Microsoft Word 10.0.6764; Deutsche Bank AG Taunusanlage 12, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main Federal Republic of Germany Jeffrey A. Ruiz Vice President Telephone: (212) 250-3667 August 10, 2005 Securities and Exchange Commission SEC Document Control 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20549 Attn: Filing Desk Dear Sir or Madame: Re: Filing of Schedule 13G - Highwoods Properties, Inc. Pursuant to Rule 13d-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, attached is one copy of Schedule 13G with respect to the common stock of the above referenced corporation. Please acknowledge your receipt of the Schedule 13G by return e-mail confirmation. Sincerely, Jeffrey A. Ruiz Enclosures UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G (Amendment No.5) Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Highwoods Properties, Inc. --------------------------------------- NAME OF ISSUER: Common Stock ($0.001 Par Value) --------------------------------------- TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES 431284108 --------------------------------------- CUSIP NUMBER December 31, 2004 --------------------------------------- (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [ X ] Rule 13d-1(b) [ ] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS Deutsche Bank AG* 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (A) [ ] (B) [ ] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Federal Republic of Germany NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 4,315,249 BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER OWNED BY EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER REPORTING 4,315,249 PERSON WITH 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 4,315,249 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 8.04% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON HC, CO, * In accordance with Securities Exchange Act Release No. 39538 (Janu ary 12, 1998), this amended filing reflects the securities beneficially owned by the Private Clients and Asset Management business group ("PCAM") of Deutsche Bank AG and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, "DBAG"). This filing does not reflect securities, if any, beneficially owned by any other business group of DBAG. Consistent with Rule 13d-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act"), this filing shall not be construed as an admission that PCAM is, for purposes of Section 13(d) under the Act, the beneficial owner of any securities covered by the filing. 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS Deutsche Asset Management Inc. 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (A) [ ] (B) [ ] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 18,100 BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER OWNED BY EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER REPORTING 18,100 PERSON WITH 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 18,100 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 0.03% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA, CO, 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (A) [ ] (B) [ ] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 72,919 BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER OWNED BY EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER REPORTING 72,919 PERSON WITH 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 72,919 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 0.13% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON BK, CO, 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS Deutsche Investment Management Americas 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (A) [ ] (B) [ ] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 84,600 BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER OWNED BY EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER REPORTING 84,600 PERSON WITH 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 84,600 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 0.15% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA, CO, 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS RREEF America, L.L.C. 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (A) [ ] (B) [ ] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 4,139,630 BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER OWNED BY EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER REPORTING 4,139,630 PERSON WITH 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 4,139,630 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 7.71% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA, CO, Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: Highwoods Properties, Inc.(the Issuer ) Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 3100 Smoketree Ct.,St. 600, Raleigh, NC 27604 Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing: This statement is filed on behalf of Deutsche Bank AG, ("Reporting Person"). Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence: Taunusanlage 12, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main Federal Republic of Germany Item 2(c). Citizenship: The citizenship of the Reporting Person is set forth on the cover page. Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: The title of the securities is common stock, $0.001 par value ("Common Stock"). Item 2(e). CUSIP Number: The CUSIP number of the Common Stock is set forth on the cover page. Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act; (b) [X ] Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act; Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (c) [ ] Insurance Company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act; (d) [ ] Investment Company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940; (e) [X] An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); Deutsche Investment Management Americas Deutsche Asset Management Inc. RREEF America, L.L.C. (f) [ ] An employee benefit plan, or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) [X] Parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(G); Deutsche Bank AG (h) [ ] A savings association as defined in section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; (i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940; (j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(J). Item 4. Ownership. (a) Amount beneficially owned: The Reporting Person owns the amount of the Common Stock as set forth on the cover page. (b) Percent of class: The Reporting Person owns the percentage of the Common Stock as set forth on the cover page. (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote: The Reporting Person has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of the Common Stock as set forth on the cover page. (ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote: The Reporting Person has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of the Common Stock as set forth on the cover page. (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: The Reporting Person has the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of the Common Stock as set forth on the cover page. (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: The Reporting Person has the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of the Common Stock as set forth on the cover page. Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. Not applicable. Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. Not applicable. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company. Subsidiary Item 3 Classification --------------------------------------------------------- Deutsche Investment Management Investment Advisor Americas Deutsche Asset Management Inc. Investment Advisor Deutsche Bank Trust Company Bank Americas RREEF America, L.L.C. Investment Advisor Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Not applicable. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not applicable. Item 10. Certification. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: 8/10/05 DEUTSCHE BANK AG By: /s/ Jeffrey A. Ruiz Name: Jeffrey A. Ruiz Title: Vice President By: /s/ Pasquale Antolino Name: Pasquale Antolino Title: Associate SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: 8/10/05 Deutsche Asset Management Inc. By: /s/ Jeffrey A. Ruiz Name: Jeffrey A. Ruiz Title: Vice President SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: 8/10/05 Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas By: /s/ Jeffrey A. Ruiz Name: Jeffrey A. Ruiz Title: Vice President SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: 8/10/05 Deutsche Investment Management Americas By: /s/ Jeffrey A. Ruiz Name: Jeffrey A. Ruiz Title: Vice President SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: 8/10/05 RREEF America, L.L.C. By: /s/ Mark Zeisloft Name: Mark Zeisloft Title: Vice President