Document:

EX-10.4

 Exhibit 10.4 

Gannett Co., Inc. 

Executive Severance Plan 

1. Purpose of Plan. The purpose of this Gannett Co., Inc. Executive Severance Plan (this “Plan”) is to
provide individuals who are designated as participants in the Plan by the Executive Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) severance benefits in
the event of certain involuntary terminations of employment. 
 2. Certain Defined Terms. Certain terms used herein have the
definitions given to them in the first place in which they are used, and all other defined terms have the meanings set forth below in this Section 2. 
  

	 	(a)	“Annual Base Salary” means a Participant’s regular rate of annual base salary as in effect immediately preceding such Participant’s Qualifying Termination. 

 

	 	(b)	“Cause” means a termination of a Participant’s employment following the occurrence of any of the following events, each of which shall constitute a “Cause” for such termination:

  

	 	(i)	embezzlement, fraud, misappropriation of funds, breach of fiduciary duty or other act of material dishonesty committed by a Participant or at his or her direction; 

 

	 	(ii)	failure by a Participant to perform adequately the duties of his or her position, as a result of neglect or refusal, that he or she does not remedy within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the
Company; 

  

	 	(iii)	violation of the Company’s employment policies by a Participant; 

  

	 	(iv)	conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere by a Participant to a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude; or 

  

	 	(v)	found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Securities and Exchange Commission to have violated any Federal or State securities law. 

 

	 	(c)	 “Qualifying Termination” means an involuntary termination of a Participant’s employment by the Company (other than for
Cause). Any determination as to whether a termination is a Qualifying Termination shall be made in the reasonable, good faith discretion of the Committee. In no event shall a Participant’s voluntary termination or a termination due to
a Participant’s death or disability constitute a Qualifying Termination under this Plan. Additionally, a Qualifying Termination shall not occur if the 

	 	
Participant’s employment is terminated in connection with a restructuring, reorganization, redundancy, merger, acquisition, sale, spinoff, outsourcing, transfer, or other similar condition
or transaction, in such circumstances where the Participant is offered employment by the Company, a successor organization or any other entity with an Annual Base Salary that is not materially less than that paid to the Participant prior to such
change. The Company shall provide written notice of the Qualifying Termination, and the date of a Qualifying Termination shall be the Participant’s separation from service with the Company in accordance with the notice. 

 

	 	(d)	“Severance Multiple” means (i) with respect to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, three (3); and (ii) for other Participants the “Severance Multiplier”
shall be either two (2) or one (1) as assigned to the Participant by the Board or the Committee. 

 3. Eligible
Employees. This Plan shall apply solely with respect to the Company’s executives who are designated by the Board or the Committee as participants (the employees covered by this Plan, the
“Participants”). Designation as a Participant shall be effective as of the date of such Board or Committee action. The Committee and the Board reserve the right to add new Participants or terminate the participation
of a Participant at any time and in its sole discretion; provided that a Participant will not be removed from participation in the Plan without at least six (6) months advance notice. 

4. Term of the Plan. This Plan shall be effective commencing on July 28, 2015, and shall continue until the Committee
terminates the Plan; provided, that the termination of the Plan shall not affect any unsatisfied obligations under this Plan that have arisen prior to the termination with respect to Participants who have received notice of a Qualifying
Termination prior to the termination. 
 5. Administration of the Plan. This Plan shall be administered by the
Committee. All actions taken and all determinations by the Committee shall be final and binding on all persons claiming any interest in or under this Plan. 

6. Amendment or Termination of Plan. Following the Effective Date, the Committee and the Board reserve the right to amend or
terminate the Plan at any time; provided that the termination or amendment of this Plan shall not affect any obligations under this Plan that have arisen prior to the date of such amendment or termination and no reduction in the benefits under this
Plan through a plan amendment or plan termination shall become effective unless the Company provides at least six (6) months advance written notice to the affected Participants. 

7. Benefits under this Plan. Upon a Qualifying Termination, a Participant shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan
including Section 8, be entitled to receive a severance payment (the “Severance Amount”) equal to (a) the Participant’s Severance Multiple, multiplied by (b) the Participant’s Annual
Base Salary. In addition, a Participant shall be paid in accordance with normal payroll practices all earned but unpaid compensation, accrued vacation, 

  
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accrued but unreimbursed expenses required to be reimbursed through the date of termination and a prorated portion of the Participant’s annual bonus for the fiscal year in which the
Participant is terminated based on actual performance and paid at the time that annual bonuses are paid to similarly situated executives (the “Accrued Obligations”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a
Participant experiences a Qualifying Termination under circumstances that entitle the Participant to compensation and benefits under the Gannett Co., Inc. 2015 Transitional Compensation Plan or the Gannett Co., Inc. 2015 Change in Control
Severance Plan (collectively, the “Transitional Plans”), the Participant shall receive compensation and benefits under the Transitional Plans and not under this Plan. 

8. Release Requirement. A Participant shall not be entitled to the Severance Amount unless the Participant has signed and not
revoked, within thirty (30) days after the date of such Participant’s Qualifying Termination, a release and covenant agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Release and
Restrictive Covenant Agreement”). 
 9. Timing and Form of Payment of Severance Amount. Subject to the Release
and Restrictive Covenant Agreement becoming effective no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the date on which a Participant’s Qualifying Termination occurs, the Severance Amount shall be payable in a lump sum on the thirtieth
(30th) day after the date of the Participant’s Qualifying Termination. 
 10. No Mitigation/Offset. A Participant
shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided for under this Plan by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall any payments hereunder be subject to offset in respect of any claims that the Company may have
against a Participant, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under this Plan be reduced by any compensation earned as a result of such Participant’s employment with another employer. 

11. Legal Expenses. If, with respect to any alleged failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Plan, a Participant
institutes or responds to legal action to assert or defend the validity of, enforce his or her rights under, or recover damages for breach of the terms of this Plan or, following termination of employment, the Release and Restrictive Covenant
Agreement, and thereafter the Company is found in a judgment no longer subject to review or appeal to have breached this Plan or, following termination of employment, the Release and Restrictive Covenant Agreement in any material respect, then the
Company shall indemnify the Participant for his or her reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs in connection with such legal action. 

12. Severability; Waiver. If any provision of this Plan or the application thereof is held invalid or unenforceable, the
invalidity or unenforceability thereof shall not affect any other provisions of this Plan which can be given effect without the invalid or unenforceable provision, and to this end the provisions of this Plan are to be severable. No waiver by
either party of any breach by the other party of any provision or conditions of this Plan shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time. 

13. Employment Status. This Plan does not constitute a contract of employment or

  
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impose on a Participant or the Company or its subsidiaries any obligation to retain the Participant as an employee or change the status of such Participant’s employment to anything other
than “at will”. The Company reserves the right to terminate a Participant for any or no reason at its convenience. 
 14.
Tax Withholdings. The Company may withhold from any payments due to a Participant hereunder, such amounts as the Company may determine are required to be withheld under applicable federal, state and local tax laws. 

15. Section 409A. 
  

	 	(a)	General. It is intended that payments and benefits made or provided under this Plan shall not result in penalty taxes or accelerated taxation pursuant to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Plan shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with that intent. If any provision of the Plan would otherwise conflict with or frustrate this intent, that provision will
be interpreted and deemed amended so as to avoid the conflict. Any payments that qualify for the “short-term deferral” exception, the separation pay exception or another exception under Section 409A of the Code shall be paid under the
applicable exception. For purposes of the limitations on nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, each payment of compensation under this Plan shall be treated as a separate payment of compensation for purposes of
applying the exclusion under Section 409A of the Code for short-term deferral amounts, the separation pay exception or any other exception or exclusion under Section 409A of the Code. In no event may a Participant, directly or
indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment under this Plan. Despite any contrary provision of this Plan, any references to termination of employment or date of termination shall mean and refer to the date of a Participant’s
“separation from service,” as that term is defined in Section 409A of the Code and Treasury regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). 

  

	 	(b)	 Delay of Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, if a Participant is considered a “specified
employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the termination date), any payment that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within
the meaning of Section 409A of the Code that is otherwise due to a Participant under this Plan during the six (6)-month period immediately following a Participant’s separation from service (as determined in accordance with
Section 409A of the Code) on account of a Participant’s separation from service shall be accumulated and paid to such Participant on the first (1st) business day of the seventh (7th) month following such Participant’s
separation from service (the “Delayed Payment Date”). If such Participant dies during the postponement period, the amounts and entitlements delayed on account of Section 409A of the Code shall be paid to

  
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the personal representative of such Participant’s estate on the first to occur of the Delayed Payment Date or thirty (30) calendar days after the date of his or her death.

  

	 	(c)	Reimbursement and In-Kind Benefits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, all reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Plan that are subject to Section 409A of the Code
shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during the Participant’s lifetime (or, if longer, through
the twentieth (20th) anniversary of the Effective Date) or during a shorter period of time specified in this Plan); (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind
benefits provided, during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year; (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made no later than the last
day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred; and (iv) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. 

16. Successors. This Plan shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company. 

17. Governing Law. This Plan shall be governed by and construed under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware
without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. 
  

							
	Dated: July 28, 2015	 		 	GANNETT CO., INC.
				
		 		 	By:	 	 /s/ David Harmon

		 		 	Name:	 	David Harmon
		 		 	Title:	 	Chief People Officer

  
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 Exhibit 10-4 

Exhibit A 

Release of Claims and Restrictive Covenant Agreement 

This Release of Claims and Restrictive Covenant Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into among
[                    ] and Gannett Co., Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with your separation of employment
from the Company in accordance with the Gannett Co., Inc. Executive Severance Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Plan. The parties agree to the following:

 (1) Date of Termination. Your final day as an employee of the Company is
                    , 20         (the “Date of Termination”). 

(2) Severance Amount. Provided that you execute this Agreement and that it becomes effective, on
            , 20        , you will receive a lump sum cash payment in the amount of
$                    , less legally-required withholdings, payable on
                    .
 (3)
Release Deadline. You will receive the benefits described in paragraph 2 above only if you sign this Agreement on or before
                    , 20        . In exchange for and in consideration of the benefits
offered to you by the Company in paragraph 2 above, you agree to the terms of this Agreement. 
 (4) Release of Claims. You
agree that this is a full and complete Release of Claims. Accordingly, you and the Company agree as follows: 
  

	 	(a)	The Release of Claims means that you agree to give up forever any and all legal claims, or causes of actions, you may have, or think you have, against the Company, any of its subsidiaries, related or affiliated
companies, including any predecessor or successor entities, and their respective directors, officers, and employees (collectively, the “Company Parties”). This Release of Claims includes all legal claims that arose at
any time before or at the time you sign this Agreement; it also includes those legal claims of which you know and are aware, as well as any legal claims of which you may not know or be aware, including claims for breach of contract, claims arising
out of any employment agreement you may have or under the Plan, claims of intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, defamation, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and any other claim arising from, or related
to, your employment by the Company. In addition, the Company Parties agree to give up forever any and all legal claims, or causes of action, they may have or think they may have against you, including all legal claims that arose at any time
before or at the time you sign this Agreement, whether known to the Company Parties or not. 

 Notwithstanding the foregoing,
by executing this Release of Claims, (i) you will not forfeit or release your right to receive your vested benefits under the Gannett Retirement Plan, the Gannett Co., Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan, the

 
Gannett Supplemental Retirement Plan, the Gannett Co., Inc. 2015 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, and the Gannett Co., Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (but you will forfeit your right to
receive any further severance or annual bonus award); any rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses under the Company’s By-laws and/or directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies; any other rights under the Plan
that are intended to survive a termination of employment; or any legal claims or causes of action arising out of actions allegedly taken by the Company after the date of your execution of this Agreement; and (ii) none of the Company Parties
will forfeit or release any right to recoup compensation under the claw back provisions of under any plan or policy of the Company or applicable law; any rights under the Plan which are intended to survive a termination of employment (including, but
not limited to, your restrictive covenant and confidentiality obligations); any claims based on your fraud or conduct which was committed in bad faith or arising from your active and deliberate dishonesty; any claims for which you have no rights to
indemnification and advancement of expenses under the Company’s By-laws and/or directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies; or any legal claims or causes of action arising out of actions allegedly taken by you after the date
of your execution of this Agreement. The matters referenced in clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph are referred to as the “Excluded Matters.” 

 

	 	(b)	Several laws of the United States and of the Commonwealth of Virginia create claims for employees in various circumstances. These laws include the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended by the
Older Worker Benefit Protection Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Genetic
Information Non-discrimination Act, and the Virginia Human Rights Act. Several of these laws also provide for the award of attorneys’ fees to a successful plaintiff. You agree that this Release of Claims specifically includes any
possible claims under any of these laws or similar state and federal laws, including any claims for attorneys’ fees. 

  

	 	(c)	By referring to specific laws we do not intend to limit the Release of Claims to just those laws. All legal claims for money damages, or any other relief that relate to or are in any way connected with your
employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, related or affiliated companies, are included within this Release of Claims, even if they are not specifically referred to in this Agreement. The only legal claims that are not covered by
this Release of Claims are the Excluded Matters. 

  

	 	(d)	Except for the Excluded Matters, we agree that neither party will say later that some particular legal claim or claims are not covered by this Release of Claims because we or you were unaware of the claim or claims,
because such claims were overlooked, or because you or we made an error. 

  
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	 	(e)	We specifically confirm that, as far as you or the Company know, no one has made any legal claim in any federal, state or local court or government agency relating to your employment, or the ending of your employment,
with the Company. If, at any time in the future, such a claim is made by you or the Company, or someone acting on behalf of you or the Company, or by some other person or a governmental agency, you and the Company agree that each will be
totally and completely barred from recovering any money damages or remedy of any kind, except in the case of any legal claims or causes of action arising out of any of the Excluded Matters. This provision is meant to include claims that are
solely or in part on your behalf, or on behalf of the Company, or claims which you or the Company have or have not authorized. 

  

	 	(f)	This Agreement, and the Release of Claims, will not prevent you from filing any future administrative charges with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or a state
fair employment practices (“FEP”) agency, nor from participating in or cooperating with the EEOC or a state FEP agency in any investigation or legal action undertaken by the EEOC or a state FEP agency. However, this
Agreement, and the Release of Claims, does mean that you may not collect any monetary damages or receive any other remedies from charges filed with or actions by the EEOC or a state FEP agency. 

(5) Restrictive Covenants. 
  

	 	(a)	You agree that in consideration for the payments under paragraph 2 above, for a period of six (6) months after the Date of Termination (the “Restricted Period”), you will not, without the
written consent of the Company, obtain or seek a position with a Competitor (as defined below) in which you will use or are likely to use any confidential information or trade secrets of the Company including, but not limited to, a position in which
you would have duties for such Competitor within the United States that involve Competitive Services (as defined below) and that are the same or similar to those duties actually performed by you for the Company. 

 

	 	(b)	You understand and agree that the relationship between the Company and each of its employees constitutes a valuable asset of the Company and may not be converted to your own use. Accordingly, you hereby agree that
during the Restricted Period, you shall not, directly or indirectly, on your own behalf or on behalf of another person, solicit or induce any employee of the Company to terminate his or her employment relationship with the Company or any affiliate
of the Company or to enter into employment with another person or entity. The foregoing shall not apply to employees who respond to solicitations of employment directed to the general public or who seek employment at their own initiative.

  
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	 	(c)	For purposes of this paragraph 5, “Competitive Services” means the provision of goods or services that are competitive with any goods or services offered by the Company as of the date of this
Agreement, including, but not limited to newspapers, non-daily publications, digital, Internet, and other news and information services, and “Competitor” means any individual or any entity or enterprise engaged, wholly
or in part, in Competitive Services. The parties acknowledge that the Company may from time to time during the term of this Agreement change or increase the line of goods or services it provides, and you agree to amend this Agreement from time
to time to include such different or additional goods and services to the definition of “Competitive Services” for purposes of this paragraph 5. 

  

	 	(d)	You agree that due to your position of trust and confidence the restrictions contained in this paragraph 5 are reasonable, and the benefits conferred on you in this Agreement are adequate consideration, and since the
nature of the Company’s business is national in scope, the geographic restriction herein is reasonable. 

  

	 	(e)	You agree that you will not make any statements, oral or written, or cause or allow to be published in your name, or under any other name, any statements, interviews, articles, books, web logs, editorials or commentary
(oral or written) that are critical or disparaging of the Company, or any of their operations, or any of their officers, employees or directors. Likewise, the Company agrees that it will not make, and will use reasonable efforts to ensure that
directors and officers of the Company do not make, any statements, oral or written, or cause to be published in the Company’s name, any statements, interviews, articles, editorials or commentary (oral or written) that are critical or
disparaging of you. It is understood that merely because a personal statement is made by a Company employee does not mean that it is made “in the Company’s name”. 

 

	 	(f)	You agree that unless duly authorized in writing by the Company, you will not at any time divulge or use in connection with any business activity any trade secrets or confidential information first acquired by you
during and by virtue of your employment with the Company. 

  

	 	(g)	 You acknowledge that a breach of this paragraph 5 would cause irreparable injury and damage to the Company which could not be reasonably or adequately
compensated by money damages, and the Company acknowledges that a breach of paragraph 5(e) would cause irreparable injury and damage to you, which could not be reasonably or adequately compensated by money damages. Accordingly, each of
you, the Company 

  
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acknowledges that the remedies of injunction and specific performance shall be available in the event of such a breach, and the non-breaching party shall be entitled to money damages, costs and
attorneys’ fees, and other legal or equitable remedies, including an injunction pending trial, without the posting of bond or other security. Any period of restriction set forth in this paragraph 5 shall be extended for a period of time
equal to the duration of any breach or violation thereof. 

  

	 	(h)	In the event of your breach of this paragraph 5, in addition to the injunctive relief described above, the Company’s remedy shall include the forfeiture or return to the Company of any payment made or due to you or
on your behalf under paragraph 2 above. 

  

	 	(i)	In the event that any provision of this paragraph 5 is held to be in any respect an unreasonable restriction, then the court so holding may modify the terms thereof, including the period of time during which it operates
or the geographic area to which it applies, or effect any other change to the extent necessary to render this paragraph 5 enforceable, it being acknowledged by the parties that the representations and covenants set forth herein are of the essence of
this Agreement. 

 (6) Cooperation. You agree to fully cooperate and assist the Company in the defense of any
investigations, claims, charges, arbitrations, grievances, or lawsuits brought against the Company or any of its operations, or any officers, employees or directors the Company or any of its operations, as to matters of which you have personal
knowledge necessary, in the Company’s judgment, for the defense of the action. You agree to provide such assistance reasonably consistent with the requirements of your other obligations and the Company agrees to pay your reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with this assistance and such expenses will be paid in accordance with Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv)(A). The Company agrees to fully cooperate and assist you in the defense of any
third-party claims, charges, arbitrations, grievances or lawsuits brought against you as a co-defendant with the Company or any of its operations, officers, employees or directors, except with respect to any such matters arising out of clause
(ii) of the Excluded Matters. 
 (7) Entire Agreement. You agree that this Agreement contains all of the details of the
agreement between you and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof. Nothing has been promised to you, either in some other written document or orally, by the Company or any of its officers, employees or directors, that is not
included in this Agreement. 
 (8) No Admission. Nothing contained in this Agreement will be deemed or construed as an admission of
wrongdoing or liability on the part of Company Parties. 
 (9) Governing Law and Venue. All matters affecting this Agreement,
including the validity thereof, are to be governed by, and interpreted and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in that State. The parties agree to submit to the
jurisdiction of the federal and state courts sitting in Delaware, for all purposes relating to the validity, interpretation, or enforcement of this Agreement. 

  
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 (10) Time to Consider; Effectiveness. Please review this Agreement carefully. We
advise you to talk with an attorney before signing this Agreement. So that you may have enough opportunity to think about this offer, you may keep this Agreement for twenty-one (21) days from the date of termination of your
employment. You acknowledge that this Agreement was made in connection with your participation in the Plan and was available to you both prior to and immediately at the time of your termination of employment. For that reason you
acknowledge and agree that the twenty-one (21)-day consideration period identified in this paragraph commenced to run, without any further action by the Company immediately upon your being advised of the termination of your
employment. Consequently, if you desire to execute this Agreement, you must do so no later than             ,
20        . Should you accept all the terms by signing this Agreement on or before
                    , 20        , you may nevertheless revoke this Agreement within seven
(7) days after signing it by notifying                      in writing of your revocation. We will provide a courtesy copy to your
attorney, if you retain one to represent you. If you wish to accept this Agreement, please confirm your acceptance of the terms of the Agreement by signing the original of this Agreement in the space provided below. The Agreement will
become effective, and its terms will be carried out beginning on the day following the seven (7)-day revocation period. 
 (11) Knowing
and Voluntary. By signing this Agreement you agree that you have carefully read this Agreement and understand its terms. You also agree that you have had a reasonable opportunity to think about your decision, to talk with an attorney
or advisor of your choice, that you have voluntarily signed this Agreement, and that you fully understand the legal effect of signing this Agreement. 
  

									
	Date:	 	  
	 		 	  

		 		 		 	EMPLOYEE
				
	Date:	 	  
	 		 	  

		 		 		 	GANNETT CO., INC.
		 		 		 	By:	 	
		 		 		 	Title:	 	

  
 62015.6.30 EX10.1

Exhibit 10.1

HEALTHCARE TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
2006 INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS COMPENSATION PLAN
(Effective Date: July 8, 2015)
ARTICLE 1 
PURPOSE
1.1.    PURPOSE.  The  purpose  of   the   Healthcare   Trust   of   America,   Inc. 2006 Independent Directors Compensation Plan is to attract, retain and compensate highly-qualified individuals who are not employees of Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. or any of its Affiliates for service as members of the Board by providing them with competitive compensation and an ownership interest in the Stock of the Company. The Company intends that the Plan will benefit the Company and its stockholders by allowing Independent Directors to have a personal financial stake in the Company through an ownership interest in the Stock and will closely associate the interests of Independent Directors with that of the Company’s stockholders.
1.2.    ELIGIBILITY. Independent Directors of the Company who are Eligible Participants, as defined below, shall automatically be participants in the Plan.
1.3.    EFFECTIVE DATE. This version of the Plan is effective as of the Effective Date. For compensation awarded or earned prior to such date, see the version of the Plan in effect on the relevant date.
ARTICLE 2 
DEFINITIONS
2.1.     DEFINITIONS. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“AFFILIATE” has the meaning given such term in the Equity Incentive Plan.
“BASE RETAINER” means the retainer (excluding meeting fees and expenses) payable by the Company to an Independent Director pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof for service as a director of the Company, as such amount may be changed from time to time.
“BOARD” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“CHANGE IN CONTROL” has the meaning given such term in the Equity Incentive Plan.

“CHARTER” means the articles of incorporation of the Company, as such articles of incorporation may be amended from time to time.
“CODE” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 
“COMMITTEE” has the meaning given such term in the Equity Incentive Plan.
“COMPANY” means Healthcare Trust of America, Inc., a Maryland corporation.
“DIRECTOR DISABILITY” means any illness or other physical or mental condition of an Independent Director that renders him or her incapable of performing as a director of the Company, or any medically determinable illness or other physical or mental condition resulting from a bodily injury, disease or mental disorder which, in the judgment of the Board, is permanent and continuous in nature.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Disability shall have the same meaning as set forth in any regulations, revenue procedure or revenue rulings issued by the Secretary of the United States Treasury applicable to Section 409A(d) of the Code. The Board may require such medical or other evidence as it deems necessary to judge the nature and permanency of an Independent Director’s condition.
“EFFECTIVE DATE” means the “Effective Date” set forth above.
“ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT” means any person who is an Independent Director on the Effective Date set forth above or becomes an Independent Director while this Plan is in effect; except that during any period a director is prohibited from participating in the Plan by his or her employer or otherwise waives participation in the Plan, such director shall not be an Eligible Participant.
“EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN” means the Healthcare Trust of  America,  Inc. 2006 Incentive Plan, or any subsequent equity compensation plan approved by the Company’s stockholders and designated as the Equity Incentive Plan for purposes of this Plan.
“FAIR MARKET VALUE” has the meaning given such term in the Equity Incentive Plan.

“INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR” has the meaning given such term in the Equity Incentive Plan.
“PLAN” means this Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. 2006 Independent Directors Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time.
“PLAN YEAR” means the approximate 12-month period beginning with the annual stockholders meeting and ending at the next annual stockholders meeting.
“RETIREMENT” means a termination of an Independent Director’s service as a member of the Board as a result of the Independent Director’s term as a member of the Board expiring and the Independent Director does not stand for re-election as a member of the Board (or the Independent Director is re-nominated but not re-elected for a new term on the Board); provided, however, that such a termination will not constitute a Retirement for purposes hereof unless (a) the Independent Director has served on the Board for not less than four (4) full years as of the date of such termination, and (b) the Independent Director’s service on the Board continues through the day before the date of the annual meeting of stockholders at which the Independent Director’s term as a member of the Board is scheduled to expire.
“SHARES” has the meaning given such term in the Equity Incentive Plan. 
“STOCK” has the meaning given such term in the Equity Incentive Plan.
“SUPPLEMENTAL ANNUAL RETAINER” means the annual cash retainer (excluding meeting fees and expenses) payable by the Company to an Independent Director pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof for service as the Lead Independent Director of the Board or the chair of a committee of the Board, as such amount may be changed from time to time.

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ARTICLE 3 
ADMINISTRATION
3.1.    ADMINISTRATION. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall be authorized to interpret the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Board’s interpretation of the Plan, and all actions taken and determinations made by the Board pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder, shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties concerned including the Company, its stockholders and persons granted awards under the Plan. The Board may appoint a plan administrator to carry out the ministerial functions of the Plan, but the administrator shall have no other authority or powers of the Board.
3.2.    RELIANCE. In administering the Plan, the Board may rely upon any information furnished by the Company, its public accountants and other experts. No individual will have personal liability by reason of anything done or omitted to be done by the Company or the Board in connection with the Plan. This limitation of liability shall not be exclusive of any other limitation of liability to which any such person may be entitled under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or otherwise.
3.3.    INDEMNIFICATION. Each person who is or has been a member of the Board or who otherwise participates in the administration or operation of this Plan shall be indemnified by the Company against, and held harmless from, any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which such person may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and shall be fully reimbursed by the Company for any and all amounts paid by such person in satisfaction of judgment against him or her in any such action, suit or proceeding, provided he or she will give the Company an opportunity, by written notice to the Board, to defend the same at the Company’s own expense before he or she undertakes to defend it on his or her own behalf. This right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which any such person may be entitled under the  Company’s Charter, Bylaws, contract or Delaware law.
ARTICLE 4 
SHARES
4.1.    SOURCE OF SHARES FOR THE PLAN. The shares of Restricted Stock or other equity awards that may be issued pursuant to the Plan shall be issued under the Equity Incentive Plan, subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Equity Incentive Plan.  The terms contained in the Equity Incentive Plan are incorporated into and made a part of this Plan with respect to shares of Restricted Stock or other equity awards granted pursuant hereto and any such awards shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Equity Incentive Plan. In the event of any actual or alleged conflict between the provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan and the provisions of this Plan, the provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan shall be controlling and determinative. This Plan does not constitute a separate source of shares for the grant of the equity awards described herein.

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ARTICLE 5
BASE RETAINER, MEETING FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1.    BASE RETAINER. Each Eligible Participant shall be paid a Base Retainer for service as a director during each Plan Year. The amount of the Base Retainer shall be established from time to time by the Board. Until changed by the Board, the Base Retainer for a full Plan Year shall be $50,000. The Base Annual Retainer shall be payable in approximately equal quarterly installments in advance, beginning on the date of the annual stockholders meeting.
Each person who first becomes an Eligible Participant on a date other than the beginning of a Plan Year shall be paid a retainer equal to the quarterly installment of the Base Annual Retainer for the first quarter of eligibility, prorated based on the number of full months he or she serves as an Independent Director during such quarter. Payment of such prorated Base Annual Retainer shall begin on the date that the person first becomes an Eligible Participant.
5.2.    SUPPLEMENTAL ANNUAL RETAINERS. An Independent Director who serves as Lead Independent Director of the Board shall be paid a Supplemental Annual Retainer for such service during a Plan Year, payable at the same times as installments of the Base Retainer are paid. Until changed by the Board, the Supplemental Annual Retainer for the Lead Independent Director shall be $35,000. The chairperson of a committee of the Board shall be paid a Supplemental Annual Retainer for his or her service as such chairperson during a Plan Year, payable at the same times as installments of the Base Retainer are paid. The amount of the Supplemental Annual Retainer for the chairperson of a committee of the Board shall be established from time to time by the Board. Until changed by the Board, (a) the Supplemental Annual Retainer for a full Plan Year for the chairperson of a committee of the Board (other than the Audit Committee) shall be $12,500, and (b) the Supplemental Annual Retainer for a full Plan Year for the chairperson of the Audit Committee shall be $15,000. A pro rata Supplemental Annual Retainer will be paid to any Eligible Participant who becomes the Lead Independent Director or the chairperson of a committee of the Board on a date other than the beginning of a Plan Year, based on the number of full months he or she serves in such position.
5.3.    MEETING FEES. An Independent Director shall not be entitled to any meeting fee for any of the first four meetings of the Board he or she attends in each Plan Year or for any of the first four meetings of Board committees he or she attends in each Plan Year. To the extent an Independent Director attends more than four Board meetings in a Plan Year, the director will be entitled to a meeting fee of $1,500 for each such meeting attended.
5.4.    An Independent Director shall also not be entitled any meeting fee for any of the first four meetings of a Board committee on which a Director serves. To the extent an Independent Director attends more than four meetings of their respective Board committees in a Plan Year, the director will be entitled to a meeting fee of $1,500 for each such meeting attended. (For example, if, during a particular Plan Year, an Independent Director attended four meetings of one Board committee and three meetings of a second Board committee, the director would not be entitled to any meeting fees. However, if an Independent Director attended four meetings of one Board committee and six meetings of a second Board committee, the director would be entitled to aggregate meeting fees of $3,000 for that Plan Year.) The amount of such per- meeting fee is subject to change from time to time by the Board. If an Independent Director attends a meeting of the 

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Board and a meeting of a committee (in each case, whether non- telephonic or telephonic) on a single day, he or she shall be credited with attending both the Board and the committee meeting for purposes of this Section 5.3.
5.5.    TRAVEL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT. All Independent Directors shall be reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses (including spouse’s expenses to attend events to which spouses are invited) in connection with attendance at meetings of the Board and its committees, or other Company functions at which the Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer requests the Independent Director to participate.
ARTICLE 6 
EQUITY COMPENSATION
6.1.    INITIAL RESTRICTED STOCK GRANT. On the first date an Independent Director is initially elected or appointed to the Board on or following the Effective Date (and other than in connection with an annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders), such director shall receive an award of Restricted Stock with respect to a number of Shares determined by multiplying (a) the quotient obtained by dividing $100,000 by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such award, by (b) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days remaining in the 365-day period following the most recent annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders that occurred prior to the date of such director’s initial election or appointment, and the denominator of which shall be 365 (but in no event shall such fraction be greater than one), such number to be rounded to the nearest whole number of Shares. Such shares of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the terms and restrictions described below in this Article 6, shall be in addition to any otherwise applicable annual grant of Restricted Stock granted to such Independent Director under Section 6.2, and shall be subject to share availability under the Equity Incentive Plan.
6.2.    SUBSEQUENT RESTRICTED STOCK GRANT. Subject to share availability under the Equity Incentive Plan, upon subsequent re-election of the Independent Director to the Board at an annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders on or following the Effective Date, such director shall receive an award of Restricted Stock with respect to a number of Shares determined by dividing (a) $100,000 by (b) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such award, such number to be rounded to the nearest whole number of Shares.
6.3.    TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK. Shares of Restricted Stock granted under this Article 6 shall be evidenced by a written Award Certificate, and shall be subject to the terms and conditions described below and of the Equity Incentive Plan.
(i)    Restrictions. The shares of Stock granted pursuant to Article 6 are subject to each of the following restrictions. “Restricted Stock” mean those shares that are subject to the restrictions imposed hereunder which restrictions have not then expired or terminated. Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, exchanged, assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered to or in favor of any party other than the Company, or be subjected to any lien, obligation or liability of the grantee to any other party other than the Company. If the grantee’s service as a director of the Company terminates prior to the Vesting Date (as defined in Section 6.3(ii)) other than by reason of his or her death or Disability or his or her Retirement, then the grantee shall forfeit all of his or 

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her right, title and interest in and to any unvested shares of Restricted Stock as of the date of such termination from the Board and such unvested shares of Restricted Stock shall be reconveyed to the Company immediately following the event of forfeiture, without further consideration or any act or action by the grantee. The restrictions imposed under this Section 6.3(i) shall apply to all shares of Stock or other securities issued with respect to shares of Restricted Stock hereunder in connection with  any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, stock dividend or other change in corporate structure affecting the Stock.
(ii)    Vesting. The shares of Restricted Stock shall vest and become non-forfeitable as to twenty percent (20%) of the shares on the Grant Date and as to twenty percent (20%) on each of the first four anniversaries of the Grant Date; provided, however, that the shares of Restricted Stock shall become fully vested on the earlier occurrence of (i) the termination of the grantee’s service as a director of the Company due to his or her death or Disability, (ii) the termination of the grantee’s service as a director of the Company due to his or her Retirement, or (iii) a Change in Control of the Company (in any such case, the “Vesting Date”). If the grantee’s service as a director of the Company terminates other than as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the foregoing sentence, then the grantee shall forfeit all of his or her right, title and interest in and to any unvested shares of Restricted Stock as of the date of such termination from the Board and such Restricted Stock shall be reconveyed to the Company without further consideration or any act or action by the grantee.
(iii)    Delivery of Shares. The shares of Restricted Stock granted under Article 6 will be registered in the name of grantee as of the Grant Date and will be held by the Company during the Restricted Period in certificated or uncertificated form. If a certificate for Restricted Stock is issued during the Restricted Period with respect to such shares, such certificate shall be registered in the name of the grantee and shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (in addition to any legend required under applicable state securities laws):
“This certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture and restrictions against transfer) contained in a Restricted Stock Certificate between the registered owner of the shares represented hereby and Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. Release from such terms and conditions shall be made only in accordance with the provisions of such Agreement, copies of which are on file in the offices of Healthcare Trust of America, Inc.”
Stock certificates for the shares, without the first above legend, shall be delivered to the Independent Director or his or her designee upon request after the expiration of the Restricted Period, but delivery may be postponed for such period as may be required for the Company with reasonable diligence to comply if deemed advisable by the Company, with registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, listing requirements under the rules of any stock exchange, and requirements under any other law or regulation applicable to the issuance or transfer of the shares.
(iv)    Rights as a Stockholder. An Independent Director shall have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Restricted Stock, including voting rights and the right to receive dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares. If any such dividend 

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or distribution is paid in shares of Stock, such shares shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture during the Restricted Period as the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.
ARTICLE 7
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION
7.1.     AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION. The Board may terminate or suspend the Plan at any time, without stockholder approval. The Board may amend the Plan at any time and for any reason without stockholder approval; provided, however, that the Board may condition any amendment on the approval of stockholders of the Company if such approval is necessary or deemed advisable with respect to tax, securities or other applicable laws, policies or regulations. No termination, modification or amendment of the Plan may, without the consent of an Independent Director, adversely affect an Independent Director’s rights under an award granted prior thereto.
ARTICLE 8 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
8.1.    ADJUSTMENTS. The adjustment provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan shall apply with respect to equity awards outstanding or to be granted pursuant to this Plan.
8.2.    DURATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall remain in effect until terminated by the Board.
8.3.    EXPENSES OF THE PLAN. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company.
8.4.    STATUS OF THE PLAN. The Plan is intended to be a nonqualified, unfunded plan of deferred compensation under the Code. Plan benefits shall be paid from the general assets of the Company or as otherwise directed by the Company.  A participant shall have the status of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to his or her right to receive Stock or other payment under the Plan. No right or interest in such payment shall be subject to the claims of creditors of the Independent Director or to liability for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Independent Director, or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect; provided, however, that nothing in this Plan shall prevent transfers by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution. To the extent that any participant acquires the right to receive payments under the Plan (from whatever source), such right shall be no greater than that of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. Participants and their beneficiaries shall not have any preference or security interest in the assets of the Company other than as a general unsecured creditor.

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