HIW US Equity☆

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes contained elsewhere herein.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information in this Annual Report may contain forward-looking statements. Such statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies and prospects under this section and under the heading “Item 1. Business.” You can identify forward-looking statements by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue” or other similar words. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that our plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. When considering such forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including the following:

•buyers may not be available and pricing may not be adequate with respect to planned dispositions of non-core assets;

•comparable sales data on which we based our expectations with respect to the sales price of non-core assets may not reflect current market trends;

•the extent to which the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacts our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows depends on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the scope, severity and duration of the pandemic and its impact on the U.S. economy and potential changes in customer behavior that could adversely affect the use of and demand for office space;

•the financial condition of our customers could deteriorate or further worsen, which could be further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic;

•our assumptions regarding potential losses related to customer financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic could prove incorrect;

•counterparties under our debt instruments, particularly our revolving credit facility, may attempt to avoid their obligations thereunder, which, if successful, would reduce our available liquidity;

•we may not be able to lease or re-lease second generation space, defined as previously occupied space that becomes available for lease, quickly or on as favorable terms as old leases;

•we may not be able to lease newly constructed buildings as quickly or on as favorable terms as originally anticipated;

•we may not be able to complete development, acquisition, reinvestment, disposition or joint venture projects as quickly or on as favorable terms as anticipated;

•development activity in our existing markets could result in an excessive supply relative to customer demand;

•our markets may suffer declines in economic and/or office employment growth;

•unanticipated increases in interest rates could increase our debt service costs;

•unanticipated increases in operating expenses could negatively impact our operating results;

•natural disasters and climate change could have an adverse impact on our cash flow and operating results;

•we may not be able to meet our liquidity requirements or obtain capital on favorable terms to fund our working capital needs and growth initiatives or repay or refinance outstanding debt upon maturity; and

•the Company could lose key executive officers.

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This list of risks and uncertainties, however, is not intended to be exhaustive. You should also review the other cautionary statements we make in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” set forth in this Annual Report. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Executive Summary

We are in the work-placemaking business. We believe that in creating environments and experiences where the best and brightest can achieve together what they cannot apart, we can deliver greater value to our customers, their teammates and, in turn, our stockholders. Our simple strategy is to own and manage high-quality workplaces in the BBDs within our footprint, maintain a strong balance sheet to be opportunistic throughout economic cycles, employ a talented and dedicated team and communicate transparently with all stakeholders. We focus on owning and managing buildings in the most dynamic and vibrant BBDs. BBDs are highly-energized and amenitized workplace locations that enhance our customers’ ability to attract and retain talent. They are both urban and suburban. Providing the most talent-supportive workplace options in these environments is core to our work-placemaking strategy.

Our investment strategy is to generate attractive and sustainable returns over the long term for our stockholders by developing, acquiring and owning a portfolio of high-quality, differentiated office buildings in the BBDs of our core markets. A core component of this strategy is to continuously strengthen the financial and operational performance, resiliency and long-term growth prospects of our existing in-service portfolio and recycle those properties that no longer meet our criteria.

Since the beginning of 2019, we have acquired 3.1 million square feet of trophy office assets for a total investment of $1.3 billion, placed in service 1.8 million square feet of highly pre-leased new office development for a total investment of $691 million and sold 6.7 million square feet of non-core office and industrial assets for $992 million. This series of transactions included our exit from Greensboro and Memphis and entry into Charlotte, a higher-growth market with greater future upside opportunities.

Our operating results depend heavily on successfully leasing and operating the office space in our portfolio. Economic growth and office employment levels in our core markets are important factors, among others, in predicting our future operating results. Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has also had a significant impact on the U.S. economy. It is very difficult to predict when, if and to what extent economic activity will return to pre-COVID-19 levels. The COVID-19 pandemic did impact our 2021 financial results. While all buildings and parking facilities have remained open for business, the usage of our assets has continued to remain significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels. As a result, compared to pre-pandemic levels, parking and parking-related revenues have continued to be low, largely offsetting reduced operating expenses, net of expense recoveries. Until usage increases, which will depend on the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is difficult to estimate, we expect that reduced usage will continue to result in reduced parking revenues, which will be partially offset by reduced operating expenses. We currently expect usage will gradually increase throughout 2022. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations are set forth under “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Revenues

The key components affecting our rental and other revenues are average occupancy, rental rates, cost recovery income, new developments placed in service, acquisitions and dispositions. Average occupancy generally increases during times of improving economic growth, as our ability to lease space outpaces vacancies that occur upon the expirations of existing leases. Average occupancy generally declines during times of slower or negative economic growth, when new vacancies tend to outpace our ability to lease space. Asset acquisitions, dispositions and new developments placed in service directly impact our rental revenues and could impact our average occupancy, depending upon the occupancy rate of the properties that are acquired, sold or placed in service. A further indicator of the predictability of future revenues is the expected lease expirations of our portfolio. As a result, in addition to seeking to increase our average occupancy by leasing current vacant space, we also concentrate our leasing efforts on renewing existing leases prior to expiration. For more information regarding our lease expirations, see “Item 2. Properties - Lease Expirations.” Occupancy in our office portfolio increased from 90.3% at December 31, 2020 to 91.2% at December 31, 2021. We expect average occupancy for our office portfolio to be approximately 90.5% to 91.5% for 2022. However, average occupancy in 2022 will be lower, perhaps significantly lower, if the COVID-19 pandemic causes vacancies and move-outs due to potential changes in customer behavior, such as the continued social acceptance, desirability and perceived economic benefits of work-from-home arrangements, which could materially and negatively impact the future demand for office space, resulting in slower overall leasing and negatively impacting our revenues.

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Whether or not our rental revenue tracks average occupancy proportionally depends upon whether GAAP rents under signed new and renewal leases are higher or lower than the GAAP rents under expiring leases. Annualized rental revenues from second generation leases expiring during any particular year are typically less than 15% of our total annual rental revenues. The following table sets forth information regarding second generation office leases signed during the fourth quarter of 2021 (we define second generation office leases as leases with new customers and renewals of existing customers in office space that has been previously occupied under our ownership and leases with respect to vacant space in acquired buildings):

New Renewal All Office

Average term (in years - rentable square foot weighted) 6.5 3.1 4.2

Rent concessions (per rentable square foot) (1) (1.65) (0.95) (1.18)

Tenant improvements (per rentable square foot) (1) $ 5.59 $ 1.95 $ 3.12

Leasing commissions (per rentable square foot) (1) $ 1.17 $ 0.74 $ 0.88

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(1) Weighted average per rentable square foot on an annual basis over the lease term.

Annual combined GAAP rents for new and renewal leases signed in the fourth quarter were $28.86 per rentable square foot, 11.6% higher compared to previous leases in the same office spaces.

We strive to maintain a diverse, stable and creditworthy customer base. We have an internal guideline whereby customers that account for more than 3% of our revenues are periodically reviewed with the Company’s Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2021, the Federal Government (4.0%) and Bank of America (3.7%) accounted for more than 3% of our annualized cash revenues. See “Item 2. Properties - Customers.”

Expenses

Our expenses primarily consist of rental property expenses, depreciation and amortization, general and administrative expenses and interest expense. From time to time, expenses also include impairments of real estate assets. Rental property expenses are expenses associated with our ownership and operation of rental properties and include expenses that vary somewhat proportionately to occupancy and usage levels, such as janitorial services and utilities, and expenses that do not vary based on occupancy, such as property taxes and insurance. Depreciation and amortization is a non-cash expense associated with the ownership of real property and generally remains relatively consistent each year, unless we buy, place in service or sell assets, since our properties and related building and tenant improvement assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over fixed lives. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of management and employee salaries and benefits, corporate overhead and short and long-term incentive compensation.

Net Operating Income

Whether or not we record increasing net operating income (“NOI”) in our same property portfolio typically depends upon our ability to garner higher rental revenues, whether from higher average occupancy, higher GAAP rents per rentable square foot or higher cost recovery income, that exceed any corresponding growth in operating expenses. Same property NOI was $5.4 million, or 1.2%, higher in 2021 as compared to 2020 due to an increase of $6.4 million in same property revenues offset by an increase of $1.0 million in same property expenses. We expect same property NOI to be lower in 2022 as compared to 2021 as an anticipated increase in same property expenses, mostly from the anticipated gradual increase in usage of our assets, is expected to more than offset higher anticipated same property revenues. We expect same property revenues to be higher due to higher average GAAP rents per rentable square foot and higher cost recovery and parking income.

In addition to the effect of same property NOI, whether or not NOI increases typically depends upon whether the NOI from our acquired properties and development properties placed in service exceeds the NOI from property dispositions. NOI was $26.5 million, or 5.2%, higher in 2021 as compared to 2020 primarily due to the acquisitions of real estate assets from Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. (“PAC”) in the third quarter of 2021 and our joint venture partner’s 75.0% interest in our Highwoods DLF Forum, LLC joint venture (the “Forum”) in the first quarter of 2021, development properties placed in service and higher same property NOI, partially offset by NOI lost from property dispositions. We expect NOI to be higher in 2022 as

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compared to 2021 due to the acquisition of real estate assets from PAC and development properties placed in service, partially offset by NOI lost from property dispositions and lower same property NOI.

Cash Flows

In calculating net cash related to operating activities, depreciation and amortization, which are non-cash expenses, are added back to net income. We have historically generated a positive amount of cash from operating activities. From period to period, cash flow from operations depends primarily upon changes in our net income, as discussed more fully below under “Results of Operations,” changes in receivables and payables and net additions or decreases in our overall portfolio.

Net cash related to investing activities generally relates to capitalized costs incurred for leasing and major building improvements and our acquisition, development, disposition and joint venture activity. During periods of significant net acquisition and/or development activity, our cash used in such investing activities will generally exceed cash provided by investing activities, which typically consists of cash received upon the sale of properties and distributions from our joint ventures.

Net cash related to financing activities generally relates to distributions, incurrence and repayment of debt, and issuances, repurchases or redemptions of Common Stock, Common Units and Preferred Stock. We use a significant amount of our cash to fund distributions. Whether or not we have increases in the outstanding balances of debt during a period depends generally upon the net effect of our acquisition, disposition, development and joint venture activity. We generally use our revolving credit facility for daily working capital purposes, which means that during any given period, in order to minimize interest expense, we may record significant repayments and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

For a discussion regarding dividends and distributions, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources - Dividends and Distributions.”

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We continue to maintain a conservative and flexible balance sheet and believe we have ample liquidity to fund our operations and growth prospects. As of January 28, 2022, we had approximately $22 million of existing cash and $70.0 million drawn on our $750 million revolving credit facility, which is scheduled to mature in March 2025. Assuming we are in compliance with our covenants, we have an option to extend the maturity for two additional six-month periods. At December 31, 2021, our leverage ratio, as measured by the ratio of our mortgages and notes payable and outstanding preferred stock to the undepreciated book value of our assets, was 39.4% and there were 107.4 million diluted shares of Common Stock outstanding.

Rental and other revenues are our principal source of funds to meet our short-term liquidity requirements. Other sources of funds for short-term liquidity needs include available working capital and borrowings under our revolving credit facility, which had $679.9 million of availability at January 28, 2022. Our short-term liquidity requirements primarily consist of operating expenses, interest and principal amortization on our debt, distributions and capital expenditures, including building improvement costs, tenant improvement costs and lease commissions. Building improvements are capital costs to maintain or enhance existing buildings not typically related to a specific customer. Tenant improvements are the costs required to customize space for the specific needs of customers. We anticipate that our available cash and cash equivalents and cash provided by operating activities and planned financing activities, including borrowings under our revolving credit facility, will be adequate to meet our short-term liquidity requirements. We use our revolving credit facility for working capital purposes and for the short-term funding of our development and acquisition activity and, in certain instances, the repayment of other debt. Continued ability to borrow under the revolving credit facility allows us to quickly capitalize on strategic opportunities at short-term interest rates.

We generally believe existing cash and rental and other revenues will continue to be sufficient to fund short-term liquidity needs such as funding operating and general and administrative expenses, paying interest expense, maintaining our existing quarterly dividend and funding existing portfolio capital expenditures, including building improvement costs, tenant improvement costs and lease commissions.

Our long-term liquidity uses generally consist of the retirement or refinancing of debt upon maturity, funding of building improvements, new building developments and land infrastructure projects and funding acquisitions of buildings and development land. Our expected future capital expenditures for started and/or committed new consolidated and unconsolidated development projects were approximately $176 million at December 31, 2021. Additionally, we may, from time to time, retire

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outstanding equity and/or debt securities through redemptions, open market repurchases, privately negotiated acquisitions or otherwise.

We expect to meet our long-term liquidity needs through a combination of:

•cash flow from operating activities;

•bank term loans and borrowings under our revolving credit facility;

•the issuance of unsecured debt;

•the issuance of secured debt;

•the issuance of equity securities by the Company or the Operating Partnership; and

•the disposition of non-core assets.

We have no debt scheduled to mature during 2022, except for our $200.0 million unsecured bank term loan that is scheduled to mature in November 2022. During 2022, we forecast funding approximately $93 million of our $283 million consolidated and unconsolidated development pipeline, which was over 37% funded as of December 31, 2021. We generally believe we will be able to satisfy these obligations with existing cash, borrowings under our revolving credit facility, new bank term loans, issuance of other unsecured debt, mortgage debt and/or proceeds from the sale of additional non-core assets.

Investment Activity

As noted above, a key tenet of our strategic plan is to continuously upgrade the quality of our office portfolio through acquisitions, dispositions and development. We generally seek to acquire and develop office buildings that improve the average quality of our overall portfolio and deliver consistent and sustainable value for our stockholders over the long-term. Whether or not an asset acquisition or new development results in higher per share net income or funds from operations (“FFO”) in any given period depends upon a number of factors, including whether the NOI for any such period exceeds the actual cost of capital used to finance the acquisition or development. Additionally, given the length of construction cycles, development projects are not placed in service until, in some cases, several years after commencement. Sales of non-core assets could result in lower per share net income or FFO in any given period in the event the return on the resulting use of proceeds does not exceed the capitalization rate on the sold properties.

Results of Operations

Comparison of 2021 to 2020

Rental and Other Revenues

Rental and other revenues were $31.1 million, or 4.2%, higher in 2021 as compared to 2020 primarily due to the acquisitions of real estate assets from PAC and our joint venture partner’s 75.0% interest in the Forum, development properties placed in service and higher same property revenues, which increased rental and other revenues by $43.0 million, $13.2 million and $6.4 million, respectively. Same property rental and other revenues were higher primarily due to higher average GAAP rents per rentable square foot, higher parking income and lower credit losses, partially offset by a decrease in average occupancy. These increases were partially offset by lost revenue of $31.7 million from property dispositions. We expect rental and other revenues to be higher in 2022 as compared to 2021 due to the acquisition of real estate assets from PAC, development properties placed in service and higher same property revenues, partially offset by lost revenue from property dispositions.

Operating Expenses

Rental property and other expenses were $4.6 million, or 2.0%, higher in 2021 as compared to 2020 primarily due to the acquisitions of real estate assets from PAC and our joint venture partner’s 75.0% interest in the Forum, development properties placed in service and higher same property operating expenses, which increased operating expenses by $11.4 million, $2.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Same property operating expenses were higher primarily due to higher contract services and utilities, partially offset by lower repairs and maintenance. These increases were partially offset by a $10.8 million decrease in operating expenses from property dispositions. We expect rental property and other expenses to be higher in 2022 as compared to 2021 due to the acquisition of real estate assets from PAC, development properties placed in service and higher

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same property operating expenses due to the anticipated gradual increase in usage throughout 2022, partially offset by lower operating expenses from property dispositions.

Depreciation and amortization was $17.7 million, or 7.3%, higher in 2021 as compared to 2020 primarily due to the acquisitions of real estate assets from PAC and our joint venture partner’s 75.0% interest in the Forum, development properties placed in service and higher same property lease related depreciation and amortization, partially offset by fully amortized acquisition-related intangible assets and property dispositions. We expect depreciation and amortization to be higher in 2022 as compared to 2021 due to the acquisition of real estate assets from PAC and development properties placed in service, partially offset by property dispositions.

We recorded an impairment of real estate assets of $1.8 million in 2020, which resulted from a change in market-based inputs and our assumptions about the use of the assets. We recorded no impairments in 2021.

General and administrative expenses were $0.5 million, or 1.2%, lower in 2021 as compared to 2020 primarily due to lower salaries, benefits, severance and early retirement costs, partially offset by higher incentive compensation. We experienced lower salaries and benefits in 2021 as a result of the reduction in the number of employees throughout 2020 primarily due to our exiting of the Greensboro and Memphis markets and the subsequent closing of those division offices and the resulting synergies garnered from the ongoing simplification of our business. We expect general and administrative expenses to be higher in 2022 as compared to 2021 due to higher salaries and benefits and higher office rent, partially offset by lower incentive compensation.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $4.9 million, or 6.0%, higher in 2021 as compared to 2020 primarily due to higher average debt balances, partially offset by higher capitalized interest and lower average interest rates. We expect interest expense to be higher in 2022 as compared to 2021 due to higher average debt balances and lower capitalized interest.

Other Income/(Loss)

Other income/(loss) was income of $1.4 million in 2021 as compared to a loss of $1.7 million in 2020 primarily due to losses on debt extinguishment in 2020.

Gains on Disposition of Property

Gains on disposition of property were $41.8 million lower in 2021 as compared to 2020 due to the net effect of the disposition activity in such periods.

Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates was $2.1 million, or 51.4%, lower in 2021 as compared to 2020 primarily due to the acquisition of our joint venture partner’s 75.0% interest in the Forum.

Earnings Per Common Share - Diluted

Diluted earnings per common share was $0.34 lower in 2021 as compared to 2020 due to a decrease in net income for the reasons discussed above.

Comparison of 2020 to 2019

For a comparison of 2020 to 2019, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Results of Operations” in our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Statements of Cash Flows

We report and analyze our cash flows based on operating activities, investing activities and financing activities. The following table sets forth the changes in the Company’s cash flows (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31,

Comparison of 2021 to 2020

The change in net cash provided by operating activities in 2021 as compared to 2020 was primarily due to higher net cash from the operations of acquired real estate assets from PAC and our joint venture partner’s 75.0% interest in the Forum, same properties and development properties placed in service and changes in operating assets, partially offset by property dispositions. We expect net cash related to operating activities to be higher in 2022 as compared to 2021 due to higher net cash from the operations of acquired real estate assets from PAC and development properties placed in service, partially offset by property dispositions.

The change in net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities in 2021 as compared to 2020 was primarily due to the acquisitions of real estate assets from PAC and our joint venture partner’s 75.0% interest in the Forum and net proceeds from disposition activity in 2020, partially offset by higher investments in development in-process, tenant improvements and building improvements in 2020. We expect uses of cash for investing activities in 2022 to be primarily driven by whether or not we acquire and commence development of additional office buildings in the BBDs of our markets. Additionally, as of December 31, 2021, we have approximately $176 million left to fund of our previously-announced consolidated and unconsolidated development activity in 2022 and future years. We expect these uses of cash for investing activities will be partly offset by proceeds from property dispositions in 2022.

The change in net cash used in financing activities in 2021 as compared to 2020 was primarily due to higher proceeds from the issuance of common stock in 2021, partially offset by higher net debt repayments in 2021. Assuming the net effect of our acquisition, disposition and development activity in 2022 results in an increase to our assets, we would expect outstanding debt and/or Common Stock balances to increase.

Comparison of 2020 to 2019

For a comparison of 2020 to 2019, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Capitalization

The following table sets forth the Company’s capitalization (in thousands, except per share amounts):

December 31,

Mortgages and notes payable, net, at recorded book value $ 2,788,915 $ 2,470,021

Preferred Stock, at liquidation value $ 28,821 $ 28,826

Common Units outstanding (not owned by the Company) 2,505 2,839

Per share stock price at year end $ 44.59 $ 39.63

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At December 31, 2021, our mortgages and notes payable and outstanding preferred stock represented 37.0% of our total capitalization and 39.4% of the undepreciated book value of our assets. See also “Executive Summary - Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Our mortgages and notes payable as of December 31, 2021 consisted of $491.9 million of secured indebtedness with a weighted average interest rate of 3.63% and $2,312.2 million of unsecured indebtedness with a weighted average interest rate of 3.35%. The secured indebtedness, which includes four secured loans recorded at fair value of $403 million in the aggregate assumed as part of the acquisition of real estate assets from PAC, was collateralized by real estate assets with an undepreciated book value of $727.8 million. As of December 31, 2021, $220.0 million of our debt does not bear interest at fixed rates or is not protected by interest rate hedge contracts. On January 28, 2022, floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps with respect to an aggregate of $50.0 million of LIBOR-based borrowings expired. Subsequently, as of January 28, 2022, we had $270.0 million of variable rate debt outstanding not protected by interest rate hedge contracts.

Investment Activity

- Acquisitions

In the normal course of business, we regularly evaluate potential acquisitions. As a result, from time to time, we may have one or more potential acquisitions under consideration that are in varying stages of evaluation, negotiation or due diligence, including potential acquisitions that are subject to non-binding letters of intent or enforceable contracts. Consummation of any transaction is subject to a number of contingencies, including the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. No assurances can be provided that we will acquire any properties in the future. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors – Risks Related to our Capital Recycling Activity – Recent and future acquisitions and development properties may fail to perform in accordance with our expectations and may require renovation and development costs exceeding our estimates.”

During the fourth quarter of 2021, we acquired various development land parcels in Nashville for an aggregate purchase price, including capitalized acquisition costs, of $35.1 million.

During the third quarter of 2021, we acquired a portfolio of real estate assets from PAC. The portfolio consists of the following assets:

Asset Market Submarket/BBD Square Footage

CAPTRUST Towers Raleigh North Hills 300,000

Capitol Towers Charlotte SouthPark 479,000

Morrocroft Centre Charlotte SouthPark 291,000

Galleria 75 Redevelopment Site Atlanta Cumberland/Galleria

Our total purchase price, net of closing credits and cash acquired, was $653.6 million, including $4.5 million of capitalized acquisition costs. The acquisition included the assumption of four secured loans recorded at fair value of $403 million in the aggregate, with a weighted average effective interest rate of 3.54% and a weighted average maturity of 10.7 years. We incurred $3.5 million of debt issuance costs related to these assumptions.

During the third quarter of 2021, we also acquired development land in Nashville for a purchase price, including capitalized acquisition costs, of $22.9 million.

During the second quarter of 2021, we acquired development land in Nashville for a purchase price of $16.1 million, including capitalized acquisition costs, of which $16.0 million is expected to be paid within two years.

During the first quarter of 2021, we acquired our joint venture partner’s 75.0% interest in our Highwoods DLF Forum, LLC joint venture (the “Forum”), which owned five buildings in Raleigh encompassing 636,000 rentable square feet, for a purchase price of $131.3 million. We previously accounted for our 25.0% interest in this joint venture using the equity method of accounting. The assets and liabilities of the joint venture are now wholly owned and we have determined the acquisition constitutes an asset purchase. As such, because the Forum is not a variable interest entity, we allocated our previously held equity interest at historical cost along with the consideration paid and acquisition costs to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at relative fair value as determined by management, with the assistance of third party specialists, based on information available at the acquisition date and on current assumptions as to future operations.

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- Dispositions

During the fourth quarter of 2021, we sold nine office buildings and various land parcels in Atlanta, Raleigh, Richmond and Tampa for an aggregate sale price of $191.2 million (before closing credits to buyer of $1.6 million) and recorded aggregate gains on disposition of property of $93.7 million, including land sale gains of $9.7 million.

During the third quarter of 2021, we sold two office buildings in Richmond and Memphis for an aggregate sale price of $119.7 million (before closing credits to buyer of $4.4 million) and recorded aggregate gains on disposition of property of $37.3 million.

We have a 50.0% ownership interest in Highwoods-Markel Associates, LLC (“Markel”), a consolidated joint venture. During the third quarter of 2021, Markel sold land in Richmond for a sale price of $3.0 million and recorded gain on disposition of property of $1.3 million.

During the second quarter of 2021, we sold an office building in Tampa for a sale price of $43.0 million (before closing credits to buyer of $0.9 million) and recorded a gain on disposition of property of $22.9 million.

During the first quarter of 2021, we sold an office building in Atlanta for a sale price of $30.7 million and recorded a gain on disposition of property of $18.9 million.

- New Joint Venture Investments

During the fourth quarter of 2021, we and Brand Properties, LLC (“Brand”) formed a joint venture (the “2827 Peachtree joint venture”) to construct 2827 Peachtree, a 135,000 square foot, multi-customer office building located in Atlanta’s Buckhead submarket. 2827 Peachtree has an anticipated total investment of $79.0 million. Construction of 2827 Peachtree began in the first quarter of 2022 with a scheduled completion date in the third quarter of 2023. At closing, we agreed to contribute cash of $13.3 million ($6.1 million of which was funded as of December 31, 2021) in exchange for a 50.0% interest in the 2827 Peachtree joint venture and Brand contributed land valued at $7.7 million and agreed to contribute cash of $5.6 million in exchange for the remaining 50.0% interest. We also committed to provide a $49.6 million interest-only secured construction loan to the 2827 Peachtree joint venture that is scheduled to mature in December 2024 with an option to extend for one year. The loan bears interest at LIBOR plus 300 basis points. As of December 31, 2021, no amounts under the loan have been funded.

- In-Process Development

As of December 31, 2021, we were developing 0.4 million rentable square feet of office properties. For a table summarizing our announced and in-process office developments, see “Item 2. Properties - In-Process Development.”

Financing Activity

During 2020, we entered into separate equity distribution agreements with each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BTIG, LLC, Capital One Securities, Inc., Fifth Third Securities, Inc., Jefferies LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Regions Securities LLC and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. Under the terms of the equity distribution agreements, the Company may offer and sell up to $300.0 million in aggregate gross sales price of shares of Common Stock from time to time through such firms, acting as agents of the Company or as principals. Sales of the shares, if any, may be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NYSE or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices or as otherwise agreed with any of such firms (which may include block trades). During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company issued 156,913 shares of Common Stock at an average gross sales price of $46.75 per share and received net proceeds, after sales commissions, of $7.2 million. We paid an aggregate of $0.1 million in sales commissions to Jefferies, LLC during the fourth quarter of 2021.

During the first quarter of 2021, we entered into a new $750.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility, which replaced our previously existing $600.0 million revolving credit facility and includes an accordion feature that allows for an additional $550.0 million of borrowing capacity subject to additional lender commitments. Our new revolving credit facility is scheduled to mature in March 2025. Assuming no defaults have occurred, we have an option to extend the maturity for two additional six-month periods. The current interest rate on the new facility at our existing credit ratings is LIBOR plus 90 basis points and the annual facility fee is 20 basis points. The interest rate and facility fee are based on the higher of the publicly announced ratings from Moody’s Investors Service or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. The financial and other covenants under the new

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facility are substantially similar to our previous credit facility. We incurred $4.8 million of debt issuance costs, which are being amortized along with certain existing unamortized debt issuance costs over the remaining term of our new revolving credit facility. We recorded $0.1 million of loss on debt extinguishment. There was $70.0 million outstanding under our new revolving credit facility at both December 31, 2021 and January 28, 2022. At both December 31, 2021 and January 28, 2022, we had $0.1 million of outstanding letters of credit, which reduces the availability on our revolving credit facility. As a result, the unused capacity of our revolving credit facility at both December 31, 2021 and January 28, 2022 was $679.9 million.

We previously entered into floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps through January 2022 with respect to an aggregate of $50.0 million LIBOR-based borrowings. These swaps effectively fix the underlying one-month LIBOR rate at a weighted average rate of 1.693%. As of January 28, 2022, these interest rate swaps have expired.

During the third quarter of 2021, in conjunction with the acquisition of real estate assets from PAC, we assumed four secured mortgage loans recorded at fair value of $403 million in the aggregate, with a weighted average effective interest rate of 3.54% and a weighted average maturity of 10.7 years. We incurred $3.5 million of debt issuance costs related to these assumptions, which will be amortized over the remaining terms of the loans.

During the third quarter of 2021, we also obtained a $200.0 million, six-month unsecured bridge facility. The bridge facility was originally scheduled to mature in January 2022. The bridge facility bore interest at LIBOR plus 85 basis points, had a commitment fee of 20 basis points and contained financial and other covenants that are similar to the covenants under our $750 million unsecured revolving credit facility. We incurred $1.0 million of debt issuance costs related to this bridge facility which were being amortized over the six-month term. As of December 31, 2021, this bridge facility was prepaid in full without penalty. We recorded $0.2 million of loss on debt extinguishment related to this prepayment.

During the second quarter of 2021, we prepaid without penalty the remaining $150.0 million principal amount of 3.20% unsecured notes that was scheduled to mature in June 2021. We recorded $0.1 million of loss on debt extinguishment related to this prepayment.

We regularly evaluate the financial condition of the financial institutions that participate in our credit facilities and as counterparties under interest rate swap agreements using publicly available information. Based on this review, we currently expect these financial institutions to perform their obligations under our existing facilities and swap agreements.

For information regarding our interest hedging activities and other market risks associated with our debt financing activities, see “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”

Covenant Compliance

We are currently in compliance with financial covenants and other requirements with respect to our consolidated debt. Although we expect to remain in compliance with these covenants and ratios for at least the next year, depending upon our future operating performance, property and financing transactions and general economic conditions, we cannot provide any assurances that we will continue to be in compliance.

Our revolving credit facility and bank term loans require us to comply with customary operating covenants and various financial requirements. Upon an event of default on our revolving credit facility, the lenders having at least 51.0% of the total commitments under our revolving credit facility can accelerate all borrowings then outstanding, and we could be prohibited from borrowing any further amounts under our revolving credit facility, which would adversely affect our ability to fund our operations. In addition, certain of our unsecured debt agreements contain cross-default provisions giving the unsecured lenders the right to declare a default if we are in default under more than $35.0 million with respect to other loans in some circumstances.

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As of December 31, 2021, the Operating Partnership had the following unsecured notes outstanding ($ in thousands):

Face Amount Carrying Amount Stated Interest Rate Effective Interest Rate

The indenture that governs these outstanding notes requires us to comply with customary operating covenants and various financial ratios. The trustee or the holders of at least 25.0% in principal amount of any series of notes can accelerate the principal amount of such series upon written notice of a default that remains uncured after 60 days.

We may not be able to repay, refinance or extend any or all of our debt at maturity or upon any acceleration. If any refinancing is done at higher interest rates, the increased interest expense could adversely affect our cash flow and ability to pay distributions. Any such refinancing could also impose tighter financial ratios and other covenants that restrict our ability to take actions that could otherwise be in our best interest, such as funding new development activity, making opportunistic acquisitions, repurchasing our securities or paying distributions.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

During the fourth quarter of 2022, we and Brand formed the 2827 Peachtree joint venture. We own a 50% interest in this unconsolidated joint venture. For additional information, see “Investment Activity – New Joint Venture Investments.”

Contractual Obligations

The following table sets forth a summary regarding our known material contractual obligations on a cash basis, including required interest payments for those items that are interest bearing, at December 31, 2021 (in thousands):

Amounts due during the years ending December 31,

Mortgages and Notes Payable:

Purchase Obligations:

Other Commitments:

Operating and Finance Lease Obligations:

__________

(1)Excludes amortization of premiums, discounts, debt issuance costs and/or purchase accounting adjustments.

(2)Consists primarily of commitments under signed leases and contracts for operating properties, excluding tenant-funded tenant improvements, and contracts for development/redevelopment projects. This includes $134.1 million of contractual commitments related to our consolidated development pipeline activity, newly acquired properties and future consideration for a parcel of development land, of which $80.1 million is scheduled to be funded in 2022. 2022 includes future spend for tenant improvements that can be used at the option of the customer during the remaining lease term. The timing of these lease and contractual commitments may fluctuate.

The interest payments due on mortgages and notes payable are based on the stated rates for the fixed rate debt and on the rates in effect at December 31, 2021 for the variable rate debt. The weighted average interest rate on our fixed (including debt with a variable rate that is effectively fixed by related interest rate swaps) and variable rate debt was 3.59% and 1.14%,

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respectively, at December 31, 2021. For additional information about our operating and finance lease obligations, mortgages and notes payable and purchase obligations, see Notes 2, 6 and 8, respectively, to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Dividends and Distributions

To maintain its qualification as a REIT, the Company must pay dividends to stockholders that are at least 90.0% of its annual REIT taxable income, excluding net capital gains. The partnership agreement requires the Operating Partnership to distribute at least enough cash for the Company to be able to pay such dividends. The Company’s REIT taxable income, as determined by the federal tax laws, does not equal its net income under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In addition, although capital gains are not required to be distributed to maintain REIT status, capital gains, if any, are subject to federal and state income tax unless such gains are distributed to stockholders. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors – Risks Related to an Investment in our Securities – Cash distributions reduce the amount of cash that would otherwise be available for other business purposes, including funding debt maturities, reducing debt or future growth initiatives.”

The amount of future distributions that will be made is at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors. The following factors will affect such cash flows and, accordingly, influence the decisions of the Company’s Board of Directors regarding dividends and distributions:

•projections with respect to future REIT taxable income expected to be generated by the Company;

•debt service requirements after taking into account debt covenants and the repayment and restructuring of certain indebtedness and the availability of alternative sources of debt and equity capital and their impact on our ability to refinance existing debt and grow our business;

•scheduled increases in base rents of existing leases;

•changes in rents attributable to the renewal of existing leases or replacement leases;

•changes in occupancy rates at existing properties and execution of leases for newly acquired or developed properties;

•changes in operating expenses;

•anticipated leasing capital expenditures attributable to the renewal of existing leases or new leases;

•anticipated building improvements; and

•expected cash flows from financing and investing activities, including from the sales of assets generating taxable gains to the extent such assets are not sold in a tax-deferred exchange under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code or another tax-free or tax-deferred transaction.

The Company declared and paid a cash dividend of $0.48 per share of Common Stock in the first and second quarter of 2021, respectively, and $0.50 per share of Common Stock in the third and fourth quarter of 2021, respectively.

On February 1, 2022, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.50 per share of Common Stock, which is payable on March 15, 2022 to stockholders of record as of February 21, 2022.

Current and Future Cash Needs

We anticipate that our available cash and cash equivalents, cash flows from operating activities and other available financing sources, including the issuance of debt securities by the Operating Partnership, the issuance of secured debt, bank term loans, borrowings under our revolving credit facility, the issuance of equity securities by the Company or the Operating Partnership and the disposition of non-core assets, will be adequate to meet our short-term liquidity requirements, including the $200.0 million unsecured bank term loan that is scheduled to mature in November 2022 and the $250.0 million principal amount of unsecured notes that are scheduled to mature in January 2023. We generally believe existing cash and rental and other revenues will continue to be sufficient to fund operating and general and administrative expenses, interest expense, our existing quarterly dividend and existing portfolio capital expenditures, including building improvement costs, tenant improvement costs and lease commissions.

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We had $23.2 million of cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021. The unused capacity of our revolving credit facility at both December 31, 2021 and January 28, 2022 was $679.9 million, excluding an accordion feature that allows for an additional $550.0 million of borrowing capacity subject to additional lender commitments.

We have a currently effective automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC pursuant to which, at any time and from time to time, in one or more offerings on an as-needed basis, the Company may sell an indefinite amount of common stock, preferred stock and depositary shares and the Operating Partnership may sell an indefinite amount of debt securities, subject to our ability to effect offerings on satisfactory terms based on prevailing market conditions.

The Company from time to time enters into equity distribution agreements with a variety of firms pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell shares of common stock from time to time through such firms, acting as agents of the Company or as principals. Sales of the shares, if any, may be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NYSE or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices or as otherwise agreed with any of such firms (which may include block trades).

In April 2021, we announced a plan to fund the acquisition of real estate assets from PAC by selling $500 million to $600 million of non-core assets by mid-2022. From the date of that announcement through December 31, 2021, we sold $353 million of properties no longer considered to be core assets due to location, age, quality and/or overall strategic fit. We can make no assurance, however, that we will sell any additional non-core assets or, if we do, what the timing or terms of any such sale will be.

See also “Executive Summary - Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the reporting period. Actual results could differ from our estimates.

The policies used in the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements are described in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. However, certain of our significant accounting policies contain an increased level of assumptions used or estimates made in determining their impact in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Management has reviewed and determined the appropriateness of our critical accounting policies and estimates with the audit committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

We consider our critical accounting estimates to be those used in the determination of the reported amounts and disclosure related to the following:

•Acquisition of real estate assets and liabilities;

•Impairments of real estate assets; and

•Credit losses on lease related receivables.

Acquisition of Real Estate Assets and Liabilities

Primarily all of our acquisitions of real estate assets and liabilities are accounted for as asset acquisitions. As such, the purchase prices of acquired tangible and intangible assets and liabilities are recorded and allocated at fair value on a relative basis. The recorded allocations are based on estimated cash flow projections of the properties acquired which incorporates discount, capitalization and interest rates as well as available comparable market information. See Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details regarding our specific procedures for purchase price allocation.

We use considerable judgement in our estimates of cash flow projections, discount, capitalization and interest rates, fair market lease rates, carrying costs during hypothetical expected lease-up periods and costs to execute similar leases. While our methodology for purchase price allocation did not change during the year ended December 31, 2021, the real estate market is fluid and our assumptions are based on information currently available in the market at the time of acquisition. Significant increases or decreases in these key estimates, particularly with regards to cash flow projections and discount and capitalization rates, would result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement of the real estate assets being acquired.

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Impairments of Real Estate Assets

We record impairments of our real estate assets classified as held for use when the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the sum of its undiscounted future operating and residual cash flows at the difference between estimated fair value of the asset and the carrying amount. We record impairments of our real estate assets classified as held for sale at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value using the estimated or contracted sales price less costs to sell. See Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details regarding our specific procedures with respect to impairments of our real estate assets classified as held for use and held for sale.

Any real estate assets recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis as a result of our impairment analysis are valued using unobservable local and national industry market data such as comparable sales, appraisals, brokers’ opinions of value and/or terms of definitive sales contracts. Additionally, the analysis includes considerable judgement in our estimates of hold periods, projected cash flows and discount and capitalization rates. Significant increases or decreases in any of these inputs, particularly with regards to cash flow projections and discount and capitalization rates, would result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement of the real estate assets being assessed.

Credit Losses on Lease Related Receivables

Credit losses on lease related receivables, which include accounts receivable and accrued straight-line rents receivable, are recorded as a reduction to rental and other revenues when the amount recorded is determined, in management’s judgement, to not be probable of collection. Management’s evaluation of collectability requires the exercise of considerable judgement in assessing the current credit quality of our customers using payment history and other available information about the financial condition of the customers. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we have not experienced significant credit losses based on management’s evaluation of collectability of our lease receivables. If management’s assumptions regarding the collectability of lease related receivables prove incorrect, we could experience credit losses in excess of what was recognized in rental and other revenues.

Non-GAAP Information

The Company believes that FFO, FFO available for common stockholders and FFO available for common stockholders per share are beneficial to management and investors and are important indicators of the performance of any equity REIT. Because these FFO calculations exclude such factors as depreciation, amortization and impairments of real estate assets and gains or losses from sales of operating real estate assets, which can vary among owners of identical assets in similar conditions based on historical cost accounting and useful life estimates, they facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and between other REITs. Management believes that historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, management believes the use of FFO, FFO available for common stockholders and FFO available for common stockholders per share, together with the required GAAP presentations, provides a more complete understanding of the Company’s performance relative to its competitors and a more informed and appropriate basis on which to make decisions involving operating, financing and investing activities.

FFO, FFO available for common stockholders and FFO available for common stockholders per share are non-GAAP financial measures and therefore do not represent net income or net income per share as defined by GAAP. Net income and net income per share as defined by GAAP are the most relevant measures in determining the Company’s operating performance because these FFO measures include adjustments that investors may deem subjective, such as adding back expenses such as depreciation, amortization and impairments. Furthermore, FFO available for common stockholders per share does not depict the amount that accrues directly to the stockholders’ benefit. Accordingly, FFO, FFO available for common stockholders and FFO available for common stockholders per share should never be considered as alternatives to net income, net income available for common stockholders, or net income available for common stockholders per share as indicators of the Company’s operating performance.

The Company’s presentation of FFO is consistent with FFO as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”), which is calculated as follows:

•Net income/(loss) computed in accordance with GAAP;

•Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates;

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•Plus depreciation and amortization of depreciable operating properties;

•Less gains, or plus losses, from sales of depreciable operating properties, plus impairments on depreciable operating properties and excluding items that are classified as extraordinary items under GAAP;

•Plus or minus our share of adjustments, including depreciation and amortization of depreciable operating properties, for unconsolidated joint venture investments (to reflect funds from operations on the same basis); and

•Plus or minus adjustments for depreciation and amortization and gains/(losses) on sales of depreciable operating properties, plus impairments on depreciable operating properties, and noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates related to discontinued operations.

In calculating FFO, the Company includes net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership, which the Company believes is consistent with standard industry practice for REITs that operate through an UPREIT structure. The Company believes that it is important to present FFO on an as-converted basis since all of the Common Units not owned by the Company are redeemable on a one-for-one basis for shares of its Common Stock.

The following table sets forth the Company’s FFO, FFO available for common stockholders and FFO available for common stockholders per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):

Year Ended December 31,

Funds from operations:

Impairments of depreciable properties — 1,778 1,400

Unconsolidated affiliates:

Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets 778 2,395 2,425

__________

(1)Includes assumed conversion of all potentially dilutive Common Stock equivalents.

In addition, the Company believes NOI and same property NOI are useful supplemental measures of the Company’s property operating performance because such metrics provide a performance measure of the revenues and expenses directly involved in owning real estate assets and a perspective not immediately apparent from net income or FFO. The Company defines NOI as rental and other revenues less rental property and other expenses. The Company defines cash NOI as NOI less lease termination fees, straight-line rent, amortization of lease incentives and amortization of acquired above and below market leases. Other REITs may use different methodologies to calculate NOI, same property NOI and cash NOI.

As of December 31, 2021, our same property portfolio consisted of 148 in-service properties encompassing 24.2 million rentable square feet that were wholly owned during the entirety of the periods presented (from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021). As of December 31, 2020, our same property portfolio consisted of 159 in-service properties encompassing 24.4 million rentable square feet that were wholly owned during the entirety of the periods presented (from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020). The change in our same property portfolio was due to the addition of one property encompassing 0.8 million rentable square feet acquired during 2019 and three newly developed properties encompassing 0.7 million rentable square feet placed in service during 2019. These additions were offset by the removal of 15 properties (13 office properties and two amenity retail properties) encompassing 1.7 million rentable square feet that were sold during 2021.

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Rental and other revenues related to properties not in our same property portfolio were $90.4 million and $65.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Rental property and other expenses related to properties not in our same property portfolio were $26.3 million and $22.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The following table sets forth the Company’s NOI, same property NOI and same property cash NOI (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31,

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (1,947) (4,005)

Impairments of real estate assets — 1,778

Non same property and other net operating income (64,185) (43,099)

__________

(1) Includes $2.9 million of repayments of temporary rent deferrals, net of additional temporary rent deferrals granted by the Company during the year ended December 31, 2021, and $3.6 million of temporary rent deferrals, net of repayments, granted by the Company during the year ended December 31, 2020.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The effects of potential changes in interest rates are discussed below. Our market risk discussion includes “forward-looking statements” and represents an estimate of possible changes in fair value or future earnings that would occur assuming hypothetical future movements in interest rates. Actual future results may differ materially from those presented. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources” and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of our accounting policies and other information related to these financial instruments.

We borrow funds at a combination of fixed and variable rates. Borrowings under our revolving credit facility and bank term loans bear interest at variable rates. Our long-term debt, which consists of secured and unsecured long-term financings, typically bears interest at fixed rates. Our interest rate risk management objectives are to limit generally the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and lower our overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, from time to time we enter into interest rate hedge contracts such as collars, swaps, caps and treasury lock agreements in order to mitigate our interest rate risk with respect to existing and prospective debt instruments. We generally do not hold or issue these derivative contracts for trading or speculative purposes.

At December 31, 2021, we had $2,534.1 million principal amount of fixed rate debt outstanding, a $250.1 million increase as compared to December 31, 2020, excluding debt with a variable rate that is effectively fixed by related interest rate hedge contracts. The estimated aggregate fair market value of this debt was $2,652.2 million. If interest rates had been 100 basis points higher, the aggregate fair market value of our fixed rate debt would have been $160.5 million lower. If interest rates had been 100 basis points lower, the aggregate fair market value of our fixed rate debt would have been $174.0 million higher.

At December 31, 2021, we had $220.0 million of variable rate debt outstanding not protected by interest rate hedge contracts, a $70.0 million increase as compared to December 31, 2020. If the weighted average interest rate on this variable rate debt had been 100 basis points higher or lower, the annual interest expense at December 31, 2021 would increase or decrease by $2.2 million.

See “Item 1A. Risk Factors – Risks Related to our Financing Activities – Increases in interest rates would increase our interest expense.”

At December 31, 2021, we had $50.0 million of variable rate debt outstanding with $50.0 million of related floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps. These swaps effectively fix the underlying one-month LIBOR rate at a weighted average rate of 1.693%. If the underlying LIBOR interest rates increase or decrease by 100 basis points, the aggregate fair market value of the swaps at December 31, 2021 would increase or decrease by less than $0.1 million. As of January 28, 2022, these interest rate swaps have expired.

We are exposed to certain losses in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties, which are major financial institutions, under the swaps. We regularly evaluate the financial condition of our counterparties using publicly available information. Based on this review, we currently expect the counterparties to perform fully under the swaps. However, if a counterparty defaults on its obligations under a swap, we could be required to pay the full rates on the applicable debt, even if such rates were in excess of the rate in the contract.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

General

The purpose of this section is to discuss our controls and procedures. The statements in this section represent the conclusions of Theodore J. Klinck, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), and Brendan C. Maiorana, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”).

The CEO and CFO evaluations of our controls and procedures include a review of the controls’ objectives and design, the controls’ implementation by us and the effect of the controls on the information generated for use in this Annual Report. We seek to identify data errors, control problems or acts of fraud and confirm that appropriate corrective action, including process improvements, is undertaken. Our controls and procedures are also evaluated on an ongoing basis by or through the following:

•activities undertaken and reports issued by employees responsible for testing our internal control over financial reporting;

•quarterly sub-certifications by representatives from appropriate business and accounting functions to support the CEO’s and CFO’s evaluations of our controls and procedures;

•other personnel in our finance and accounting organization;

•members of our internal disclosure committee; and

•members of the audit committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

We do not expect that our controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.

Management’s Annual Report on the Company’s Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Company’s management is required to establish and maintain internal control over financial reporting designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

•pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets;

•provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors; and

•provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Under the supervision of the Company’s CEO and CFO, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2021 based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

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We have concluded that, at December 31, 2021, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective. Deloitte & Touche LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, has issued their attestation report, which is included below, on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021.

Management’s Annual Report on the Operating Partnership’s Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Operating Partnership is also required to establish and maintain internal control over financial reporting designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.

Under the supervision of the Company’s CEO and CFO, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2021 based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have concluded that, as of December 31, 2021, the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting was effective. SEC rules do not require us to obtain an attestation report of Deloitte & Touche LLP on the effectiveness of the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Highwoods Properties, Inc.:

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Highwoods Properties, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021 of the Company and our report dated February 8, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on the Company’s Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the US federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“generally accepted accounting principles”). A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Raleigh, North Carolina

February 8, 2022

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Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2021 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. There were also no changes in the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2021 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

SEC rules require us to maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our annual and periodic reports filed with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. As defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Company’s CEO and CFO, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company’s CEO and CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the end of the period covered by this Annual Report. The Company’s CEO and CFO also concluded that the Operating Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the end of the period covered by this Annual Report.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS

Not applicable.

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PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Information about the Company’s executive officers and directors, the code of ethics that applies to the Company’s chief executive officer and senior financial officers, which is posted on our website, and certain corporate governance matters is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 10, 2022. No changes have been made to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to the Company’s board of directors since the 2021 annual meeting, which was held on May 11, 2021. See Item X in Part I of this Annual Report for biographical information regarding the Company’s executive officers. The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information about the compensation of the Company’s directors and executive officers is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 10, 2022.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Information about the beneficial ownership of Common Stock and the Company’s equity compensation plans is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 10, 2022.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Information about certain relationships and related transactions, if any, and the independence of the Company’s directors is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 10, 2022.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Information about fees paid to and services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 10, 2022.

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PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Exhibits

ExhibitNumber Description

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ExhibitNumber Description

21 Schedule of Subsidiaries

23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP for the Company

23.2 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP for the Operating Partnership

101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document

101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

__________

* Represents management contract or compensatory plan.

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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Page

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 34) 53

Consolidated Financial Statements:

Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 34) 63

Consolidated Financial Statements:

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 72

Schedule III 104

__________

All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or because the required information is included in our Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Highwoods Properties, Inc.:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Highwoods Properties, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively, the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 8, 2022, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Impairment of Real Estate Assets - Refer to Note 1 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Company performs an impairment analysis of properties which begins with an evaluation of events or changes in circumstances that may indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, such as a significant decline in occupancy, identification of materially adverse legal or environmental factors, a change in the designation of an asset from core to non-core, which may impact the anticipated holding period, or a decline in market value to an amount less than cost.

The Company makes judgments that determine whether specific real estate assets possess indicators of impairment. Changes in those judgments could have a material impact on the real estate assets that are identified for further analysis.

Given the Company’s evaluation of possible indications of impairment of real estate assets requires management to make judgments, performing audit procedures to evaluate whether management appropriately identified events or changes in

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circumstances indicating that the carrying amounts of real estate assets may not be recoverable required a high degree of auditor judgment.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the evaluation of real estate assets for possible indications of impairment included the following, among others:

•We tested the effectiveness of controls over management’s identification of possible circumstances that may indicate that the carrying amounts of real estate assets are no longer recoverable, including controls over management’s designation of an asset as core or non-core, occupancy and management’s estimates of fair values.

•We evaluated management’s identification of impairment indicators by developing an independent determination if properties exhibit an indicator of impairment by:

–Inquiring of management and reading investment committee and board minutes to identify properties that should be evaluated as non-core and therefore may impact the anticipated holding period.

–Testing real estate assets for possible indications of impairment, including searching for adverse asset-specific circumstances and/or market conditions by reading questionnaires to regional property managers and using reputable market surveys.

–With the assistance of our fair value specialists, developing an independent expectation of impairment indicators and comparing such expectation to management’s analysis.

Real Estate and Related Assets—Acquisitions—Refer to Note 1, 3 and 6 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

During 2021, the Company acquired a portfolio of real estate assets in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Atlanta for a net purchase price of $653.5 million and acquired its joint venture partner’s 75.0% interest in a portfolio of assets in Raleigh for a net purchase price of $131.3 million. The Company accounted for these transactions as asset acquisitions.

The purchase prices paid for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was allocated, based on relative fair values as determined by management, with the assistance of third-party specialists, to land, buildings, tenant improvements and intangible assets and liabilities such as above and below market leases and acquired in-place leases. Management assessed the relative fair value based on estimated cash flow projections that utilized discount and capitalization rates as well as available market information.

Above and below market secured loans assumed in the transactions were assessed based on the present value of the difference between the property specific mortgage interest rate and the market interest rate over the years to maturity of the loan.

Given the allocation of relative fair value to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the determination of the above and below market debt value required management to make significant estimates related to assumptions such as discount rates, capitalization rates, market rental rates, land values and market interest rates, performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of these assumptions required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the relative fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed included the following, among others:

•We tested the effectiveness of controls over the purchase price allocations, including management’s controls over the review of the third-party appraisals, the identification of real estate assets, intangible assets and liabilities and the valuation methodology for estimating the relative fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

•With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated the reasonableness of the valuation methodology, discount rates, capitalization rates, market rental rates, land values and market interest rates by developing a range of independent estimates and comparing our estimates to those used by management.

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•We tested the mathematical accuracy of the valuation models and the source information underlying the determination of the intangible assets and liabilities fair value.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Raleigh, North Carolina

February 8, 2022

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2006.

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HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

December 31,

Assets:

Real estate assets, at cost:

Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale 3,518 11,360

Mortgages and notes receivable 1,227 1,341

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates 7,383 27,104

Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity:

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities 294,976 268,727

Commitments and contingencies

Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership 111,689 112,499

Equity:

Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares;

Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares;

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (973) (1,462)

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates 22,416 22,046

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Year Ended December 31,

Operating expenses:

Impairments of real estate assets — 1,778 5,849

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates 1,947 4,005 3,276

Earnings per Common Share – basic:

Net income available for common stockholders $ 2.98 $ 3.32 $ 1.30

Earnings per Common Share – diluted:

Net income available for common stockholders $ 2.98 $ 3.32 $ 1.30

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(in thousands)

Year Ended December 31,

Comprehensive income:

Other comprehensive income/(loss):

Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges (19) (1,238) (9,134)

Total other comprehensive income/(loss) 489 (991) (10,384)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Equity

(in thousands, except share amounts)

Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock 15,000 — — 663 — — — 663

Dividends on Preferred Stock ($86.25 per share) — — — — — (2,488) (2,488)

Issuances of restricted stock 190,934 — — — — — — —

Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock — (18) — — — — (18)

Comprehensive income:

Other comprehensive loss — — — (10,384) — — (10,384)

Total comprehensive income 131,299

Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock 3,570 — — 145 — — — 145

Dividends on Preferred Stock ($86.25 per share) — — — — — (2,488) (2,488)

Issuances of restricted stock 149,304 — — — — — — —

Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock — (33) — — — — (33)

Comprehensive income:

Other comprehensive loss — — — (991) — — (991)

Total comprehensive income 356,923

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HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Equity - Continued

(in thousands, except share amounts)

Dividends on Preferred Stock ($86.25 per share) — — — — — (2,486) (2,486)

Issuances of restricted stock 184,584 — — — — — — —

Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock — (5) — — — — (5)

Comprehensive income:

Other comprehensive income — — — 489 — — 489

Total comprehensive income 323,799

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

Year Ended December 31,

Operating activities:

Net credit losses on operating lease receivables 425 5,458 9,861

Write-off of mortgages and notes receivable — — 4,087

Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable (103) (118) (184)

Impairments of real estate assets — 1,778 5,849

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (1,947) (4,005) (3,276)

Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates 1,417 1,533 1,149

Settlement of cash flow hedges — — (11,749)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities 8,191 (5,951) 24,225

Investing activities:

Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates — 72 7,833

Investments in mortgages and notes receivable (84) (32) —

Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable 301 310 295

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates (6,079) — (9,977)

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HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Continued

(in thousands)

Year Ended December 31,

Financing activities:

Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock (5) (33) (18)

Costs paid for the issuance of Common Stock (535) (215) —

Repurchase of shares related to tax withholdings (1,718) (1,160) (1,788)

Payments of debt extinguishment costs — (3,193) —

Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:

Year Ended December 31,

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Year Ended December 31,

Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized $ 79,474 $ 72,350 $ 72,014

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

Year Ended December 31,

Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges $ (19) $ (1,238) $ (9,134)

Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock 15,076 145 663

Write-off of fully amortized debt issuance costs 5,200 1,438 1,791

Issuances of Common Units to acquire real estate assets — 6,163 —

Contingent consideration in connection with the acquisition of land — — 1,200

Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates — — 4,987

Future consideration in connection with the acquisition of land 16,000 — —

__________

(1)Accrued capital expenditures included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 were $56.1 million, $66.0 million and $67.9 million, respectively.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors of the General Partner of Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership and subsidiaries (the “Operating Partnership”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, capital, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively, the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Operating Partnership as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Operating Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Operating Partnership’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Operating Partnership in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Operating Partnership is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Impairment of Real Estate Assets - Refer to Note 1 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Operating Partnership performs an impairment analysis of properties which begins with an evaluation of events or changes in circumstances that may indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, such as a significant decline in occupancy, identification of materially adverse legal or environmental factors, a change in the designation of an asset from core to non-core, which may impact the anticipated holding period, or a decline in market value to an amount less than cost.

The Operating Partnership makes judgments that determine whether specific real estate assets possess indicators of impairment. Changes in those judgments could have a material impact on the real estate assets that are identified for further analysis.

Given the Operating Partnership’s evaluation of possible indications of impairment of real estate assets requires management to make judgments, performing audit procedures to evaluate whether management appropriately identified events or changes in circumstances indicating that the carrying amounts of real estate assets may not be recoverable required a high degree of auditor judgment.

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How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the evaluation of real estate assets for possible indications of impairment included the following, among others:

•We tested the effectiveness of controls over management’s identification of possible circumstances that may indicate that the carrying amounts of real estate assets are no longer recoverable, including controls over management’s designation of an asset as core or non-core, occupancy and management’s estimates of fair values.

•We evaluated management’s identification of impairment indicators by developing an independent determination if properties exhibit an indicator of impairment by:

–Inquiring of management and reading investment committee and board minutes to identify properties that should be evaluated as non-core and therefore may impact the anticipated holding period.

–Testing real estate assets for possible indications of impairment, including searching for adverse asset-specific circumstances and/or market conditions by reading questionnaires to regional property managers and using reputable market surveys.

–With the assistance of our fair value specialists, developing an independent expectation of impairment indicators and comparing such expectation to management’s analysis.

Real Estate and Related Assets—Acquisitions—Refer to Note 1, 3 and 6 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

During 2021, the Operating Partnership acquired a portfolio of real estate assets in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Atlanta for a net purchase price of $653.5 million and acquired its joint venture partner’s 75.0% interest in a portfolio of assets in Raleigh for a net purchase price of $131.3 million. The Operating Partnership accounted for these transactions as asset acquisitions.

The purchase prices paid for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was allocated, based on relative fair values as determined by management, with the assistance of third-party specialists, to land, buildings, tenant improvements and intangible assets and liabilities such as above and below market leases and acquired in-place leases. Management assessed the relative fair value based on estimated cash flow projections that utilized discount and capitalization rates as well as available market information.

Above and below market secured loans assumed in the transactions were assessed based on the present value of the difference between the property specific mortgage interest rate and the market interest rate over the years to maturity of the loan.

Given the allocation of relative fair value to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the determination of the above and below market debt value required management to make significant estimates related to assumptions such as discount rates, capitalization rates, market rental rates, land values and market interest rates, performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of these assumptions required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the relative fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed included the following, among others:

•We tested the effectiveness of controls over the purchase price allocations, including management’s controls over the review of the third-party appraisals, the identification of real estate assets, intangible assets and liabilities and the valuation methodology for estimating the relative fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

•With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated the reasonableness of the valuation methodology, discount rates, capitalization rates, market rental rates, land values and market interest rates by developing a range of independent estimates and comparing our estimates to those used by management.

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•We tested the mathematical accuracy of the valuation models and the source information underlying the determination of the intangible assets and liabilities fair value.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Raleigh, North Carolina

February 8, 2022

We have served as the Operating Partnership’s auditor since 2006.

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HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except unit and per unit data)

December 31,

Assets:

Real estate assets, at cost:

Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale 3,518 11,360

Mortgages and notes receivable 1,227 1,341

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates 7,383 27,104

Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities 294,976 268,727

Commitments and contingencies

Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:

Capital:

Common Units:

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (973) (1,462)

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates 22,416 22,046

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP