Retail Properties of America, Inc. Recommends Rejection of Mini-Tender Offer by LAPIS Investment Business Trust

OAK BROOK, Ill.--()--Retail Properties of America, Inc. (NYSE: RPAI) has been notified of an unsolicited mini-tender offer by Lapis Investment Business Trust (“Lapis”) dated November 19, 2012, to purchase up to 75,000 shares of Class A, Class B-2 and Class B-3 common stock of RPAI for $8.50 per share. The offer expires on December 21, 2012. RPAI’s Board of Directors unanimously recommends that shareholders reject the mini-tender offer by Lapis.

Lapis’s offer price for the Class A shares of common stock represents a discount of approximately 30% to the $12.20 closing price of the Class A common stock on November 16, 2012, the trading day prior to the commencement of Lapis’s mini-tender offer.

RPAI Class A shares of common stock were listed on the NYSE on April 5, 2012. The terms of the Class B-2 common stock and Class B-3 common stock are identical in all respects to the Class A common stock, except that the two classes of Class B common stock are not listed on a national securities exchange; however, these shares will automatically convert to Class A common stock and be traded on the NYSE in accordance with the following schedule:

  • the Class B-2 common stock will automatically convert into Class A common stock on April 5, 2013; and
  • the Class B-3 common stock will automatically convert into Class A common stock on October 7, 2013.

Lapis and its offer are not affiliated with RPAI. RPAI’s Board of Directors has unanimously determined that the offer is not in the best interests of the stockholders. Although each stockholder has his or her individual liquidity needs and must evaluate the offer accordingly, the Board of Directors does not recommend or endorse Lapis’s mini-tender offer and suggests that stockholders reject the offer and not tender their shares pursuant to the offer. RPAI strongly recommends investors obtain current market quotes for their shares of common stock, carefully review the conditions of the offer, consult with their broker or financial advisor and exercise caution with respect to Lapis’s offer.

Mini-tender offers are third-party offers to purchase less than 5% of a company’s outstanding shares, thereby avoiding the filing, disclosure and procedural requirements adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the protection of investors. The SEC has cautioned investors about these offers, noting that "some bidders make mini-tender offers at below-market prices, hoping that they will catch investors off guard if the investors do not compare the offer price to the current market price." The SEC's Investor Tips regarding mini-tender offers may be found on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/minitend.htm.

About RPAI

Retail Properties of America, Inc. is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate company that owns and operates high quality, strategically located shopping centers across 35 states. The Company is one of the largest owners and operators of shopping centers in the United States. The Company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RPAI. Additional information about the Company is available at www.rpai.com.

Contacts

Retail Properties of America, Inc.
Sarah Byrnes
Vice President, Investor Relations
630.634.4243
byrnes@rpai.com

Contacts

Retail Properties of America, Inc.
Sarah Byrnes
Vice President, Investor Relations
630.634.4243
byrnes@rpai.com