Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
ITEM 9A CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
It is the Chief Executive Officer’s and Chief Financial Officer’s ultimate responsibility to ensure we maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our disclosure controls and procedures include mandatory communication of material events; automated accounting processing and reporting; management review of monthly,
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quarterly and annual results; an established system of internal controls; and internal control reviews by our internal auditors.
A control system, no matter how well-conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Furthermore, the design of a control system must reflect the fact there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to errors or fraud may occur and not be detected. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide a reasonable level of assurance that their objectives are achieved. As of January 31, 2026, management of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon and as of the date of that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Based on the evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that there have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting or in other factors during the quarter ended January 31, 2026, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of Stuart Weitzman, which was acquired on August 4, 2025.
ITEM 9B OTHER INFORMATION
During the thirteen weeks ended January 31, 2026 no director or Section 16 officer adopted or terminated any “ Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “ non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement”, as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 9C DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 10 DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information regarding Directors of the Company is set forth under the caption Proposal 1 – Election of Directors in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 28, 2026, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding Executive Officers of the Registrant is set forth under the caption Information about our Executive Officers that can be found in Item 1 of this report, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
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Information regarding Section 16, Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance, is set forth under the caption Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 28, 2026, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding the Audit Committee and the Audit Committee financial expert is set forth under the caption Board Meetings and Committees in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 28, 2026, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding the Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct, and Code of Ethics is set forth under the caption Corporate Governance in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 28, 2026, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 11 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information regarding Executive Compensation is set forth under the captions Compensation Discussion and Analysis, Executive Compensation, and Compensation of Non-Employee Directors in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 28, 2026, which information (other than the information set forth under “Pay Versus Performance”) is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding the Culture, Compensation and People Committee Report is set forth under the caption Culture, Compensation and People Committee Report in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 28, 2026, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation is set forth under the caption Culture, Compensation and People Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 28, 2026, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information regarding Company Stock Ownership by Directors, Officers and Principal Holders of Our Stock is set forth under the caption Stock Ownership by Directors, Executive Officers and 5% Shareholders in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 28, 2026, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
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Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table sets forth aggregate information regarding the Company’s equity compensation plans as of January 31, 2026:
Number of
securities
remaining
available for
future
Number of
issuance
securities to be
Weighted-
under equity
issued upon
average
compensation
exercise of
exercise price
plans
outstanding
of outstanding
(excluding
options,
options,
securities
warrants and
warrants and
reflected in
rights
rights
column (a))
Plan Category
(a)
(b)
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
306,056
(1)
$
—
(1)
1,047,553
(2)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
—
—
—
Total
306,056
$
—
1,047,553
(1) Column (a) includes 306,056 performance share units payable in stock, which reflects the maximum number of shares to be issued under the performance share plans. The target number of shares to be issued under the plans is 306,056. Performance share awards were disregarded for purposes of computing the weighted-average exercise price in column (b). There were no outstanding (vested and nonvested) stock options as of January 31, 2026. This table excludes independent directors’ deferred compensation units and restricted stock units payable in cash.
(2) Represents our remaining shares available for award grants based upon the provisions of the plans, which reflect our practice to reserve shares for outstanding awards. The number of securities available for grant has been reduced for performance share awards payable in stock. Performance share awards are reserved based on the maximum payout level.
Information regarding share-based plans is set forth in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements and is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 13 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information regarding Certain Relationships and Related Transactions is set forth under the caption Related Party Transactions in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 28, 2026, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding Director Independence is set forth under the caption Director Independence in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 28, 2026, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14 PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Information regarding our Principal Accountant Fees and Services is set forth under the caption Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accountants in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 28, 2026, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
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PART IV
ITEM 15 EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)
(1) and (2) The list of financial statements and Financial Statement Schedules required by this item is included in the Index under Financial Statements and Supplementary Data . All other schedules specified under Regulation S-X have been omitted because they are not applicable, because they are not required or because the information required is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
2.1
Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated February 16, 2025, by and between Caleres, Inc. (the “Company”) and Tapestry, Inc. incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Form 8-K filed February 19, 2025.
2.2
Amendment No.1 to Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2025, by and between the Company and Tapestry, Inc., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed August 5, 2025.
3.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Caleres, Inc. incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Form 8-K filed June 1, 2020.
3.2
Bylaws of the Company as amended through December 10, 2025, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed December 11, 2025.
4.1
Description of the Registrant's Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2020, and filed March 31, 2020.
10.1
Seventh Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 27, 2025, by and among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries party thereto, the financial institutions party thereto, as lenders, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed July 3, 2025.
10.1a
Second Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated August 17, 2016, among the Company, as lead borrower for itself and on behalf of certain of its subsidiaries, and the financial institutions party thereto, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 30, 2016.
10.1b
Third Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated January 18, 2019, among the Company, as lead borrower for itself and on behalf of certain of its subsidiaries, and the financial institutions party thereto, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated and filed January 23, 2019.
10.1c
Fourth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated April 14, 2020, among the Company, as lead borrower for itself and on behalf of certain of its subsidiaries, and the financial institutions party thereto, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s 8-K dated and filed April 20, 2020.
10.1d
Fifth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated October 5, 2021, among the Company, as lead borrower for itself and on behalf of certain of its subsidiaries, and the financial institutions party thereto, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s 8-K dated and filed October 7, 2021.
10.1e
Sixth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated April 27, 2023, among the Company, as lead borrower for itself and on behalf of certain of its subsidiaries, and the financial institutions party thereto, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 29, 2023, and filed June 6, 2023.
10.2a*
Caleres, Inc. Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2017, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Company’s definitive proxy statement dated and filed April 14, 2017.
10.2b*
Form of Performance Award Agreement (for 2021-2023 performance period) under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2017, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4e to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 30, 2021, and filed March 30, 2021.
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10.2c*
Form of Performance Award Agreement (for 2022-2024 performance period) under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2017, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4e to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 29, 2022, and filed March 28, 2022.
10.2d*
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (for employee grants commencing March 2020) under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2017, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4h to the Company’s 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2020, and filed March 31, 2020.
10.2e*
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (for employee grants commencing March 2021) under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2017, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4j to the Company’s 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2021, and filed March 30, 2021.
10.2f*
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (for employee grants commencing March 2022) under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2017, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4j to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 29, 2022, and filed March 28, 2022.
10.3a*
Caleres, Inc. Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2022, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Company’s definitive proxy statement dated and filed April 14, 2022.
10.3b*
Form of Performance Award Agreement under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2022 (for grants commencing in May 2022), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4a to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2022, and filed June 7, 2022.
10.3c*
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2022 (for grants commencing in May 2022), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4b to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2022, and filed June 7, 2022.
10.3d*
Form of Performance Award Agreement (for 2023 – 2025 performance period) under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2022, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3d to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023, and filed March 28, 2023.
10.3e*
Form of Restricted Award Agreement (for employee grants commencing March 2023) under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2022, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3e to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023, and filed March 28, 2023.
10.3f*
Form of Performance Award Agreement (for 2024 – 2026 performance period) under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2022, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3f to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 2024, and filed April 2, 2024.
10.3g*
Form of Restricted Award Agreement (for employee grants commencing March 2024) under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2022, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3g to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 2024, and filed April 2, 2024.
10.3h*
Form of Performance Award Agreement (for 2025 – 2027 performance period) under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2022, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3h to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2025, and filed April 1, 2025.
10.3i*
Form of Restricted Award Agreement (for employee grants commencing March 2025) under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2022, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3h to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2025, and filed April 1, 2025.
†10.3j*
Form of Performance Award Agreement (for 2026 – 2028 performance period) under the Company’s Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2022, filed herewith.
10.4a*
Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Agreement between the Company and its Non-Employee Directors (for grants commencing in 2022), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5a to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2022, and filed June 7, 2022.
10.4b*
Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement between the Company and its Non-Employee Directors (for grants commencing in 2022), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5b to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2022, and filed June 7, 2022.
10.5*
Caleres, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as amended and restated as of May 28, 2015, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 2, 2015, and filed June 10, 2015.
10.6*
Amendment to the Caleres, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated December 22, 2022, and filed December 28, 2022.
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10.7*
Caleres, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP), as amended and restated as of May 28, 2015, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 2, 2015, and filed June 10, 2015.
10.8*
Caleres, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated as of May 28, 2015, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 2, 2015, and filed June 10, 2015.
10.9*
Caleres, Inc. Non-Employee Director Share Plan (2009), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 2, 2015, and filed June 10, 2015.
10.10*
Severance Agreement, dated March 24, 2009 and effective as of April 1, 2009, between the Company and Daniel R. Friedman, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2015, and filed March 31, 2015.
10.11*
Form of Amendment letter dated December 18, 2009, to the Severance Agreements between the Company and Daniel R. Friedman, as incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2010, and filed September 7, 2010.
10.12*
Severance Agreement, effective June 14, 2018, between the Company and John W. Schmidt, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 4, 2018, and filed September 12, 2018.
10.13*
Severance Agreement, effective September 12, 2022, between the Company and Jack P. Calandra, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 29, 2022, and filed December 6, 2022.
†10.14*
Severance Agreement, effective February 2, 2025, between the Company and Brian P. Costello, filed herewith.
†10.15*
Severance Agreement, effective November 11, 2025, between the Company and Kathleen K. Welter, filed herewith.
10.16*
Caleres, Inc. Nonqualified Restoration Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 28, 2023, and filed December 5, 2023.
† 19
Insider Trading Policy
†21
Subsidiaries of the registrant.
†23
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
†24
Power of attorney (contained on signature page).
†31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
†31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
†32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
97.1
Caleres, Inc. Incentive Compensation Recovery Policy, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 97.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 2024, and filed April 2, 2024.
†101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document
†101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
†101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
†101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
†101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document
†101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
†104
Cover Page Interactive Data File, formatted in iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101.
(b) Exhibits:
See Item 15(a)(3) above. On request, copies of any exhibit will be furnished to shareholders upon payment of the Company’s reasonable expenses incurred in furnishing such exhibits.
(c) Financial Statement Schedules:
See Item 8 above.
*
Denotes management contract or compensatory plan arrangements.
†
Denotes exhibit is filed with this Form 10-K.
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ITEM 16 FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
CALERES, INC.
By:
/s/ Daniel L. Karpel
Daniel L. Karpel
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer
Date: April 2, 2026
Know all men by these presents, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints John W. Schmidt and Daniel L. Karpel his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant, on the dates and in the capacities indicated.
Signatures
Date
Title
/s/ John W. Schmidt
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
John W. Schmidt
April 2, 2026
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Daniel L. Karpel
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer
Daniel L. Karpel
April 2, 2026
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Lisa A. Flavin
Lisa A. Flavin
April 2, 2026
Director
/s/ Brenda C. Freeman
Brenda C. Freeman
April 2, 2026
Director
/s/ Kyle F. Gendreau
Kyle F. Gendreau
April 2, 2026
Director
/s/ Lori H. Greeley
Lori H. Greeley
April 2, 2026
Director
/s/ Mahendra R. Gupta
Mahendra R. Gupta
April 2, 2026
Director
/s/ Ward M. Klein
Ward M. Klein
April 2, 2026
Director
/s/ Steven W. Korn
Steven W. Korn
April 2, 2026
Director
/s/ Molly Langenstein
Molly Langenstein
April 2, 2026
Director
/s/ Wenda Harris Millard
Wenda Harris Millard
April 2, 2026
Director
/s/ Bruce K. Thorn
Bruce K. Thorn
April 2, 2026
Director
101