SC 13G 1 tm2424503d1_sc13g.htm SC 13G

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

(Amendment No. )*

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Designer Brands Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Class A Common Shares, without par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

250565108

(CUSIP Number)

September 12, 2024

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the following box to designate the rule pursuant to which the Schedule is filed:

Rule 13d-1(b)

Rule 13d-1(c)

Rule 13d-1(d)

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

CUSIP No. 250565108

SCHEDULE 13G

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1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)		(a) ¨ (b) ¨
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH	5	SOLE VOTING POWER -0-
	6	SHARED VOTING POWER 2,402,940
	7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0-
	8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,406,240
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,406,240
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)			¨
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 5.0%
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) IA, PN

CUSIP No. 250565108

SCHEDULE 13G

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1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS David E. Shaw
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)		(a) ¨ (b) ¨
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH	5	SOLE VOTING POWER -0-
	6	SHARED VOTING POWER 2,402,940
	7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0-
	8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,406,240
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,406,240
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)			¨
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 5.0%
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) IN

CUSIP No. 250565108

SCHEDULE 13G

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Item 1.
	(a)	Name of Issuer
		Designer Brands Inc.

	(b)	Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices
		810 DSW Drive Columbus, OH 43219

Item 2.
	(a)	Name of Person Filing
		D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. David E. Shaw

	(b)	Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence
		The business address for each reporting person is: Two Manhattan West 375 Ninth Avenue, 52nd Floor New York, NY 10001

	(c)	Citizenship
		D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the state of Delaware. David E. Shaw is a citizen of the United States of America.

	(d)	Title of Class of Securities
		Class A Common Shares, without par value

	(e)	CUSIP Number
		250565108

Item 3.	If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
Not Applicable

Item 4.	Ownership

As of September 12, 2024:

(a)	Amount beneficially owned:
		D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:	2,406,240 shares This is composed of (i) 1,102,984 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., (ii) 764,490 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C., (iii) 278,600 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Composite Portfolios, L.L.C., and (iv) 260,166 shares under the management of D. E. Shaw Investment Management, L.L.C.

		David E. Shaw:	2,406,240 shares This is composed of (i) 1,102,984 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., (ii) 764,490 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C., (iii) 278,600 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Composite Portfolios, L.L.C., and (iv) 260,166 shares under the management of D. E. Shaw Investment Management, L.L.C.

(b)	Percent of class:
		D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:	5.0%
		David E. Shaw:	5.0%

CUSIP No. 250565108

SCHEDULE 13G

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(c)	Number of shares to which the person has:
	(i)	Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
		D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:	-0- shares
		David E. Shaw:	-0- shares

(ii)	Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
	D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:	2,402,940 shares
	David E. Shaw:	2,402,940 shares

(iii)	Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
	D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:	-0- shares
	David E. Shaw:	-0- shares

(iv)	Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
	D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:	2,406,240 shares
	David E. Shaw:	2,406,240 shares

David E. Shaw does not own any shares directly. By virtue of David E. Shaw’s position as President and sole shareholder of D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc., which is the general partner of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P., which in turn is the investment adviser of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C., and D. E. Shaw Composite Portfolios, L.L.C. and the managing member of D. E. Shaw Investment Management, L.L.C., and by virtue of David E. Shaw’s position as President and sole shareholder of D. E. Shaw & Co. II, Inc., which is the managing member of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C., which in turn is the manager of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C., and D. E. Shaw Composite Portfolios, L.L.C., David E. Shaw may be deemed to have the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 2,402,940 shares and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 2,406,240 shares, the 2,406,240 shares as described above constituting 5.0% of the outstanding shares, and, therefore, David E. Shaw may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such shares. David E. Shaw disclaims beneficial ownership of such 2,406,240 shares.

Item 5.	Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class
Not Applicable

Item 6.	Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person
Not Applicable

Item 7.	Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person
Not Applicable

Item 8.	Identification and Classification of Members of the Group
Not Applicable
Item 9.	Notice of Dissolution of Group
Not Applicable

Item 10.

Certification

By signing below, each of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. and David E. Shaw certify that, to the best of such reporting person’s knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

CUSIP No. 250565108

SCHEDULE 13G

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SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of their knowledge and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete, and correct. A Power of Attorney, dated August 1, 2024, granted by David E. Shaw in favor of Daniel R. Marcus, is attached hereto.

Dated: September 23, 2024

	D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.

	By:	/s/ Daniel R. Marcus
		Daniel R. Marcus
		Chief Compliance Officer

	David E. Shaw

	By:	/s/ Daniel R. Marcus
		Daniel R. Marcus
		Attorney-in-Fact for David E. Shaw

SEC Form SC 13G filed by Designer Brands Inc.