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Designer Brands (DBI) director receives 26,527 stock units as deferred equity award

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

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Designer Brands Inc. director John W. Atkinson received a grant of 26,527 stock units as board compensation. Each stock unit represents the right to receive one Class A common share. The grant vests immediately and will convert into an equal number of shares when he leaves the Board, with totals including accrued dividend equivalent rights. After this award, he holds 121,093 stock units directly.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.
Insider Atkinson John W.
Role null
Type Security Shares Price Value
Grant/Award Stock Unit 26,527 $0.00 --
Holdings After Transaction: Stock Unit — 121,093 shares (Direct, null)
Footnotes (1)
  1. Each stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class A common stock. 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 unit grant 26,527 stock units Grant to director on 2026-06-17
Total stock units after grant 121,093 stock units Holdings following transaction
Unit-to-share ratio 1 stock unit : 1 share Each unit converts to one Class A common share
Stock Unit financial
"Each stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class A common stock."
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.
dividend equivalent rights financial
"Total includes accrued dividend equivalent rights."
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.
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Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →
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)
06/17/2026		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)06/17/2026A26,527 (2) (2)Class A Common Shares26,527$0.0000121,093(3)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. 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.
3. Total includes accrued dividend equivalent rights.
Katherine Alfano, Attorney-in-Fact06/22/2026
** 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)

Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

FAQ

What did Designer Brands (DBI) director John W. Atkinson report on this Form 4?

John W. Atkinson reported receiving 26,527 stock units as board compensation. These stock units are a form of deferred equity that convert into Class A common shares when his Board service ends, aligning his interests with shareholders over the long term.

How many stock units does John W. Atkinson now hold in Designer Brands (DBI)?

After the reported grant, John W. Atkinson directly holds a total of 121,093 stock units. This figure includes the new 26,527-unit award and reflects accrued dividend equivalent rights that increase the number of units over time.

What does each stock unit represent for Designer Brands (DBI) insiders?

Each stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Designer Brands’ Class A common stock. The units are typically used as non-cash compensation, providing future shares instead of immediate stock or cash payments to directors or executives.

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

The stock units become vested on the grant date but convert into Class A common shares only when John W. Atkinson’s service on the Board of Directors ends. This deferred conversion helps encourage longer-term alignment with shareholders’ interests.

What are dividend equivalent rights on Designer Brands (DBI) stock units?

Dividend equivalent rights increase the number of stock units to mirror dividends paid on Class A common shares. Instead of cash, additional units accrue, so the total reported units for John W. Atkinson include these dividend-based adjustments over time.