STOCK TITAN

Director at Designer Brands (DBI) receives 707 vested stock units

Filing Impact
(Neutral)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
4

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Designer Brands Inc. director John W. Atkinson acquired 707 stock units on April 10, 2026 as a grant. Each stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one Class A common share and becomes vested on the grant date.

The 707 units reflect dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded stock units. These units will convert into an equal number of Class A common shares upon Atkinson’s termination of service from the Board of Directors. Following this award, he holds 94,566 stock units, including accrued dividend equivalents.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.
Insider Atkinson John W.
Role Director
Type Security Shares Price Value
Grant/Award Stock Unit 707 $0.00 --
Holdings After Transaction: Stock Unit — 94,566 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (1)
  1. Each stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class A common stock. Shares represent dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded stock units. The stock unit becomes vested upon the date of grant and will be converted to an equal number of shares of Issuer's Class A common stock upon Insider's termination of service from the Board of Directors. Total includes accrued dividend equivalent rights.
Stock units granted 707 stock units Grant on April 10, 2026 as dividend equivalent rights
Total stock units after grant 94,566 stock units Holdings following the reported transaction, including dividend equivalents
Grant price per unit $0.00 per unit Reported transaction price for the 707 granted stock units
Underlying Class A shares 707 shares Each new stock unit is linked to one Class A common share
Stock Unit financial
"Each stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share"
dividend equivalent rights financial
"Shares represent dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded stock units"
Dividend equivalent rights are promises that mirror the cash payments shareholders get from a company’s profits, but they are paid to holders of certain awards (like stock options or restricted stock units) rather than to actual shares. Think of them as a paycheck top‑up that matches dividends while the award is not yet a real stock, and they matter to investors because they add to employee compensation costs and potential share dilution, affecting company profitability and per‑share value.
Class A common stock financial
"Each stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class A common stock"
Class A common stock is a category of a company’s shares that carries a specific set of ownership rights—most commonly defined voting power and claims on dividends—set out in the company’s charter. For investors it matters because the class determines how much influence you have over corporate decisions, the share’s likely dividend and trading behavior, and how it compares in value to other share classes, like choosing a particular seat with different privileges at the company’s decision-making table.
Board of Directors financial
"converted to an equal number of shares ... upon Insider's termination of service from the Board of Directors"
The Board of Directors is a group of people chosen by a company's owners to help make big decisions and oversee how the company is run. They act like a team of advisors or managers, making sure the company stays on track and meets its goals. Their choices can influence the company's success and how it grows.
SEC Form 4
FORM 4UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number:3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:0.5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Atkinson John W.

(Last)(First)(Middle)
810 DSW DRIVE

(Street)
COLUMBUS OHIO 43219

(City)(State)(Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Designer Brands Inc. [ DBI ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
XDirector10% Owner
Officer (give title below)Other (specify below)
2a. Foreign Trading Symbol
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
04/10/2026
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
XForm filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeVAmount(A) or (D)Price
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeV(A)(D)Date ExercisableExpiration DateTitleAmount or Number of Shares
Stock Unit(1)04/10/2026A707(2) (3) (3)Class A Common Shares707$0.000094,566(4)D
Explanation of Responses:
1. Each stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class A common stock.
2. Shares represent dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded stock units.
3. The stock unit becomes vested upon the date of grant and will be converted to an equal number of shares of Issuer's Class A common stock upon Insider's termination of service from the Board of Directors.
4. Total includes accrued dividend equivalent rights.
Katherine Alfano, Attorney-in-Fact04/14/2026
** Signature of Reporting PersonDate
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)

FAQ

What insider transaction did Designer Brands (DBI) report for John W. Atkinson?

Designer Brands reported that director John W. Atkinson received a grant of 707 stock units on April 10, 2026. These units arise from dividend equivalent rights on earlier awards and increase his total stock unit holdings to 94,566, including all accrued dividend equivalents.

What does each stock unit represent for Designer Brands (DBI) director John W. Atkinson?

Each stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Designer Brands’ Class A common stock. The units are fully vested on the grant date and will ultimately convert into Class A shares when Atkinson’s service on the Board of Directors ends.

How many stock units does John W. Atkinson hold after this Designer Brands (DBI) Form 4?

After the reported transaction, John W. Atkinson holds a total of 94,566 stock units. This figure includes the newly credited 707 units and all previously accrued dividend equivalent rights tied to his earlier stock unit awards from Designer Brands.

What is the source of the 707 stock units granted to Designer Brands (DBI) director John W. Atkinson?

The 707 stock units reflect dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded stock units. Rather than a cash dividend, Atkinson receives additional stock units, which mirror the dividends that would have been paid on underlying Class A common shares.

When will John W. Atkinson’s Designer Brands (DBI) stock units convert into Class A shares?

The stock units, including the newly credited 707 units, will convert into an equal number of Class A common shares upon Atkinson’s termination of service from the Board of Directors. Until that event, they remain as vested stock units representing contingent share rights.