Designer Brands (DBI) vice chair awarded large restricted stock unit grants

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Designer Brands Inc. reported that executive Deborah L. Ferree received two grants of restricted stock units as equity compensation. She was awarded 35,043 RSUs and 93,829 RSUs, each representing the right to receive one Class A common share.

The 35,043-unit award is scheduled around March 28, 2027, and the 93,829-unit award around March 28, 2028, based on the stated exercise and expiration dates. Following these grants, she directly holds 163,131 RSUs from the first award and 93,829 RSUs from the second, increasing her future ownership exposure without any open-market buying or selling.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED 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

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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^*

Ferree Deborah L

(Last) (First) (Middle)

810 DSW DRIVE

(Street)

COLUMBUS OH 43219

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Designer Brands Inc. [ DBI ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	V. Chair; Ch Product Off

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/11/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

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)
			Code	V	Amount	(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)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Unit	(1)	03/11/2026		A		35,043		03/28/2027	03/28/2027	Class A Common Shares	35,043	$0.0000	163,131	D
Restricted Stock Unit	(1)	03/11/2026		A		93,829		03/28/2028	03/28/2028	Class A Common Shares	93,829	$0.0000	93,829	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Issuer's Class A common stock.

	Katherine Alfano, Attorney-in-Fact	03/13/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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).
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FAQ

What insider transaction did Deborah L. Ferree report at Designer Brands (DBI)?

Deborah L. Ferree reported receiving two grants of restricted stock units as equity compensation. These awards increase her future claim on Class A common shares but involve no open-market buying or selling activity, reflecting standard executive compensation rather than a discretionary stock purchase or sale.

How many restricted stock units did the Designer Brands (DBI) executive receive?

She received 35,043 restricted stock units in one grant and 93,829 units in another. Each unit represents a contingent right to one Class A common share, meaning the awards together significantly increase her potential future share ownership if the units ultimately settle in stock.

What do the restricted stock units in this Designer Brands (DBI) Form 4 represent?

Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Designer Brands’ Class A common stock. These units typically settle in shares at future dates if conditions are met, aligning executive compensation with shareholder value without immediate cash payment or market transactions.

When are the reported Designer Brands (DBI) restricted stock units scheduled around to settle?

The 35,043-unit grant references an exercise and expiration date of March 28, 2027, while the 93,829-unit grant references March 28, 2028. These dates indicate the future timing framework when the units may convert into Class A common shares, subject to applicable award terms.

Does this Designer Brands (DBI) Form 4 show the executive buying or selling shares on the market?

No, the filing shows grant or award acquisitions of restricted stock units, not open-market purchases or sales. The transaction code is “A,” indicating equity awards as compensation. These awards increase potential future share ownership without a market trade or stated purchase price per share.

What is Deborah L. Ferree’s position at Designer Brands (DBI) related to this Form 4?

She is identified as both a director and officer, serving as Vice Chair and Chief Product Officer. The reported restricted stock unit awards are therefore executive and board-level compensation, tying part of her remuneration directly to the future performance of Designer Brands’ Class A common shares.