Designer Brands (DBI) CEO Douglas Howe receives large restricted stock unit grants

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Designer Brands Inc. CEO and director Douglas M. Howe reported awards of restricted stock units as part of his equity compensation. On March 11, 2026, he received 68,837 restricted stock units tied to Class A common shares, with an exercise and expiration date of March 28, 2027. He also received a second grant of 261,385 restricted stock units, with an exercise and expiration date of March 28, 2028. Each unit represents a contingent right to receive one Class A common share, and no open-market purchases or sales were reported.

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^*

HOWE DOUGLAS M.

(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)
	CEO

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		68,837		03/28/2027	03/28/2027	Class A Common Shares	68,837	$0.0000	320,437	D
Restricted Stock Unit	(1)	03/11/2026		A		261,385		03/28/2028	03/28/2028	Class A Common Shares	261,385	$0.0000	261,385	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 Designer Brands (DBI) CEO Douglas Howe report?

Douglas Howe reported grants of restricted stock units, not share purchases or sales. On March 11, 2026, he received two awards of derivative securities tied to Class A common shares, reflecting equity-based executive compensation rather than open-market trading.

How many restricted stock units did the DBI CEO receive in this Form 4?

Douglas Howe received 68,837 and 261,385 restricted stock units. Both awards relate to Class A common shares at a zero exercise price, representing contingent rights to receive the same number of shares if the units ultimately settle.

What do the restricted stock units in the DBI Form 4 represent?

Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to one Class A share. A footnote specifies that every unit can convert into a single share of Designer Brands’ Class A common stock, subject to the award’s vesting or settlement conditions.

When are the DBI CEO’s restricted stock units scheduled to exercise or expire?

The reported grants have dates in 2027 and 2028. One block of restricted stock units lists an exercise and expiration date of March 28, 2027, while the larger grant shows March 28, 2028 as its exercise and expiration date.

Does this DBI Form 4 show any insider share sales or open-market buys?

No, the filing reports only award-type acquisitions of restricted stock units. The transaction code is “A” for grant or award, buy and sell counts are zero, and no open-market purchase or sale prices are disclosed.

How are the DBI CEO’s holdings shown after these restricted stock unit awards?

Holdings are reported per award after each transaction. Following the March 11, 2026 grants, one restricted stock unit position shows 320,437 units outstanding, and the newer grant shows 261,385 units, all held directly.