Form 4: Designer Brands Inc. Executive Deborah L. Ferree Reports Changes in Beneficial Ownership

Deborah L. Ferree, V. Chair and Chief Product Officer of Designer Brands Inc., reports transactions involving Class A Common Shares and derivative securities.

Summary

• On March 23, 2024, Deborah L. Ferree reported changes in her beneficial ownership of Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) securities.
• These changes involve transactions in Class A Common Shares and derivative securities, specifically dividend equivalent rights and restricted stock units (RSUs).
• Ferree acquired 235,908 Class A Common Shares at $0.00, and disposed of 93,631 shares at $11.22.
• Following these transactions, Ferree directly owns 339,090 Class A Common Shares.
• She also disposed of 8,358 dividend equivalent rights and 227,570 restricted stock units.
• After the reported transactions, Ferree beneficially owns 8,798 dividend equivalent rights.
• Katherine Alfano, Attorney-in-Fact, signed the report on March 26, 2024, under a substitute power of attorney.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: This is a neutral report of transactions. It doesn't inherently indicate positive or negative sentiment about the company's prospects.

Industry Context

Form 4 filings are standard practice and provide transparency into the transactions of company insiders, allowing investors to track management's sentiment and alignment with company performance.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Form 4 filings are a regulatory requirement for company insiders in the US, similar to director dealing notifications in other jurisdictions.
• The level of detail provided in this Form 4 is consistent with standard SEC requirements.
• Comparable companies such as Foot Locker (FL) and Genesco Inc. (GCO) also have their executives file similar forms when they trade in their company's stock.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders may be interested in these transactions as they provide insight into the actions of company leadership.
• The transactions themselves are unlikely to have a significant impact on employees, customers, suppliers, or creditors.

Key Dates