Solicitation

The solicitation of the enclosed proxy is made on behalf of the Board of Directors of Murphy USA Inc. (the “Board”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 1, 2019 and Murphy USA will bear the cost of this solicitation of proxies. It is expected that the Notice will be mailed to stockholders beginning on or about March 19, 2019.

The complete mailing address of the Company’s principal executive office is 200 Peach Street, El Dorado, Arkansas 71730.

References in this Proxy Statement to “we,” “us,” “our,” “the Company” and “Murphy USA” refer to Murphy USA Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Quorum and Voting Procedures

Quorum Requirement

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of all outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a quorum. Abstentions and “broker non-votes” are counted as present for establishing a quorum. A “broker non-vote” occurs on a proposal when shares held by brokers or nominees who do not have discretionary power to vote on a non-routine matter and to whom voting instructions have not been given from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote.

Vote Necessary to Approve Proposals

General

Votes cast by proxy or in person at the meeting will be counted by the persons appointed by the Company to act as Judges of Election for the Annual Meeting. The Judges of Election will treat shares represented by proxies that reflect abstentions as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the outcome of any other business submitted at the meeting to the stockholders for a vote.

Your proxy will be voted at the meeting, unless you (i) revoke it at any time before the vote by filing a revocation with the Secretary of the Company, (ii) duly execute a proxy card bearing a later date, or (iii) appear at the meeting and vote in person. Proxies returned to the Company, votes cast other than in person and written revocations will be disqualified if received after commencement of the meeting. If you elect to vote your proxy by telephone or internet as described in the telephone/internet voting instructions on your proxy card, the Company will vote your shares as you direct. Your telephone/internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you had marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

Proposal 1 – Election of Three Class III Directors Whose Current Terms Expire on the Date of the 2019 Annual Meeting

The Class III directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting so long as a quorum is present. Under this

standard, you may either vote in favor of all Class III directors, or withhold on all Class III directors or a particular Class III director. If you do not vote, you will have no impact on the calculation of “votes cast.” “Broker non-votes” and votes that are withheld will not count as a vote cast and will likewise have no effect. Unless specification to the contrary is made, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted FOR all the director nominees.

All Other Proposals

For Proposals 2 and 3, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote is required for approval. You may vote “for,” “against” or “abstain” on these matters. If you vote to “abstain,” it will have the same effect as a vote “against.” “Broker non-votes” are not counted as shares present or represented and voting and have no effect on the vote. Unless specification to the contrary is made, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted FOR the approval of the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (on an advisory, non-binding basis) and FOR approval of the action of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors in appointing KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2019.

Broker Voting

If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record (a “nominee”), you will receive instructions from the nominee that you must follow in order for your shares to be voted. Certain of these institutions offer telephone and internet voting. Under current New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules, the proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year should be considered a routine matter. However, for purposes of determining the outcome of any non-routine matter as to which the broker does not have discretionary authority to vote, those shares will be treated as not present and not entitled to vote with respect to that matter. Notably, Proposals 1 and 2 should be considered non-routine matters and your broker is not permitted to vote your shares without your instructions and such uninstructed shares are considered “broker non-votes.”

Voting Securities

On March 4, 2019, the record date for the meeting, the Company had 32,183,509 shares of common stock outstanding, all of one class and each share having one vote with respect to all matters to be voted on at the meeting. Information as to common stock ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is set forth in the tables under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” and “Security Ownership of Directors and Management” included on page 13 in this Proxy Statement.

The Board recognizes that it is important for the Company’s directors to possess a diverse array of backgrounds and skills, whether in terms of executive management leadership, public company experience or educational achievement. When considering new candidates, the Nominating and Governance Committee, with input from the Board, will seek to ensure the Board reflects a range of talents, ages, skills, diversity and expertise, particularly in the areas of accounting and finance, management, government/regulation, leadership and convenience store and other retail-related industries, sufficient to provide sound and prudent guidance with respect to our operations and interests. In addition, although it does not have a separate policy with respect to diversity, the Nominating and Governance Committee considers the issue of diversity among the factors used to identify nominees for directors. The goal is to assemble and maintain a Board comprised of individuals that not only possess a high level of business acumen, but who also demonstrate a commitment to the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics in carrying out the Board’s responsibilities with respect to oversight of the Company’s operations.

To the extent authorized by the proxies, the shares represented by the proxies will be voted in favor of the election of the three nominees for director whose names are set forth below. If for any reason any of these nominees is not a candidate when the election occurs, the shares represented by the proxies will be voted for the election of the other nominees named and may be voted for any substituted nominees or the Board size may be reduced.

All directors, other than Mr. Clyde (our President and Chief Executive Officer), were determined to be independent by the Board based on the rules of the NYSE and the standards of independence included in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. As part of its independence recommendation to the Board, the Nominating and

Governance Committee at its February meeting considered familial relationships of certain directors (Mr. Murphy and Mr. Deming are first cousins).

Mr. Murphy became the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board in connection with the spin-off of the Company from Murphy Oil Corporation (the “Spin-Off”), which was completed on August 30, 2013. As an independent chairman, he leads our regularly scheduled meetings of independent directors, held outside the presence of Company management. These meetings occur at four Board meetings each year.

Stockholders and other interested parties may send communications to the Board, specified individual directors and the independent directors as a group c/o the Secretary, Murphy USA Inc., 200 Peach Street, El Dorado, AR 71730-5836. Communications will be kept confidential and forwarded to the specified director(s). Items that are unrelated to a director’s duties and responsibilities as a Board member, such as junk mail, may be excluded by the Secretary. The names and relevant detail of the nominees are as follows:

Director Nominees

Our Board is divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms. Messrs. Murphy, Clyde and Miller, who are Class III directors, are nominated for re-election at this Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Class I and Class II directors will serve until our annual meetings of stockholders in 2020 and 2021, respectively. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors will be elected for three-year terms to succeed the class of directors whose terms have expired. This section details the name, age, class, qualifications and committee memberships of our directors as of the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Board Leadership Structure

The positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Murphy USA are held by two individuals. Mr. Murphy serves as our Chairman of the Board as a non-executive and independent director. Mr. Clyde serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer, and also serves as a director. Along with Mr. Murphy and Mr. Clyde, other directors bring different perspectives and roles to the Company’s management, oversight and strategic development. The Company’s directors bring experience and expertise from both inside and outside the Company and industry, while the President and Chief Executive Officer is most familiar with the Company’s business and industry, most involved in the Company’s day-to-day operations and most capable of leading the execution of the Company’s strategy. The Board believes that having separate roles of Chairman and President and Chief Executive Officer is in the best interest of stockholders because it facilitates independent oversight of management.

Risk Management

Our Company’s management is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks to the Company. The Board of Directors has broad oversight responsibility for our risk management programs.

The Board of Directors exercises risk management oversight and control both directly and indirectly, the latter through various board committees as discussed below. The Board of Directors regularly reviews information regarding the Company’s credit, liquidity and operations, including the risks associated with each. The Executive Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to the Company’s executive compensation plans and arrangements. The Audit Committee is responsible for oversight of financial risks and the ethical conduct of the Company’s business, including the steps the Company has taken to monitor and mitigate these risks. The Nominating and Governance Committee, in its role of reviewing and maintaining the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, manages risks associated with the independence of the Board and potential conflicts of interest. While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of these risks, the entire Board is regularly informed through committee reports and by the President and Chief Executive Officer about the known risks to the strategy and the business.

Committees

Our Board of Directors has established several standing committees in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities. The following table presents the standing committees of the Board and the current membership of the committees and the number of times each committee met in 2018.

Audit Committee – The Audit Committee has the sole authority to appoint or replace the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, which reports directly to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee also assists the Board with its oversight of the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, independence and performance, the performance of the Company’s internal audit function, the compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements and the review of programs related to compliance with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The Audit Committee meets with representatives of the independent registered public accounting firm and with members of the Internal Auditing Department for these purposes. The Board has designated Mr. Taylor and Mr. Murphy as its Audit Committee Financial Experts as defined in Item 407 of Regulation S-K. All of the members of the Audit Committee are independent under the rules of the NYSE and the Company’s independence standards. Mr. Holliger rotated off the committee in February 2019.

Executive Committee – The Executive Committee is vested with the authority to exercise certain functions of the Board when the Board is not in session. The Executive Committee is also in charge of all general administrative affairs of the Company, subject to any limitations prescribed by the Board.

Executive Compensation Committee – The Executive Compensation Committee oversees the compensation of the Company’s executives and directors and administers the Company’s annual incentive compensation plan, the long-term incentive plan and the stock plan for non-employee directors.

The Executive Compensation Committee consists entirely of independent directors, each of whom meets the NYSE listing independence standards and our Company’s independence standards. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for additional information about the Executive Compensation Committee. In carrying out its duties, the Executive Compensation Committee has direct access to outside advisors, independent compensation consultants and others to assist them.

Executive Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During 2018, Messrs. Deming, Keyes, Miller and Murphy served as the members of the Executive Compensation Committee. No person who served as a member of the Executive Compensation Committee was, during 2018, an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or had any relationship requiring disclosure in this Proxy Statement. None of our executive officers serve as a member of a board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers who serve on our Board of Directors or Executive Compensation Committee.

Nominating and Governance Committee – The Nominating and Governance Committee identifies and recommends potential director candidates, makes annual independence recommendations as to each director, recommends appointments to Board committees, oversees evaluation of the Board’s performance and reviews and assesses the Corporate Governance Guidelines of the Company. Information regarding the process for evaluating and selecting potential director candidates, including those recommended by stockholders, is set out in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. Stockholders desiring to recommend director candidates for consideration by the Nominating and Governance Committee will be able to address their recommendations to: Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors, c/o Secretary, Murphy USA Inc., 200 Peach Street, P.O. Box 7300, El Dorado, Arkansas 71731-7300. As a matter of policy, director candidates recommended by stockholders will be

evaluated on the same basis as candidates recommended by the directors, executive search firms or other sources. The Corporate Governance Guidelines also provide a mechanism by which stockholders may send communications to directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee consists entirely of independent directors, each of whom meets the NYSE listing independence standards and the Company’s independence standards.

Charters for the Audit, Executive, Executive Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees, along with the Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, are available on the Company’s website at http://ir.corporate.murphyusa.com.

Meetings and Attendance

During fiscal 2018, there were five meetings of the Board. All nominees’ attendance exceeded 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and committees on which they served. As set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, all Board members are expected to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and all did so in 2018.

Compensation of Directors

Directors who are employees of Murphy USA do not receive compensation for their services on the Board. Our Board of Directors determines annual retainers and other compensation for non-employee directors. The primary elements of our non-employee director compensation program include a combination of cash and equity.

In 2018, the cash component consisted of:

All elements of cash components are paid in quarterly installments. The Company also reimburses directors for travel, lodging and other related expenses they incur in attending Board and Committee meetings.

In addition to the cash component, the non-employee directors also receive an annual grant of time-based restricted stock units which vest after three years. Each non-employee director received a restricted stock unit grant with a target value of $117,500 on February 8, 2018.

The column above showing “All Other Compensation” represents the incremental cost of matching gifts. The non-employee directors are eligible to participate in our gift matching program on the same terms as Murphy USA employees. Under this program, an eligible person’s total gifts of up to $12,500 per calendar year will qualify. The Company will contribute to qualified educational institutions and hospitals in an amount equal to twice the amount contributed by the eligible person. The Company will contribute to qualified welfare and cultural organizations in an amount equal to the contribution made by the eligible person.

Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Guidelines

The Board of Directors has also established stock ownership guidelines for non-employee directors of the Company. Directors are expected to achieve ownership of at least three times the annual cash retainer within five years of service. A director may not pledge Company securities either by purchasing Company securities on margin or holding Company securities in a margin account, until he or she has achieved the applicable stock ownership target specified in the guidelines above. These guidelines are designed to ensure that directors display confidence in the Company through the ownership of a significant amount of our stock. At December 31, 2018, all of our Directors had met or were on track to comply with these stock ownership guidelines within the applicable five-year period.

Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons

The Nominating and Governance Committee reviews ordinary course of business transactions with firms associated with directors and nominees for director. The Company’s management also monitors these transactions on an ongoing basis. Executive officers and directors are governed by the Company’s written Code of Business Conduct

and Ethics, which provides that waivers may only be granted by the Board of Directors or a Board committee and must be promptly disclosed to stockholders. No such waivers were granted nor applied for in fiscal 2018. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines require that all directors recuse themselves from any discussion or decision affecting their personal, business or professional interests.

Audit Committee Report

Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of Murphy USA’s financial statements, for its accounting and financial reporting principles and for the establishment and effectiveness of internal controls and procedures designed to ensure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. The independent auditors are responsible for performing an independent audit of the financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), expressing an opinion as to the conformity of such financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America and expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. The independent auditors have free access to the Audit Committee to discuss any matters they deem appropriate.

Committee Organization and Operation

The Audit Committee’s function is to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of:

The Audit Committee is also directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of Murphy USA’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee’s charter is available in the Corporate Governance section of Murphy USA’s corporate website at ir.corporate.murphyusa.com.

The Audit Committee held seven meetings during 2018. The Audit Committee Chair and members of the Audit Committee also held numerous additional meetings throughout 2018 with members of Murphy USA corporate, business segment and internal audit management and with Murphy USA’s independent registered public accounting firm (KPMG LLP). The Committee believes that these meetings were helpful in discharging its oversight responsibilities, including with respect to financial reporting and disclosure, risk management and internal controls.

Independence

The Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are independent, as required by NYSE listing standards and SEC rules.

Expertise

The Board of Directors has also determined, on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, that all members of the Audit Committee are financially literate and have accounting or related financial management expertise, each as defined by NYSE listing standards. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Murphy have been designated as the “audit committee financial experts”, as defined under SEC rules. The Audit Committee’s assistance in the Board of Directors’ oversight of Murphy USA’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements primarily focuses on the effect of such matters on Murphy USA’s financial statements, financial reporting and internal control over financial reporting.

Audited Financial Statements

In the performance of its oversight function, the Audit Committee has considered and discussed the 2018 audited financial statements with management and KPMG LLP, including a discussion of the quality, and not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, clarity of the disclosures and the condition of internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee has reviewed with the Head of Internal Audit and the KPMG LLP engagement team the scope and plans for their respective audits and has met with each of the Head of Internal Audit and the senior engagement partner of KPMG LLP, with and without management present, to discuss audit results, their evaluations of Murphy USA’s internal controls and the overall quality of Murphy USA’s financial reporting. The Audit Committee has also discussed with KPMG LLP the matters required to be discussed by PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 16, “Communications with Audit Committees.” Finally, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from KPMG LLP as required by the PCAOB’s rules regarding Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence and has discussed with KPMG LLP its independence.

Conclusion

Based upon the reports and discussion described in this report, the Audit Committee, in accordance with its responsibilities, recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board approved, inclusion of the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 in Murphy USA’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Audit Committee

Jack T. Taylor (Chair)

Diane N. Landen

Thomas M. Gattle, Jr.

R. Madison Murphy

Hon. Jeanne L. Phillips

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“the Dodd-Frank Act”) enables the Company’s stockholders to vote to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement in accordance with the SEC’s rules.

As described in detail under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” the Company’s executive compensation programs are designed to attract, motivate and retain the Named Executive Officers, who are critical to the Company’s success. Under these programs, the Named Executive Officers are rewarded for the achievement of specific annual, long-term and strategic goals, corporate goals and the realization of increased stockholder value. Please read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” along with the information in the compensation tables for additional details about the executive compensation programs, including information about the fiscal year 2018 compensation of the Named Executive Officers.

Stockholders are asked to indicate their support for the Named Executive Officer compensation as described in this Proxy Statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives stockholders the opportunity to express their views on the Named Executive Officers’ compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of

the Named Executive Officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement. Stockholders are requested to vote “FOR” the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the 2018 Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosures.”

The say-on-pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on the Company, the Executive Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors and the Executive Compensation Committee value the opinions of stockholders and will consider stockholders’ views and the Executive Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those views.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO THE COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE RULES OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis provides an overview of the compensation provided to our CEO, CFO and three other most highly compensated executive officers in office at fiscal year-end December 31, 2018:

In addition, we will address the compensation of Daryl R. Schofield who served as our EVP, Fuels until July 2, 2018 and who would have been among our most highly compensated executive officers in 2018, other than our CEO and CFO, had he served as an executive officer of Murphy USA at the end of 2018. Mr. Schofield received severance benefits upon his departure, which are more fully described in the “Other Policies Severance and Change-in-Control Protection” section beginning on page 24 in this Proxy Statement.

The six individuals above are collectively referred to herein as our “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”.

To further illustrate the concepts in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, we have included charts and tables where we believe appropriate to enhance our stockholders’ understanding of the compensation of our NEOs. This Compensation Discussion and Analysis should be read in conjunction with this tabular information beginning on page 27 in this Proxy Statement.

Overview

Murphy USA operates one of the nation’s largest convenience store chains, with 1,472 locations in 26 states as of December 31, 2018, most of which are in close proximity to Walmart stores. The Company also markets gasoline and other products at standalone stores under the Murphy Express brand.

Executive Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

The Executive Compensation Committee (referred to as the “Committee” in this section) bases its executive compensation decisions on principles designed to align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders. The Committee believes compensation should provide a direct link with the Company’s values, objectives, business strategies and financial results. In order to motivate, attract, and retain key executives who are critical to its long-term success, the Company aims to provide pay packages that are competitive with others in the retail industry. In addition, the Company believes that executives should be rewarded for both the short- and long-term success of the Company and, conversely, be subject to a degree of downside risk in the event that the Company does not achieve its performance objectives.

Aligning Pay with Performance

The Committee believes our compensation programs provide for a strong “pay for performance” linkage between the compensation provided to our executives and the Company’s performance relative to its peers. Consistent with the fundamental principle that compensation programs should pay for performance, the Company’s 2018 performance directly impacted compensation decisions and pay outcomes. Annual incentives for NEOs were earned at 137.6% of target, reflecting the Company’s 2018 performance relative to predefined targets. See pages 21-23 for additional information. Performance stock units (“PSUs”) linked to the Company’s performance for the three-year period ended in 2018 were earned at 165.0% of target. See page 24 for additional information.

We view performance in two ways: (1) the Company’s operating performance, including results against short- and long-term growth targets; and (2) return to stockholders over time, both on an absolute basis and relative to other companies, including both our peers and the S&P 500.

We Do

We Do Not

Role of the Committee

The Committee has responsibility for discharging the Board of Directors’ responsibilities with respect to compensation of the Company’s executives. In particular, the Committee annually reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to CEO compensation, evaluates the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and determines and approves the CEO’s compensation based on this evaluation. In doing so, the Committee reviews all elements of the CEO’s compensation. The Committee also approves executive compensation for the Company’s executive officers, approves and administers incentive compensation and equity-based plans, and monitors compliance of directors and executive officers with Company stock ownership requirements. Pursuant to its charter, the Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate compensation consultants as well as internal and external legal, accounting, and other advisors, including sole authority to approve the advisors’ fees and other engagement terms. For additional information on the responsibilities of the Committee, see the “Committees–Executive Compensation Committee” section included on page 10 in this Proxy Statement.

Role of Market Data

The Committee adopted a peer group for purposes of reviewing and approving 2018 compensation. Due to the relatively small number of publicly-traded retail convenience store competitors, the group was

broadened to include other companies in similar industries with which Murphy USA competes for executive talent in order to create a sufficient sample of companies against which compensation can be compared. The peer group was developed based on certain attributes including:

The peer group consists of the following companies:

In addition to comparator company information, the Committee uses several industry compensation surveys to determine competitive market pay levels for the NEOs.

Base salaries and total target direct compensation for the Company’s NEOs were compared to the median of the market data to determine whether the Company’s compensation practices were in alignment with market pay levels. When making compensation-related decisions, the Committee aims to set compensation levels for executive officers based on a deliberate review of market compensation for a particular position as well as each individual’s possession of a unique skill or knowledge set, proven leadership capabilities or experience and Company performance. Based on such factors, the Committee may determine with respect to one or more individuals that it is

appropriate for compensation to meet, exceed, or fall below the median of the market data for a particular compensation element or total compensation.

Role of the CEO in Compensation Decisions

The CEO periodically reviews the performance of each of the NEOs, excluding himself, develops preliminary recommendations regarding salary adjustments and annual and long-term award amounts, and provides recommendations to the Committee. The Committee can exercise its discretion to modify any recommendations and make final decisions.

A.    Base Salary

Base salary is designed to provide a competitive fixed rate of pay recognizing each employee’s level of responsibility and performance. In setting base salary levels for NEOs, the Committee considers competitive market data in addition to other factors such as duties and responsibilities, experience, individual performance, retention concerns, internal equity considerations, Company performance, general economic conditions and marketplace compensation trends.

Base salaries are reviewed annually. In 2018, the Committee adjusted salaries awarded to each NEO to bring salaries closer to competitive market levels for similar positions. The following table shows the base salaries for each of the NEOs effective February 1, 2017 and February 1, 2018:

B.    Annual Incentive Plan

We provide annual incentives for our executive officers through our stockholder-approved Murphy USA Inc. 2013 Annual Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective as of February 7, 2019 (the “AIP”). The primary objective of the AIP is to align corporate and individual goals with stockholder interests and Company strategy and to reward employees for their performance relative to those goals. Murphy USA targets the median of market pay levels for annual target incentive compensation. Executives have the opportunity to be compensated above the median of market pay levels when Murphy USA outperforms established performance measures.

Target bonus opportunities under the AIP are expressed as a percentage of annualized base salary. The Committee reviews market data annually with respect to competitive pay levels and sets specific bonus opportunities for each of our NEOs. The following table shows target bonuses as a percentage of salary in effect for each of the NEOs in 2018:

Each NEO’s actual AIP bonus payment is determined by multiplying their target bonus amount by the corporate performance weighted performance score, as described below. The Committee may then exercise negative discretion to reduce an NEO’s bonus payout based

on subjective individual criteria. The NEO’s actual AIP bonus payment may not exceed 200% of their target amount, which reflects the maximum weighted performance score that may be achieved.

For 2018, as in 2016 and 2017, the AIP metrics for the Company consisted of return on average capital employed (“ROACE”), profitability as measured by Fuel Cash Breakeven and corporate goals and

objectives (“Corporate Goals”) outlined below. All participants, including our NEOs, were subject to the same performance metrics with the same Threshold, Target and Maximum levels for each metric. Under

the terms of the AIP, achievement of 100% of the Target for ROACE or Fuel Cash Breakeven results in the payment of 100% of target for that metric. Achievement of the Threshold level of the performance range for ROACE or Fuel Cash Breakeven results in the payment of 50% of target and achievement of the Maximum level of performance for ROACE or Fuel Cash Breakeven results in the payment of 200% of target. No awards are payable for ROACE or Fuel Cash Breakeven if performance for that metric falls below the Threshold achievement level. Results between points are interpolated. The Committee believes the combination of these metrics reflected the overall key goals and objectives for the Company for 2018.

For 2018, the AIP metrics were achieved at 137.6% of Target (112.0% of Target for ROACE; 172.0% of Target for Fuel Cash Breakeven; and 120.0% of Target for the Corporate Goals), as described in more detail below.

The following table summarizes the ROACE, Fuel Cash Breakeven and Corporate Goals performance metrics and corresponding weightings used in determining annual incentive award payouts for our NEOs and the weighted performance scores for each based on actual performance during 2018:

Individual Performance

In addition to the corporate performance component, the AIP permits the Committee to exercise negative discretion to reduce an NEO’s award based on the Committee’s subjective review of his or her performance relative to the achievement of the metrics outlined above, business plan execution and other qualitative results. We believe that it is important to include this component in our AIP in order to take into account NEO performance that, in the Committee’s opinion, justifies a reduction in the amount otherwise payable to an NEO based on objective corporate performance. Overall, amounts earned under the AIP cannot exceed 200% of target. In 2018, the Committee believed that our NEOs’ individual performance was appropriately reflected in our corporate performance results. Thus, the Committee opted not to make any negative adjustments to the awards earned by our NEOs and payable under the AIP based on our corporate performance.

Overall Performance and Payouts

After certifying the results relative to our performance metrics and considering each individual’s contributions throughout the year, the Committee approved the following payments for our NEOs for 2018:

Performance Stock Units

Vesting for 50% of the PSUs will be based on Murphy USA’s TSR performance between 2018 and 2020 relative to the Company’s peer group. The Committee considers relative TSR an appropriate metric as it aligns the pay for our officers to the appreciation (or reduction) our stockholders receive in their investment in Murphy USA. TSR achievement and corresponding payout levels are as follows:

Vesting for the remaining 50% of the PSUs will be based on Murphy USA’s three-year average ROACE performance between 2018 and

2020 as compared to the Company’s three-year ROACE target set by the Committee at the beginning of the performance period.

Earned Amounts of 2016 to 2018 PSUs

In February 2019, the Committee certified the performance results for the 2016 PSUs for the three-year performance period that ended December 31, 2018. Under the provisions of these awards, the PSUs were subject to two equally-weighted metrics, ROACE and TSR relative to our peer group. As a result of the Company’s strong performance, the PSUs were earned at 165.0% of target.

The following table summarizes the final performance metrics and corresponding weightings used in determining the number of PSUs earned and the weighted performance scores for each based on actual performance during the three-year period:

D.    Employee Benefits and Perquisites

Murphy USA’s executives are provided usual and customary employee benefits available to all employees (except certain hourly retail employees). These include a qualified defined contribution plan (401(k)) (“Savings Plan”), health insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, medical and dental insurance, vision insurance and long-term disability insurance.

The purpose of the Savings Plan, a tax-qualified defined contribution retirement plan, is to provide retirement benefits for all the employees of Murphy USA who participate. All employees are allowed to contribute on a pre-tax basis up to 25 percent of their eligible pay. The Company matches contributions, dollar-for-dollar, up to the first six percent of base pay. Participating employees, including the NEOs, are immediately vested in all employee and Company-matched contributions.

Murphy USA provides a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“Murphy USA SERP”), a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, to eligible executives, including the NEOs. The Murphy USA SERP is intended to restore qualified defined contribution (Savings Plan and profit-sharing) plan benefits restricted under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “IRC”) to certain highly-compensated individuals. The Company funded the SERP in 2018 through the use of a rabbi trust. The Company’s obligations under the SERP are recorded in the financial statements and in the event of the Company’s bankruptcy or insolvency, the assets held by the rabbi trust could become subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors.

Murphy USA offers limited perquisites to our NEOs consistent with our peer group. The Board of Directors has authorized up to 50 hours annually of personal use of Company aircraft for our CEO as part of his total compensation package. The value of such personal use is periodically reported to the Committee and will be reported as taxable income to the CEO, with no income tax assistance or gross-ups provided by the Company.

Reportable values for such personal use is based on the incremental costs to the Company, as provided in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table included on page 27 in this Proxy Statement.

E.    Discretionary Award

We maintain the discretion to award additional compensation to our executive officers. In July 2018, we awarded Ms. West a one-time special cash bonus in the amount of $25,000 in recognition of her expanded role as our Executive Vice President, Fuels, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer.

Other Policies

Severance and Change-in-Control Protection

The Company has not entered into any employment, CIC or termination agreements with its NEOs, other than with the CEO.

Mr. Clyde is party to a Severance Protection Agreement (the “SPA”). The SPA provides Mr. Clyde with certain severance benefits if his

employment is terminated under certain circumstances within 24 months following a CIC. If Mr. Clyde’s employment is terminated by Murphy USA “without cause” or by Mr. Clyde for “good reason” within this 24-month window, Mr. Clyde will be entitled to his earned but unpaid compensation, a lump-sum severance payment equal to three times the sum of his base salary and the average of his last three annual bonuses prior to the termination date (or, if higher, prior to the CIC), accelerated vesting of his outstanding equity-based awards (provided that any performance-based awards will be paid assuming the target level of performance), and continued life, accident and health insurance benefits for 36 months. Mr. Clyde will not be entitled to any “golden parachute” excise tax gross-up payments. The SPA provides for an excise tax cut back to reduce payments to a level such that the excise tax under Sections 280G and 4999 of the IRC will not apply (unless the executive would receive a greater amount of severance benefits on an after-tax basis without a cutback, in which case the cutback would not apply). Pursuant to the SPA, Mr. Clyde will be subject to a non-disclosure covenant and non-solicitation and non-competition restrictive covenants for 12 months following any such termination.

Mr. Schofield’s employment with the Company ended on July 2, 2018. In consideration of a release of claims against the Company and his agreement to certain restrictive covenants, Mr. Schofield received a cash payment equal to six months of his base salary ($262,500), a lump sum cash payment of $560,000 for transition and advisory services, $3,500 for legal fees, and reimbursement for continuing health insurance premiums under COBRA through June 30, 2019.

Under the terms of the LTIP, in the event of a CIC, all outstanding equity awards will vest, become immediately exercisable or payable and have all restrictions lifted (any performance-based awards will be paid assuming the target level of performance.).

Stock Ownership Guidelines

To further align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders, the Board of Directors expects all executive officers to display confidence in the Company through the ownership of a significant amount of our stock. Under these guidelines as set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, executive officers, including our NEOs, are expected to hold Murphy USA common stock having a value that is equivalent to a multiple of each executive officer’s annualized base salary within five years of assuming their position. The targeted multiples vary among the executives depending upon their position:

Because the stock ownership guidelines are a multiple of each executive officer’s annualized salary, the value that must be maintained will

increase proportionally with salary increases. Executive officers are expected to achieve targets within five years of assuming their positions. Shares owned directly by the executive, including RSUs and unrestricted stock units, those owned indirectly, assuming the executive has an economic interest in the shares, and shares held through our employee benefit plans, including the Savings Plan and deferred compensation plan for executives, are included in calculating ownership levels. Shares underlying stock options and unearned PSUs do not count toward the ownership guidelines. At December 31, 2018, all of our NEOs had met or were on track to comply with these stock ownership guidelines within the applicable five-year period.

Likewise, each member of our Board of Directors is expected to achieve ownership of at least three times their annual cash retainer within five years of service as discussed in the Compensation of Directors section of this Proxy Statement on page 11. As noted above, at December 31, 2018, all of our directors had met or were on track to comply with these stock ownership guidelines within the applicable five-year period.

The Committee will periodically assess these guidelines, monitor director and executive officer ownership levels relative to these guidelines and make recommendations as appropriate.

Pledging Policy

A director or executive officer may not pledge Company securities, either by purchasing Company securities on margin or holding Company securities in a margin account, until he or she has achieved the applicable stock ownership target specified in the guidelines above. All of our directors and executive officers are in compliance with our pledging policy.

Prohibition on Hedging

To ensure that Murphy USA executive officers, including our NEOs, bear the full risks of Murphy USA common stock ownership, the Company has adopted a policy that prohibits all employees from entering into hedging transactions that are designed to hedge or speculate on any change in the market value of the Company’s securities.

Recoupment and Clawback Policy

Our officers are subject to recoupment provisions in both the AIP and LTIP programs in the case of certain forfeiture events. If the Company restates its financial statements as a result of negligent, intentional or gross misconduct by the recipient, the Committee may, in its discretion, require that the recipient reimburse the Company with respect to any shares issued or payments made under the AIP or the LTIP in the period covered by the restated financial statements.

Tax Policy

Section 162(m) of the IRC generally limits the tax deductibility of compensation paid to certain NEOs to $1 million annually. Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) that was signed into law December 22, 2017, Section 162(m) provided an exception from this

limitation for “qualified performance-based compensation,” and the Committee considered the impact of the tax deductibility limitation when making compensation decisions and certain elements of the Company’s incentive compensation program were structured to meet this exception.

The TCJA repealed the “qualified performance-based compensation” exception, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. The TCJA provides transition relief for certain contractual arrangements in place as of November 2, 2017, if certain requirements are met. The Committee has and will continue to retain the flexibility to design and maintain the executive compensation programs in a manner that is most beneficial to stockholders, including the payment of compensation that is subject to the deduction limits under Section 162(m).

Role of the Compensation Consultant

The Committee has retained Mercer (US) Inc. (“Mercer”) as its independent compensation consultant. Mercer provides executive and director compensation consulting services to the Committee, regularly attends Committee meetings, reports directly to the Committee on matters relating to compensation for our NEOs and participates in executive sessions without management present. Mercer provides advice and analyses to the Committee on the design and level of executive and director compensation. In connection with their services to the Committee, Mercer works with executive management and the corporate human resources team to formalize proposals for the Committee. The Committee has assessed the independence of Mercer pursuant to SEC rules and concluded that Mercer’s work for the Committee does not raise any conflicts of interest.

Compensation-Based Risk Assessment

In February 2019, the Committee completed a review of the Company’s policies and practices of compensating its employees (including non-executives) as they relate to the Company’s risk management profile to determine whether these policies and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. As a result of this review, the Committee concluded that any risks arising from the Company’s compensation policies and practices for its employees were not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Compensation Committee Report

The Executive Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Based on the review and discussions, the Executive Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement.

Executive Compensation Committee

Claiborne P. Deming (Chair)

Fred L. Holliger

James W. Keyes

David B. Miller

R. Madison Murphy