Second Amended and Restated Independent Director Stock Option Plan



 Exhibit 10.1 
 SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED 
 RETAIL PROPERTIES OF AMERICA, INC.

 INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN 

(As of October 20091) 
 ARTICLE I GENERAL 
  

	1.1	PURPOSE: 

 Retail
Properties of America, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), hereby adopts this Independent Director Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to foster and promote the long-term financial success of the
Company by attracting and retaining outstanding nonemployee directors by enabling them to participate in the Company’s growth through the granting of Options (as defined in Article II) which entitle them to purchase shares (the
“Shares”) of the Company’s Class A Common Stock par value $0.001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), Class B-1 Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Class B-1 Common Stock”), Class B-2 Common
Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Class B-2 Common Stock”) and Class B-3 Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Class B-3 Common Stock” and, together with the Class B-1 Common Stock and Class B-2 Common Stock, the
“Class B Common Stock”). 
  

	1.2	PARTICIPATION: 


Only directors of the Company who at the time an Option is granted are “Non-Employee Directors” as such term is defined in
Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Rule 16b-3”), or any similar rule which may subsequently be in effect (the “Independent Directors”) shall receive an Option under the Plan.

  

	1.3	SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN: 

 Shares to be issued upon exercise of Options granted under the Plan may be in whole or in part from authorized but unissued Shares or treasury Shares of the Company. A maximum of 150,000 Shares (the
“Plan Maximum”) may be issued for all purposes under the Plan (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 3.2), and the Company shall reserve 150,000 authorized but unissued Shares as of the date this Plan is established for issuance
upon exercise of Options granted under the Plan. The Plan Maximum shall be equally divided among the Class A Common Stock and each class of Class B Common Stock; provided that upon the conversion of each class of Class B Common Stock, the
number of shares previously allocated to such class of Class B Common Stock will be reallocated to Class A Common Stock. Any Shares reserved for issuance under Options which for any reason are canceled or terminated without having been
exercised shall not be counted in determining whether the Plan Maximum has been reached. Options for fractional shares shall not be granted. 
  

	1.4	GENDER AND NUMBER: 


Except when otherwise indicated by the context, words in the masculine gender when used in the Plan shall include the feminine gender, the
singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular. 
  

 

	1 	 As adjusted to reflect the change in the Company’s name on March 8, 2012, the redesignation of the Company’s common stock on
March 20, 2012, the reverse stock split on March 20, 2012 and the issuance of shares of Class B Common Stock as a stock dividend on March 21, 2012. 









 ARTICLE II 
 STOCK OPTION AWARDS 
  

	2.1	AWARD OF STOCK OPTIONS: 


(a) Effective on the date on which an Independent Director becomes a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, each Independent
Director who satisfies the conditions set forth in Section 1.2 will automatically be awarded a stock option (an “Initial Option”) under the Plan to purchase 2,000 Shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 3.2), which
shall be shares of Class A Common Stock or, to the extent that a sufficient number of shares of Class A Common Stock is not available hereunder, shares of Class B Common Stock with the earliest conversion date. Effective on the date of
each Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (an “Annual Meeting”), commencing with the Company’s Annual Meeting in 2008, each Independent Director then in office who satisfies the conditions set forth in Section 1.2 will
automatically be awarded a stock option (a “Subsequent Option” or the “Subsequent Options”, collectively with the “Initial Options” referred to herein as an “Option” or “Options”) to purchase 2,000
Shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 3.2), which shall be shares of Class A Common Stock or, to the extent that a sufficient number of shares of Class A Common Stock is not available hereunder, shares of Class B Common
Stock with the earliest conversion date. The Options are not intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). 

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, no Options shall be issued pursuant to Section 2.1(a) to the extent that the
issuance of such Options would (i) enable the Independent Directors as a group to hold more than 10% of the outstanding Shares if such Options were exercised; (ii) result in the Company being “closely held” within the meaning of
Code Section 856(h); (iii) cause the Company to own, directly or constructively, 10% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant of the property of the Company (or of the property of one or more partnerships in which the Company is a
partner), within the meaning of Code Section 856(d)(2)(B); or (iv) cause, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, the Company to fail to qualify (or create, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, a material risk that the Company would
no longer qualify) as a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Code Section 856. To the extent that the issuance of Options pursuant to Section 2.1(a) would violate any of these limitations, the number of Shares that may be
purchased under the Options to be issued to each of the Independent Directors shall be reduced pro rata. To the extent that the number of Shares which may be purchased under Options issued to an Independent Director is reduced in any year as a
result of the application of these limitations, Options to purchase such Shares shall be issued to the Independent Director in any subsequent year in which issuance of such Options, after taking into account the Options to be issued to the
Independent Directors in such subsequent year under Section 2.1(a), would not violate the limitations imposed by this Section 2.1(b). To the extent that the issuance of an Option is delayed until a subsequent year under this
Section 2.1, the Option shall be treated for all purposes under this Plan as having been issued in such subsequent year. 
  

	2.2	STOCK OPTION CERTIFICATES: 


The award of an Option shall be evidenced by a certificate executed by an officer of the Company. 

 

	2.3	OPTION PRICE: 

 The
purchase price of a Share (the “Option Price”) under each Initial Option granted shall be the Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 3.5) of a Share on the date of the grant. The Option Price under each Subsequent Option granted on
the date of any Annual Meeting shall be the Fair Market Value of a Share on the last business day preceding the date of the Annual Meeting. 
  

	2.4	EXERCISE AND TERM OF OPTIONS: 

 (a) Options may be exercised by the delivery of written notice of exercise and payment of the aggregate Option Price for the Shares to be purchased to the Secretary of the Company. The Option Price may be
paid in cash (including check, bank draft or money order) or, unless in the opinion of counsel to the Company doing 

  
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so may result in a possible violation of law, by delivery of Shares already owned by the Independent Director, valued at Fair Market Value on the date of the exercise. As soon as practicable
after receipt of each notice and full payment, the Company shall deliver to the Independent Director a certificate or certificates representing the purchased Shares. An Independent Director shall have none of the rights of a shareholder until a
certificate or certificates for Shares underlying the Option(s) exercised are issued and no adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such certificate or certificates are issued. 

(b) Each certificate for Shares issued upon exercise of an Option, unless at the time of exercise such Shares are registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), shall bear the following legend: 
 NO SALE, TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF THESE SHARES SHALL BE MADE EXCEPT PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR PURSUANT TO AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY
TO THE CORPORATION THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. 
 Any certificate issued at any time in exchange or substitution for any certificate
bearing such legend (except a new certificate issued upon completion of a public distribution pursuant to a registration statement under the Act of the securities represented thereby) shall also bear the above legend unless, in the opinion of such
counsel as shall be reasonably approved by the Company, the securities represented thereby no longer need be subject to such restrictions. 
 Each certificate for Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall also bear any legends required by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and the transferability of the certificate and the Shares
represented thereby shall be subject to the restrictions contained in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation. 
 (c) An
Independent Director’s Initial Option shall (subject to Section 3.1) become exercisable as follows: (i) 666 Shares on the date of grant, (ii) an additional 667 Shares on the first anniversary of the date of grant, and
(iii) an additional 667 Shares on the second anniversary of the date of grant and shall continue to be exercisable until the first to occur of (i) the tenth anniversary of the date of grant, (ii) the removal for cause of the
Independent Director as an Independent Director, or (iii) three months following the date the Independent Director ceases to be an Independent Director for any other reason except death or disability. Each of an Independent Director’s
Subsequent Options shall (subject to Section 3.1) become fully exercisable on the second anniversary of the date on which the Subsequent Option(s) was granted and shall continue to be exercisable until the first to occur of (i) the tenth
anniversary of the date of grant, (ii) the removal for cause of the Independent Director as an Independent Director, or (iii) three months following the date the Independent Director ceases to be an Independent Director for any other
reason except death or disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options granted under this Plan shall continue to be exercisable in the case of death or disability for a period of one year after death or the disabling event, provided that the
death or disabling event occurs while the person is an Independent Director and prior to his or her removal for cause, resignation or ceasing to be an Independent Director for any other reason and the Option is otherwise exercisable on the date of
the death or disabling event; provided, however, if the Option is exercised within the first six months after it becomes exercisable, any Shares issued pursuant to such exercise may not be sold until the six month anniversary of the date of
the grant of the Option. An Independent Director is removed “for cause” for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the execution of his duties; or for conviction of, or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony
or any act of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, or a crime involving moral turpitude. 
 (d) Notwithstanding any other
terms or provisions herein to the contrary, no Option may be exercised if, in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, such exercise would jeopardize the Company’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Code. 

  
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 ARTICLE III 
 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
  

	3.1	NONTRANSFERABILITY; BENEFICIARIES: 

 No Option awarded under the Plan shall be transferable by the Independent Director otherwise than by will or, if the Independent Director dies intestate, by the laws of descent and distribution. All
Options exercised during the Independent Director’s lifetime shall be exercised only by the Independent Director or his legal representative. Any transfer contrary to this Section 3.1 will nullify the Option. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Plan, Options granted under this Plan shall continue to be exercisable in the case of death or disability for a period of one year after death or the disabling event, provided that the death or disabling event occurs while the
person is an Independent Director and prior to his or her removal for cause, resignation or ceasing to be an Independent Director for any other reason and the Option is exercisable on the date of the Independent Director’s death or disabling
event; provided, however, if the Option is exercised within the first six months after it becomes exercisable, any Shares issued on such exercise may not be sold until the six month anniversary of the date of the grant of the Option. Each
Independent Director may name, from time to time, any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) who may exercise such Options. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by such Independent Director, must
be in writing and will be effective only when filed with the Secretary of the Company during his lifetime. 
  

	3.2	ADJUSTMENT UPON CERTAIN CHANGES: 

 (a) If the outstanding Shares are (i) increased, decreased, or (ii) changed into, or exchanged for, a different number or kind of shares or securities of the Company, through a reorganization or
merger in which the Company is the surviving entity, or through a combination, recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, stock dividend, stock consolidation or otherwise, an appropriate adjustment shall be made in the number and kind of
Shares that may be issued pursuant to an Option and in the minimum number of Shares that must be issued and outstanding prior to the issuance of the Initial Options pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(iii). A corresponding adjustment to the
consideration payable with respect to all Options granted prior to any such change shall also be made. Any such adjustment, however, shall be made without change in the total payment, if any, applicable to the portion of the Option not exercised but
with a corresponding adjustment in the Option Price for each Share. 
 (b) Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company,
or upon a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company with one or more corporations as a result of which the Company is not the surviving corporation, or upon sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s property, the Plan shall
terminate, and any outstanding Options shall terminate and be forfeited. However, holders of Options may exercise any Options that are otherwise exercisable immediately prior to the dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or merger. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Board of Directors may provide in writing in connection with, or in contemplation of, any such transaction for any or all of the following alternatives (separately or in combinations): (i) for the assumption by the successor
corporation of the Options theretofore granted or the substitution by such corporation for such Options of awards covering the stock of the successor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and
kind of shares and prices; (ii) for the continuance of the Plan by such successor corporation in which event the Plan and the Options shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided; or (iii) for the payment in cash or Shares
in lieu of and in complete satisfaction of such Options. 
  

	3.3	AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF PLAN: 

 The Board of Directors may suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time and may amend it from time to time in such respects as the Board of Directors may deem advisable in order that
any Options thereunder shall conform to or otherwise reflect any change in applicable laws or regulations, or to permit the Company or the Independent Directors to enjoy the benefits of any change in applicable laws or regulations, or in any other
respect the Board of Directors may deem to be in the best interests of the Company; provided, however, that no such amendment shall, without stockholder approval to the extent required by law, or any agreement or the rules of any stock exchange upon
which the Shares may be listed or of any national market system on which Shares 

  
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may be traded: (a) except as provided in Section 3.2, materially increase the number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan; (b) materially modify the requirements as to
eligibility for participation in the Plan; (c) materially increase the benefits accruing to Independent Directors under the Plan; or (d) extend the termination date of the Plan. No such amendment, suspension or termination shall:
(x) impair the rights of Independent Directors under any outstanding Option without the consent of the Independent Directors affected thereby; or (y) make any change that would disqualify the Plan, or any other plan of the Company intended
to be so qualified, from the exemption provided by Rule 16b3. 
  

	3.4	TAX WITHHOLDING: 

 (a) The
Company shall have the power to withhold, or require an Independent Director to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any withholding or other tax due from the Company with respect to any amount payable and/or Shares issuable under
the Plan, and the Company may defer such payment or issuance unless indemnified to its satisfaction. 
 (b) Subject to the
consent of the Board of Directors of the Company, due to the exercise of an Option, an Independent Director may make an irrevocable election (an “Election”) to: (a) have Shares otherwise issuable hereunder withheld; or (b) tender
back to the Company Shares received; or (c) deliver back to the Company previously acquired Shares having a Fair Market Value sufficient to satisfy all or part of the Independent Director’s estimated tax obligations associated with the
transaction. Such Election must be made by an Independent Director prior to the date on which the relevant tax obligation arises. The Board of Directors of the Company may disapprove of any Election, may suspend or terminate the right to make
Elections, or may provide with respect to any Option under this Plan that the right to make Elections shall not apply to such Option. 
  

	3.5	DEFINITION OF FAIR MARKET VALUE: 

 “Fair Market Value” on any date shall mean the average of the Closing Price (as defined below) per Share for the five consecutive Trading Days (as defined below) ending on such date. The
“Closing Price” on any date shall mean the last sale price, regular way (as defined below), or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Shares are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Shares selected by the Board or, if there is no professional market maker
making a market in the Shares, the average of the last ten (10) purchases by the Company pursuant to its Share Repurchase Program (the “SRP”), and if there are fewer than ten (10) of such purchases under the SRP, then the average
of such lesser number of purchases, or, if the SRP is not then in existence, the price at which the Company is then offering Shares to the public if the Company is then engaged in a public offering of Shares, or if the Company is not then offering
Shares to the public, the price per share at which a Stockholder may purchase Shares pursuant to the Company’s Distribution Reinvestment Program (the “DRP”) if such DRP is then in existence, or if the DRP is not then in existence, the
fair market value of a Share as determined by the Company, in its sole discretion. “Trading Day” shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange or national automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed or
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Shares are not listed, shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Illinois are authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to close. The term “regular way” means a trade that is effected in a recognized securities market for clearance and settlement pursuant to the rules and procedures of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, as opposed
to a trade effected “ex-clearing” for same-day or next-day settlement. 
  

	3.6	PLAN NOT EXCLUSIVE: 

 The
adoption of the Plan shall not preclude the adoption by appropriate means of any other stock option or other incentive plan for Independent Directors or other Directors of the Company. 

  
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	3.7	LISTING, REGISTRATION AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE: 

 Each Option shall be subject to the requirement that if at any time counsel to the Company shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification thereof or of any Shares or other property
subject thereto upon any securities exchange or under any foreign, federal or state securities or other law or regulation, or the consent or approval of any governmental body or the taking of any other action to comply with or otherwise, with
respect to any such law or regulation, is necessary or desirable as a condition to or in connection with the award of such Option or the issue, delivery or purchase of Shares or other property thereunder, no such Option may be exercised or paid in
Shares or other property unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, approval or other action shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company, and the holder of the award will supply the
Company with such certificates, representations and information as the Company shall request and shall otherwise cooperate with the Company in effecting or obtaining such listing, registration, qualification, consent, approval or other action. The
Company may at any time impose any limitations upon the exercise, delivery or payment of any Option which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, are necessary or desirable in order to cause the Plan or any other plan of the
Company to comply with Rule 16b-3. If the Company, as part of an offering of securities or otherwise, finds it desirable because of foreign, federal or state legal or regulatory requirements to reduce the period during which Options may be
exercised, the Board of Directors of the Company may, without the holders’ consent, so reduce such period on not less than 15 days written notice to the holders thereof. 

 

	3.8	RIGHTS OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS: 

 Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon any Independent Director any right to serve as an Independent Director for any period of time or to continue serving at his present or any other rate of compensation.

  

	3.9	NO OBLIGATION TO EXERCISE OPTION: 

 The granting of an Option shall impose no obligation upon the Independent Director to exercise such Option. 
  

	3.10	REQUIREMENTS OF LAW; GOVERNING LAW: 

 The granting of Options under this Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be
required. The Plan and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. The provisions of this Plan shall be interpreted so as to comply with the conditions or requirements of
Rule 16b-3, unless a contrary interpretation of any such provision is otherwise required by applicable law. 

  
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