Designer Brands (DBI) 10-K2023 FY Annual report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

For the Fiscal Year Ended February 3, 2024

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

The aggregate market value of the registrant's Class A common shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of July 29, 2023, was $475,747,686.

Number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock, as of March 18, 2024: 49,507,730 Class A common shares and 7,732,733 Class B common shares.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which statement will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

DESIGNER BRANDS INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

All references to "we," "us," "our," "Designer Brands," "Designer Brands Inc.," or the "Company" in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2024 (this "Form 10-K") mean Designer Brands Inc. and its subsidiaries.

We own many trademarks and service marks. This Form 10-K may contain trademarks, trade dress, and tradenames of other companies. Use or display of other parties' trademarks, trade dress or trade names is not intended to and does not imply a relationship with the trademark, trade dress or trade name owner.

We have included certain website addresses throughout this Form 10-K as inactive textual references only. The information contained on the websites referenced herein is not incorporated into this Form 10-K.

If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results, performance, or achievements may vary materially from what we have projected. Furthermore, new factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor can management assess the impact of any such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

PART I

Designer Brands Inc., originally founded as DSW Inc., is one of the world's largest designers, producers, and retailers of footwear and accessories. We operate in three reportable segments: the U.S. Retail segment, the Canada Retail segment, and the Brand Portfolio segment. The U.S. Retail segment operates the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse ("DSW") banner through its direct-to-consumer U.S. stores and e-commerce site. The Canada Retail segment operates The Shoe Company and DSW banners through its direct-to-consumer Canada stores and e-commerce sites. Together, the U.S. Retail and Canada Retail segments are referred to as the "retail segments." The Brand Portfolio segment earns revenue from the wholesale of products to retailers and international distributors, commissions for serving retailers as the design and buying agent for products under private labels, and the sale of branded products through our direct-to-consumer e-commerce sites for the Vince Camuto, Keds, Hush Puppies, and Topo brands.

Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31. References to a fiscal year (e.g., "2023") refer to the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins. This reporting schedule is followed by many national retail companies and typically results in a 52-week fiscal year (including 2022), but occasionally will contain an additional week resulting in a 53-week fiscal year (including 2023).

The following table presents certain data about the sourcing of our merchandise for our retail segments:

We invite customers to join our VIP rewards programs, which enable members to earn points toward discounts on future purchases. Our VIP rewards programs provide timely customer insights and create stronger customer engagement, while driving a higher-than-average level of customer spend.

The following table presents the number of members enrolled in our loyalty programs that have made a purchase over the prior two years and the percentage of retail segments' net sales generated from these members:

Inventory management is important to our business. We manage our inventory levels based on anticipated sales and the delivery requirements of our customers. Our inventory management strategy is focused on continuing to meet consumer demand, while improving our efficiency over the long term by enhancing systems and processes.

We source each of our product lines based on the individual design, style and quality specifications of the products. Our Brand Portfolio segment does not own or operate manufacturing facilities; rather, we use our sourcing offices in China and Brazil to procure our products from third-party manufacturers. Prior to production, our sourcing offices inspect samples and prototypes of each style and monitor the quality of the production process. We manage our inventory levels based on existing orders and anticipated sales.

The manufacturers of our products are required to meet our quality, human rights, local compliance, safety, and other standard requirements. These vendors are expected to respect local laws, rules, and regulations of the countries in which they operate and have pledged to follow the standards set forth in the Company's Vendor Code of Conduct, which details our dedication to human rights, labor rights, environmental responsibility, and workplace safety. The majority of our wholesale inventory is shipped directly from factories in foreign countries to our East Coast Logistics Center where the inventory is then processed, sorted, and provided to our customers' shipping carriers.

The following table presents the percentages of the Brand Portfolio segment's purchases of merchandise units sourced by country:

The footwear market is highly competitive with few barriers to entry. We compete against a diverse group of manufacturers and retailers, including department stores, online retailers, mall-based shoe stores, national chains, independent shoe retailers, single-brand specialty retailers, brand-oriented discounters, multi-channel specialty retailers, and brand suppliers. In addition, our wholesale retailer customers sell shoes purchased from competing footwear suppliers with brands that are well known.

In January 2023, we announced our succession process relating to the Company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") role whereby our former CEO, Roger Rawlins, stepped down from his role as CEO and as a member of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") effective April 1, 2023, at which time Doug Howe, who previously served as Executive Vice President of the Company and President of DSW, assumed the CEO role and joined the Board. As previously disclosed, Mr. Rawlins commenced service as a strategic advisor to the Company and the Board effective April 1, 2023 and will continue in this role through April 1, 2024 under the terms of a transition and consulting agreement.

We believe the strength of our workforce is critical to our success. Our associates strive every day to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for themselves and our customers to advance our mission of inspiring self-expression. One of our core strategies is to invest in and support our associates who are key to differentiating our products and experiences in the competitive footwear market. We monitor and adapt as necessary to maintain our competitive position, including the following areas of focus:

As of February 3, 2024, we employed approximately 14,000 associates worldwide, approximately 12,000 of whom are employed in the U.S.

From the inside out, DE&I at Designer Brands starts with an inclusive and equitable workplace, one where all associates belong and are empowered to be their authentic selves, bringing their unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to the table. We believe that empowering our differences powers up innovation and ignites positive change. That core belief, best expressed in our mission of "We inspire self-expression" extends to our customers, communities, and supply chain, fueling our passion to help change the industry and advance prosperity for all.

We strive to maintain a diverse and inclusive workforce. As of February 3, 2024, 78% of our U.S. based associates self-identified as female and 56% of our U.S. associate population self-identified as people of color. Additionally, 36% of the Board and 58% of executives in vice president and above positions self-identified as female.

With a goal of increasing diversity in the footwear design world, in 2022, we partnered with legendary footwear designer and president of Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design, Dr. D'Wayne Edwards. In 2023, we celebrated the grand opening of the JEMS by PENSOLE factory located in Somersworth, New Hampshire, as one of the first black-owned footwear factories in the U.S. The development and opening of the factory represent the culmination of our $2.0 million investment focused on advancing action-oriented DE&I. In the fall of 2023, we launched the FIRST JEM, the inaugural shoe from JEMS by PENSOLE, in select stores and online. Ultimately, this partnership is aimed at creating careers and investing in diverse, talented, and aspiring designers to become the future of our industry.

Each step we take brings us closer to realizing our vision of DE&I. We are committed to continuing to walk the walk and aspiring to create conditions for everyone to put their best foot forward without barriers and to reach their highest potential.

We believe that paying our associates fairly, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or any other status, enables us to deliver on our goal of creating an inclusive environment where we can all be ourselves, contribute ideas, and do our best work. To this end, we take several steps to ensure pay rates are fair, competitive, and based on job-related factors. For example, we regularly review external market data, internal pay grades, position of pay in the pay range, as well as individual factors such as performance, training, and prior experience related to the work, to ensure fair pay. We also invest in pay processes that allow us to assess whether associates with similar roles and experience earn equal pay for comparable work.

Our culture is a towering strength of Designer Brands, and that culture is built upon and codified by a set of unified values that guide how we aspire to operate as a collective organization. The values are a creation of our associates, inclusive and representative of our global organization, having resulted from a process wherein associates were invited to join conversations to identify and define our organizational values and subsequently discuss how to integrate them into our culture. As a result, they come to life internally for our associates as they are reflected in how: "we love what we do; we own what we do; we do what's right; and we belong."

We provide all associates with the opportunity to share their opinions and feedback in relation to their employment experience through engagement surveys performed on a regular basis across all business segments. Results of the surveys are measured and analyzed with a goal of enhancing the associate experience, strengthening engagement and retention, and driving change. In addition to Company-led surveys, leaders are encouraged to conduct "skip level" touch bases, host roundtable chats, and conduct follow-up activities to better understand associate feedback. Upon exiting the Company, associates who voluntarily leave the business are provided with an exit survey to help us measure satisfaction and engagement, in addition to identifying the factors that may have contributed to pursuing another opportunity.

We continue to develop opportunities for associate connection and engagement in the evolving workplace environment by listening to our associates and taking actions on what is most important and impactful to them. One of the things our associates tell us is important to them is recognition. Our "Inspire Greatness" recognition program provides various means to recognize and reward associate accomplishments and work anniversaries.

Our business activities are global and subject to various federal, state, local, and foreign laws, rules, and regulations. For example, substantially all of our import operations are subject to complex trade and customs laws, regulations, and tax requirements, such as sanctions orders or tariffs set by governments through mutual agreements or unilateral actions. In addition, the countries where our products are manufactured or imported from may, from time to time, impose additional duties,

Our business consists of two principal selling seasons: the spring season, which includes the first and second fiscal quarters, and the fall season, which includes the third and fourth fiscal quarters. Typically, net sales are slightly higher in the fall season than in the spring season. However, this may not hold true when net sales are influenced by global economic conditions, changes in weather conditions, the timing of acquisitions, and our customers' interest in new seasonal styles.

Information about Designer Brands, including its reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), is available through our website at www.designerbrands.com. Such reports are accessible at no charge through our website and are made available as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is filed with or furnished to the SEC. The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

Investing in our Class A common shares involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the other information in this Form 10-K and in our other public filings, investors should carefully consider the following risk factors. The risks described below are not the only risks we face or may face. The occurrence of any of the following risks, or the occurrence of additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In such case, the trading price of our Class A common shares could decline, and investors may lose all or part of their original investment. This Form 10-K also contains forward-looking statements and estimates that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and estimates as a result of specific factors, including the risks and uncertainties described below.

Adverse global economic conditions that are caused by events or conditions beyond our control create uncertainties and have in the past impacted our business and may in the future materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. These adverse economic conditions include inflation, slower growth or recession, new or increased tariffs and other barriers to trade, changes to fiscal and monetary policy, higher interest rates, high unemployment, decreased consumer confidence in the economy, public health threats, international hostilities, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, conditions affecting the retail environment for products we sell, and other matters that influence consumer confidence.

Throughout 2023, a downturn in global economic conditions, most notably the growing concerns of a potential recession, rising interest rates, inflationary pressures, and significant foreign currency volatility, adversely impacted discretionary consumer income levels and spending for our customers. Consumer spending on discretionary items, including our products, generally declines during periods of economic uncertainty, when disposable income is reduced, or when there is a reduction in consumer confidence. During 2023, our net sales declined as we experienced overall lower direct-to-consumer traffic and we became more promotional in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Additionally, our major retailer customers for our Brand Portfolio segment may experience a significant downturn in their businesses as a result of macroeconomic conditions and, in turn, these customers may reduce their purchases from us, which may have a material adverse effect on our business. Competitive pricing pressure has been exacerbated by a more promotional retail environment as the industry experienced a shift from tighter inventory positions to excess inventory and as macroeconomic conditions impact discretionary consumer spending. These factors ultimately could require us to enact mitigating operating efficiency measures that could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, and results of operations.

The continuation of these trends could have a material adverse effect on our business or operating results. Moreover, we are unable to predict the severity of macroeconomic uncertainty, whether or when such circumstances may improve or worsen, or the full impact such circumstances could have on our business.

The footwear market is highly competitive with few barriers to entry. We compete against a diverse group of manufacturers and retailers, including department stores, online retailers, mall-based shoe stores, national chains, independent shoe retailers, single-brand specialty retailers, brand-oriented discounters, multi-channel specialty retailers, and brand suppliers. In addition, our wholesale retailer customers sell shoes purchased from competing footwear suppliers with brands that are well known. Our success depends on our ability to remain competitive with respect to assortment, fashion trends, quality, convenience, and value. The performance of our competitors, as well as a change in their promotional and pricing approaches as a result of the current economic environment, marketing activities, and other business strategies, could have a material adverse effect on our business.

E-commerce networks have rapidly evolved and consumer receptiveness to shopping online has substantially increased. Competition from e-commerce players has significantly increased due to their ability to provide improved user experiences, greater ease of buying goods, low or no shipping fees, faster shipping times, and more favorable return policies. Businesses, including our suppliers, can easily launch e-commerce websites and mobile platforms at nominal costs by using commercially available software or partnering with any of a number of successful digital marketplace providers. Some of our suppliers use such platforms to compete with us by allowing consumers to purchase products directly through the supplier. Competitors with other revenue sources may also be able to devote more resources to marketing and promotional campaigns, adopt more aggressive pricing policies, and devote more resources to websites, mobile platforms and applications, and systems development.

The number of people who access the Internet through devices other than personal computers, including mobile phones, smartphones, handheld computers such as notebooks and tablets, video game consoles, and television set-top devices, has increased dramatically in recent years. The smaller screen size, functionality, and memory associated with smartphones, laptops, and tablets may make using our websites and purchasing our products online more difficult. The versions of our websites developed for these devices and our mobile app may not be compelling to consumers. In addition, it is time-consuming and costly to keep pace with rapidly changing and continuously evolving technology, including potential changes related to artificial intelligence. If it is more difficult for our customers to buy products from us on their mobile devices, or if our customers choose not to buy products from us on their mobile devices or to use mobile products that do not offer access to our websites, our customer growth could be harmed, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We are also dependent on the interoperability of our websites with popular mobile operating systems that we do not control, such as iOS and Android, and any changes in such systems that degrade the functionality of our websites or mobile app, limit or

discontinue our access to a particular platform, or give preferential treatment to competitive products or services, could

adversely affect the usage of our websites on mobile devices. We are also subject to the policies and terms of service of the providers of such operating systems and mobile application download stores, which govern the promotion, distribution, content, and operation of our mobile applications. Each provider has broad discretion to change and interpret its terms of service and other policies with respect to us and other developers, and those changes may be unfavorable to us. Additionally, mobile application download stores have imposed, and are likely to continue imposing, certain privacy- and security-related restrictions and controls on the providers and applications within their marketplaces.

Demand for our products fluctuates according to rapid changes in consumer preferences and trends, which are dictated by lifestyle, fashion, and season, and may shift quickly. A variety of factors will affect our ability to maintain the proper mix of products, including economic conditions impacting discretionary consumer spending; unanticipated fashion trends; our ability to provide timely access to popular brands at attractive prices; our success in distributing merchandise to our stores, online customers, and our wholesale retailer customers in an efficient manner; and changes in weather patterns, which, in turn, may affect consumer preferences. If we are unable to anticipate trends and fulfill the merchandise needs of our customers, we may experience decreases in our net sales and/or may be forced to increase markdowns in relation to slow-moving merchandise, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

The success of our business depends on our ability to obtain products from our vendors, including third-party manufacturers and national brand vendors, on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, and to our specifications. If we fail to maintain strong relationships with these vendors or if they fail to ensure the quality of merchandise that they supply to us, our ability to provide our customers with merchandise they want at favorable prices may be limited, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, any negative brand image, widespread product defects, financial distress, or negative publicity related to our vendors could have a material adverse effect on our reputation and on our business.

We do not exert direct control over our vendors' operations and cannot guarantee that any vendor will have sufficient production capacity, meet our delivery expectations, or meet our product safety, social compliance, or quality standards. We typically do not have long-term supply contracts with our vendors, and the loss of any of our major vendors could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business. If these third-party manufacturers do not perform their obligations, cease working with us, fail to meet our product safety, social compliance, or quality standards, or are unable to provide us with the materials and services that we need, at prices and on terms that are acceptable to us, then we could experience product delays and shortages. Failure by us to deliver quality products to our customers on a timely basis and any associated damage to our reputation could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.

Decisions by national brand vendors not to sell to us or to limit the availability of the products they sell to us could have a negative impact on our business. In addition, our inability to stock our sales channels with desired merchandise at attractive prices could result in lower net sales and decreased customer interest in our sales channels, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. During 2023, three key national brand vendors together supplied approximately 21% of our retail segments merchandise, with no individual vendor providing more than 10% of our retail merchandise. The loss of, or a reduction in the amount and quality of merchandise supplied by, any of our high-volume vendors could have an adverse effect on our business. If we are unable to offer suitable alternatives to satisfy product demand, sales could decline, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

Our operating results depend on the orderly operation of our receiving, distribution, and fulfillment processes, which in turn depend on vendors' adherence to shipping schedules and our effective management of our facilities. We may not anticipate all of the changing demands on our operations, and events beyond our control may occur, including disruptions in operations due to public health threats, catastrophic events, shortages in labor, or shipping problems, any of which may result in delays in the delivery of merchandise to our stores and customers. We rely on the flow of goods through ports worldwide on a consistent basis from factories and suppliers. Disruptions at ports could create significant risks for our business, particularly if these disruptions occur during peak importing times. If we experience significant delays in receiving product, this could result in canceled orders by retailer customers, unanticipated inventory shortages, or receipt of seasonal product after the peak selling season, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.

In addition, if our merchandise is not delivered to customers in a timely fashion or is damaged or lost during the delivery process, our customers could become dissatisfied and cease shopping on our websites, which could adversely affect our business and operating results. If we encounter issues with our ability to timely and satisfactorily fulfill customer orders, meet customer expectations, manage inventory, and complete sales, our business may be adversely affected. While we maintain business interruption and property insurance, if any of the points within our distribution systems were to shut down for any reason or if we were to incur higher costs and longer lead times in connection with a disruption, our insurance may not be sufficient to cover the impact to our business.

From time to time, we may acquire or invest in businesses, or we may license brands that we believe could complement our business and offer growth opportunities. For example, in the first quarter of 2023, we acquired Keds and in the third quarter of 2023, we licensed the Hush Puppies brand, which both include the use of a transition services arrangement as we work toward integration into our existing infrastructure. The expected synergies and contributions to our business as a result of these and other investments may not materialize. Further, such integrations may disrupt our business or divert the attention of our management. Achieving the expected benefits depends in large part on our successful integration of any new operations, systems, and personnel in a timely and efficient manner. We cannot ensure that all of our integration efforts will be completed on a timely basis, as planned, or without substantial expense, delay, or other operational problems. Until we make substantial progress with our integration efforts, we also face the risk that we may not be able to effectively manage the business and achieve planned results. In addition, the integration process may strain our financial and managerial controls and reporting systems and procedures and may also result in the diversion of management and financial resources from core business objectives. Our integration efforts may not be successful, or we may not realize the anticipated benefits after we complete our integration efforts.

We have a long-term goal of doubling the net sales from our Owned Brands by 2026 (using 2021 net sales as a baseline), while also maintaining our levels of net sales of national brands. We expect this long-term goal will result in approximately one-third of our total net sales coming from our Owned Brands by 2026. Achieving these priorities depends in part on us executing our growth strategies successfully, and the initiatives that we implement in connection with these strategies may not resonate with our customers. We may not be able to realize the anticipated benefits of these growth strategies in whole, in part, or within the expected time frames. If our growth strategies do not meet customer expectations or are not differentiated from our competitors' offerings, this may have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, these efforts could place increased demands on our financial, managerial, operational, and administrative resources.

In addition, we may from time to time evaluate and pursue other strategic initiatives, investments, or acquisitions. These strategic initiatives, investments, or acquisitions could involve various inherent risks and the benefits sought may not be realized, or these strategic initiatives, investments, or acquisitions may not create value or may harm our brand and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our IT systems are an integral part of our strategies for efficiently operating our business, managing operations, and protecting against security risks related to our electronic processing and transmitting of confidential customer and associate data. The requirements to keep our IT systems operating at peak performance may be higher than anticipated and could strain our capital resources, as well as impact our ability to manage any system upgrades, implement new systems, make management process changes for newly implemented systems, integrate new businesses from transition service arrangements, and prevent any information security breaches. In addition, any significant disruption of our data center could have a material adverse effect on our operations dependent on those systems, specifically, our store and e-commerce operations, our distribution centers, and our merchandising team. While we maintain business interruption and property insurance, in the event of a data center shutdown, our insurance may not be sufficient to cover the impact to our business.

Our e-commerce operations are important to our business and are subject to various risks of operating online and mobile selling capabilities, such as the failure of our IT infrastructure, including any third-party hardware or software, resulting in downtime or other technical issues; inability to respond to technological changes, such as those related to artificial intelligence; credit card fraud; or other information security breaches. Failure to mitigate these risks could reduce e-commerce sales, damage our reputation, and have a material adverse effect on our business.

The interdependence of our systems creates significant risk to the successful completion of implementing new systems or upgrading existing systems, and the failure of any one system could have a material adverse effect on our overall IT infrastructure. We may experience difficulties as we transition to these new or upgraded systems and processes, including loss or corruption of data, decreases in productivity as our associates and third-party providers become familiar with new systems, and increased costs. Difficulties in implementing new or upgraded information systems or significant system failures could disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. If we are unable to successfully manage changes as we implement new or updated systems, including harmonizing our systems, data, processes, and reporting analytics, our ability to conduct, manage, and control routine business functions could be adversely affected. In addition, we could incur material, unanticipated expenses, including additional costs related to implementation.

Given the nature of our business, we, together with third parties acting on our behalf, receive, collect, process, use, and retain sensitive and confidential customer and associate data and proprietary business information. Our business relies on IT networks and systems to market and sell our products, process financial and personal information, manage a variety of business processes, and comply with regulatory, legal, and tax requirements. We also depend on a variety of information systems to effectively process customer orders and other data, for digital marketing activities, and for electronic communications with our associates, customers, prospective customers, and vendors. Some of our third-party service providers, such as identity verification and payment processing providers, also regularly have access to customer data. Additionally, we maintain other confidential, proprietary, or otherwise sensitive information relating to our business and third parties.

The IT networks and systems owned, operated, controlled, or used by us or our vendors may be susceptible to damage, disruptions or shutdowns, software or hardware vulnerabilities, data breaches, security incidents, supply-side attacks, failures during the process of upgrading or replacing software, databases, or components, power outages, natural disasters, hardware failures, attacks by computer hackers, telecommunication failures, user errors, user malfeasance, computer viruses, unauthorized access, phishing or social engineering attacks, ransomware attacks, distributed denial-of-service attacks, brute force, robocalls, and other real or perceived cyberattacks or catastrophic events, any of which may not be prevented by our efforts to secure our computer systems. Any of these incidents could lead to interruptions or shutdowns of our platform, disruptions in our ability to process customer orders or to track, record, or analyze the sale of our products, loss or corruption of data, or unauthorized access to or acquisition of personal information or other sensitive information, such as our intellectual property. We utilize security tools and controls, which include reasonable efforts to ensure that our third-party vendors maintain sufficient security measures, including encryption and authentication technology, in an effort to reduce our cyber risk and protect personal and other sensitive information. However, none of our or our vendors' security measures can provide absolute security. Advances in computer capabilities, increasingly sophisticated tools and methods used by hackers and cyber terrorists, new discoveries in the field of cryptography, the potential use of artificial intelligence by cyber-attackers to develop malicious

code and launch sophisticated phishing attempts, or other developments may result in our or our vendors' failure or inability to adequately protect personal or other sensitive information. Despite our or our vendors' security measures, we or our vendors may suffer a cyberattack, hackers or other unauthorized parties may gain access to or exfiltrate personal information or other sensitive data, and any such data compromise or unauthorized access may not be discovered in a timely fashion.

We rely on associates, contractors, and other third parties who may attempt to circumvent our security measures in order to obtain personal information or other sensitive data and may purposefully or inadvertently cause a breach involving such information. Actual or anticipated attacks may cause us to incur increased costs, including costs to deploy additional personnel and protection technologies, train associates, pay higher insurance premiums, and engage third-party specialists for additional services. An information security breach involving confidential and personal data could damage our reputation, adversely affect our customers' willingness to purchase from us, and adversely affect our vendors' willingness to supply or provide services to us. In addition, we may incur material liabilities and remediation costs as a result of an information security breach, including potential liability for stolen customer or associate data, costs relating to repairing system damage, or costs of providing credit monitoring or other benefits to customers or associates affected by the breach. If we experience an information security breach, our insurance may not be sufficient to cover the impact to our business. Although we have developed mitigating security controls to reduce our cyber risk and protect our data from loss or disclosure due to a security breach, including processes designed to reduce the impact of a security breach at a third-party vendor, such measures cannot provide absolute security.

We, and our third-party vendors, regularly experience cyberattacks aimed at disrupting services. Our third-party vendors have been and may be the victim of cyber-related attacks that could lead to operational disruptions that could have an adverse effect on our ability to fulfill customer orders. Security incidents, such as ransomware attacks, are becoming increasingly prevalent and severe, as well as increasingly difficult to detect. We, and our third-party vendors, have been subject to cyber, phishing, and social engineering attacks and other security incidents in the past and may continue to be subject to such attacks in the future. Security breaches can also occur as a result of non-technical issues, including intentional or inadvertent actions by our associates, our third-party vendors, or their personnel, or other parties. If we or our third-party service providers experience security breaches that result in a decline in marketplace performance, availability problems, or the loss of, corruption of, unauthorized access to, or disclosure of personal data or confidential information, customers may become unwilling to provide us with the information necessary for such customers to make purchases on our e-commerce websites, and our reputation and market position could be harmed. Existing customers may also decrease their purchases or close their accounts altogether. We could also face potential claims, investigations, regulatory proceedings, liability, and litigation, and could bear other substantial costs in connection with remediating and otherwise responding to any data security breach, all of which may not be adequately covered by insurance, and which may result in an increase in our costs for insurance or insurance not being available to us on economically feasible terms, or at all. Insurers may also deny us coverage as to any future claim. Any of these results could harm our growth prospects, financial condition, business, and reputation.

Our success is largely dependent on our ability to provide our customers with a merchandise assortment that they want and our ability to provide a consistent, high-quality customer experience. We believe that maintaining and enhancing the reputation and recognition of our banners and our Owned Brands are critical to our ability to expand and retain our customer base. Any negative publicity about us or the significant brands we offer may reduce demand for our merchandise. Failure to comply with ethical, social, product, labor, health and safety, accounting, or environmental standards could also jeopardize our reputation and potentially lead to various adverse consumer actions. In addition, negative claims or publicity, including on social media, regarding celebrities with whom we have license and endorsement arrangements could adversely affect our reputation and sales, regardless of whether such claims are accurate. Consumer actions could include boycotts and negative publicity through social or digital media. Negative public perception about us or the products we carry, whether justified or not, could impair our reputation, subject us to litigation, damage our brands, or have a material adverse effect on our business.

We hold exclusive licensing rights that allow us to design, source, and sell footwear for certain of our key Owned Brands, including Vince Camuto, Jessica Simpson, Lucky Brand, Hush Puppies, and Le Tigre. We rely on our ability to retain and maintain good relationships with the licensors and their ability to maintain strong, well-recognized brands and trademarks. The terms of our license agreements vary and are subject to renewal with various termination provisions, and we may not be able to renew these licenses. Even our longer-term or renewable licenses are typically dependent upon our ability to market and sell the licensed products at specified levels, and our failure to meet such levels may result in the termination or non-renewal of such licenses. Furthermore, many of our license agreements require minimum royalty payments, and if we are unable to generate sufficient sales and profitability to cover these minimum royalty requirements, we may be required to make additional payments to the licensors, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

The value of the brands we sell may also depend on the success of our corporate social responsibility ("CSR") and sustainability initiatives, which require Company-wide coordination and alignment. Risks associated with these initiatives include any increased public focus, including by governmental and nongovernmental organizations, new laws and regulations, increased costs associated with sustainability efforts and/or compliance with laws and regulations, as well as increased pressure to expand our CSR and sustainability disclosures in these areas, make commitments, set targets, or establish additional goals and take actions to achieve such targets and goals. All of the foregoing could expose us to market, operational, and execution costs or risks. Any CSR or sustainability metrics that we currently or may in the future disclose, whether based on the standards we set for ourselves or those set by others, or our failure to achieve any CSR or sustainability metrics that we currently or may in the future disclose, may influence our reputation and the value of the brands that we offer. There is also increased focus, including by investors, customers, and other stakeholders, on CSR and other sustainability matters, including the use of plastic, energy, waste, and worker safety. Our reputation could be damaged if we do not, or are perceived to not, act responsibly with respect to sustainability matters, which could also have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

Customer traffic is influenced by our marketing methods and our loyalty programs. We rely on our loyalty programs to drive customer traffic, sales, and purchase frequency. Loyalty members earn points toward discounts on future purchases through our VIP rewards programs in the U.S. and Canada. We employ a variety of marketing methods, including email, direct mail, and social media, to communicate product offerings and various promotions and discounts to all of our customers, as well as exclusive offers to our rewards members. As of February 3, 2024, we had 32.1 million members enrolled in our loyalty programs who have made at least one purchase over the last two years. In 2023, shoppers in the loyalty programs generated approximately 90% of the combined U.S. Retail and Canada Retail segments' net sales. If our rewards members decrease their purchase frequency or do not continue to shop with us, we fail to add new members, the number of members decreases, or our marketing is not effective in driving customer traffic, such event could have a material adverse effect on our business.

The success of our business is dependent on the continuation of an experienced and talented management team. If we were to lose the benefit of the experience, efforts, and abilities of any of our key executives or members of senior management, our business could be adversely affected. We have entered into employment agreements with certain of our key executives and also offer compensation packages designed to attract and retain talent. In addition, our ability to manage our business will require us to continue to train, motivate, and develop our associates to maintain a high level of talent for future challenges and succession planning. Competition for these types of personnel is intense, and we may not be successful in attracting and retaining the personnel required to grow and operate our business.

Funds drawn under our ABL Revolver may be used for working capital purposes, capital expenditures, share repurchases, other expenditures, and permitted acquisitions, as defined in the ABL Revolver. The amount of credit available under the ABL Revolver is limited to a borrowing base formulated on, among other things, a percentage of the book value of eligible inventory and credit card receivables, as reduced by certain reserves. Consequently, it is possible that, should we need to access any additional funds from our ABL Revolver, such funds may not be available in full. The ABL Revolver requires us to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1:1 when availability is less than the greater of $47.3 million or 10.0% of the maximum borrowing amount.

Our ABL Revolver and Term Loan also contain customary covenants restricting our activities, including limitations on our ability to sell assets, engage in acquisitions, enter into transactions involving related parties, incur additional debt, grant liens on assets, pay dividends, repurchase stock, and make certain other changes. There are specific exceptions to these covenants, including, in some cases, upon satisfying specified payment conditions based on availability. The ABL Revolver and Term Loan contain customary events of default, including failure to comply with certain financial and other covenants. Upon an event of default that is not cured or waived within the applicable cure period, in addition to other remedies that may be available to the lenders, our obligations may be accelerated, outstanding letters of credit may be required to be cash collateralized, and remedies may be exercised against the collateral.

We have key international operations in various locations, including Canada, China, and Brazil, and we face risks inherent in sourcing our merchandise from third-party manufacturers and national brand vendors with foreign operations. Our operations may be adversely affected by international political, economic, and social instability; local laws and customs; legal and regulatory constraints, including compliance with applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, labor, trade, and foreign tax laws; local business practices, including compliance with foreign laws and with domestic and international labor standards; and currency laws and regulations. Risks may also include, among others, public health threats, which has in the past materially adversely impacted our business; inclement weather and natural disasters; international hostilities, acts of war, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, the recent militant attacks on cargo vessels in the Red Sea, which ultimately could adversely impact supplier deliveries or freight costs, or terrorism; increases in shipping costs; transportation delays and interruptions, including increased inspections of import shipments by domestic authorities or the occurrence of international trade disruptions; work stoppages; expropriation or nationalization; changes in foreign government administration and governmental policies; changes in import duties or quotas; cost and difficulties associated with managing operations outside of the U.S.; possible adverse tax consequences from changes in tax laws or the unfavorable resolution of tax assessments or audits; and greater difficulty in enforcing intellectual property rights. Additionally, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively impact our financial results. With a substantial portion of our merchandise being imported from foreign countries, any of these events could result in our failure to obtain merchandise in a timely manner, which ultimately could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

We require our business partners to operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and our internal requirements. However, we do not control such third parties or their labor and business practices. The violation of labor or other laws by any one of our vendors could have a material adverse effect on our business.

State, federal, and foreign governments have enacted and are continuing to enact laws and regulations governing the collection, use, retention, sharing, transfer, and security of personally identifiable information and data. Our business is subject to a variety of federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations, orders, rules, codes, regulatory guidance, and certain industry standards regarding privacy, data protection, consumer protection, information security, and the processing of personal information and other data. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 ("CCPA") imposes certain restrictions and disclosure obligations on businesses that collect personal information about California residents and provides for a private right of action, as well as penalties for noncompliance. The CCPA provides for civil penalties for violations and creates a private right of action for certain data breaches that is expected to increase data breach litigation. In addition, the California Privacy Rights Act ("CPRA") took effect in January 2023 (with a look-back for certain requirements to January 2022), which amends and expands the CCPA and places additional restrictions on the "sharing" of personal information for purposes of cross-context behavioral advertising. We are subject to additional state privacy regulations, including the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act, the Colorado Privacy Act, the Connecticut Data Privacy Act, and the Utah Consumer Privacy Act, which regulate the processing of "personal data" regarding their respective residents and which grant residents certain rights with respect to their personal data. State laws are changing rapidly, and new legislation proposed or enacted in a number of other states imposes, or has the potential to impose, additional obligations on companies that process confidential, sensitive and personal information, and will continue to shape the data privacy environment nationally. The U.S. federal government is also significantly focused on privacy matters.

We are subject to other consumer protection laws and the regulatory environment is increasingly demanding with frequent new and changing requirements concerning cybersecurity, information security, and privacy, which may be inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another. Any failure by us or any of our business partners to comply with applicable laws, rules, and regulations may result in investigations or actions against us by governmental entities, private claims and litigation, fines, penalties, or other liabilities. Such events may increase our expenses, expose us to liabilities, and harm our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

While we aim to comply with applicable data protection laws and obligations in all material respects, we could be subject to claims that we have violated such laws and obligations, we may not be able to successfully defend against such claims, and we could be subject to significant fines and penalties in the event of non-compliance. Additionally, to the extent multiple state-level laws are introduced with inconsistent or conflicting standards and there is no federal law to preempt such laws, compliance with such laws could be difficult and costly to achieve, or impossible to achieve, and we could be subject to fines and penalties in the event of non-compliance.

In addition, heavy snowfall, hurricanes, or other severe weather events where our retail stores and the retail stores of our wholesale customers are located may decrease customer traffic in those stores and reduce our sales and profitability. Moreover, natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires and tsunamis, whether occurring in the U.S. or abroad, and their related consequences and effects, including energy shortages and public health issues, could disrupt our operations. In particular, if a natural disaster or severe weather event were to occur in an area in which we or our suppliers, customers, or distribution centers are located, our continued success would depend, in part, on the safety and availability of the relevant personnel and facilities and proper functioning of our or our third parties’ systems and operations. There is growing concern that climate change may increase both the frequency and severity of extreme weather conditions and natural disasters. In addition, the physical changes caused by climate change could result in changes in regulations, consumer preferences, production capabilities, availability of raw materials and costs, which could in turn affect our business, operating results, and financial condition.

If we were to experience a local or regional disaster or other business continuity event or concurrent events, we could experience operational challenges, depending upon how a local or regional event may affect our human capital across our operations or regarding particular aspects of our operations, such as key executive officers or personnel. Further, if we are unable to find alternative suppliers or shipping channels, replace capacity at key manufacturing or distribution locations or quickly repair damage to our IT systems and networks, including the Internet and third-party services, we could be late in delivering, or be unable to deliver, products to our customers. Any of these events could result in decreased demand for our products and disruptions in our sales channels and manufacturing and distribution networks, including those of our vendors, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

New laws and regulations related to ESG matters, including the recently-finalized climate disclosure rules adopted by the SEC, have been issued and new proposals may be adopted, which could require us to undertake costly initiatives or operational changes. Non-compliance with these emerging rules or standards, or a failure to address regulator, stakeholder, and societal expectations, may result in potential cost increases, litigation, fines, penalties, brand or reputational damage, loss of customers and vendors, or failure to retain and attract talent. Managing compliance and implementing ESG goals and initiatives involves risks and uncertainties, including increased costs. Any failure, or perceived failure, to manage ESG risks, adhere to public statements, comply with federal, state, or international ESG laws and regulations, or meet evolving and varied stakeholder expectations could result in legal and regulatory proceedings against us and materially adversely affect our business.

Our amended and restated articles of incorporation authorize our Board to issue up to 100 million preferred shares and to determine the powers, preferences, privileges, rights, including voting rights, qualifications, limitations, and restrictions on those shares, without any further vote or action by the shareholders. The rights of the holders of our Class A common shares will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred shares that may be issued in the future. The issuance of preferred shares could have the effect of delaying, deterring, or preventing a change in control of the Company and could adversely affect the voting power of our common shares.

In addition, provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, amended and restated code of regulations, and Ohio law, together or separately, could discourage potential acquisition proposals, delay or prevent a change in control, or limit the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for our common shares. Among other things, these provisions establish a staggered board, require a super-majority vote to remove directors, and establish certain advance notice procedures for nomination of candidates for election as directors and for shareholder proposals to be considered at shareholders' meetings.

There is currently no public market for the Company's Class B common shares. We do not intend to list the Class B common shares on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system. As a result, a secondary market for the Company's Class B common shares may not develop, and we do not expect any market makers to participate in a secondary market. Because the Class B common shares are not listed on a securities exchange or an automated quotation system, it may be difficult to obtain pricing information with respect to the Class B common shares. Accordingly, there may be a limited number of buyers if a holder decides to sell its Class B common shares. This may affect the price a holder would receive upon such sale. Alternatively, a holder of such shares could convert the shares into Class A common shares, on a share-for-share basis, prior to selling. However, such conversion could affect the timing of any such sale, which may in turn affect the price a holder may receive upon such sale.

As of February 3, 2024, the Schottenstein Affiliates beneficially owned approximately 26% of the Company's outstanding common shares, representing 62% of the combined voting power, consisting of, in the aggregate, 7.1 million Class A common shares (which are entitled to one vote per share) and 7.7 million Class B common shares (which are entitled to eight votes per share). The Schottenstein Affiliates directly control or substantially influence the outcome of matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, including the election of directors, approval of mergers or other business combinations, and approval of acquisitions or dispositions of assets. The interests of the Schottenstein Affiliates may differ from or be opposed to the interests of other shareholders, and the Schottenstein Affiliates' level of ownership and voting power in the Company may have the effect of delaying or preventing a subsequent change in control of the Company that may be favored by other shareholders.

The Schottenstein Affiliates engage in a variety of businesses, including, but not limited to, business and inventory liquidations, apparel companies, and real estate investments. Opportunities may arise in the area of potential competitive business activities that may be attractive to the Schottenstein Affiliates and us. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that the Schottenstein Affiliates are under no obligation to communicate or offer any corporate opportunity to us. In addition, the Schottenstein Affiliates have the right to engage in similar activities as us, do business with our suppliers and customers, and, except as limited by agreement, employ or otherwise engage any of our executives or associates.

Furthermore, as a "controlled company" within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") rules, the Company qualifies for, and in the future may opt to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements, including having a majority of independent directors, as well as having nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees composed entirely of independent directors.

None.

We have developed an information security program that is designed to address material risks from cybersecurity threats. Our information security program is integrated into our overall enterprise risk management process, which the Board ultimately oversees. The Board has delegated its responsibility for cybersecurity risk oversight to the Technology Committee of the Board, which is responsible for (i) regularly reviewing with management significant cybersecurity, privacy, and IT risks or exposures, and our policies and processes with respect to risk assessment and risk management of the same; (ii) regularly reviewing with management an assessment of the steps management has taken to monitor and control such risks; and (iii) regularly reporting to the full Board on such matters.

As described in further detail below, our information security program is led by our Director of IT Security & Compliance ("DITSC"), who is responsible for our overall information security strategy, policy, security engineering, operations, and cyber threat detection and response. The program includes policies and procedures that guide our implementation and maintenance of security measures and controls. Risk-based analysis and judgment of the DITSC and our management team, along with feedback from internal and third-party audits and assessments, are used to select security controls to address risks. The following factors, among others, are considered when identifying security controls: likelihood and severity of a risk, impact on the Company and others if a risk materializes, feasibility of controls, and impact of controls on operations and others. Third parties also play a role in our cybersecurity, as we engage security firms in different capacities to provide or operate some of these controls and technology systems, including cloud-based platforms and services. For example, third parties are used to conduct assessments, such as vulnerability scans and penetration testing. We use a variety of processes to address and oversee cybersecurity threats related to the use of third-party technology and services, including a vendor risk management program.

We have a written incident response plan and conduct tabletop exercises to enhance incident response preparedness. We have other response protocols to address operating impacts due to disruptions in services and technology, including scenario run books and mitigation plans for key vendors. Employees undergo security awareness training when hired and annually.

The DITSC is the Company's management position with primary responsibility for the development, operation, and maintenance of our information security program. The DITSC has over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, including over 15 years of experience in the Cyber Defense and Electronic Warfare section of the U.S. Army. The DITSC has obtained multiple subject matter certifications, including the Global Information Assurance Certification. The DITSC briefs the Technology Committee of the Board regularly and oversees regular cybersecurity training and education opportunities for the Board, which covers topics ranging from the current threat landscape to our cybersecurity program metrics, risks, and roadmap. Management receives regular updates on cybersecurity risks from the DITSC. In the event of a security incident, the DITSC will follow the escalation process in our incident response plan to notify the Company's Crisis Committee, which is composed of a cross-functional group of Company leaders. The Crisis Committee will work with the DITSC to respond to and remediate any actual cybersecurity incidents. Depending on the severity of the security incident, the DITSC and the Crisis Committee are to escalate the security incident to the Chief Legal Officer and the Principal Accounting Officer, who will assess materiality in consultation with outside counsel. The Chief Legal Officer will notify the Technology Committee and the Board of any potential material incident.

The following table summarizes the location and general use of our principal properties as of February 3, 2024 that we consider to be material to our business and that we believe will meet our operational needs for the foreseeable future:

(1)    Our DSW U.S. stores average approximately 20,000 square feet. Most of the store leases are for a fixed term with options for extension periods, exercisable at our option.

(2)    The Shoe Company and DSW stores in Canada average approximately 7,800 square feet. Most of the store leases are for a fixed term with options for extension periods, exercisable at our option.

Not applicable.

PART II

Our Class A common shares are listed for trading on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "DBI." There is currently no public market for the Company's Class B common shares, but the Class B common shares can be converted into the Company's Class A common shares at the election of the holder on a share-for-share basis. Holders of Class A common shares are entitled to one vote per share and holders of Class B common shares are entitled to eight votes per share on matters submitted to shareholders for approval. As of March 18, 2024, there were 191 holders of record of our Class A common shares and 12 holders of record of our Class B common shares. The number of holders of record is based upon the actual number of holders registered at such date and does not include holders of shares in "street names" or persons, partnerships, associates, corporations, or other entities identified in security position listings maintained by depositories.

The payment of any future dividends is at the discretion of our Board and is based on our future earnings, cash flow, financial condition, capital requirements, changes in taxation laws, general economic condition, and any other relevant factors. We anticipate declaring dividends on a quarterly basis.

On March 14, 2024, the Board declared a quarterly cash dividend payment of $0.05 per share for both Class A and Class B common shares. The dividend will be paid on April 12, 2024 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 29, 2024.

The ABL Revolver and the Term Loan contain customary covenants restricting our activities, including limitations on the ability to pay dividends or repurchase stock. There are specific exceptions to these covenants including, in some cases, upon satisfying specified payment conditions based on availability.

For 2023, net sales decreased 7.3% and total comparable sales decreased 9.0% over last year. During 2023, net sales from our Owned Brands decreased 6.2% over last year, with Owned Brands representing 25.8% of consolidated net sales as compared to 25.5% for last year. At the beginning of 2023, we completed the acquisition of Keds, expanding our Owned Brands' reach into casual and athleisure footwear in the wholesale and direct-to-consumer e-commerce channels and complementing the additions of Le Tigre and Topo during 2022. We believe these acquisitions represent significant steps taken toward our long-term goal of net sales from our Owned Brands reaching one-third of total sales by 2026. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales for 2023 was 90 basis points lower when compared to last year, primarily due to promotional pricing and the deleveraging effect of lower sales on fixed store occupancy costs, which more than offset lower logistics costs, including freight, shipping, and distribution.

Throughout 2023, a downturn in global economic conditions, most notably the growing concerns of a potential recession, rising interest rates, inflationary pressures, changes in employment levels, and significant foreign currency volatility, has adversely impacted discretionary consumer income levels and spending for our customers. Consumer spending on discretionary items, including our products, generally declines during periods of economic uncertainty, when disposable income is reduced, or when there is a reduction in consumer confidence. We are unable to predict the severity of macroeconomic uncertainty, whether or when such circumstances may improve or worsen, or the full impact such circumstances could have on our business. As it relates to our business, during the second half of 2022 and continuing into 2023, our net sales declined as we experienced lower traffic and became more promotional under a more competitive landscape. Competitive pricing pressure has been exacerbated by a more promotional retail environment as macroeconomic conditions continue to impact discretionary consumer spending. These factors ultimately could require us to enact mitigating operating efficiency measures that could have a material adverse effect on business, operations, and results of operations.

The following table presents our consolidated results of operations with associated percentages of net sales:

The following table summarizes net sales by segment:

The following table summarizes gross profit by segment:

The net recognition of intersegment gross profit consisted of the following:

IMPAIRMENT CHARGES

During 2023, we recorded impairment charges of $4.8 million, primarily in the Brand Portfolio segment resulting from an abandoned leased space. During 2022, we recorded impairment charges of $4.3 million, primarily in the Brand Portfolio segment, resulting from subleases of abandoned leased spaces.

For 2023, interest expense, net, increased by $17.3 million over last year, primarily driven by overall higher interest rates on our debt, with higher rates on the ABL Revolver over last year and the addition of the Term Loan, and a higher average debt balance during 2023.

In connection with the settlement of our previous senior secured term loan agreement ("Previous Term Loan") on February 8, 2022, we incurred a $12.7 million loss on extinguishment of debt, composed of a $6.9 million prepayment premium and a $5.7 million write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs. As a result of the replacement of the ABL Revolver during 2022, we also wrote off $0.2 million of debt issuance costs.

The effective tax rate was a positive 27.3% for 2023, as compared to a negative 2.0% for 2022. The effective tax rate for 2023 differed from the statutory rate primarily due to non-deductible compensation offset by other permanent adjustments. The effective tax rate for 2022 differed from the statutory rate as a result of releasing $55.7 million of the valuation allowance partially offset by the permanent tax adjustments, primarily non-deductible compensation.

Our primary ongoing operating cash flow requirements are for inventory purchases, payments on lease obligations and licensing royalty commitments, other working capital needs, capital expenditures, and debt service. Our working capital and inventory levels fluctuate seasonally.

In addition to the above, we have an exclusive call option and the noncontrolling interest holders have a put option with respect to our purchase of the remaining 20.6% ownership interest in Topo upon the occurrence of certain events or after a period of three years following the close of the transaction, which was December 13, 2022. The redemption price is defined in the operating agreement and is based primarily on a fixed multiple of Topo's trailing 12 months of adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and other agreed upon adjustments.

We are committed to a cash management strategy that maintains liquidity to adequately support the operation of the business, pursue our growth strategy, and withstand unanticipated business volatility, including the impacts of the global economic conditions on our results of operations. We believe that cash generated from our operations, together with our current levels of cash, as well as the availability under our ABL Revolver and Term Loan, are sufficient to maintain our ongoing operations, support seasonal working capital requirements, fund acquisitions and capital expenditures, repurchase common shares under our share repurchase program, and meet our debt service obligations over the next 12 months and beyond.

The following table presents the key categories of our consolidated statements of cash flows:

The decrease in net cash provided by operations was largely driven by the receipt of $120.3 million of our income tax receivable from the Internal Revenue Service during 2022 and the decrease in net income recognized in 2023 over last year, after adjusting for non-cash activity including depreciation and amortization and the loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of debt issuance costs. These were partially offset by lower spend on working capital due to the decreased investment in inventory with the slowdown in net sales, as discussed above in the results of operations, and the timing of payments on current liabilities.

For 2023, net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to the acquisition of Keds for $127.3 million and capital expenditures of $55.0 million relating to infrastructure and IT projects, new stores, and store improvements. For 2022, the net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to capital expenditures of $55.0 million relating to infrastructure and IT projects, new stores, store improvements, the acquisition of Topo for $19.1 million, and our investment in Le Tigre for $8.2 million.

We believe the following represent the most significant accounting policies, critical estimates and assumptions, among others, used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements:

We have market risk exposure related to interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. Market risk is measured as the potential negative impact on earnings, cash flows, or fair values resulting from a hypothetical change in interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates over the next year. We currently do not utilize hedging instruments to mitigate these market risks.

We are exposed to the impact of foreign exchange rate risk primarily through U.S. dollar denominated debt held by our Canadian legal entity where the functional currency is the Canadian dollar. A hypothetical 10% movement in the exchange rate would result in an immaterial impact of foreign currency revaluation recorded to non-operating expenses, net, within the consolidated statements of operations.

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Designer Brands Inc.

The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

The U.S. Retail segment, which includes stores operated in the U.S. under the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse banner and its related e-commerce site, accounts for inventory using the retail inventory method and is stated at the lower of cost or market. Under the retail inventory method, the valuation of inventories at cost and the resulting gross profits are determined by applying a calculated cost-to-retail ratio to the retail value of inventories. The cost basis of inventories reflected on the balance sheet is decreased by charges to cost of sales at the time the retail value of the inventory is lowered by markdowns. Earnings are negatively impacted as the merchandise is marked down prior to sale.

Inherent in the valuation of inventories are certain significant judgments and estimates, including estimating inventory markdowns, which can significantly impact the ending inventory valuation and the resulting gross profit.

Given the significant estimates and assumptions management utilizes to measure inventory markdowns at period end, a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort is required when performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of estimates and assumptions. Such estimates rely on the completeness of recorded markdowns.

Our audit procedures related to the completeness of estimated inventory markdowns included the following, among others:

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Columbus, Ohio

March 25, 2024

We have served as the Company's auditor since 1997.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.