |
|
|
|
$1,108 |
|
|
|
$636 |
|
|
|
$472 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
62 |
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
|
45 |
|
Adjusted Operating Profit |
|
|
$485 |
|
|
|
$600 |
|
|
|
$1,309 |
|
|
|
$1,148 |
|
|
|
$684 |
|
|
|
$517 |
|
Income taxes at projected effective tax rate |
|
|
(119) |
|
|
|
(162) |
|
|
|
(383) |
|
|
|
(287) |
|
|
|
(167) |
|
|
|
(150) |
|
Net Adjusted Operating Profit |
|
|
$366 |
|
|
|
$438 |
|
|
|
$926 |
|
|
|
$861 |
|
|
|
$517 |
|
|
|
$367 |
|
Average total stockholders’ equity* |
|
|
1,755 |
|
|
|
2,057 |
|
|
|
2,730 |
|
|
|
3,759 |
|
|
|
4,227 |
|
|
|
4,124 |
|
Average long-term debt* |
|
|
1,154 |
|
|
|
1,035 |
|
|
|
1,138 |
|
|
|
1,105 |
|
|
|
1,130 |
|
|
|
1,213 |
|
Average current maturities of long-term debt* |
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
159 |
|
|
|
182 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
|
41 |
|
Average cash and cash equivalents in excess of base cash* |
|
|
(131) |
|
|
|
(263) |
|
|
|
(361) |
|
|
|
(385) |
|
|
|
(498) |
|
|
|
(682) |
|
Invested Capital for Compensation Purposes |
|
|
$2,795 |
|
|
|
$2,852 |
|
|
|
$3,666 |
|
|
|
$4,661 |
|
|
|
$4,894 |
|
|
|
$4,696 |
|
Return on Invested Capital for Compensation Purposes |
|
|
13.1% |
|
|
|
15.4% |
|
|
|
25.3% |
|
|
|
18.5% |
|
|
|
10.6% |
|
|
|
7.8% |
|
* Financial metric adjusted to exclude impacts of transactions or events that arose after the financial performance goals were set.
A-4 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY

6565 N. MacArthur Blvd. | Suite 800 | Irving, Texas 75039 | 214.689.4300 | cmc.com

P.O. BOX 8016, CARY, NC 27512-9903 Your vote matters! Have your ballot ready and please use one of the methods below for easy voting: Have the 12 digit control number located in the box above available when you access the website and follow the instructions. Internet: www.proxypush.com/CMC Cast your vote online Have your Proxy Card ready Follow the simple instructions to record your vote Phone: 1-866-362-4503 Use any touch-tone telephone Have your Proxy Card ready Follow the simple recorded instructions Commercial Metals Company for Stockholders of Record as of November 17, 2025 Wednesday, January 14, 2026 10:00 AM, Central Time This event will be held via live audio webcast- Please visit www.proxydocs.com/CMC for more details. Mail: Mark, sign and date your Proxy Card Fold and return your Proxy Card in the postage-paid YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! envelope provided PLEASE VOTE BY: 10:00 AM, Central Time, January 14, 2026. This proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors The undersigned hereby appoints Peter R. Matt, Paul J. Lawrence and Jody K. Absher (each a "Proxy Holder", and collectively, the "Proxy Holders") , and each or any of them, as the true and lawful attorneys of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and revocation, and authorizes them, and each of them, to vote all the shares of capital stock of Commercial Metals Company which the undersigned is entitled to vote at said meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof upon the matters specified and upon such other matters as may be properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, conferring authority upon such true and lawful attorneys to vote in their discretion on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and revoking any proxy heretofore given. IF THIS PROXY IS RETURNED SIGNED, THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, SHARES WILL BE VOTED "FOR" EACH DIRECTOR NOMINEE AND "FOR" PROPOSALS 2 AND 3. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. In their discretion, the Proxy Holders are authorized to vote upon such other matters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. You are encouraged to specify your choice by marking the appropriate box (SEE REVERSE SIDE), but you need not mark any box if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendation. The Proxy Holders cannot vote your shares unless you sign (on the reverse side) and return this card. PLEASE BE SURE TO SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY CARD AND MARK ON THE REVERSE SIDE Copyright © 2025 BetaNXT, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved

Commercial Metals Company Annual Meeting of Stockholders Please make your marks like this: THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE: "FOR" THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1 AND "FOR" PROPOSALS 2 AND 3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS PROPOSAL YOUR VOTE RECOMMENDS 1. Election of three director nominees to serve as Class I directors until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 1.01 Dawne S. Hickton FOR #P2# #P2# #P2# 1.02 Peter R. Matt FOR #P3# #P3# #P3# 1.03 Robert S. Wetherbee FOR #P4# #P4# #P4# FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 2. Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent registered public FOR #P5# #P5# #P5# accounting firm for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2026 3. The approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers FOR #P6# #P6# #P6# NOTE: Such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any N/A #P7# #P7# #P7# adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting will be voted on by the Proxy Holders in their discretion. Check here if you would like to attend the meeting in person. Authorized Signatures - Must be completed for your instructions to be executed. Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on your account. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the Proxy/Vote Form. Signature (and Title if applicable) Signature (if held jointly)
FAQ
What are the main voting items in CMC's 2026 proxy statement (ticker CMC)?
Stockholders are asked to vote on three proposals: (1) election of three Class I directors to serve until the 2029 annual meeting, (2) ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending August 31, 2026, and (3) an advisory vote on executive compensation. The Board recommends a FOR vote on all three.
When is Commercial Metals Company's 2026 annual meeting and who can vote?
The annual meeting will be held virtually on January 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CT. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on November 17, 2025 are entitled to attend and vote. Each share of common stock carries one vote on each proposal.
What fiscal 2025 financial highlights does CMC report in the proxy?
CMC reports fiscal 2025 net earnings of $84.7 million, cash flows from operating activities of $715.1 million, and Core EBITDA of $837.3 million. The Company estimates a $50 million EBITDA benefit from its TAG program and notes $198.8 million of share repurchases under its $850 million buyback program.
What strategic acquisitions does CMC describe in the 2026 proxy statement?
After fiscal year end, CMC entered definitive agreements to acquire Concrete Pipe & Precast, LLC, a Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic precast supplier, and Foley Products Company, LLC, a Southeastern and Western U.S. precast and concrete pipe provider. Both deals are expected to close in December 2025, expanding CMC's early-stage construction solutions platform.
How does CMC describe its executive compensation philosophy in the 2026 proxy?
CMC states that its programs are designed to pay for performance and align executives with long-term stockholder interests. For fiscal 2025, about 86% of the CEO's target pay and, on average, 74% of other NEOs' target pay is variable or at risk. Key elements include PSUs tied to Adjusted EBITDA (Comp) and relative TSR, annual cash incentives, stock ownership guidelines, clawback policies, and no hedging or pledging of CMC stock.
What are CMC's key governance and Board composition highlights?
CMC highlights an independent Chairman of the Board, with nine of ten directors deemed independent and all committees composed of independent directors. The Board notes that 60% of directors are ethnically/racially or gender diverse, there is a majority voting standard with a resignation policy, stockholder rights to call special meetings and proxy access, and no poison pill in place.
Who are the largest institutional stockholders of CMC common stock?
Based on filings referenced in the proxy, beneficial owners of more than 5% of CMC's 111,047,945 outstanding common shares as of November 17, 2025 include BlackRock, Inc. with 13,705,272 shares (12.3%), The Vanguard Group with 12,640,764 shares (11.4%), Dimensional Fund Advisors LP with 7,611,397 shares (6.9%), and State Street Corporation with 6,037,475 shares (5.4%).


















































































































