Designer Brands Inc. 8-K

What Happened Designer Brands Inc. filed an 8-K (Feb 9, 2026) reporting an amendment to its Bank Card Merchant Agreement with Worldpay, LLC (fka Vantiv). The Omnibus Amendment withdraws Worldpay’s January 2026 termination notice and requires Worldpay and its affiliates to continue providing in-store and online credit/debit card processing services during a Transition Period that ends no later than May 31, 2026. The change follows a temporary restraining order issued by the Court of Common Pleas in Franklin County, Ohio on January 28, 2026, which enjoined Worldpay from terminating the agreement or stopping performance prior to May 31, 2026.

Key Details

• Agreement amended on February 9, 2026; temporary restraining order initially issued January 28, 2026.
• Worldpay withdrew its January 2026 termination notice and will continue services through a Transition Period ending no later than May 31, 2026.
• Designer Brands has identified alternative partners capable of providing payment-processing services and is taking steps to transition on or before May 31, 2026.
• Company and Worldpay plan to resolve the related court Action by filing a stipulated dismissal with prejudice.

Why It Matters This filing confirms Designer Brands has secured short-term continuity of payment processing, reducing the immediate risk of in-store and online transaction disruptions while it moves to new providers. For investors, the amendment lowers near-term operational risk tied to merchant-processing interruptions; however, the company still faces the logistical and potential cost risks of transitioning processors by the May 31, 2026 deadline. The company’s statement also includes standard forward-looking disclaimers about uncertainties and risks related to the transition.