HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES INC (Form: 8-K, Received: 03/05/2018 16:07:46)

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 5, 2018

HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Maryland	001-13100	56-1871668
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



North Carolina	000-21731	56-1869557
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

3100 Smoketree Court, Suite 600

Raleigh, North Carolina 27604

(Address of principal executive offices, zip code)

Registrants' telephone number, including area code: (919) 872-4924

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrants under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

I ndicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨


Item 1.01.	Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On March 5, 2018, Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), the limited partnership through which Highwoods Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) conducts its operations, completed a public offering of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Operating Partnership’s 4.125% Notes due March 15, 2028. The terms of the notes are governed by an indenture, dated as of December 1, 1996, among the Operating Partnership, the Company, and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor in interest to Wachovia Bank, N.A. as merged with and into First Union National Bank of North Carolina), as trustee, and an officers’ certificate, dated as of March 5, 2018, establishing the terms of the notes.

The notes will bear interest at the rate of 4.125% per year and will mature on March 15, 2028. Interest on the notes will accrue from March 5, 2018 and will be payable in U.S. dollars semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing September 15, 2018.

The notes were issued pursuant to the Operating Partnership’s automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-215936-01), including the related prospectus dated February 7, 2017, and a prospectus supplement dated February 22, 2018, as the same may be amended or supplemented.


Item 2.03.	Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

See Item 1.01.


Item 9.01.	Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits



No.		Description

4.1		Form of 4.125% Notes due March 15, 2028
4.2		Officers' Certificate Establishing the Terms of the 4.125% Notes due March 15, 2028, dated March 5, 2018
5		Opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) re legality
8		Opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) re tax matters
23		Consent of DLA Piper LLP (US) (included in Exhibits 5 and 8)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each of the registrants has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



		HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
		By:	/s/ Jeffrey D. Miller
			Jeffrey D. Miller
			Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary



		HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
		By: Highwoods Properties, Inc., its general partner
		By:	/s/ Jeffrey D. Miller
			Jeffrey D. Miller
			Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Dated: March 5, 2018

Exhibit 4.1

[FORM OF NOTE]

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (THE "DEPOSITARY"), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.



REGISTERED	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
No.: 1	$350,000,000
CUSIP No: 431282 AQ5

HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

4.125% NOTE DUE MARCH 15, 2028

HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a North Carolina limited partnership (hereinafter called the “Issuer,” which term shall include any successor partnership or entity under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, upon presentation, the principal sum of THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($350,000,000) on March 15, 2028 (the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest on the outstanding principal amount thereon from March 5, 2018, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semiannually in arrears on March 15 and September 15, in each year, commencing September 15, 2018, at the rate of 4.125% per annum, until the entire principal amount hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be 15 calendar days (whether or not a Business Day) preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date, and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, which shall not be more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment, notice whereof shall be given to Holders not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other

lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note or the redemption price (as defined below), if any, will be made at the Office or Agency of the Issuer maintained for that purpose in the City of New York, State of New York, currently located c/o U.S. Bank National Association, 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005, or elsewhere as provided in the Indenture, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided , however , that at the option of the Issuer payment of interest may be made by (i) check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register kept for the Notes pursuant to Section 305 of the Indenture (the “Security Register”) or (ii) transfer to an account of the Person entitled thereto located inside the United States.

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Issuer (herein called the “Notes”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1996 (herein called the “Base Indenture”), among the Issuer, Highwoods Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor in interest to Wachovia Bank, N.A. as merged with and into First Union National Bank of North Carolina (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture with respect to the Notes), as supplemented by an officers’ certificate establishing the terms of the Notes, dated as of March 5, 2018 (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Issuer, the Trustee, Highwoods Properties, Inc. and the Holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of the series designated as the “4.125% Notes due March 15, 2028.”

On or after the Par Call Date, the Issuer may redeem the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

For the purposes of the Indenture, all references to any “premium” on the Notes shall be deemed to refer to any Make-Whole Amount, unless the context otherwise requires.

The following definitions apply with respect to any redemption of the Notes:

“Make-Whole Amount” means, in connection with any optional redemption or accelerated payment of any Notes, the excess, if any, of: (i) the aggregate present value as of the date of such redemption of each dollar of principal being redeemed or paid and the amount of interest (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption or accelerated payment) that would have been payable in respect of each such dollar if such Notes matured on the Par Call Date but for the redemption thereof, determined by discounting, on a semi-annual basis (on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of 12 30-day months), such principal and interest at the Reinvestment Rate (determined on the third business day preceding the date such notice of redemption is given or declaration of accelerated payment is made) from the respective dates on which such principal and interest would have been payable if such redemption or accelerated payment had not been made to the

date of redemption or accelerated payment; over (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being redeemed or paid.

“Reinvestment Rate” means 0.25% plus the arithmetic mean of the yields under the heading “Week Ending” published in the most recent Statistical Release under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities” for the maturity (rounded to the nearest month) corresponding to the remaining life to maturity of the Notes, assuming for this purpose that the Notes matured on the Par Call Date, as of the payment date of the principal being redeemed or paid. If no maturity exactly corresponds to such maturity, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to such maturity shall be calculated pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence and the Reinvestment Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding each of such relevant periods to the nearest month. For the purposes of calculating the Reinvestment Rate, the most recent Statistical Release published prior to the date of determination of the Make-Whole Amount shall be used.

“Statistical Release” means the statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication that is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which reports yields on actively traded United States government securities adjusted to constant maturities, or, if such statistical release is not published at the time of any determination of the Make-Whole Amount, then such other reasonably comparable index that shall be designated by the Issuer.

If notice of redemption has been given as provided in the Indenture and funds for the redemption of any Notes (or any portion thereof) called for redemption have been made available on the Redemption Date specified in the notice, the Notes (or any portion thereof) will cease to bear interest on the date fixed for the redemption specified in the notice and the only right of the Holders of the Notes from and after the Redemption Date will be to receive payment of the redemption price upon surrender of the Notes in accordance with the notice.

Notice of any optional redemption of any Notes (or any portion thereof) will be given to Holders at their addresses, as shown in the Security Register, not more than 60 nor less than 15 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. The notice of redemption will specify, among other items, the redemption price and the principal amount of the Notes held by the Holders to be redeemed.

The Issuer will notify the Trustee at least five business days prior to giving notice of redemption (or such shorter period as is satisfactory to the Trustee) of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and their Redemption Date. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at the option of the Issuer, the Trustee will select, in such manner as it deems fair and appropriate, the Notes to be redeemed in whole or in part.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire indebtedness of the Issuer on this Note and (b) certain restrictive covenants and the related defaults and Events of Default applicable to the Issuer, in each case, upon compliance by the Issuer with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, which provisions apply to this Note.

If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written

notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any interest on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the rights of the Holders of the Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Issuer with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note or the redemption price of this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin and currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the Office or Agency of the Issuer in any Place of Payment where the principal of and interest on this Note or the redemption price of this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Security Registrar for the Notes duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of this series, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Notes of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Trustee or the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Issuer, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

THE INDENTURE AND THE NOTES, INCLUDING THIS NOTE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE OR INSTRUMENTS ENTERED INTO AND, IN EACH CASE, PERFORMED IN SAID STATE.

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused “CUSIP” numbers to be printed on the Notes as a convenience to the Holders of the Notes. No representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of such CUSIP numbers as printed on the Notes, and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by or on behalf of the Trustee by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed this 5th day of March, 2018.



		HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
		By:	Highwoods Properties, Inc., its General Partner
		By:
			Edward J. Fritsch
			President and Chief Executive Officer

Attest:



By:
	Jeffrey D. Miller
	Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

[SEAL]

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION:

This is one of the Notes of the series designated “4.125% Notes due March 15, 2028” referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.



	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
	as Trustee

	By:
		Paul E. Vaden
		Vice President

Exhibit 4.2

OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE ESTABLISHING

THE TERMS OF THE NOTES

We, Edward J. Fritsch, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Highwoods Properties, Inc. (the “Company”), the general partner of Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership (the “Issuer”), and Jeffrey D. Miller, the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, do hereby deliver this Certificate establishing the following terms of the Securities pursuant to (i) resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on January 31, 2018 and (ii) Section 301 of the indenture, dated as of December 1, 1996, among the Company, the Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor in interest to Wachovia Bank, N.A. as merged with and into First Union National Bank of North Carolina), as Trustee (the “Indenture”), and do hereby certify that (terms used in this Certificate and not defined herein having the same definitions as in the Indenture):


1.	The Notes shall constitute one series of Securities having the title 4.125% Notes due March 15, 2028 (the “Notes”).


2.	The Notes will initially be limited to $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount. We may in the future, without the consent of the Holders, increase the principal amount of the Notes by issuing additional Notes on the same terms and conditions.


3.	The Notes shall be issued at 100% of the principal amount thereof.


4.	The Notes will mature on March 15, 2028 (the “Maturity Date”), subject to prior redemption at the option of the Issuer as described in paragraph 5 below.

The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 4.125% per annum. The date from which such interest shall accrue shall be March 5, 2018. The Interest Payment Dates on which interest will be payable shall be March 15 and September 15 in each year, beginning September 15, 2018; the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on the Notes on any Interest Payment Date shall be the 15th calendar day prior to each Interest Payment Date regardless of whether such day is a Business Day.


6.	The Notes will be issued only in fully registered form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The Notes will be redeemable at the Issuer’s option and in its sole discretion, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, on any date (a “Redemption Date”). Before December 16, 2027 (a date that is 90 days prior to the Maturity Date, the “Par Call Date”), the Issuer may redeem the Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of: (i) the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date; and (ii) the Make-Whole Amount, if any, with respect to such Notes. If the Notes are redeemed on or after the Par Call Date, the Issuer may redeem the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

For the purposes of the Indenture, all references to any “premium” on the Notes shall be deemed to refer to any Make-Whole Amount, unless the context otherwise requires.

The following definitions apply with respect to any redemption or accelerated payment of the Notes:

Notice of any optional redemption of any Notes (or any portion thereof) will be given to Holders at their addresses, as shown in the security register, not more than 60 nor less than 15 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. The notice of redemption will specify, among other items, the redemption price and the principal amount of the Notes held by the Holders to be redeemed.

The Issuer will notify the Trustee at least five business days prior to giving notice of redemption (or such shorter period as is satisfactory to the Trustee) of the aggregate principal

amount of the Notes to be redeemed and their redemption date. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at the option of the Issuer, the Trustee will select, in such manner as it deems fair and appropriate, the Notes to be redeemed.


8.	The Issuer shall not be obligated to redeem, repay or purchase Notes pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder thereof.


9.	The principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes may not be paid in a currency other than U.S. Dollars.

10.

The Notes are issuable only as Registered Securities and will be represented by a permanent global security (the “Global Note”) without coupons registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee. DTC or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective amounts of Notes represented by the Global Note. Ownership of beneficial interest in the Global Note will be limited to institutions that have accounts with DTC or its nominee (“Participants”) and to persons that may hold interests through Participants. DTC shall be the depositary of the Global Note. The form of the Global Note, attached hereto, is hereby approved. Beneficial owners of interests in the Global Note may not exchange such interests for certificated Notes other than in the manner provided in Section 305 of the Indenture.


11.	The Notes are not Guaranteed Securities.


12.	The Issuer shall not pay Additional Amounts (as contemplated by Section 1004 of the Indenture) on the Notes.


13.	Other than as set forth herein, there shall be no deletions from, modifications or additions to the Events of Default or the covenants of the Issuer with respect to the Notes from those set forth in the Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, solely for purposes of the Notes:


a.	Section 1012 of the Indenture is hereby deemed to be amended and restated in its entirety as follows: “The Issuer will maintain Total Unencumbered Assets of not less than 150% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all outstanding Unsecured Debt of the Issuer.”

The definition of “Total Unencumbered Assets” under Section 101 of the Indenture is hereby deemed to be amended and restated in its entirety as follows: “ Total Unencumbered Assets” means the sum of (i) those Undepreciated Real Estate Assets not subject to an encumbrance and (ii) all other assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries not subject to an encumbrance determined in accordance with GAAP (but excluding intangibles and accounts receivable); provided, however, that all investments by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in unconsolidated joint ventures, unconsolidated limited partnerships, unconsolidated limited liability companies and other unconsolidated entities are excluded from the calculation of Total Unencumbered Assets to the extent that such investments would have otherwise been included.”


c.	The second paragraph of Section 1014 of the Indenture is hereby deemed to be amended and restated in its entirety as follows: “The Issuer will also in any event (unless available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (or successor system)) (x) within 15 days of each Required Filing Date (i)

transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names appear in the Security Register, without cost to such Holders, copies of the annual reports and quarterly reports which the Issuer would have been required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if the Issuer were subject to such Sections, and (ii) file with the Trustee copies of the annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents which the Issuer would have been required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if the Issuer were subject to such Sections and (y) if filing such documents by the Issuer with the Commission is not permitted under the Exchange Act, promptly upon written request and payment of the reasonable cost of duplication and delivery, supply copies of such documents to any prospective Holder.”


d.	Effective upon the time that all Securities issued under the Indenture prior to the date of this Certificate are no longer Outstanding, Section 501(5) of the Indenture shall automatically be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“(5) default under any evidence of recourse Indebtedness of the Issuer or under any mortgage, indenture or other instrument of the Issuer (including a default with respect to Securities of any series other than the Notes) under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured any recourse Indebtedness of the Issuer (or by any Subsidiary, the repayment of which the Issuer has guaranteed or for which the Issuer is directly responsible or liable as obligor or guarantor), whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default shall constitute a failure to pay an aggregate principal amount exceeding $25,000,000 of such Indebtedness when due and payable after the expiration of any applicable grace period with respect thereto and shall have resulted in such Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $25,000,000 becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such Indebtedness having been discharged, or such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled, within a period of 10 days after there shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Issuer by the Trustee or to the Issuer and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Notes a written notice specifying such default and requiring the Issuer to cause such indebtedness to be discharged or cause such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or”

The Indenture is in all other respects ratified and confirmed.


14.	Holders shall have no special rights in addition to those provided in the Indenture or this Certificate upon the occurrence of any particular events.

15.

The place where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be payable and the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and the Indenture may be served shall be U.S. Bank National Association (as successor in interest to Wachovia Bank, N.A. as merged with and into First Union National Bank of North Carolina), 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005.


16.	This Officers’ Certificate shall constitute the Officers’ Certificate referenced under Section 301 of the Indenture.

[signatures on following page]



	/s/Edward J. Fritsch
	Edward J. Fritsch
	President and Chief Executive Officer



	/s/ Jeffrey D. Miller
	Jeffrey D. Miller
	Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Date: March 5, 2018

[Signature Page to Officers’ Certificate Establishing the Terms of the Notes]

ACKNOWLEDGED, as of March 5, 2018:



	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
	as Trustee

	By:	/s/ Paul Vaden
		Paul Vaden
		Vice President

[Signature Page to Officers’ Certificate Establishing the Terms of the Notes]

Exhibit 5



	DLA Piper LLP (US) 1251 Avenue of the Americas 27th Floor New York, New York 10020-1104 www.dlapiper.com T 212.335.4500 F 212.335.4501

March 5, 2018

Board of Directors

Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership

3100 Smoketree Court, Suite 600

Raleigh, North Carolina 27604

$350,000,000 of 4.125% Notes due 2028

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as special counsel to Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership, a North Carolina limited partnership (the “ Operating Partnership ”), and Highwoods Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Operating Partnership of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Operating Partnership’s 4.125% Notes due 2028 (the “ Notes ”) pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-215936-01) (the “ Registration Statement ”), which became effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), on February 7, 2017. The Notes are to be issued pursuant to an underwriting agreement, dated as of February 22, 2018 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), among the Operating Partnership, the Company and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Jefferies LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein. The Notes are to be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of December 1, 1996 (the “ Base Indenture ”), between the Operating Partnership, the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor in interest to Wachovia Bank, N.A. as merged with and into First Union National Bank of North Carolina), as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by an officers’ certificate establishing the terms of the Notes, dated as of March 5, 2018 (such certificate, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”).

In connection with our representation of the Operating Partnership, and as a basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents:


(a)	the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, together with all amendments thereto, as certified by the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina as of January 30, 2018 and by the Secretary of the Company, as the general partner of the Operating Partnership, as of the date hereof;

Board of Directors

Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership

March 5, 2018

Page 2


(b)	the Second Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, together with all amendments and supplements thereto, as certified by the Secretary of the Company, as general partner of the Operating Partnership, as of the date hereof;


(c)	copies of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on November 4, 1996, January 25, 2017 and January 31, 2018, as certified by the Secretary of the Company as of the date hereof;


(d)	the Registration Statement;


(e)	the Operating Partnership’s prospectus supplement, dated February 22, 2018, as filed with the Commission on February 23, 2018, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, together with the base prospectus, dated February 7, 2017 (collectively, the “ Final Prospectus ”);


(f)	an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement;


(g)	an executed copy of the Indenture;


(h)	the form of the definitive global note representing the Notes;


(i)	an executed copy of the certificate of the Secretary of the Company, dated the date hereof, as to certain factual matters;


(j)	the certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina as to the existence of the Operating Partnership in the State of North Carolina dated February 27, 2018 (the “ North Carolina Certificate ”); and


(k)	such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.

For purposes of the opinions expressed below, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (ii) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals thereof, (iii) the genuineness of all signatures and (iv) the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all parties and the validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof upon the Operating Partnership.

Based upon the foregoing, and having regard for such legal considerations as we have considered necessary for purposes hereof, we are of the opinion that:


1.	the Operating Partnership is a limited partnership duly formed and validly existing under the laws of the State of North Carolina, and has the requisite partnership power to issue the Notes; and

Board of Directors

Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership

March 5, 2018

Page 3

the Notes have been duly authorized for issuance by the Operating Partnership, and when executed by the Operating Partnership and authenticated by the Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee) and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor as provided in the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, the Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Operating Partnership under New York law, enforceable against the Operating Partnership under New York law in accordance with their terms.

The opinion in paragraph 1 with respect to existence of the Operating Partnership is based solely on the North Carolina Certificate.

Our opinion in paragraph 2 is subject to the following additional assumptions and qualifications:

(a) Enforceability is subject to, and may be limited by: (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, including, without limitation, laws regarding fraudulent conveyances and preferential transfers; and (ii) general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

(b) Further, we express no opinion on any provision contained in the Indenture or the Notes (i) relating to indemnification or contribution which are violative of the public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation); (ii) purporting to require a party thereto to pay or reimburse attorneys’ fees incurred by another party, or to indemnify another party therefor, which provisions may be limited by applicable statutes and decisions relating to the collection and award of attorneys’ fees; (iii) relating to consents to or restrictions upon governing law; (iv) that requires waiver or amendments to be made only in writing; or (v) regarding the severability, if invalid, of provisions of such agreements.

We do not purport to express any opinion on any laws other than (i) the laws of the State of North Carolina (excluding state securities or blue sky laws), (ii) the laws of the State of New York (excluding state securities or blue sky laws) and (iii) the federal laws of the United States of America.

This opinion is being furnished to you for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-3 and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement with the Commission on the date hereof and to the use of the name of our firm in the section entitled “Legal Matters” in the Final Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.

Board of Directors

Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership

March 5, 2018

Page 4

This opinion is limited to the matters stated in this letter, and no opinion may be implied or inferred beyond the matters expressly stated in this letter. This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you after the date hereof of facts or circumstances that come to our attention or changes in the law, including judicial or administrative interpretations thereof, that occur which could affect the opinions contained herein.

Very truly yours,

/s/ DLA Piper LLP (US)

Exhibit 8



	DLA Piper LLP (US) IDS Center 80 South Eighth Street Suite 2800 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-2103 T 312.368.4000 F 312.236.7516 W www.dlapiper.com

March 5, 2018

Board of Directors

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

3100 Smoketree Court, Suite 600

Raleigh, North Carolina 27604

Re: Tax Opinion for REIT Status of Highwoods Properties, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special tax counsel to Highwoods Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), and Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership, a North Carolina limited partnership (the “ Operating Partnership ”), in connection with the offer and sale of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Operating Partnership’s 4.125% Notes due 2028, pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-215936-01) (the “ Registration Statement ”), filed on February 7, 2017, with respect to the offer and sale from time to time by the Company and the Operating Partnership as applicable, of debt securities of the Operating Partnership (the “ Debt Securities ”), and guarantees by the Company of the Debt Securities, and a preliminary prospectus supplement dated February 22, 2018 and a final prospectus supplement dated February 22, 2018 (together, the “ Prospectus Supplement ”).

In connection with the Offering, you have requested our opinion regarding whether (a) the Company qualified to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“ REIT ”) pursuant to sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), for its taxable years ended December 31, 2006 through December 31, 2017; (b) the Company’s organization and current and proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2018 and thereafter; and (c) the descriptions of the law and the legal conclusions contained in the Prospectus (defined below) under the caption “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” and in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Additional Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” are correct in all material respects.

In connection with rendering the opinions expressed below, we have examined originals (or copies identified to our satisfaction as true copies of the originals) of the following documents (collectively, the “ Reviewed Documents ”):

1. the Company’s Amended and Restated Charter, dated as of May 16, 2008, as amended (the “ Charter ”);

Board of Directors

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

March 5, 2018

Page 2

2. the Second Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated January 1, 2000, as amended (the “ Partnership Agreement ”);

3. the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiary election with respect to Highwood Services, Inc.;

4. the Registration Statement, the prospectus filed as a part of the Registration Statement (the “ Prospectus ”) and the Prospectus Supplement; and

5. such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

In addition, we have relied upon the factual representations contained in the Company’s certificate, dated as of the date hereof (the “ Officer’s Certificate ”), executed by a duly appointed officer of the Company, setting forth certain representations relating to the organization and operation of the Company, the Operating Partnership, and their respective subsidiaries.

For purposes of our opinions, we have not made an independent investigation of the facts set forth in the documents we reviewed. We consequently have assumed that the information presented in such documents or otherwise furnished to us accurately and completely describes all material facts relevant to our opinions. In particular, we note that the Company may engage in transactions in connection with which we have not provided legal advice, and have not reviewed, and of which we may be unaware.

No facts have come to our attention, however, that would cause us to question the accuracy and completeness of such facts or documents in a material way. Any representation or statement in any document upon which we rely that is made “to the best of our knowledge” or otherwise similarly qualified is assumed to be correct. Any alteration of such facts may adversely affect our opinions. In the course of our representation of the Company, no information has come to our attention that would cause us to question the accuracy or completeness of the representations contained in Officer’s Certificate, or the Reviewed Documents in a material way.

In our review, we have assumed, with your consent, that all of the representations and statements of a factual nature set forth in the documents we reviewed are true and correct, and all of the obligations imposed by any such documents on the parties thereto have been and will be performed or satisfied in accordance with their terms. We have also assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the proper execution of all documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of documents submitted to us as copies, and the authenticity of the originals from which any copies were made. We have also assumed, with your consent, that the Company qualified to be taxed as a REIT under the Code for its taxable years prior to its taxable year ended December 31, 2006.

The opinions set forth in this letter are based on relevant provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder by the United States Department of the Treasury (“ Regulations ”) (including proposed and temporary Regulations), and interpretations of the foregoing as expressed in court decisions, the legislative history, and existing administrative rulings and practices of the Internal Revenue Service (including its practices and policies in issuing private letter rulings, which are not

Board of Directors

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

March 5, 2018

Page 3

binding on the Internal Revenue Service (“ IRS ”) except with respect to a taxpayer that receives such a ruling), all as of the date hereof.

In rendering these opinions, we have assumed that the transactions contemplated by the Reviewed Documents will be consummated in accordance with the terms and provisions of such documents, and that such documents accurately reflect the material facts of such transactions. In addition, the opinions are based on the correctness of the following specific assumptions:


(i)	The Company, the Operating Partnership and their respective subsidiaries will each be operated in the manner described in the Charter, the Bylaws, the Partnership Agreement, the other organizational documents of each such entity and their subsidiaries, as the case may be, and all terms and provisions of such agreements and documents will be complied with by all parties thereto;


(ii)	The Company is a duly formed corporation under the laws of the State of Maryland; and


(iii)	The Operating Partnership is a duly organized and validly existing limited partnership under the laws of the State of North Carolina.

It should be noted that statutes, regulations, judicial decisions, and administrative interpretations are subject to change at any time and, in some circumstances, with retroactive effect. A material change that is made after the date hereof in any of the foregoing bases for our opinions could affect our conclusions. Furthermore, if the facts vary from those relied upon (including any representations, warranties, covenants or assumptions upon which we have relied are inaccurate, incomplete, breached or ineffective), our opinion contained herein could be inapplicable. Moreover, the qualification and taxation of the Company as a REIT depends upon its ability to meet, through actual annual operating results, distribution levels, diversity of share ownership and the various qualification tests imposed under the Code, the results of which will not be reviewed by the undersigned on a continuing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the operations of the Company for any one taxable year will satisfy such requirements.

Based on the documents and assumptions set forth above, the representations and covenants set forth in the Officer’s Certificate, and the factual matters discussed in the Prospectus under the caption “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” and in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Additional Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” (which are incorporated herein by reference), we are of the opinion that:

(a) the Company qualified to be taxed as a REIT pursuant to sections 856 through 860 of the Code for its taxable years ended December 31, 2006 through December 31, 2017, and the Company’s organization and current and proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2018 and thereafter; and

(b) the descriptions of the law and the legal conclusions contained in the Prospectus under the caption “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” and in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Additional Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” are correct in all material respects.

Board of Directors

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

March 5, 2018

Page 4

The foregoing opinions are limited to the matters specifically discussed herein, which are the only matters to which you have requested our opinions. Other than as expressly stated above, we express no opinion on any issue relating to the Company or its Operating Partnership, or to any investment therein.

For a discussion relating the law to the facts and the legal analysis underlying the opinions set forth in this letter, we incorporate by reference the discussions of federal income tax issues in the Prospectus under the heading “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” and in the Prospectus Supplement under the heading “Additional Material Federal Income Tax Considerations.” We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the date of this opinion letter, and we are not undertaking to update the opinion letter from time to time. You should be aware that an opinion of counsel represents only counsel’s best legal judgment, and has no binding effect or official status of any kind, and that no assurance can be given that contrary positions may not be taken by the IRS or that a court considering the issues would not hold otherwise.

This opinion is rendered only to you and may not be quoted in whole or in part or otherwise referred to, nor be filed with, or furnished to, any other person or entity.

This opinion is being furnished to you for submission to the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-3 and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to DLA Piper LLP (US) under the captions “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ DLA PIPER LLP (US)