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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended November 3, 2007
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission File Number 1-32545
DSW INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Ohio   31-0746639
     
(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
810 DSW Drive, Columbus, Ohio   43219
     
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
(614) 237-7100
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
N/A
 
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
þ   Yes           o  No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer  o                     Accelerated filer  þ                     Non-accelerated filer  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
o   Yes           þ  No
The number of outstanding Class A Common Shares, without par value, as of November 30, 2007 was 16,255,798 and Class B Common Shares, without par value, as of November 30, 2007 was 27,702,667.
 
 

 


 

DSW INC.
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Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
DSW INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share amounts)
(unaudited)
                 
    November 3,   February 3,
    2007   2007
 
ASSETS
               
 
               
Cash and equivalents
  $ 46,410     $ 73,205  
Short-term investments
    94,700       98,650  
Accounts receivable, net
    9,697       4,661  
Accounts receivable from related parties
    3,114       3,623  
Inventories
    274,927       237,737  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    25,404       22,049  
Deferred income taxes
    19,777       18,046  
 
Total current assets
    474,029       457,971  
 
Property and equipment, net
    169,569       116,872  
Long-term investments
    2,500          
Goodwill
    25,899       25,899  
Tradenames and other intangibles, net
    4,736       5,355  
Other assets
    4,001       2,206  
 
Total assets
  $ 680,734     $ 608,303  
 
 
               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Accounts payable
  $ 109,188     $ 89,806  
Accounts payable to related parties
    661       5,161  
Accrued expenses:
               
Compensation
    5,519       17,288  
Taxes
    11,101       10,935  
Gift cards and merchandise credits
    10,832       11,404  
Other
    25,846       24,673  
 
Total current liabilities
    163,147       159,267  
 
 
               
Deferred income taxes and other non-current liabilities
    86,887       74,457  
 
               
Commitments and contingencies
               
 
               
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Class A Common Shares, no par value; 170,000,000 authorized; 16,255,798 and 16,238,765 issued and outstanding, respectively
    286,663       283,108  
 
               
Class B Common Shares, no par value; 100,000,000 authorized; 27,702,667 and 27,702,667 issued and outstanding, respectively
               
 
               
Preferred Shares, no par value; 100,000,000 authorized; no shares issued or outstanding Retained earnings
    144,037       91,471  
 
Total shareholders’ equity
    430,700       374,579  
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 680,734     $ 608,303  
 
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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DSW INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
                                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
    November 3,   October 28,   November 3,   October 28,
    2007   2006   2007   2006
 
Net sales
  $ 367,380     $ 332,219     $ 1,073,095     $ 950,008  
Cost of sales
    (260,720 )     (233,544 )     (775,829 )     (672,944 )
 
 
                               
Gross profit
    106,660       98,675       297,266       277,064  
Operating expenses
    (71,855 )     (73,451 )     (216,917 )     (200,854 )
 
Operating profit
    34,805       25,224       80,349       76,210  
 
                               
Interest expense
    (140 )     (145 )     (421 )     (428 )
Interest income
    1,673       1,708       5,621       5,290  
 
Interest income, net
    1,533       1,563       5,200       4,862  
 
Earnings before income taxes
    36,338       26,787       85,549       81,072  
Income tax provision
    (13,906 )     (10,786 )     (32,852 )     (32,211 )
 
Net income
  $ 22,432     $ 16,001     $ 52,697     $ 48,861  
 
 
                               
Basic and diluted earnings per share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.51     $ 0.36     $ 1.20     $ 1.11  
Diluted
  $ 0.51     $ 0.36     $ 1.19     $ 1.11  
 
                               
Shares used in per share calculations:
                               
Basic
    43,957       43,922       43,951       43,909  
Diluted
    44,274       44,226       44,324       44,193  
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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DSW INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
                                                         
    Number of                        
    Class A   Class B   Class A   Class B           Deferred    
    Common   Common   Common   Common   Retained   Compensation    
    Shares   Shares   Shares   Shares   Earnings   Expense   Total
 
Balance, January 28, 2006
    16,190       27,703     $ 281,119     $ 0     $ 26,007     $ (2,410 )   $ 304,716  
 
 
                                                       
Net income
                                    48,861               48,861  
Reclassification of unamortized deferred compensation
                    (2,410 )                     2,410          
Stock units granted
    10               291                               291  
Exercise of stock options
    22               416                               416  
Excess tax benefit related to stock options exercised
                    93                               93  
Stock based compensation expense, before related tax effects
                    2,661                               2,661  
 
                                                       
 
Balance, October 28, 2006
    16,222       27,703     $ 282,170     $ 0     $ 74,868     $ 0     $ 357,038  
 
 
                                                       
 
Balance, February 3, 2007
    16,239       27,703     $ 283,108     $ 0     $ 91,471     $ 0     $ 374,579  
 
 
                                                       
Net income
                                    52,697               52,697  
Cumulative effect of FIN 48 adoption
                                    (131 )             (131 )
Stock units granted
    9               325                               325  
Exercise of stock options
    8               64                               64  
Excess tax benefit related to stock options exercised
                    63                               63  
Stock based compensation expense, before related tax effects
                    3,103                               3,103  
 
                                                       
 
Balance, November 3, 2007
    16,256       27,703     $ 286,663     $ 0     $ 144,037     $ 0     $ 430,700  
 
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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DSW INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
                 
    Nine months ended
 
    November 3,   October 28,
    2007   2006
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net income
  $ 52,697     $ 48,861  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    17,151       14,201  
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    88       88  
Stock based compensation expense
    3,103       2,661  
Deferred income taxes
    572       (2,077 )
Loss on disposal of assets
    115       529  
Impairment of fixed assets
    720       817  
Grants of stock units
    325       291  
Other
    (260 )     4,519  
Change in working capital, assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable, net
    (5,036 )     304  
Accounts receivable from related parties
    509       (5,780 )
Inventories
    (37,190 )     (18,349 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (5,238 )     (1,785 )
Accounts payable
    12,089       7,982  
Accrued expenses
    (10,980 )     10,677  
Proceeds from tenant and construction allowances
    10,256       4,315  
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    38,921       67,254  
 
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Cash paid for property and equipment
    (67,272 )     (19,981 )
Purchases of available-for-sale investments
    (87,100 )     (150,400 )
Maturities and sales from available-for-sale investments
    88,550       75,050  
Purchase of intangible asset
    (21 )        
 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (65,843 )     (95,331 )
 
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    64       416  
Excess tax benefit — related to stock option exercises
    63       93  
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
    127       509  
 
 
               
Net decrease in cash and equivalents
    (26,795 )     (27,568 )
Cash and equivalents, beginning of period
    73,205       124,759  
 
Cash and equivalents, end of period
  $ 46,410     $ 97,191  
 
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

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DSW INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
1. BUSINESS OPERATIONS
DSW Inc. (“DSW”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including DSW Shoe Warehouse, Inc. (“DSWSW”) and Brand Technology Services LLC (“BTS”), are herein referred to collectively as DSW or the “Company”. DSW’s Class A Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “DSW”. At November 3, 2007, Retail Ventures, Inc. (“RVI” or “Retail Ventures”) owned approximately 63.0% of DSW’s outstanding Common Shares, representing approximately 93.2% of the combined voting power of DSW’s outstanding Common Shares.
DSW operates in two segments, DSW stores and leased departments, and sells better-branded footwear in both. As of November 3, 2007, DSW operated a total of 250 stores located throughout the United States. DSW stores offer a wide selection of brand name and designer dress, casual and athletic footwear for men and women, as well as accessories. During the nine months ended November 3, 2007, DSW opened 28 new DSW stores and closed one store. DSW also operates leased departments for three non-affiliated retailers and one affiliated retailer in its leased department segment. During the nine months ended November 3, 2007, DSW added 11 new non-affiliated leased departments, seven affiliated leased departments and ceased operations in two non-affiliated leased departments and one affiliated leased department. DSW owns the merchandise, records sales of merchandise net of returns and sales tax, owns the fixtures (except for Filene’s Basement, the affiliated retailer) and provides supervisory assistance in these locations. Stein Mart, Inc. (“Stein Mart”), Gordman’s, Inc. (“Gordmans”), and Filene’s Basement stores Frugal Fannie’s Fashion Warehouse (“Frugal Fannie’s”), provide the sales associates. DSW pays a percentage of net sales as rent. As of November 3, 2007, DSW supplied merchandise to 275 Stein Mart stores, 63 Gordmans stores, 36 Filene’s Basement stores, and one Frugal Fannie’s store.
2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 5, 2007 (the “2006 Annual Report”).
In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
3. ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, (“FIN 48”) and in May 2007, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FIN 48-1 Definition of Settlement in FASB Interpretation No. 48 . FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes . The evaluation of a tax position in accordance with FIN 48 is a two step process. The first step is recognition: the enterprise determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The second step is measurement: a tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold is measured to determine that amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. FIN 48 provides for a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle to be recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings upon the initial adoption. DSW adopted FIN 48 effective February 4, 2007. The impact of this adoption is presented in Note 8.
In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, (“FAS 157”) which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The intent of this standard is to ensure consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and enhanced disclosures regarding the measurements. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The FASB has provided a one-year deferral for the implementation of FAS 157 for non-financial assets and liabilities that are not required or permitted to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. DSW is currently evaluating the impact this statement may have on its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“FAS 159”). This statement allows entities to choose to measure financial instruments and certain other

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DSW INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. FAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. DSW is currently evaluating the impact this statement may have on its consolidated financial statements.
4. STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
DSW has a 2005 Equity Incentive Plan that provides for the issuance of equity awards to purchase up to 4,600,000 common shares, including stock options, restricted stock units, and director stock units to management, key employees of DSW and affiliates, consultants (as defined in the plan), and non-employee directors of DSW.
During each of the three months ended November 3, 2007 and October 28, 2006, the Company recorded stock based compensation expense of approximately $1.1 million and for the nine months ended November 3, 2007 and October 28, 2006, the Company recorded stock based compensation expense of approximately $3.1 million and $2.7 million, respectively.
Stock Options
The following table illustrates the weighted-average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model for options granted in each of the periods presented.
                 
    Nine months ended
    November 3,   October 28,
    2007   2006
     
 
               
Assumptions:
               
Risk-free interest rate
    4.5 %     4.6 %
Expected volatility of DSW common stock
    39.4 %     40.5 %
Expected option term
  5 years   5 years
Expected dividend yield
    0.0 %     0.0 %
The weighted-average grant date fair value of each option granted in the three months ended November 3, 2007 and October 28, 2006 was $11.54 and $11.76 per share, respectively, and for the nine months ended November 3, 2007 and October 28, 2006 was $17.38 and $12.93 per share, respectively.
The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity for the nine months ended November 3, 2007:
         
    Nine months ended
    November 3, 2007
    (in thousands)
Outstanding beginning of period
    1,084  
Granted
    520  
Exercised
    (13 )
Forfeited
    (71 )
 
       
Outstanding end of period
    1,520  
 
       
Exercisable end of period
    331  

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DSW Inc.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
Restricted Stock Units
The following table summarizes DSW’s restricted stock unit activity for the nine months ended November 3, 2007:
         
    Nine months ended
    November 3, 2007
    (in thousands)
Outstanding beginning of period
    135  
Granted
    23  
Vested
       
Forfeited
    (3 )
 
       
Outstanding end of period
    155  
 
       
The total aggregate intrinsic value of nonvested restricted stock units at November 3, 2007 was $3.3 million. As of November 3, 2007, the total compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock units not yet recognized was approximately $3.7 million with a weighted average expense recognition period remaining of 1.9 years. The weighted average exercise price for all restricted stock units is zero.
Director Stock Units
DSW issues stock units to directors who are not employees of DSW or RVI. During the nine months ended November 3, 2007, DSW granted 9,294 director stock units and expensed approximately $0.3 million related to these grants. As of November 3, 2007, 36,832 director stock units had been issued and no director stock units had been settled.
5. INVESTMENTS
Short-term and long-term investments include auction rate securities and are classified as available-for-sale securities. These securities are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value due to their variable interest rates, which typically reset every 7 to 189 days. Despite the long-term nature of their stated contractual maturities, the Company has the intent and ability to quickly liquidate these securities. As a result of the resetting variable rates, there are no cumulative gross unrealized or realized holding gains or losses from these investments. All income generated from these investments is recorded as interest income.
During the nine months ended November 3, 2007, $87.1 million of cash was used to purchase available-for-sale securities while $88.6 million was generated by the sale of available-for-sale securities. The table below details the investments classified as available-for-sale at November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007:
                                 
    November 3, 2007     February 3, 2007  
    Maturity of     Maturity of  
    Less than 1     1 to 3     Less than     1 to 3  
    year     years     1 year     years  
     
            (in thousands)          
Aggregate fair value
  $ 94,700     $ 2,500     $ 98,650     $  
Gross unrecognized holding gains
                               
Gross unrecognized holding losses
                               
     
Net carrying amount
  $ 94,700     $ 2,500     $ 98,650     $  
6. EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share are based on net income and a simple weighted average of Class A and Class B Common Shares and director stock units outstanding. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution of Class A Common Shares related to outstanding stock options and restricted stock units. The numerator for the diluted earnings per share calculation is net income. The denominator is the weighted average diluted shares outstanding.

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DSW INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
                                 
    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    November 3,     October 28,     November 3,     October 28,  
    2007     2008     2007     2006  
     
            (in thousands)          
Weighted average shares outstanding
    43,957       43,922       43,951       43,909  
Assumed exercise of dilutive restricted stock units
    152       144       146       136  
Assumed exercise of dilutive stock options
    165       160       227       148  
     
Number of shares for computation of dilutive earnings per share
    44,274       44,226       44,324       44,193  
Options to purchase 0.7 million and 0.1 million shares of common stock were outstanding at November 3, 2007 and October 28, 2006, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares for the period and, therefore, the effect would not be dilutive.
7. LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
DSW $150 Million Credit Facility — At November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007, DSW had no borrowings outstanding under its $150 million secured revolving credit facility and was in compliance with the terms of the credit facility. DSW’s obligations under its secured revolving credit facility are collateralized by a lien on substantially all of DSW’s and DSWSW’s personal property and a pledge of all of its shares of DSWSW. In addition, the facility contains usual and customary restrictive covenants relating to DSW’s management and the operation of its business. These covenants, among other things, restrict DSW’s ability to grant liens on its assets, incur additional indebtedness, pay cash dividends and redeem its stock, enter into transactions with affiliates and merge or consolidate with another entity. In addition, if at any time DSW utilizes over 90% of its borrowing capacity under the facility, it must comply with a fixed charge coverage ratio test set forth in the facility documents. At November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007, $137.0 million and $136.6 million were available under the facility and no direct borrowings were outstanding. At November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007, $13.0 million and $13.4 million in letters of credit were issued and outstanding, respectively.
Deferred Rent — Many of the Company’s operating leases contain predetermined fixed increases of the minimum rental rate during the initial lease term. For these leases, the Company recognizes the related rental expense on a straight-line basis and records the difference between the amount charged to expense and the rent paid as deferred rent and begins amortizing such deferred rent upon the delivery of the lease location by the lessor. The amounts included in the other noncurrent liabilities caption was $28.5 million and $26.0 million at November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007, respectively.
Tenant and Construction Allowances — The Company receives cash allowances from landlords, which are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease as a reduction of rent expense. These allowances were $55.6 million and $48.4 million at November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007, respectively.
8. INCOME TAXES
Effective February 4, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48. The adoption of FIN 48 resulted in a charge of $0.1 million to beginning retained earnings.
As of February 4, 2007, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $2.0 million. Unrecognized tax benefits of $2.0 million would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. There were no significant changes in components of the unrecognized tax benefits for the nine months ended November 3, 2007.
The Company is no longer subject to U.S federal income tax examination for years prior to 2004. With a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state tax examination for fiscal years prior to 2002. The Company estimates the range of possible changes that may result from the examinations to be insignificant at this time.
DSW has amended certain federal and state tax returns which reversed a tax benefit of $1.1 million related to the deduction of deferred state taxes. This amount was reserved for in fiscal 2006.

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DSW INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
Consistent with its historical financial reporting, the Company has elected to classify interest expense related to income tax liabilities, when applicable, as part of the interest expense in its condensed consolidated statement of income rather than income tax expense. The Company will continue to classify income tax penalties as part of operating expenses in its condensed consolidated statements of income. As of November 3, 2007 and February 4, 2007, $0.3 million was accrued for the payment of interest and penalties.
9. SEGMENT REPORTING
The Company is managed in two operating segments: DSW stores and leased departments. All of the operations are located in the United States. The Company has identified such segments based on internal management reporting and management responsibilities and measures segment profit as gross profit, which is defined as net sales less cost of sales. The tables below present segment information:
                         
            Leased    
    DSW Stores   Departments   Total
     
    (in thousands)
Three months ended November 3, 2007:
                       
Net sales
  $ 321,471     $ 45,909     $ 367,380  
Gross profit
    97,723       8,937       106,660  
Capital expenditures
    30,368       485       30,853  
 
                       
As of November 3, 2007:
                       
Total assets
  $ 630,989     $ 49,745     $ 680,734  
 
Three months ended October 28, 2006:
                       
Net sales
  $ 298,618     $ 33,601     $ 332,219  
Gross profit
    92,708       5,967       98,675  
Capital expenditures
    9,117       192       9,309  
 
                       
As of February 3, 2007:
                       
Total assets
  $ 562,515     $ 45,788     $ 608,303  
                         
            Leased    
    DSW Stores   Departments   Total
     
    (in thousands)
Nine months ended November 3, 2007:
                       
Net sales
  $ 937,594     $ 135,501     $ 1,073,095  
Gross profit
    276,463       20,803       297,266  
Capital expenditures
    68,977       1,097       70,074  
 
                       
Nine months ended October 28, 2006:
                       
Net sales
  $ 852,809     $ 97,199     $ 950,008  
Gross profit
    260,067       16,997       277,064  
Capital expenditures
    21,434       364       21,798  

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DSW INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
      10. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
                 
    Nine months ended
    November 3,   October 28,
    2007   2006
     
    (in thousands)
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest
  $     $ 7  
Income taxes
  $ 44,352     $ 28,336  
 
               
Noncash investing and operating activities —
               
Increase in accounts payable due to asset purchases
  $ 2,793     $ 1,702  
11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
As previously reported, on March 8, 2005, Retail Ventures announced that it had learned of the theft of credit card and other purchase information from a portion of the Company’s customers. On April 18, 2005, Retail Ventures issued the findings from its investigation into the theft. The theft covered transaction information involving approximately 1.4 million credit cards and data from transactions involving approximately 96,000 checks.
The Company and Retail Ventures contacted and continue to cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities with regard to this matter. The Company is involved in a putative class action lawsuit which seeks unspecified monetary damages, credit monitoring and other relief. The lawsuit seeks to certify a class of consumers that is limited geographically to consumers who made purchases at certain stores in Ohio.
There can be no assurance that there will not be additional proceedings or claims brought against the Company in the future. The Company has contested and will continue to vigorously contest the claims made against it and will continue to explore its defenses and possible claims against others.
The Company estimated that the potential exposure for losses related to this theft including exposure under currently pending proceedings, ranges from approximately $6.5 million to approximately $9.5 million. Because of many factors, including the possible settlement of claims and recoverability under insurance policies, there is no amount in the estimated range that represents a better estimate than any other amount in the range. Therefore, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies , the Company accrued a charge to operations in the first quarter of fiscal 2005 equal to the low end of the range set forth above, or $6.5 million. As the situation develops and more information becomes available, the amount of the reserve may increase or decrease accordingly. The amount of any such change may be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial condition. As of November 3, 2007, the balance of the associated accrual for potential exposure was $0.5 million.
The Company is involved in various other legal proceedings that are incidental to the conduct of its business. The Company estimates the range of liability related to pending litigation where the amount of the range of loss can be estimated. The Company records its best estimate of a loss when the loss is considered probable. Where a liability is probable and there is a range of estimated loss, the Company records the most likely estimated liability related to the claim. In the opinion of management, the amount of any potential liability with respect to these proceedings will not be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial condition. As additional information becomes available, the Company will assess the potential liability related to its pending litigation and revise the estimates as needed. Revisions in its estimates and potential liability could materially impact the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
All references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “DSW” or the “Company” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q mean DSW Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including DSW Shoe Warehouse, Inc. (“DSWSW”) and Brand Technology Services LLC (“BTS”), except where it is made clear that the term only means DSW Inc. DSW Class A Common Shares are listed under the ticker symbol “DSW” on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).
All references to “Retail Ventures,” or “RVI” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q mean Retail Ventures, Inc. and its subsidiaries, except where it is made clear that the term only means the parent company. DSW is a controlled subsidiary of Retail Ventures. RVI Common Shares are listed under the ticker symbol “RVI” on the NYSE.
Company Overview
DSW is a leading U.S. specialty branded footwear retailer operating 250 shoe stores in 36 states as of November 3, 2007. We offer a wide selection of brand name and designer dress, casual and athletic footwear for women and men. Our typical customers are brand-, quality- and style-conscious shoppers who have a passion for footwear and accessories. Our core focus is to create a distinctive store experience that satisfies both the rational and emotional shopping needs of our customers by offering them a vast, exciting selection of in-season styles combined with the convenience and value they desire. Our stores average approximately 25,000 square feet and hold approximately 30,000 pairs of shoes. We believe this combination of selection, convenience and value differentiates us from our competitors and appeals to consumers from a broad range of socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds. In addition, we also operate leased departments for four other retailers.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information for Purposes of the “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Some of the statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain forward-looking statements which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words. Any forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are based upon our historical performance and on current plans, estimates and expectations and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, financial condition, growth strategy and liquidity. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In addition to those described under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors,” of our Form 10-K filed on April 5, 2007, and “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Form 10-Q, some important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements for DSW to differ materially from those discussed in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
  our success in opening and operating new stores on a timely and profitable basis;
 
  maintaining good relationships with our vendors;
 
  our ability to anticipate and respond to fashion trends;
 
  fluctuation of our comparable store sales and quarterly financial performance;
 
  disruption of our distribution operations;
 
  our dependence on Retail Ventures for key services;
 
  the impact of a Value City strategic transaction or discontinuance of operations could have on the allocation of expenses pursuant to the shared services agreement with RVI;
 
  failure to retain our key executives or attract qualified new personnel;
 
  our competitiveness with respect to style, price, brand availability and customer service;
 
  declining general economic conditions;
 
  risks inherent to international trade with countries that are major manufacturers of footwear; and
 
  security risks related to our electronic processing and transmission of confidential customer information.
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 may have projected. Furthermore, new factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor can it 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. DSW undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to

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reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of commitments and contingencies at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including, but not limited to, those related to inventory valuation, depreciation, amortization, recoverability of long-lived assets (including intangible assets), estimates for self insurance reserves for health and welfare, workers’ compensation and general liability insurance, customer loyalty program, income taxes, contingencies, litigation and revenue recognition. We base these estimates and judgments on our historical experience and other factors we believe to be relevant, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The process of determining significant estimates is fact-specific and takes into account factors such as historical experience, current and expected economic conditions, product mix, and in some cases, actuarial and appraisal techniques. We constantly re-evaluate these significant factors and make adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate.
While we believe that our historical experience and other factors considered provide a meaningful basis for the accounting policies applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements, we cannot guarantee that our estimates and assumptions will be accurate. As the determination of these estimates requires the exercise of judgment, actual results inevitably will differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to our financial statements.
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:
  Revenue Recognition. Revenues from merchandise sales are recognized at the point of sale and are net of returns and sales tax. Revenue from gift cards is deferred and the revenue is recognized upon redemption of the gift cards. The Company did not recognize income during these periods from unredeemed gift cards and merchandise credits. The Company will continue to review its historical activity and will recognize income from unredeemed gift cards and merchandise credits when deemed appropriate.
 
  Cost of Sales and Merchandise Inventories. Merchandise inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined using the first-in, first-out basis, or market, using the retail inventory method. The retail inventory method is widely used in the retail industry due to its practicality. Under the retail inventory method, the valuation of inventories at cost and the resulting gross profit are calculated by applying a calculated cost to retail ratio to the retail value of inventories. The cost of the inventory reflected on our consolidated balance sheet is decreased by charges to cost of sales at the time the retail value of the inventory is lowered through the use of markdowns. Hence, earnings are negatively impacted as merchandise is marked down prior to sale. Reserves to value inventory at the lower of cost or market were $22.2 million at November 3, 2007 and $21.2 million at February 3, 2007.
 
    Inherent in the calculation of inventories are certain significant management judgments and estimates, including setting the original merchandise retail value or mark-on, markups of initial prices established, reductions in prices due to customers’ perception of value (known as markdowns), and estimates of losses between physical inventory counts, or shrinkage, which, combined with the averaging process within the retail inventory method, can significantly impact the ending inventory valuation at cost and the resulting gross profit.
 
    We include in the cost of sales expenses associated with warehousing, distribution and store occupancy. Warehousing costs are comprised of labor, benefits and other labor-related costs associated with the operations of the warehouse, which are primarily payroll-related taxes and benefits. The non-labor costs associated with warehousing include rent, depreciation, insurance, utilities and maintenance and other operating costs that are passed to us from the landlord. Distribution costs include the transportation of merchandise to the warehouse and from the warehouse to our stores. Store occupancy costs include rent, utilities, repairs, maintenance, insurance and janitorial costs and other costs associated with licenses and occupancy-related taxes, which are primarily real estate taxes passed to us by our landlords.
 
  Asset Impairment and Long-lived Assets. We must periodically evaluate the carrying amount of our long-lived assets, primarily property and equipment, and finite life intangible assets when events and circumstances warrant such a review to ascertain if any assets have been impaired. The carrying amount of a long-lived asset is considered

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    impaired when the carrying value of the asset exceeds the expected future cash flows from the asset. Our reviews are conducted at the lowest identifiable level, which includes a store. The impairment loss recognized is the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value, based on discounted cash flow. Any impairment loss realized is included in cost of sales. There were $0.7 million in impairment losses recorded during the three and nine months ended November 3, 2007. We recorded zero and $0.8 million in impairment losses during the three and nine months ended October 28, 2006. We believe at this time that the long-lived assets’ carrying amounts and useful lives continue to be appropriate. To the extent these future projections or our strategies change, the conclusion regarding impairment may differ from our current estimates.
 
  Self-insurance Reserves. We record estimates for certain health and welfare, workers’ compensation and general liability insurance costs that are self-insured programs. These estimates are based on actuarial assumptions and are subject to change based on actual results. Should the total cost of claims for health and welfare, workers’ compensation and general liability insurance exceed those anticipated, reserves recorded may not be sufficient, and, to the extent actual results vary from assumptions, earnings would be impacted. For example, for workers’ compensation and liability claims estimates, a 1% increase or decrease to the assumptions for claims costs and loss development factors would increase or decrease our self-insurance accrual by less than $0.1 million. The self-insurance reserves were $1.9 million and $1.7 million at November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007, respectively.
 
  Customer Loyalty Program. We maintain a customer loyalty program for our DSW stores in which program members receive a discount on future purchases. Upon reaching the target-earned threshold, our members receive certificates for these discounts which must be redeemed within six months. We accrue the anticipated redemptions of the discount earned at the time of the initial purchase. To estimate these costs, we are required to make assumptions related to customer purchase levels and redemption rates based on historical experience. The accrued liability as of November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007 was $5.8 million and $5.0 million, respectively.
 
  Investments. Short-term and long-term investments include auction rate securities and are classified as available-for-sale securities. These securities are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value due to their variable interest rates, which typically reset every 7 to 189 days. Despite the long-term nature of their stated contractual maturities, we have the intent and ability to quickly liquidate these securities. As a result of the resetting variable rates, there are no cumulative gross unrealized or realized holding gains or losses from these investments. All income generated from these investments is recorded as interest income. As of November 3, 2007, we held $94.7 million in short-term investments and $2.5 million in long-term investments and at February 3, 2007, we held $98.7 million in short-term investments and no long-term investments.
 
  Store Closing Reserves. During the nine months ended November 3, 2007, we recorded $0.3 million in expenses associated with the closing of one DSW store. During the nine months ended October 28, 2006, we recorded $0.5 million in expenses associated with the closing of four DSW stores. The operating lease at one of the four stores was terminated through the exercise of a lease kick-out option. Expenses related to closed stores are recorded as operating expenses. These reserves are monitored on at least a quarterly basis for changes in circumstances. The accrued store closing reserves were $0.1 million at both November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007.
 
  Income Taxes. We are required to determine the aggregate amount of income tax expense to accrue and the amount which will be currently payable based upon tax statutes of each jurisdiction we do business in. In making these estimates, we adjust income based on a determination of generally accepted accounting principles for items that are treated differently by the applicable taxing authorities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities, as a result of these differences, are reflected on our balance sheet for temporary differences that will reverse in subsequent years. A valuation allowance is established against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. If our management had made these determinations on a different basis, our tax expense, assets and liabilities could be different.

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Results of Operations
We manage our operations in two segments, defined as DSW stores and leased departments. As of November 3, 2007, we operated 250 DSW stores in 36 states, and leased departments in 275 Stein Mart stores, 63 Gordmans stores, 36 Filene’s Basement stores and one Frugal Fannie’s store. The following table represents selected components of our historical consolidated results of operations, expressed as percentages of net sales:
                                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
    November 3,   October 28,   November 3,   October 28,
    2007   2006   2007   2006
 
Net sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Cost of sales
    (71.0 )     (70.3 )     (72.3 )     (70.8 )
 
Gross profit
    29.0       29.7       27.7       29.2  
Operating expenses
    (19.5 )     (22.1 )     (20.2 )     (21.2 )
 
Operating profit
    9.5       7.6       7.5       8.0  
Interest income, net
    0.4       0.5       0.5       0.5  
 
Earnings before income taxes
    9.9       8.1       8.0       8.5  
Income tax provision
    (3.8 )     (3.3 )     (3.1 )     (3.4 )
 
Net income
    6.1 %     4.8 %     4.9 %     5.1 %
THREE MONTHS ENDED NOVEMBER 3, 2007 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 28, 2006
Net Sales. Sales for the three months ended November 3, 2007 increased by 10.6%, or $35.2 million, to $367.4 million from $332.2 million for the three months ended October 28, 2006. The increase in DSW sales includes a net increase of 35 DSW stores, 114 non-affiliated leased departments and seven affiliated leased departments. The DSW store locations and leased departments opened subsequent to October 28, 2006 added $28.2 million and $11.7 million, respectively, in sales for the quarter ended November 3, 2007. Leased department sales comprised 12.5% of total net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2007, compared to 10.1% in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. The increase in sales was partially offset by the loss of sales from the closed stores and closed leased departments of $3.4 million.
Our comparable store sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 decreased 3.0%, or $9.4 million, compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2006 due principally to a decline in customer traffic. For the third quarter of fiscal 2007, DSW comparable store sales decreased in women’s and men’s by 5.0% and 5.3%, respectively, and increased in accessories and athletic by 10.7% and 2.2%, respectively.
Gross Profit. Gross profit increased $8.0 million to $106.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 from $98.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2006, and decreased as a percentage of net sales to 29.0% in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 from 29.7% in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. By operating segment, gross profit as a percentage of sales was:
                 
    November 3, 2007   October 28, 2006
 
DSW Stores
    30.4 %     31.0 %
Leased Departments
    19.5 %     17.8 %
 
 
    29.0 %     29.7 %
 
The gross profit margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was negatively impacted by an increase in store occupancy expense, an increase in markdowns, which was partially offset by an increase in initial mark-up. Store occupancy expense increased to 13.9% of net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 from 13.0% of net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 as a result of an impairment charge of $0.7 million and additional Stein Mart stores added since January 2007.
Operating Expenses. For the third quarter of fiscal 2007, operating expenses decreased $1.5 million to $71.9 million from $73.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2006, which represented 19.5% and 22.1% of net sales, respectively. The decrease in operating expenses as a percent of sales was primarily due to the decrease in bonus expense of $8.3 million primarily due to the reversal of the current year to date bonus accrual and a decrease in marketing expenses as compared to third quarter 2006 due to the nonrecurring expenses related to the change in the loyalty program. These decreases were partially offset by increases in home office personnel related expenses, $1.7 million of expenses related to the start-up of our e-commerce channel and depreciation expense. The DSW stores and leased departments that opened subsequent to October 28, 2006 added $5.1 million and $0.4 million, respectively, in expenses in the third quarter of fiscal 2007. These expenses exclude pre-opening and occupancy (excluding depreciation and amortization) expenses.

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Operating Profit. Operating profit was $34.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to $25.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 and increased as a percentage of net sales to 9.5% in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 from 7.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales was impacted by a decrease in operating expenses and partially offset by a decrease in gross profit.
Interest Income, Net. Interest income, net for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was $1.5 million as compared to $1.6 million of net interest income for the third quarter of fiscal 2006. Interest income for the three months ended November 3, 2007 was the result of investment activity from funds generated from operations and short term investments.
Income Taxes. Our effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was 38.3%, compared to 40.3% for the third quarter of fiscal 2006. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a reduction of estimated permanent expenses including state taxes and an increase of tax exempt income relative to earnings before taxes.
Net Income. For the third quarter of fiscal 2007, net income increased $6.4 million, or 40.2%, over the third quarter of fiscal 2006 and represented 6.1% and 4.8% of net sales, respectively.
NINE MONTHS ENDED NOVEMBER 3, 2007 COMPARED TO NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 28, 2006
Net Sales. Sales for the nine months ended November 3, 2007 increased by 13.0%, or $123.1 million, to $1.07 billion from $950.0 million for the nine months ended October 28, 2006. The increase in DSW sales includes a net increase of 35 DSW stores, 114 non-affiliated leased departments and seven affiliated leased departments. The DSW store locations and leased departments opened subsequent to October 28, 2006 added $64.1 million and $36.6 million, respectively, in sales for the nine months ended November 3, 2007. Leased department sales comprised 12.6% of total net sales in the nine months ended November 3, 2007, compared to 10.2% in the nine months ended October 28, 2006. The increase in sales was partially offset by the loss of sales from the closed stores and closed leased departments of $7.7 million.
Our comparable store sales for the nine months ended November 3, 2007 decreased 0.5%, or $4.2 million, compared to the nine months ended October 28, 2006 due principally to a decline in customer traffic. For the nine months ended November 3, 2007, DSW comparable store sales decreased in women’s and men’s by 1.1% and 1.9%, respectively, and increased in both athletic and accessories by 3.8%.
Gross Profit. Gross profit increased $20.2 million to $297.3 million in the nine months ended November 3, 2007 from $277.1 million in the nine months ended October 28, 2006, and decreased as a percentage of net sales to 27.7% in the nine months ended November 3, 2007 from 29.2% in the nine months ended October 28, 2006. By operating segment, gross profit as a percentage of sales was:
                 
    November 3,   October 28,
    2007   2006
 
DSW Stores
    29.5 %     30.5 %
Leased Departments
    15.4 %     17.5 %
 
 
    27.7 %     29.2 %
 
The gross profit margin for the nine months ended November 3, 2007 was negatively impacted by an increase in the markdown rate as a result of significant promotional activity in both the store and leased department segments and an increase in the store occupancy expense. This was partially offset by an increase in the initial mark-up. In the leased departments, the decrease in gross profit as a percentage of sales was driven by markdowns taken in the stores added in January 2007. Store occupancy expense increased to 13.6% of net sales in fiscal 2007 from 13.3% of net sales in fiscal 2006, which was the result of costs related to the Stein Mart stores added since January 2007.
Operating Expenses. For the nine months ended November 3, 2007, operating expenses increased $16.0 million to $216.9 million from $200.9 million for the nine months ended October 28, 2006. The DSW stores and leased departments that opened subsequent to October 28, 2006 added $11.0 million and $1.2 million, respectively, in expenses in the nine months ended November 3, 2007. These expenses exclude pre-opening and occupancy (excluding depreciation and amortization) expenses.
For the nine months ended November 3, 2007, operating expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 20.2% from 21.2% for the nine months ended October 28, 2006. The decrease in operating expenses as a percent of net sales was in part the result of a decrease in marketing expenses as compared to the nine months ended October 28, 2006 due to nonrecurring expenses related to the change in the loyalty program and decrease of bonus expense of $8.7 million primarily due to

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the reversal of the current year-to-date bonus accrual. These decreases were partially offset by increases in home office personnel related expenses and $4.0 million of expenses related to the start-up of our e-commerce channel.
Operating Profit. Operating profit was $80.3 million for the nine months ended November 3, 2007 compared to $76.2 million for the nine months ended October 28, 2006 and decreased as a percentage of net sales to 7.5% in the nine months ended November 3, 2007 from 8.0% in the nine months ended October 28, 2006. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales was primarily impacted by a decrease in gross profit as a percentage of sales.
Interest Income, Net. Interest income, net for the nine months ended November 3, 2007 was $5.2 million as compared to $4.9 million of interest income, net for the nine months ended October 28, 2006. Interest income for the nine months ended November 3, 2007 was the result of investment activity from funds generated from operations and increased interest income from short term investments.
Income Taxes. Our effective tax rate for the nine months ended November 3, 2007 was 38.4%, compared to 39.7% for the nine months ended October 28, 2006. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to tax exempt interest income and a reduction of state taxes.
Net Income. For the nine months ended November 3, 2007, net income increased $3.8 million, or 7.9%, over the nine months ended October 28, 2006 and represented 4.9% and 5.1% of net sales, respectively.
Seasonality
Our business, measured in terms of net sales, is subject to seasonal trends. Our net sales, measured on a comparable stores basis, have typically been higher in spring and early fall, when our customers’ interest in new seasonal styles increases. Unlike many other retailers, we have not historically experienced a large increase in net sales during our fourth quarter associated with the winter holiday season.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary ongoing cash requirements are for seasonal and new store inventory purchases, capital expenditures in connection with our expansion, the start-up of our e-commerce channel, the remodeling of existing stores, and infrastructure growth. Our working capital and inventory levels typically build seasonally. We believe that we will be able to continue to fund our operating requirements and the expansion of our business pursuant to our growth strategy in the future with existing cash, cash flows from operations and borrowings, if needed, under the DSW secured revolving credit facility.
Net working capital increased $12.2 million to $310.9 million at November 3, 2007 from $298.7 million at February 3, 2007, primarily due to increased inventory related to new stores opened in fiscal 2006 and 2007, partially offset by an increase in accounts payable. At both November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007, the current ratio was 2.9.
For the nine months ended November 3, 2007, our net cash provided by operations was $38.9 million, compared to $67.3 million provided by operations for the nine months ended October 28, 2006. Our net cash flow from operations for the nine months ended November 3, 2007 was primarily a result of net income, proceeds from tenant and construction allowances and an increase in accounts payable partially offset by an increase in inventory and a decrease in accrued expenses.
We expect to spend approximately $100 million for capital expenditures in fiscal 2007. During the nine months ended November 3, 2007, we had capital expenditures of $70.1 million, of which $67.3 million was paid during the nine months ended November 3, 2007. Of this amount, we incurred $30.5 million for new stores and remodels of existing stores, $13.9 million related to the corporate office expansion, $14.2 million related to the start-up of our e-commerce channel and $11.5 million related to information technology equipment upgrades and new systems, excluding the e-commerce channel.
Our future capital expenditures will depend heavily on the number of new stores we open, the number of existing stores we remodel and the timing of these expenditures. We plan to open at least 35 new DSW stores during fiscal 2007 and at least 30 new stores in each of the next three fiscal years. During fiscal 2006, the average investment required to open a typical new DSW store was approximately $1.7 million. Of this amount, gross inventory typically accounted for approximately $740,000, fixtures and leasehold improvements typically accounted for approximately $700,000 (prior to tenant and construction allowances) and pre-opening advertising and other pre-opening expenses typically accounted for

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approximately $210,000. We plan to finance investment in new stores with existing cash and cash flows from operating activities.
$150 Million Secured Revolving Credit Facility. DSW has a $150 million secured revolving credit facility that expires July 5, 2010. Under this facility, we and our subsidiary, DSWSW, are named as co-borrowers. The DSW facility has borrowing base restrictions and provides for borrowings at variable interest rates based on LIBOR, the prime rate and the Federal Funds effective rate, plus a margin. Our obligations under the secured revolving credit facility are secured by a lien on substantially all of our and DSWSW’s personal property and a pledge of our shares of DSWSW. In addition, our secured revolving credit facility contains usual and customary restrictive covenants relating to our management and the operation of our business. These covenants will, among other things, restrict our ability to grant liens on our assets, incur additional indebtedness, pay cash dividends, redeem our stock, enter into transactions with affiliates and merge or consolidate with another entity. In addition, if at any time we utilize over 90% of our borrowing capacity under the facility, we must comply with a fixed charge coverage ratio test set forth in the facility documents. At November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007, $137.0 million and $136.6 million were available under the $150 million secured revolving credit facility and no direct borrowings were outstanding. At November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007, $13.0 million and $13.4 million in letters of credit were issued and outstanding, respectively.
Retail Ventures Warrants
In connection with the July 2005 amendment of its term loan agreement, Retail Ventures amended its outstanding warrants to provide Schottenstein Stores Corporation (“SSC”), Cerberus Partners L.P. (“Cerberus”), and Millennium Partners, L.P. (“Millennium”) the right, from time to time, in whole or in part, to (i) acquire Retail Ventures common shares at the then current conversion price (subject to the anti-dilution provisions), (ii) acquire from Retail Ventures Class A Common Shares of DSW at an exercise price of $19.00 per share (subject to anti-dilution provisions) or (iii) acquire a combination thereof.
As of November 3, 2007 and assuming an exercise price per share of $19.00, SSC and Cerberus would each receive 328,915 Class A Common Shares, and Millennium would receive 41,989 Class A Common Shares, if they exercised these warrants in full exclusively for DSW Common Shares. The warrants expire in June 2012. Although Retail Ventures has informed us that it does not currently intend or plan to undertake a spin-off of DSW Common Shares to Retail Ventures’ shareholders, in the event that Retail Ventures effects a spin-off of its DSW Common Shares to its shareholders in the future, the holders of outstanding unexercised warrants will receive the same number of DSW Common Shares that they would have received had they exercised their warrants in full for Retail Ventures common shares immediately prior to the record date of the spin-off, without regard to any limitations on exercise in the warrants. Following the completion of any such spin-off, the warrants would be exercisable solely for Retail Ventures common shares.
We have entered into an exchange agreement with Retail Ventures whereby, upon the request of Retail Ventures, we will be required to exchange some or all of the Class B Common Shares of DSW held by Retail Ventures for Class A Common Shares.
In connection with the July 2005 amendment and restatement of its convertible loan agreement, Retail Ventures agreed to issue to SSC and Cerberus convertible warrants which will be exercisable from time to time until the later of June 10, 2009 and the repayment in full of Value City’s obligations under the amended and restated loan agreement. Under the convertible warrants, SSC and Cerberus will have the right, from time to time, in whole or in part, to (i) acquire Retail Ventures common shares at the conversion price referred to in the convertible loan (subject to antidilution provisions), (ii) acquire from Retail Ventures Class A Common Shares of DSW at an exercise price of $19.00 per share (subject to antidilution provisions) or (iii) acquire a combination thereof. Although Retail Ventures has informed us that it does not currently intend or plan to undertake a spin-off of DSW Common Shares to Retail Ventures’ shareholders, in the event that Retail Ventures effects a spin-off of its DSW Common Shares to its shareholders in the future, the holders of outstanding unexercised warrants will receive the same number of DSW Common Shares that they would have received had they exercised their warrants in full for Retail Ventures common shares immediately prior to the record date of the spin-off, without regard to any limitation on exercise contained in the warrants. Following the completion of any such spin-off, the warrants would be exercisable solely for Retail Ventures common shares. On June 6, 2007, Retail Ventures issued 1,333,333 of its common shares, without par value, to Cerberus in connection with Cerberus’ exercise of its remaining outstanding convertible warrants that were originally issued by Retail Ventures on July 5, 2005.
SSC may acquire upon exercise of its convertible warrants, Class A Common Shares of DSW from Retail Ventures. As of November 3, 2007, assuming an exercise price per share of $19.00, SSC would receive 1,973,685 Class A Common Shares without giving effect to anti-dilution adjustments, if any, if they exercised their convertible warrants exclusively for DSW Common Shares.

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Contractual Obligations
DSW had outstanding letters of credit that totaled approximately $13.0 million at November 3, 2007 and $13.4 million at February 3, 2007. If certain conditions are met under these arrangements, the Company would be required to satisfy the obligations in cash. Due to the nature of these arrangements and based on historical experience, DSW does not expect to make any significant payments outside of terms set forth in these arrangements.
As of November 3, 2007, we have entered into various construction commitments, including capital items to be purchased for projects under construction, or for which a lease has been signed. Our obligations under these commitments aggregated to approximately $9.3 million as of November 3, 2007. In addition, we have signed lease agreements for 32 new store locations, expected to be opened over the next 18 months, with annual rent of approximately $10.9 million. In connection with the new lease agreements, we will receive approximately $9.0 million of tenant and construction allowances, which will reimburse us for capital expenditures at these locations.
We operate all our stores, warehouses and corporate office space from leased facilities. Lease obligations are accounted for either as operating leases or as capital leases based on a lease by lease review at lease inception. The Company had no capital leases outstanding as of November 3, 2007 or February 3, 2007.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company does not intend to participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as special purpose entities or variable interest entities, which would facilitate off-balance sheet arrangements or other limited purposes. As of November 3, 2007, the Company has not entered into any “off-balance sheet” arrangements, as that term is defined by the SEC.
Proposed Accounting Standards
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) periodically issues Statements of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”), some of which require implementation by a date falling within or after the close of the fiscal year. See Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the new accounting standards issued and implemented during the nine months ended November 3, 2007.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Our cash and cash equivalents are maintained only with maturities of 90 days or less. Our investments typically have interest reset periods of 189 days or less. These financial instruments may be subject to interest rate risk through lost income should interest rates increase during their limited term to maturity or resetting of interest rates. As of November 3, 2007 and February 3, 2007, there was no long-term debt outstanding. Future borrowings, if any, would bear interest at negotiated rates and would be subject to interest rate risk. Because we have no outstanding debt, a hypothetical change of 1% in interest rates would not have a material effect on our financial position.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, performed an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded, as of the end of the period covered by this report, that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
No change was made in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
As previously reported, on March 8, 2005, Retail Ventures announced that it had learned of the theft of credit card and other purchase information from a portion of DSW customers. On April 18, 2005, Retail Ventures issued the findings from its investigation into the theft. The theft covered transaction information involving approximately 1.4 million credit cards and data from transactions involving approximately 96,000 checks.
We and Retail Ventures contacted and continue to cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities with regard to this matter. The Company is involved in a putative class action lawsuit which seeks unspecified monetary damages, credit monitoring and other relief. The lawsuit seeks to certify a class of consumers that is limited geographically to consumers who made purchases at certain stores in Ohio.
There can be no assurance that there will not be additional proceedings or claims brought against us in the future. We have contested and will continue to vigorously contest the claims made against us and will continue to explore our defenses and possible claims against others.
We estimated that the potential exposure for losses related to this theft, including exposure under currently pending proceedings, ranges from approximately $6.5 million to approximately $9.5 million. Because of many factors, including the possible settlement of claims and recoverability under insurance policies, there is no amount in the estimated range that represents a better estimate than any other amount in the range. Therefore, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies , we accrued a charge to operations in the first quarter of fiscal 2005 equal to the low end of the range set forth above, or $6.5 million. As the situation develops and more information becomes available, the amount of the reserve may increase or decrease accordingly. The amount of any such change may be material to our results of operations or financial condition. As of November 3, 2007, the balance of the associated accrual for potential exposure was $0.5 million.
We are involved in various other legal proceedings that are incidental to the conduct of our business. We estimate the range of liability related to pending litigation where the amount of the range of loss can be estimated. We record our best estimate of a loss when the loss is considered probable. Where a liability is probable and there is a range of estimated loss, we record the most likely estimated liability related to the claim. In the opinion of management, the amount of any potential liability with respect to these proceedings will not be material to our results of operations or financial condition. As additional information becomes available, we will assess the potential liability related to our pending litigation and revise the estimates as needed. Revisions in our estimates and potential liability could materially impact our results of operations and financial condition.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Other than the item below, there have been no material changes to DSW’s risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of our last Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2007.
Retail Ventures is exploring strategic alternatives for its Value City operations, including the possible sale of some or all of the remaining Value City operations or the discontinuance of its operations, which could impact the shared service allocations between DSW and RVI and may have a material adverse effect on our future financial performance and financial position.
In December 2006, RVI announced that it is exploring strategic alternatives for its Value City operations. The stated alternatives include a possible sale of some or all of the Value City operations or the discontinuance of its operations. RVI has stated that there can be no assurance that this process will result in any specific transaction. On October 3, 2007, RVI announced that Value City entered into an agreement with Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation to assign or sublease up to 24 locations such that the affected stores will close their operations on or before the end of March 2008. Subsequent to the nine months ended November 3, 2007, to date, RVI has not announced the consummation of any additional significant transactions for this segment. RVI has stated that if no additional significant transaction is achieved and Value City decides to discontinue operations, it believes that it would be able to close its remaining Value City stores in the same time frame as the closing of those stores affected by the agreement with Burlington Coat Factory.
DSW is a party to a Shared Services Agreement with RVI pursuant to which DSW receives services from RVI, and provides services to RVI and its subsidiaries. The costs associated with many of these shared services are allocated among the parties based upon the percent of a parties' sales compared to all RVI and DSW sales, or, in some cases, a usage based charge. In the event that Value City significantly reduces or ceases operations, its allocation percentage of shared expenses would decrease, which would increase DSW’s allocation percentage of shared service expenses. Additionally, in the event that Value City significantly reduces or ceases operations, DSW would not be able to allocate as much or any expense to RVI relating to Value City’s utilization of information technology and shoe processing services. This increased allocation percentage and reduction in expense allocation could be material and have a negative effect on DSW’s financial position.

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
(a)   Recent sales of unregistered securities. Not applicable.
 
(b)   Use of Proceeds. Not applicable.
 
(c)   Purchases of equity securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers. DSW made no purchases of its Common Shares during the quarter ended November 3, 2007.
Limitations on Payments of Dividends — We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our Common Shares in the foreseeable future. Presently, we expect that all of our future earnings will be retained for development of our business. The payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other things, future earnings, operations, capital requirements, our general financial condition and general business conditions. Our credit facility restricts the payment of dividends by us, other than dividends paid in stock of the issuer or paid to another affiliate, and cash dividends can only be paid to Retail Ventures by us up to the aggregate amount of $5.0 million, less the amount of any loan advances made to Retail Ventures by us.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities. None.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. None.
Item 5. Other Information.
On July 31, 2007, the Board of Directors approved the DSW Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), a non-qualified tax-deferred compensation program which applies to certain executive officers of DSW, including the Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers for whom compensation information was provided in the proxy statement related to DSW’s 2007 annual meeting of shareholders. The Plan provides a tax-favorable vehicle for deferring cash compensation, including base salary and awards pursuant to the DSW Inc. 2005 Cash Incentive Compensation Plan. Under the Plan, an executive may defer up to 80% of his or her base salary and up to 90% of annual incentive pay. DSW may make discretionary matching contributions or other discretionary employer contributions to the Plan on behalf of participants. Employer contributions made to the Plan are subject to a vesting schedule determined by DSW at the time such contributions are credited to a participant’s account. A participant will become 100% vested in any employer contributions credited to his or her account upon the participant’s death, disability or a change in control (as defined in the Plan). Deferred balances are credited with gains or losses which mirror the performance of benchmark investment funds selected by the participant from among a number of available funds. Deferred amounts are paid in a lump sum for scheduled in-service withdrawals or, at the participant’s option, in annual installments over a five or ten-year period upon retirement.
The foregoing description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1.
Item 6. Exhibits. See Index to Exhibits on page 23.

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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
  DSW INC.
(Registrant)
 
 
Date: December 13, 2007  By:   /s/ Douglas J. Probst    
    Douglas J. Probst   
    Chief Financial Officer
(duly authorized officer and chief financial officer) 
 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
     
Exhibit Number   Description
 
   
10.1
  DSW Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
 
   
10.2
  Summary of Director Compensation
 
   
31.1
  Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 
   
31.2
  Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer
 
   
32.1
  Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 
   
32.2
  Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer

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Exhibit 10.1
DSW INC.
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
Effective August 1, 2007

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
                     
                Page
 
                   
ARTICLE I Purpose and Effective Date     1  
 
                   
 
    1.1.     Purpose     1  
 
    1.2.     Effective Date     1  
 
                   
ARTICLE II Definitions     1  
 
                   
 
    2.1.     Account.     1  
 
    2.2.     Affiliates     1  
 
    2.3.     Beneficiary     1  
 
    2.4.     Board     1  
 
    2.5.     Bonus Deferral Commitment     1  
 
    2.6.     Change in Control     1  
 
    2.7.     Code     2  
 
    2.8.     Company     2  
 
    2.9.     Company Contribution Account     2  
 
    2.10.     Compensation     2  
 
    2.11.     Compensation Deferral     3  
 
    2.12.     Director’s Fees Deferral Commitment     3  
 
    2.13.     Disability     3  
 
    2.14.     Discretionary Contribution     3  
 
    2.15.     Elective Deferral Account     3  
 
    2.16.     Employer     3  
 
    2.17.     Matching Contribution     3  
 
    2.18.     Measurement Funds     4  
 
    2.19.     Participant.     4  
 
    2.20.     Participation Agreement     4  
 
    2.21.     Plan     4  
 
    2.22.     Plan Administrator     4  
 
    2.23.     Plan Year     4  
 
    2.24.     Related Group     4  
 
    2.25.     Retirement     4  
 
    2.26.     Salary Deferral Commitment     4  
 
    2.27.     Termination     5  
 
    2.28.     Reserved     5  
 
    2.29.     Unforeseeable Emergency     5  
 
    2.30.     Valuation Date     5  
 
    2.31.     Year of Credited Service     5  
 
                   
ARTICLE III Eligibility and Participation     5  
 
                   
 
    3.1.     Eligibility     5  
 
    3.2.     Participation     5  
 
    3.3.     Partial Year Participation     5  

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                Page
 
                   
ARTICLE IV Elective Deferrals     6  
 
                   
 
    4.1.     Amount of Deferral Election     6  
 
    4.2.     Deferral Limits     6  
 
    4.3.     Period of Commitment     7  
 
    4.4.     Change of Status     7  
 
                   
ARTICLE V   Participant Accounts     7  
 
                   
 
    5.1.     Establishment of Accounts     7  
 
    5.2.     Crediting Compensation Deferrals to Elective Deferral Account     7  
 
    5.3.     Crediting Matching Contributions to Company Contribution Account     7  
 
    5.4.     Crediting Discretionary Contributions to Company Contribution Account     7  
 
    5.5.     Investment Designations and Earnings (or Losses) on Account     7  
 
    5.6.     Valuation of Account     8  
 
    5.7.     Vesting of Accounts     8  
 
    5.8.     Discharge for Cause     8  
 
    5.9.     Statement of Account     9  
 
    5.10.     Payments from Account     9  
 
                   
ARTICLE VI Payments to Participants     9  
 
                   
 
    6.1.     Distributions.     9  
 
    6.2.     Timing of Benefit Payments     9  
 
    6.3.     Form of Payment     9  
 
    6.4.     Disability     10  
 
    6.5.     Death     10  
 
    6.6.     Unforeseeable Emergency     10  
 
    6.7.     Change in Election     11  
 
    6.8.     Small Accounts     11  
 
    6.9.     Valuation of Payments     11  
 
    6.10.     Delay of Payment for Specified Employees     11  
 
    6.11.     Effect of Code Section 4999     11  
 
    6.12.     Effect of Payment     11  
 
                   
ARTICLE VII Beneficiary Designation     12  
 
                   
 
    7.1.     Beneficiary Designation     12  
 
    7.2.     Changing Beneficiary     12  
 
    7.3.     Community Property     12  
 
    7.4.     No Beneficiary Designation     12  
 
    7.5.     Effect of Payment     12  
 
                   
ARTICLE VIII Administration     12  
 
                   
 
    8.1.     Plan Administrator     12  
 
    8.2.     Agents     13  
 
    8.3.     Binding Effect of Decisions     13  
 
    8.4.     Indemnification of Plan Administrator     13  

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                Page
 
                   
ARTICLE IX Claims Procedures     13  
 
                   
 
    9.1.     Claim     13  
 
    9.2.     Claim Decision Not Involving Determination of Disability.     13  
 
    9.3.     Claim Decision Involving Determination of Disability     14  
 
    9.4.     Request for Review     15  
 
    9.5.     Review of Decision Not Involving Determination of Disability     15  
 
    9.6.     Review of Decision Involving Determination of Disability     16  
 
                   
ARTICLE X Miscellaneous     17  
 
                   
 
    10.1.     Unfunded Plan     17  
 
    10.2.     Unsecured General Creditor     17  
 
    10.3.     Trust Fund     17  
 
    10.4.     Protective Provisions     17  
 
    10.5.     Inability to Locate Participant or Beneficiary     18  
 
    10.6.     No Contract of Employment     18  
 
    10.7.     Withholding Taxes     18  
 
    10.8.     No Limitation on Employer Actions     18  
 
    10.9.     Obligations to Employer     18  
 
    10.10.     No Liability for Action or Omission.     18  
 
    10.11.     Nonalienation of Benefits     18  
 
    10.12.     Liability for Benefit Payments     19  
 
    10.13.     Governing Law.     19  
 
    10.14.     Severability of Provisions     19  
 
    10.15.     Headings and Captions     19  
 
    10.16.     Gender, Singular and Plural     19  
 
    10.17.     Participating Employers     19  
 
    10.18.     Notice     19  
 
    10.19.     Amendment and Termination     20  

iii


 

DSW INC.
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
Effective August 1, 2007
ARTICLE I
Purpose and Effective Date
     1.1. Purpose . This plan is intended to allow a select group of key management or other highly compensated employees of the Employer and directors of the Company to defer the receipt of compensation that would otherwise be payable to them and to provide supplemental retirement benefits for those employees. This Plan shall be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of ERISA. The terms of this Plan are intended to, and shall be shall be operated and interpreted and applied so as to, comply in all respects with applicable law and the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and regulations and rulings thereunder.
     1.2. Effective Date . This Plan shall be effective as of August 1, 2007.
ARTICLE II
Definitions
     For ease of reference, the following definitions will be used in the Plan:
     2.1. Account . “Account” means the account maintained on the books of the Employer used solely to calculate the amount payable to each Participant who defers Compensation under this Plan and shall not constitute or be treated as a separate fund of assets.
     2.2. Affiliates . “Affiliate” or “Affiliates” shall mean a group of entities including the Company which constitutes a controlled group of corporations (as defined in Code Section 414(b)), a group of trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control (as the defined Code Section 414(c)), and members of an affiliated service group (within the meaning of Code Section 414(m)).
     2.3. Beneficiary . “Beneficiary” means the person, persons or entity designated by the Participant to receive payments under this Plan in the event of the Participant’s death as provided in Article VII.
     2.4. Board . “Board” means the Board of Directors of DSW Inc.
     2.5. Bonus Deferral Commitment . “Bonus Deferral Commitment” means that portion of bonus compensation for which a Participant has made an election to defer receipt pursuant to Article IV.
     2.6. Change in Control . “Change in Control” means the following:

1


 

          (a) Any of the following events, as provided under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) and any guidance issued thereunder.
               (1) A change in ownership of the Company, which occurs if a person or several persons acting as a group acquires more than 50% of the stock of the Company measured by voting power or value.
               (2) A change in effective control of the Company, which occurs if either (1) a person, or group of persons acting together acquires at least 30% of the stock of the Company, measured by voting power, over a 12-month period, or (2) a majority of the Board is replaced by directors not endorsed by prior members of the Board.
               (3) A change in ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets, which occurs if a person or group of persons acquires 40% or more of the gross fair market value of the assets of the Company over a 12-month period.
          (b) Notwithstanding any provision in Section 2.6(a) to the contrary, in no event shall a spin-off from Retail Ventures, Inc. or any corporation, partnership or other form of unincorporated entity of which Retail Ventures, Inc. owns directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total combined total voting power of all classes of stock, if the entity is a corporation or of the capital or profit interests, if the entity is a partnership or another form of unincorporated entity be considered a Change in Control.
     2.7. Code . “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (and any regulations thereunder).
     2.8. Company . “Company” means DSW Inc., an Ohio corporation, and any successor thereto.
     2.9. Company Contribution Account . “Company Contribution Account” means the Account maintained in accordance with Section 5.3 with respect to Matching Contributions and Section 5.4 and with respect to any Discretionary Contributions made under this Plan. A Participant’s Company Contribution Account shall be utilized solely as a device for the determination and measurement of amounts to be paid to the Participant pursuant to this Plan and shall not constitute or be treated as a separate fund of assets.
     2.10. Compensation . “Compensation” means compensation for services performed, including salary and bonus. This includes a Participant’s (i) base salary payable during a Plan Year; (ii) bonuses payable by the Employer for services performed in the period that begins during a Plan Year; and (iii) long-term incentive plan amounts paid in either cash or shares. Compensation also includes all fees payable to non-employee members of the Board, including the retainer for service as a member of the Board or any committees thereof and meeting fees. In no event shall any of the following items be treated as Compensation hereunder: (i) payments from this Plan or any other Employer nonqualified deferred compensation plan; (ii) with the exception of long-term incentive plan amounts paid in shares as described above, any form of non-cash compensation or benefits, including short and long term disability payments, group life insurance premiums, income from the exercise of non-qualified stock options, from the disqualifying disposition of incentive stock options, or realized upon vesting of restricted stock

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or the delivery of shares in respect of restricted stock units (or other similar items of income related to equity compensation grants or exercises); (iii) expense reimbursements; (iv) severance payments; or (v) any other payments or benefits other than normal Compensation as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Compensation shall include amounts deferred on a pre-tax basis under this Plan, any tax-qualified retirement plan, any Code Section 125 plan, and any other nonqualified deferred compensation plan of the Employer.
     2.11. Compensation Deferral . “Compensation Deferral” means that portion of Compensation as to which a Participant has made an annual irrevocable election to defer receipt pursuant to Article IV. A Participant’s Compensation Deferral may consist of a Salary Deferral Commitment, a Bonus Deferral Commitment, a Director’s Fees Deferral Commitment, or a combination, as applicable to the Participant.
     2.12. Director’s Fees Deferral Commitment . “Director’s Fees Deferral Commitment” means that portion of director’s fees for which a Participant has made an election to defer receipt pursuant to Article IV.
     2.13. Disability . “Disability” means that a Participant either (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determineable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident or health plan covering employees of the Participant’s Employer. A Participant who has been determined to be eligible for Social Security disability benefits shall be presumed to have a Disability as defined herein.
     2.14. Discretionary Contribution . “Discretionary Contribution” means any amount credited to a Participant’s Account under Section 5.4.
     2.15. Elective Deferral Account . “Elective Deferral Account” means the Account maintained in accordance with Section 5.2 with respect to any elective Compensation Deferrals made under this Plan. A Participant’s Elective Deferral Account shall be utilized solely as a device for the determination and measurement of the amounts to be paid to the Participant pursuant to this Plan and shall not constitute or be treated as a separate fund of assets.
     2.16. Employer . “Employer” means the Company and any parent, subsidiary, or other affiliate designated by the Plan Administrator to participate in this Plan, as provided under Section 10.17.
     2.17. Matching Contribution . “Matching Contribution” means the amount that equals the following:
          (a) Any Matching Contribution not paid into the Participant’s 401(k) plan account by the Employer due to the Participant’s participation in this Plan or any other plan of an Employer; plus

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          (b) Any other amount determined by the Employer, and in its sole discretion, to be appropriate for the Plan Year. Such an amount may be larger or smaller than the amount credited to any other Participant and may defer from the amount credited to such participant in the preceding Plan Year.
     Notwithstanding the above, in no event shall a Participant who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company be eligible for a Matching Contribution.
     2.18. Measurement Funds . “Measurement Funds” means one or more of the independently established funds or indices that are identified by the Plan Administrator. These Measurement Funds are used solely to calculate the earnings that are credited to each Participant’s Account(s) in accordance with Article V below, and do not represent any beneficial interest on the part of the Participant in any asset or other property of the Company. The determination of the increase or decrease in the performance of each Measurement Fund shall be made by the Plan Administrator in its reasonable discretion. Measurement Funds may be replaced, new funds may be added, or both, from time to time in the discretion of the Plan Administrator.
     2.19. Participant . “Participant” means any employee who satisfies the eligibility requirements set forth in Article III. In the event of the death or incompetency of a Participant, the term means his or her beneficiary, personal representative or guardian.
     2.20. Participation Agreement . “ “Participation Agreement” means the authorization form that an eligible employee files with the Plan Administrator to elect a Compensation Deferral under the Plan for a Plan Year.
     2.21. Plan . “Plan” means this Plan, entitled the DSW Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time.
     2.22. Plan Administrator . “Plan Administrator” means the committee appointed by the Company to administer this Plan pursuant to Article VIII.
     2.23. Plan Year . “Plan Year” means (a) for the 2007 Plan Year, August 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007, and (b) for each year thereafter, the twelve (12) month period beginning on each January 1 and ending on the following December 31.
     2.24. Related Group . “Related Group” means the Company and all Affiliates of the Company.
     2.25. Retirement . “Retirement” means separation of service from the Related Group after attaining age fifty-five (55) and completing at least five years of service.
     2.26. Salary Deferral Commitment . “Salary Deferral Commitment” means that portion of salary compensation for which a Participant has made an election to defer receipt pursuant to Article IV.

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     2.27. Termination . “Termination” means a Participant’s separation from service with the Related Group, including termination of service as a member of the Board, for any reason other than Disability or death.
     2.28. Reserved .
     2.29. Unforeseeable Emergency . “Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or a dependent (as defined in Code Section 152(a)) of the Participant, loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.
     2.30. Valuation Date . “Valuation Date” means the last day of the Plan Year and any other date or dates that the Employer, in its sole discretion, reasonably chooses to calculate the value of the Participant’s Accounts and treat as a Valuation Date.
     2.31. Year of Credited Service . “Year of Credited Service” means a twelve (12) month consecutive period in which the Participant has been employed by Employer.
ARTICLE III
Eligibility and Participation
     3.1. Eligibility . An employee of an Employer shall be eligible to participate in this Plan if the employee is part of a select group of management or highly compensated employee and is named by the Plan Administrator to be a Participant in this Plan. All non-employee Board members shall also be eligible to participate in this Plan. An individual shall remain a Participant until that individual has received full payment of all amounts credited to the Participant’s Accounts.
     3.2. Participation . An eligible employee or Board member may elect to enter into a Salary Deferral Commitment and/or a Director’s Fees Deferral Commitment with respect to any Plan Year by submitting a Participation Agreement to the Plan Administrator by December 31 (or such earlier date established by the Plan Administrator) of the calendar year immediately preceding the Plan Year. An eligible employee may elect to enter into a Bonus Deferral Commitment by submitting a Participation Agreement to the Plan Administrator no later than six (6) months prior to the end of the period in which the performance-based compensation that is the subject of the Bonus Deferral Commitment is earned (or such earlier date established by the Plan Administrator), provided such bonus is determined based upon a period of least 12 months. Such Participation Agreement shall only be effective if entered into in a manner consistent with the provisions of Code section 409A.
     3.3. Partial Year Participation . If an employee or director first becomes eligible to participate during a calendar year, the employee or director must submit a Participation Agreement to the Plan Administrator no later than thirty (30) days following the date the employee or director becomes eligible to participate. Such Participation Agreement shall be effective only with respect to Compensation for services to be performed subsequent to the election and deferred in a manner consistent with the provisions of Code section 409A. For

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bonus or incentive compensation earned in the initial Plan Year that is based upon a specified performance period, the Participant’s deferral election may apply only to the portion of such Compensation that is equal to i) the total amount of compensation for the performance period, multiplied by ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days remaining in the service period after the Participant’s deferral election is made, and the denominator of which is the total number of days in the performance period.
ARTICLE IV
Elective Deferrals
     4.1. Amount of Deferral Election . A Participant may elect a Compensation Deferral in the Participation Agreement as follows:
          (a) Salary Deferral Commitment . A Salary Deferral Commitment shall be related to the salary payable by the Employer to the Participant for services performed during the Plan Year. The amount to be deferred shall be stated as a percentage of the salary to be earned during the Plan Year, as a flat dollar amount from any salary earned during the Plan Year, or in such other form as allowed by the Plan Administrator. Any deferral elections under the 401(k) Plan or changes thereto shall have no impact on the Salary Deferral Commitment under the Plan.
          (b) Bonus Deferral Commitment . The amount to be deferred shall be stated as a percentage or as a flat dollar amount of any bonus payable by the Employer for services performed in the period that begins during the Plan Year, or in such other form as allowed by the Plan Administrator.
          (c) Director’s Fees Deferral Commitment . The amount to be deferred shall be stated as a percentage of any fees earned during the Plan Year, as a flat dollar amount from any fees earned during the Plan Year, or in such other form as allowed by the Plan Administrator.
     4.2. Deferral Limits . The following limitations shall apply to Compensation Deferrals:
          (a) Minimum . The minimum deferral amount for a Salary, Bonus or Director’s Fees Deferral Commitment shall be two thousand dollars ($2,000) per Plan Year.
          (b) Maximum . The maximum deferral amount for a Salary Deferral Commitment shall be eighty percent (80%). The maximum deferral amount for a Bonus Deferral Commitment shall be ninety percent (90%) of any such bonus payable by the Employer for services performed in the period that begins during the Plan Year. The maximum deferral amount for a Director’s Fees Deferral Commitment shall be one hundred percent (100%) of any such fees to be earned during the Plan Year. Such deferrals shall be limited to the extent necessary to accommodate all income tax withholding obligations, deferral elections under the 401(k) Plan and contribution obligations for group health and other benefit plans.
          (c) Changes in Minimum or Maximum . The Plan Administrator may amend the Plan to change the minimum or maximum deferral amounts from time to time by giving written notice to all Participants. No such change may affect a Compensation Deferral made prior to the Plan Administrator’s action unless otherwise required by law.

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     4.3. Period of Commitment . A Participant’s Participation Agreement as to a Compensation Deferral shall remain in effect only for the immediately succeeding Plan Year (or the remainder of the current year, as applicable). After a Plan Year has begun, the Participation Agreement shall be irrevocable for the remainder of that Plan Year. Notwithstanding the above, the Participation Agreement shall be terminated if a distribution is made to a Participant as a result of an Unforeseeable Emergency pursuant to Section 6.7 or if such termination is required for the Participant to be able to obtain a hardship distribution under a qualified plan with a qualified cash or deferred arrangement under Code section 401(k). Any resumption of the Participant’s deferrals under this Plan shall be made only at the election of the Participant in accordance with Article III herein.
     4.4. Change of Status . Participation in a Plan Year does not guarantee active participation in any future Plan Year. If a Participant no longer meets the eligibility criteria set forth in Section 3.1 during a Plan Year, the Participant’s most recent Compensation Deferral should remain in effect for the remainder of the Plan Year and shall not terminate unless such termination of the Compensation Deferral is required for the Plan to continue to be maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees within the meaning of ERISA Sections 201(2), 301(a), and 401(a)(1).
ARTICLE V
Participant Accounts
     5.1. Establishment of Accounts . For record keeping purposes only, separate accounts shall be maintained for each Participant to reflect his or her Elective Deferral Account and Company Contribution Account (collectively referred to as “Accounts.”) Separate sub-accounts shall be maintained to the extent necessary to properly reflect the Participant’s election of Measurement Funds, distribution elections and vesting.
     5.2. Crediting Compensation Deferrals to Elective Deferral Account . The Plan Administrator shall credit Compensation Deferrals to the Participant’s Elective Deferral Account as soon as practicable after the date on which such Compensation would otherwise have been paid, in accordance with the Participant’s election.
     5.3. Crediting Matching Contributions to Company Contribution Account . The Employer shall credit Matching Contributions to the Participant’s Company Contribution Account as determined as by the Employer in its discretion.
     5.4. Crediting Discretionary Contributions to Company Contribution Account . The Employer may make Discretionary Contributions to the Participant’s Company Contribution Account, in accordance with Section 2.9 at such times as the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion shall determine.
     5.5. Investment Designations and Earnings (or Losses) on Account . Participants must designate, on a Participation Agreement or by such other means as may be established by the Plan Administrator, the portion of the contributions to their Accounts that shall be allocated

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among the various Measurement Funds. In default of such designation, contributions to a Participant’s Accounts shall be allocated to one or more default Measurement Funds as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. A Participant’s Account shall be credited with all deemed earnings (or losses) generated by the Measurement Funds, as elected by the Participant, on each business day for the sole purpose of determining the amount of earnings to be credited or debited to such Account as if the designated balance of the Account had been invested in the applicable Measurement Fund. Notwithstanding that the rates of return credited to Participant’s Accounts are based upon the actual performance of the corresponding Measurement Funds, the Employer shall not be obligated to invest any amount credited to a Participant’s Account under this Plan in such Measurement Funds or in any other investment funds. Upon notice to the Plan Administrator in the manner it prescribes, a Participant may reallocate the Funds to which his or her Account is deemed to be allocated. Changes made while the New York Stock Exchange is open will be effective at the end of the day on which the change was made. Changes made when the New York Stock Exchange is closed will be effective at the end of the next day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open.
     5.6. Valuation of Account . The value of a Participant’s Account as of any date shall equal the amounts theretofore credited to such Account, including any earnings (positive or negative) deemed to be earned on such Account in accordance with Section 5.5, less any payments made to the Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary pursuant to this Plan, and any forfeitures.
     5.7. Vesting of Accounts . Participants shall be vested in their Accounts as follows:
          (a) Compensation Deferrals, and earnings credited thereon, shall be one hundred percent (100%) vested at all times.
          (b) Matching Contributions, and earnings credited thereon, and Discretionary Contributions shall vest in accordance with a schedule to be determined in the sole discretion of the Plan Administrator, with such schedule to be provided to the Participant at the time such contributions are credited to the Participant’s Company Contribution Account. Notwithstanding the above, the Company Contribution Account shall become one hundred percent (100%) vested upon the occurrence of any of the following events to the extent permitted under Code section 409A:
  (i)   The Participant’s Retirement,
 
  (ii)   The Participant’s Disability,
 
  (iii)   The Participant’s death,
 
  (iv)   A Change in Control of the Company.
     5.8. Discharge for Cause . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, a Participant’s Company Contribution Account shall be forfeited and no benefit shall be paid from that Account if a Participant’s employment with Employer is terminated for “cause.” A termination for cause is, subject to any cure provision included in any written agreement between the Participant and the Company, a termination based upon the Participant’s:

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          (a) Material failure to substantially perform his or her position or duties;
          (b) Engaging in illegal or grossly negligent conduct that is materially injurious to the Company or an Affiliate;
          (c) Material violation of any law or regulation governing the Company or any Affiliate;
          (d) Commission of a material act of fraud or dishonesty which has had or is likely to have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s (or an Affiliate’s) operations or financial conditions; or
          (e) Material breach of the terms of any other agreement (including any employment agreement) with the Company or any Affiliate.
     5.9. Statement of Account . The Plan Administrator shall provide or make available to each Participant (including electronically), not less frequently than annually, a statement in such form as the Plan Administrator deems desirable setting forth the balance of his or her Account.
     5.10. Payments from Account . Any payment made to or on behalf of a Participant from his or her Account in an amount which is less than the entire balance of his or her Account shall be made pro rata from each of the Measurement Funds to which such Account is then allocated.
ARTICLE VI
Payments to Participants
     6.1. Distributions . Distributions under this Plan may only be made in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A.
     6.2. Timing of Benefit Payments . A Participant may elect the timing of his or her benefit payments in the Participation Agreement in a manner established by the Plan Administrator. Such election shall be made in a manner that satisfies Section 409A of the Code with regard to the timing of Participant elections. All payments of benefits shall be made, or shall commence as soon as administratively practicable after the Valuation Date immediately following the earliest of any date designated by the Participant in the applicable Participation Agreement, death, Disability, or Termination. Notwithstanding the above, if the Participant is re-employed by the Employer before the date any installment payment under the Plan is payable due to a Retirement, any future payments shall be suspended until another payment event occurs.
     6.3. Form of Payment . Subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A, benefits payable under the Plan shall be payable in the following form:
          (a) Prior to Retirement . Benefits payable as a result of a Termination prior to Retirement, Disability, or death shall be paid in the form of a single lump sum payment.
          (b) Due to Retirement . Benefits payable as a result of a Termination due to Retirement shall be paid in the form elected by the Participant in his or her Participation

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Agreement. If a Participant fails to make a timely election, benefits shall be paid in the form of a lump sum. Options for form of payment shall include:
               (i) A lump sum payment, or
               (ii) Annual installments over a period of five (5) or ten (10) years. The Participant’s Account shall continue to accrue earnings (or losses) as measured by the Measurement Funds during the payment period on the unpaid balance in the Participant’s Accounts.
     6.4. Disability . Upon the Disability of a Participant, the Participant shall be paid the balance in his or her Account in the form of a lump sum payment, with such payment to be made as soon as practicable after the Participant’s Disability has been determined by the Plan Administrator. Such payment may be made to any legally appointed guardian of the Participant. Upon the Disability of the Participant after installment benefit payments have commenced, the Participant shall receive the remaining unpaid balance in the Participant’s Account in the form of a lump sum payable as soon as administratively practicable after the Participant’s Disability.
     6.5. Death . Upon the death of a Participant, the Employer shall pay to the Participant’s Beneficiary the balance in his or her Account in the form of a lump sum payment, with such payment to be made as soon as practicable after the Participant’s death as determined by the Plan Administrator. Upon the death of a Participant after installment benefit payments have commenced, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall receive the remaining unpaid balance in the Participant’s Account in the form of a lump sum payable as soon as administratively practicable after the Participant’s death.
     6.6. Unforeseeable Emergency . Upon a finding that a Participant has suffered an Unforeseeable Emergency, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, make distributions from the Participant’s Elective Deferral Account and/or from the vested balance of the Participant’s Company Contribution Account. A Participant requesting a distribution as a result of an Unforeseeable Emergency shall apply in writing to the Plan Administrator and shall provide such additional information as the Plan Administrator may require. The amount of the withdrawal shall be limited to the amount necessary to satisfy such emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship). Upon requesting a distribution due to an Unforeseeable Emergency, the Participant shall be required to change the investment direction of the Participant’s Accounts to the most conservative Measurement Fund. Immediately following a distribution due to an Unforeseeable Emergency, or the determination by the Plan Administrator not to authorize the distribution, the Participant may change the investment direction pursuant to Section 5.5. If a distribution is made due to an Unforeseeable Emergency in accordance with this Section 6.6, the Participant’s deferrals under this Plan shall cease for the remainder of the Deferral Period in which the distribution occurs. Any resumption of the Participant’s deferrals under this Plan shall be made only at the election of the Participant in accordance with Article III herein.

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     6.7. Change in Election . A Participant may change the payment date and/or the form of an existing payment election made under Section 6.2 for a Plan Year by filing a new payment election, in the form specified by the Plan Administrator, at least twelve (12) months prior to the original payment date (in the case of installment payments, the date of the first scheduled installment payment), provided that such new election delays the payment year by at least five (5) years from the original payment year. In no event shall the new payment election take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the election is made. A Participant may not change the payment date or form of payment with respect to any Accounts payable at Retirement, once elected.
     6.8. Small Accounts . Notwithstanding any election made under this Plan, if the total value of the Participant’s Account on the Participant’s Retirement date or any subsequent payment date does not exceed the limit imposed by Code Section 402(g) in effect on such date, then the Participant’s Account shall be paid to the Participant in one lump sum as soon as practicable after the date on which such Account would otherwise have been paid, in accordance with the Participant’s election.
     6.9. Valuation of Payments . Any lump sum benefit owed under this Article VI shall be payable in an amount equal to the value of the Participant’s Accounts (or relevant portion thereof) as of the most recent Valuation Date in the year in which payment is to be made. The first annual installment payment in a series of installment payments shall be equal to (i) the value of the Participant’s Accounts (or relevant portion thereof) as of the most recent Valuation Date, divided by (ii) the number of installment payments elected by the Participant. The remaining installments shall be paid in an amount equal to the value of such Accounts (or relevant portion thereof) as of the most recent Valuation Date, divided by the number of remaining unpaid installment payments.
     6.10. Delay of Payment for Specified Employees . Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, in the case of any Participant who is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), no distribution under this Plan may be made, or may commence, before the Valuation Date immediately following the date that is 6 months after the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i).
     6.11. Effect of Code Section 4999 . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, if any payments or any acceleration of the payments made to a Participant from his Company Contribution Account, alone or together with any other compensation or benefit a Participant has received or may receive, would result in the Participant’s being subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, the amount payable hereunder may be reduced or deferred to the extent necessary to ensure that no payment or distribution by the Employer or any other person to or for the benefit of the Participant will be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999. Such reduction or deferral shall only be made in compliance with Code Section 409A.
     6.12. Effect of Payment . The full payment of the applicable benefit under this Article VI shall completely discharge all obligations on the part of the Employer to the Participant (and

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each Beneficiary) with respect to the operation of this Plan, and the Participant’s (and Beneficiary’s) rights under this Plan shall terminate.
ARTICLE VII
Beneficiary Designation
     7.1. Beneficiary Designation . Subject to Section 7.3, each Participant shall have the right, at any time, to designate one (1) or more persons or an entity as Beneficiary (both primary as well as contingent) to whom benefits under this Plan shall be paid in the event of such Participant’s death prior to complete distribution of the Participant’s Accounts. Each Beneficiary designation shall be in a written form prescribed by the Plan Administrator and shall be effective only when filed with the Plan Administrator during the Participant’s lifetime.
     7.2. Changing Beneficiary . Subject to Section 7.3, any Beneficiary designation may be changed by a Participant without the consent of the previously named Beneficiary by the filing of a new Beneficiary designation with the Plan Administrator. The filing of a new properly completed Beneficiary designation shall cancel all Beneficiary designations previously filed.
     7.3. Community Property . If the Participant resides in a community property state, any Beneficiary designation shall be valid or effective only as permitted under applicable law.
     7.4. No Beneficiary Designation . If any Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary in the manner provided in Section 7.1, if the Beneficiary designation is void under Section 7.3, or if the Beneficiary designated by a deceased Participant dies before the Participant or before complete distribution of the Participant’s Accounts, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall be the person in the first of the following classes in which there is a survivor:
          (a) The Participant’s spouse;
          (b) The Participant’s children in equal shares, except that if any of the children predeceases the Participant but leaves issue surviving, then such issue shall take, by right of representation, the share the parent would have taken if living; or
          (c) The Participant’s estate.
     7.5. Effect of Payment . Payment to the deemed Beneficiary shall completely discharge the Employer’s obligations under this Plan.
ARTICLE VIII
Administration
     8.1. Plan Administrator . The Plan Administrator shall be a committee or entity appointed by the Company to administer the Plan. The Plan Administrator shall have full discretionary power and authority to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind any rules, forms and procedures as it deems necessary or appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan and to make any other determinations, including factual determinations, and take such

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other actions as it deems necessary or advisable in carrying out its duties under the Plan. If the Company fails to appoint a Plan Administrator, the Company shall serve as the Plan Administrator.
     8.2. Agents . The Plan Administrator may, from time to time, employ agents and delegate to them such administrative duties as it sees fit, and may, from time to time, consult with counsel who may be counsel to the Employer.
     8.3. Binding Effect of Decisions . All decisions and determinations by the Plan Administrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Employer, Participants, Beneficiaries and any other persons having or claiming an interest hereunder.
     8.4. Indemnification of Plan Administrator . The Company shall indemnify and hold the Plan Administrator harmless against any and all claims, loss, damage, expense or liability arising from any action or failure to act with respect to this Plan due to the Plan Administrator’s service as such, except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Plan Administrator or as expressly provided by statute.
ARTICLE IX
Claims Procedures
     9.1. Claim . A Participant who believes that he or she is being denied a benefit to which he or she is entitled under the Plan may file a written request for such benefit with the Plan Administrator, setting forth his or her claim for benefits.
     9.2. Claim Decision Not Involving Determination of Disability . The Plan Administrator shall reply to any claim filed under Section 9.1 that does not involve a determination of disability within a reasonable period of time, but not later than 90 days of receipt of such claim, unless it determines that special circumstances require an extension of time, not to exceed an additional 90 days, for processing the claim. Written notice of such extension, indicating the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render a decision on such claim, shall be provided to the Participant before the expiration of the original 90-day period. If the claim is denied in whole or in part, such reply shall include a written explanation, using language calculated to be understood by the Participant, setting forth:
          (a) the specific reason or reasons for such denial;
          (b) the specific reference to relevant provisions of this Plan on which such denial is based;
          (c) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Participant to perfect his or her claim and an explanation why such material or such information is necessary;
          (d) appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Participant wishes to submit the claim for review;

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          (e) the time limits for requesting a review under Section 9.4 and for review under Section 9.5 hereof; and
          (f) the Participant’s right to bring an action for benefits under Section 502 of ERISA following an adverse decision on review.
     9.3. Claim Decision Involving Determination of Disability . The Plan Administrator shall reply to any claim filed under Section 9.1 that involves a determination of Disability within a reasonable period of time, but not later than 45 days of receipt of such claim, unless it determines that an extension of time, not to exceed an additional 30 days, is necessary due to matters beyond the control of the Plan. Written notice of such extension, indicating the circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render a decision on such claim, shall be provided to the Participant before the expiration of the original 45-day period. If, prior to the end of the first 30-day extension period, the Plan Administrator determines that, due to matters beyond the control of the Plan, a decision cannot be rendered within that extension period, the period for making a decision shall be extended for up to an additional 30 days. Written notice of such extension, indicating the circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render a decision on such claim, shall be provided to the Participant before the expiration of the first 30-day extension period. In the case of a first or second 30-day extension period, the notice informing the Participant of such extension period shall also specifically explain the standards on which entitlement to a benefit is based, the unresolved issues that prevent a decision on the claim, and the additional information needed to resolve those issues. The Participant shall be afforded at least 45 days within which to provide the specified information. If the Participant provides insufficient information or files an incomplete claim, the time for making a decision is tolled (suspended) from the date the Plan Administrator provides the Participant notice of an extension until the date it receives the Participant’s response to the request for additional information. If the claim is denied in whole or in part, such reply shall include a written explanation, using language calculated to be understood by the Participant, setting forth:
          (a) the specific reason or reasons for such denial;
          (b) the specific reference to relevant provisions of this Plan on which such denial is based;
          (c) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Participant to perfect his or her claim and an explanation why such material or such information is necessary;
          (d) appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Participant wishes to submit the claim for review;
          (e) the time limits for requesting a review under Section 9.4 and for review under Section 9.6 hereof;
          (f) the Participant’s right to bring an action for benefits under Section 502 of ERISA following an adverse decision on review;

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          (g) if an internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the adverse decision, either the specific rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion; or a statement that such a rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the adverse decision and that a copy of such rule, guideline, protocol, or other criterion will be provided free of charge to the Participant upon request; and
          (h) if the adverse decision is based on a medical necessity or experimental treatment or similar exclusion or limit, either an explanation of the scientific or clinical judgment for the determination, applying the terms of the plan to the claimant’s medical circumstances, or a statement that such explanation will be provided free of charge upon request.
     9.4. Request for Review . Within 60 days after the receipt by the Participant of the written explanation described in Section 9.2 above (in the case of a claim decision not involving a determination of Disability), or within 180 days after the receipt by the Participant of the written explanation described in Section 9.3 above (in the case of a claim decision involving a determination of Disability), the Participant may request in writing that the Plan Administrator review its determination. The Participant or his or her duly authorized representative shall be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to the Participant’s claim for benefits and may submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim for benefits for consideration by the Plan Administrator. If the Participant does not request a review of the initial determination within such 60-day or 180-day period, as the case may be, the Participant shall be barred and estopped from challenging the determination.
     9.5. Review of Decision Not Involving Determination of Disability . After considering all materials presented by the Participant with respect to a request for review of a claim decision not involving a determination of Disability, the Plan Administrator will render a written decision, setting forth
          (a) the specific reasons for the decision;
          (b) specific references to the relevant provisions of this Plan on which the decision is based;
          (c) a statement that the Participant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the Participant’s claim for benefits; and
          (d) the Participant’s right to bring an action for benefits under Section 502 of ERISA.
The decision on review shall be communicated to the Participant within a reasonable period of time, but not later than 60 days after the Plan Administrator’s receipt of the Participant’s request for review. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim, written notice shall be furnished to the Participant prior to the expiration of the initial 60-day period, which notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date, not later than 60 days after the expiration of the

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initial 60-day period, by which the Plan Administrator expects to render the decision on review. All decisions on review shall be final and shall bind all parties concerned.
     9.6. Review of Decision Involving Determination of Disability . The review of a claim decision involving a determination of Disability shall not afford deference to the initial adverse decision and shall be conducted by an appropriate named fiduciary of the Plan who is neither the individual who made the initial adverse decision that is the subject of the request for review, nor the subordinate of such individual. If the initial adverse decision was based in whole or in part on a medical judgment, the appropriate named fiduciary shall consult with a health care professional who has appropriate training and experience in the field of medicine involved in the medical judgment. Any health care professional engaged for purposes of such consultation shall be an individual who is neither an individual who was consulted in connection with the adverse decision that is the subject of the request for review, nor the subordinate of any such individual. The Plan Administrator shall identify medical or vocational experts whose advice was obtained on behalf of the Plan in connection with the Participant’s adverse decision, without regard to whether the advice was relied upon in making the claim decision. After considering all materials presented by the Participant with respect to a request for review of a claim involving a determination of Disability, the Plan Administrator will render a written decision, setting forth
          (a) the specific reasons for the decision;
          (b) the specific reference to relevant provisions of this Plan on which the decision is based;
          (c) a statement that the Participant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the Participant’s claims for benefits;
          (d) a statement of the Participant’s right to bring an action for benefits under Section 502 of ERISA;
          (e) if an internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the adverse decision, either the specific rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion; or a statement that such rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the adverse decision and that a copy of the rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion will be provided free of charge to the Participant upon request;
          (f) if the adverse decision is based on a medical necessity or experimental treatment or similar exclusion or limit, either an explanation of the scientific or clinical judgment for the decision, applying the terms of the Plan to the Participant’s medical circumstances, or a statement that such explanation will be provided free of charge upon request; and
          (g) the following statement: “You and your Plan may have other voluntary alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation. One way to find out what may be available is to contact your local U.S. Department of Labor Office and your State insurance regulatory agency.”

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The decision on review shall be communicated to the Participant within a reasonable period of time, but not later than 45 days after the Plan Administrator’s receipt of the Participant’s request for review. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim, written notice shall be furnished to the Participant prior to the expiration of the initial 45-day period, which notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date, not later than 45 days after the expiration of the initial 45-day period, by which the Plan Administrator expects to render the decision on review. All decisions on review shall be final and shall bind all parties concerned.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous
     10.1. Unfunded Plan . This Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan maintained primarily to provide deferred compensation benefits for a select group of “management or highly compensation employees” within the meaning of Sections 201, 301, and 401 of the Employee Retirement Income Security act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and therefore to be exempt from the provisions of Parts 2, 3, and 4 of Title I of ERISA. Accordingly, the Plan shall terminate and no further benefits shall be paid hereunder if it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or by an opinion of counsel that the Plan constitutes an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA which is not so exempt.
     10.2. Unsecured General Creditor . Participants and their Beneficiaries, heirs, successors, and assigns shall have no legal or equitable rights, interest or claims in any property or assets of the Employer, nor shall they be Beneficiaries of, or have any rights, claims or interests in any life insurance policies, annuity contracts, or the proceeds therefrom owned or which may be acquired by the Employer. Except as may be provided in Section 10.3, such policies, annuity contracts or other assets of the Employer shall not be held under any trust for the benefit of Participants, their Beneficiaries, heirs, successors or assigns, or held in any way as collateral security for the fulfilling of the obligations of the Employer under this Plan. Any and all of the Employer’s assets and policies shall be, and remain, the general, unpledged, unrestricted assets of the Employer. The Employer’s obligation under the Plan shall be that of an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future.
     10.3. Trust Fund . The Employer shall be responsible for the payment of all benefits provided under the Plan. At its discretion, the Employer may establish one or more trusts, with such trustees as the Board may approve, for the purpose of providing for the payment of such benefits. Such trust or trusts may be irrevocable, but the assets thereof shall be subject to the claims of the Employer’s creditors. To the extent any benefits provided under the Plan are actually paid from any such trust, the Employer shall have no further obligation with respect thereto, but to the extent not so paid, such benefits shall remain the obligation of, and shall be paid by, the Employer.
     10.4. Protective Provisions . Each Participant and Beneficiary shall cooperate with the Plan Administrator by furnishing any and all information requested by the Plan Administrator in order to facilitate the payment of benefits hereunder. Such cooperation includes providing consent to being insured under a Company owned life insurance policy in which the Company is

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the policy beneficiary. If a Participant or Beneficiary refuses to cooperate with the Plan Administrator, the Employer shall have no further obligation to the Participant or Beneficiary under the Plan, other than payment of the then-current balance of the Participant’s Accounts in accordance with prior elections.
     10.5. Inability to Locate Participant or Beneficiary . If the Plan Administrator is unable to locate a Participant or Beneficiary within two years following the date the Participant was to commence receiving payment, the entire amount allocated to the Participant’s Account shall be forfeited. If, after such forfeiture, the Participant or Beneficiary later claims such benefit, such benefit shall be reinstated without interest or earnings from the date payment was to commence pursuant to Article VI.
     10.6. No Contract of Employment . Neither the establishment of the Plan, nor any modification thereof, nor the creation of any fund, trust or account, nor the payment of any benefits shall be construed as giving any Participant or any person whosoever, the right to be retained in the service of the Employer, and all Participants and other employees shall remain subject to discharge to the same extent as if the Plan had never been adopted.
     10.7. Withholding Taxes . The Plan Administrator and the Employer may make such provisions and take such action as it may deem necessary or appropriate for the withholding of any taxes which the Employer is required by any law or regulation of any governmental authority, whether federal, state or local, to withhold in connection with any contributions or benefits under the Plan, including, but not limited to, the withholding of appropriate sums from any amount otherwise payable to the Participant (or his or her Beneficiary). Each Participant, however, shall be responsible for the payment of all individual tax liabilities relating to any such benefits.
     10.8. No Limitation on Employer Actions . Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the Employer from taking any action which is deemed by it to be appropriate or in its best interest. No Participant, Beneficiary, or other person shall have any claim against the Employer as a result of such action.
     10.9. Obligations to Employer . If a Participant becomes entitled to a payment of benefits under the Plan, and if at such time the Participant has out-standing any debt, obligation, or other liability representing an amount owing to the Employer, then the Employer may offset such amount owed to it against the amount of benefits otherwise distributable. Such determination shall be made by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion.
     10.10. No Liability for Action or Omission . Neither the Company nor any director, officer or employee of the Company shall be responsible or liable in any manner to any Participant, Beneficiary or any person claiming through them for any benefit or action taken or omitted in connection with the granting of benefits, the continuation of benefits, or the interpretation and administration of this Plan.
     10.11. Nonalienation of Benefits . Except as otherwise specifically pro-vided herein, all amounts payable hereunder shall be paid only to the person or persons designated by the Plan and not to any other person or corporation. No part of a Participant’s Account shall be liable for

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the debts, contracts, or engagements of any Participant, his or her Beneficiary, or successors in interest, nor shall such accounts of a Participant be subject to execution by levy, attachment, or garnishment or by any other legal or equitable proceeding, nor shall any such person have any right to alienate, anticipate, commute, pledge, encumber, or assign any benefits or payments hereunder in any manner whatsoever. If any Participant, Beneficiary or successor in interest is adjudicated bankrupt or purports to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or charge any payment from the Plan, voluntarily or involuntarily, the Plan Administrator, in its discretion, may cancel such payment (or any part thereof) to or for the benefit of such Participant, Beneficiary or successor in interest in such manner as the Plan Administrator shall direct. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all or a portion of a Participant’s Account may be awarded to an “alternate payee” (within the meaning of Section 206(d)(3)(K) of ERISA) if and to the extent so provided in a judgment, decree or order that, in the Plan Administrator’s sole discretion, would meet the applicable requirements for qualification as a “qualified domestic relations order” (within the meaning of Section 206(d)(3)(B)(i) of ERISA) if the Plan were subject to the provisions of Section 206(d) of ERISA.
     10.12. Liability for Benefit Payments . The obligation to pay or provide for payment of a benefit hereunder to any Participant or his or her Beneficiary shall, at all times, be the sole and exclusive liability and responsibility of the Company.
     10.13. Governing Law . This Plan shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Ohio to the extent not superseded by federal law, without reference to the principles of conflict of laws.
     10.14. Severability of Provisions . If any provision of this Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.
     10.15. Headings and Captions . The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.
     10.16. Gender, Singular and Plural . All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, or neuter, as the identity of the person or persons may require. As the context may require, the singular may read as the plural and the plural as the singular.
     10.17. Participating Employers . If any affiliated or subsidiary entity wishes to adopt the Plan as an Employer for the benefit of its employees, it shall execute a Participation Agreement or perform any other act as required by the Plan Administrator.
     10.18. Notice . Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the Plan Administrator under the Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and hand delivered, or sent by registered or certified mail, to the Plan Administrator, DSW Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan, c/o DSW Inc. HR Benefits, DSW Inc., 810 DSW Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43219, or to such other person or entity as the Plan Administrator may designate from time to

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time. Such notice shall be deemed given as to the date of delivery, or, if delivery is made by mail, as of the date shown on the postmark on the receipt for registration or certification.
     10.19. Amendment and Termination . The Plan may be amended, suspended, or terminated at any time by Company or by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, however, that no such amendment, suspension or termination shall result in any reduction in the value of a Participant’s Accounts determined as of the effective date of such amendment. In addition, the Plan, and/or the terms of any election made hereunder, may be amended at any time and in any respect by Company or by the Plan Administrator if and to the extent recommended by counsel in order to conform to the requirements of Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder. In the event of any suspension or termination of the Plan, payment of Participants’ Accounts shall be made under and in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the applicable elections (except that the Plan Administrator may determine, in its sole discretion, to accelerate payments to all Participants if and to the extent that such acceleration is permitted under Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder).

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Exhibit 10.2
DSW INC. SUMMARY OF DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
1.   Pursuant to the terms of the DSW Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”), each director who is not a member of management of DSW or Retail Ventures, Inc. receives:
    An annual retainer of $110,000; and
 
    An additional annual retainer for committee service for each committee on which such director serves (provided that the committee chairs do not receive such additional retainer) as follows:
    Audit Committee — $15,000
 
    Compensation Committee — $11,500
 
    Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee — $7,500
The annual retainers shall be paid as follows:
    One-half in cash, payable in quarterly installments on the last day of each fiscal quarter; and
 
    One-half in stock units, payable on the date of each annual meeting of the shareholders for the purpose of electing directors, determined by dividing the amount of the retainer to be paid in stock units by the “Fair Market Value” of a share of “Stock” on the “Grant Date” pursuant to Section 7.01[3] of the Equity Incentive Plan.
2.   The Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee receives an additional annual cash retainer of $20,000, payable in quarterly installments of $5,000 on the last day of each fiscal quarter, for service as the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
3.   The Chairman of the Compensation Committee receives an additional annual cash retainer of $30,000, payable in quarterly installments of $7,500 on the last business day of each fiscal quarter, for service as the Chair of the Compensation Committee.
4.   The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional cash retainer of $35,000, payable in quarterly installments of $8,750 on the last business day of each fiscal quarter, for service as the Chair of the Audit Committee.
5.   Non-management directors may elect to have any of their cash retainers paid in the form of stock units in lieu of cash.
6.   For fiscal 2007, each non-management director shall receive an additional stock grant equal to $5,000.

 

Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Jay L. Schottenstein, certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of DSW Inc.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  (a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  (b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;
 
  (c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  (d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
  (a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  (b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
         
     
Date: December 13, 2007  /s/ Jay L. Schottenstein    
  Jay L. Schottenstein   
  Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board   

 

 

         
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Douglas J. Probst, certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of DSW Inc.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  (a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  (b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;
 
  (c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  (d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
  (a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  (b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
         
     
Date: December 13, 2007  /s/ Douglas J. Probst    
  Douglas J. Probst   
  Chief Financial Officer   

 

 

         
Exhibit 32.1
SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATION
In connection with the Quarterly Report of DSW Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending November 3, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Jay L. Schottenstein, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)); and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
         
     
December 13, 2007  /s/ Jay L. Schottenstein    
  Jay L. Schottenstein   
  Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board   
 
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

 

Exhibit 32.2
SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATION
In connection with the Quarterly Report of DSW Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending November 3, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Douglas J. Probst, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
     (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)); and
     (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
         
     
December 13, 2007  /s/ Douglas J. Probst    
  Douglas J. Probst   
  Chief Financial Officer   
 
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.