Designer Brands Inc.DBI
Designer Brands Inc. Debt Disclosure
DEBT
Debt consisted of the following:
| (in thousands) | January 31, 2026 | February 1, 2025 | |||||||||
| ABL Revolver | $ | 319,063 | $ | 370,090 | |||||||
| Term Loan | 119,625 | 126,375 | |||||||||
| Total debt | 438,688 | 496,465 | |||||||||
| Less unamortized Term Loan debt issuance costs | (3,732) | (5,430) | |||||||||
| Less current maturities of long-term debt | (6,750) | (6,750) | |||||||||
| Long-term debt | $ | 428,206 | $ | 484,285 | |||||||
As of January 31, 2026, future maturities of debt are as follows:
| (in thousands) | |||||
| 2026 | $ | 6,750 | |||
| 2027 | 431,938 | ||||
| $ | 438,688 | ||||
ABL REVOLVER
On March 30, 2022, we replaced our previous senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility with our current ABL Revolver, which was subsequently amended on February 28, 2023, June 23, 2023, and February 27, 2026. The amended ABL Revolver provides a revolving line of credit of up to $600.0 million, including a Canadian sub-limit of up to $60.0 million, a $75.0 million sub-limit for the issuance of letters of credit, a $60.0 million sub-limit for swing-loan advances for U.S. borrowings, and a $6.0 million sub-limit for swing-loan advances for Canadian borrowings. In addition, the ABL Revolver includes a first-in last-out term loan ("FILO Term Loan") with $30.0 million borrowed. The FILO Term Loan may be repaid in full, but not in part, so long as certain payment conditions are satisfied. Once repaid, no portion of the FILO Term Loan may be reborrowed. Our ABL Revolver is secured by a first-priority lien on substantially all of our personal property assets, including credit card receivables and inventory. The ABL Revolver may be used to provide funds for working capital, capital expenditures, share repurchases, other expenditures, and permitted acquisitions as defined by the credit facility agreement. The amount of credit available 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. As of January 31, 2026, the revolving line of credit (excluding the FILO Term Loan) had a borrowing base of $394.2 million, with $289.1 million in outstanding borrowings and $4.0 million in letters of credit issued, resulting in $101.1 million available for borrowings. See Note 16, Subsequent Events, for the subsequent changes to the ABL Revolver due to the amendment entered into on February 27, 2026.
Borrowings under the revolving line of credit and letters of credit issued under the ABL Revolver accrue interest, at our option, at a rate equal to: (A) a base rate per annum equal to the greatest of (i) the prime rate, (ii) the Fed Funds Rate (as defined in the credit facility agreement and subject to a floor of 0%) plus 0.5%, and (iii) Adjusted Term SOFR (as defined in the credit facility agreement) plus 1.0%; or (B) a one-month, three-month or six-month Adjusted Term SOFR per annum (subject to a floor of 0%), plus, in each instance, an applicable rate to be determined based on average availability. The FILO Term Loan accrues interest, at our option, at a rate equal to: (A) a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to the greatest of (i) the prime rate, (ii) the Fed Funds Rate plus 0.5%, or (iii) Adjusted Term SOFR plus 1.0%, plus 2.5%; or (B) Adjusted Term SOFR for the interest period in effect for such borrowing plus 3.5%. Commitment fees are based on the unused portion of the ABL Revolver available for borrowings. Interest expense related to the ABL Revolver includes interest on borrowings and letters of credit, with an interest rate of 6.1% as of January 31, 2026, commitment fees, and the amortization of debt issuance costs.
TERM LOAN
On June 23, 2023, we entered into the Term Loan and have since borrowed the maximum aggregate amount of $135.0 million during 2023, consisting of $121.5 million in U.S. loans and $13.5 million in Canadian loans (denominated in USD). The Term Loan matures at the earliest of the date the ABL Revolver matures or June 2028. The Term Loan is collateralized by a first-priority lien on substantially all of our real and intellectual property and by a second-priority lien on the assets used as collateral for the ABL revolver, primarily credit card receivables and inventory.
Borrowings under the Term Loan bear interest at a per annum rate equal to: (A) an adjusted three-month SOFR per annum (subject to a floor of 2.0%), plus 7.0%; or if (A) is not available, then (B) a base rate per annum equal to the greater of (i) 2.0%, (ii) the prime rate, (iii) the Fed Funds Rate plus 0.5%, and (iv) the Adjusted Term SOFR plus 1.0%; plus, in each instance, 6.0%, with an interest rate of 10.8% (effective interest rate of 12.1% when including the amortization of debt issuance costs) as of January 31, 2026.
DEBT COVENANTS
The ABL Revolver requires us to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio covenant 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. At any time that liquidity is less than $100.0 million, the Term Loan requires the consolidated net leverage ratio to be no greater than 2.50 to 1.00, calculated on a trailing twelve-month basis and measured on the last day of each fiscal month. Testing of the consolidated net leverage ratio ends after liquidity has been greater than or equal to $100.0 million for a period of 45 consecutive days. The ABL Revolver and Term Loan also contain customary covenants restricting certain 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 or 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. As of January 31, 2026, we were in compliance with all financial covenants contained in the ABL Revolver and the Term Loan.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Mar 30, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2025 | Mar 24, 2025 | |
| 2024 | Mar 25, 2024 | |
| 2023 | Mar 16, 2023 | |
| 2022 | Mar 21, 2022 | |
| 2021 | Mar 22, 2021 | |
| 2020 | May 1, 2020 | |
| 2019 | Mar 26, 2019 | |
| 2018 | Mar 23, 2018 | |
| 2017 | Mar 23, 2017 | |
| 2016 | Mar 24, 2016 | |
About Debt Disclosures
Debt disclosures detail a company's borrowing structure — the types of instruments, interest rates, maturity schedule, and covenant restrictions that define its financial obligations and flexibility. This section is essential for assessing refinancing risk, interest rate exposure, and the margin of safety against financial distress.
Key signals: the maturity schedule reveals concentration risk — large maturities within 1-2 years during tight credit markets can force dilutive refinancing or asset sales. Compare the fair value of debt against carrying amount to gauge whether the market views the company's credit risk differently than the balance sheet suggests. Watch covenant compliance disclosures for tightening cushions, especially leverage and interest coverage ratios. Variable-rate debt exposure quantifies sensitivity to interest rate changes. Secured versus unsecured mix affects recovery rates and future borrowing capacity. Compare net debt-to-EBITDA against industry peers and covenant limits to assess financial health.