Document:

EX-10.2

 

Exhibit 10.2

THE NORTH AMERICAN COAL CORPORATION

VALUE APPRECIATION PLAN FOR

YEARS 2006 TO 2015

1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

     The purpose of this Value Appreciation Plan for 2006 to 2015 (“VAP” or the “Plan”) is to
further the long-term profits and growth of The North American Coal Corporation (the “Company”) by
offering long-term incentive to those officers and key management employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries who will be in a position to make significant contributions to such profits or growth.
This incentive is in addition to annual compensation and is intended to reflect growth in the
value of the Company.

2. AMERICAN JOBS CREATION ACT (AJCA)

     (a) All amounts payable under the Plan are subject to the provisions of Code Section 409A, as
enacted by the AJCA. It is intended that the Plan be administered in accordance with the
requirements of Code Section 409A, so as to prevent the inclusion in gross income of any amount
credited to a Participant’s VAP Sub-Account hereunder in a taxable year that is prior to the
taxable year or years in which such amounts would otherwise actually be distributed or made
available to the Participant.

2. DEFINITIONS

	 	(a)	 	“Account” means the account established in accordance with Section 7 hereof to
reflect the Participant’s interest under the Plan.
	 
	 	(b)	 	“Award” means an award of a VAP Amount under the provisions of the Plan.
	 
	 	(c)	 	“Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of
Directors appointed to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 3.

 

 

	 	(d)	 	“Current Projects” shall mean the Company’s existing projects, such as Coteau,
Falkirk, Sabine, Red River Mining, Mississippi Lignite Mining, San Miguel, and Florida
Dragline Operations.
	 
	 	(e)	 	“Disability” or “Disabled.” A Participant shall be deemed to have a
“Disability” or be “Disabled” if the Participant is determined to be totally disabled
by the Social Security Administration or if the Participant (i) is unable to engage in
any substantial gainful activity 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 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
months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three
months under an employer-sponsored accident and health plan.
	 
	 	(f)	 	“Earnings Before Interest After Tax” or “EBIAT” shall mean (i) total net income
for all projects, plus (ii) total interest expense incurred by all projects, less (iii)
total interest expense incurred by all projects times the applicable effective tax rate
for each project. EBIAT shall exclude the effect of extraordinary items and accounting
method changes as determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
	 
	 	(g)	 	“Key Employee” shall mean a key employee, as defined in Section 416(i) of the
Code (without regard to paragraph (5) thereof) of the Company or a Subsidiary (or
related entity) so long as the stock of NACCO Industries, Inc. (or a related entity) is
publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise on the

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	 	 	 	date of the Employee’s Separation From Service. Key Employees are identified on a
controlled group-wide basis and include non-resident alien employees (whether or not
such employees are eligible to participate in the Plan). The selected
identification date for Key Employees is December 31st. As such, any
employee who is classified by the Company as a Key Employee as of December
31st of a particular Plan Year shall maintain such classification for the
12-month period commencing the following April 1st. The Company shall
have the sole and absolute discretion to classify employees as Key Employees
hereunder. To the extent determined by the Company, such classification may include
up to 75 highly compensated employees (including some who do not meet the statutory
requirements of a Key Employee) as long as such determination is made in a
consistent, reasonable and good faith manner.
	 
	 	(h)	 	“New Projects” shall mean any new mining activities or projects, such as a new
lignite or coal mining project, limerock mining project or any mining services
agreement, expansions at current operations, and other new projects and activities,
where approval of the Company’s Board of Directors is obtained.
	 
	 	(i)	 	“Plan Term” shall mean the ten (10) year period from January 1, 2006 through
December 31, 2015.
	 
	 	(j)	 	“Salary Grade” shall mean the salary grade assigned to a Plan Participant by
the Company.
	 
	 	(k)	 	“Separation From Service” means a separation of service as defined in Code
Section 409A (and the regulations and guidance issued thereunder).

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	 	(l)	 	“Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, partnership or other entity the
majority of the outstanding voting securities of which is owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Company.
	 
	 	(m)	 	“Unforeseeable Emergency” shall mean an event which results in a severe
financial hardship to the Participant as a consequence of (i) an illness or accident of
the Participant, the Participant’s spouse or a dependent within the meaning of Code
Section 152(a), (ii) loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty or (iii) other
similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events
beyond the control of the Participant.
	 
	 	(n)	 	“Value Appreciation” shall mean an amount equal to EBIAT less a capital charge
which is ten percent (10%) of the book value of the entity.
	 
	 	(o)	 	“VAP Amount” shall mean a Plan Participant’s VAP Target Amount times a VAP
Multiplier, as determined in accordance with Section 8.
	 
	 	(p)	 	“VAP Goals for Current Projects” shall mean the expected total Value
Appreciation for all Current Projects for the Company and its Subsidiaries over the
Plan Term as determined by the Committee. In the case of New Projects, the forecast of
VAP performance used for the New Project Award as determined in accordance with Section
8(c) shall be included in all future years following the year the participants are
credited with a New Project Award.
	 
	 	(q)	 	“VAP Goal for New Projects” shall be the cumulative amount of Value
Appreciation to be obtained over the Plan Term from New Projects, as determined by the
Committee.

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	 	(r)	 	“VAP Multiplier” shall mean a factor based on VAP Ratio as further described
herein.
	 
	 	(s)	 	“VAP Percentage” shall mean a percentage of the Plan Participant’s salary range
midpoint, and shall be determined for each Plan Participant by the Committee.
	 
	 	(t)	 	“VAP Ratio” shall mean a factor determined based on actual performance versus
VAP Goals as further described herein.
	 
	 	(u)	 	“VAP Target Amount” shall mean (i) a dollar amount equal to the VAP Percentage
for a Plan Participant’s Salary Grade times the Plan Participant’s salary range
midpoint or (ii) such amount as otherwise determined by the Committee.
	 
	 	(v)	 	“VAP Targets for New Projects” shall mean those targets calculated based on the
expected capital investment and EBIAT projections that are used, in good faith as
realistic best estimates, to obtain Management approval of the New Project.

3.  ADMINISTRATION

     This Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have complete authority
to interpret all provisions of this Plan consistent with law, to prescribe the form of any
instrument evidencing any Award granted under this Plan, to adopt, amend and rescind general and
special rules and regulations for its administration, and to make all other determinations
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. All acts and decisions of the Committee
with respect to any questions arising in connection with the administration and interpretation of
this Plan, including the severability of any or all of the provisions hereof, shall be conclusive,
final and binding upon the Company and all present and former Participants, all other employees of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, and their respective descendants,

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successors and assigns. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any such act or
decision made in good faith.

4. ELIGIBILITY

     Any person who is classified as a salaried employee of the Company or any Subsidiary
(including any Subsidiary acquired after adoption of this Plan) generally at a Salary Grade no
lower than 16, who in the judgment of the Committee occupies an officer or other key management
position in which his efforts may significantly contribute to the profits or growth of the Company
or Subsidiary may receive an Award under this Plan. Directors of the Company or any Subsidiary who
are not also classified as employees of the Company or any Subsidiary are not eligible to
participate in this Plan. Any person receiving an Award shall be referred to as a “Participant.”

5. VAP AMOUNTS

     5.1 Awards. As to each Award under this Plan, the Committee shall determine and
approve (a) the VAP Target Amount that may be awarded for each Salary Grade, (b) the employees to
whom VAP Amounts are to be awarded and (c) the VAP Amount to be awarded to each individual
employee. All Awards under this Plan shall be effective as of January 1 of the year determined by
the Committee. Each Award shall vest and the amount represented thereby shall be payable upon the
terms and conditions set forth in Section 5.2.

     5.2 Vesting; Payment of VAP Amounts.

     (a) Each Participant’s interest in his VAP Account under this Plan shall vest at the rate of
20 percent for each year following the effective date of the Participant’s initial Award under this
Plan during which the Participant remains in the continuous employ of the Company or a Subsidiary;
provided, however, a Participant’s interest in his VAP Account shall vest 100 percent in the event
(i) of such Participant’s death or Disability while employed by the Company

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or a Subsidiary, (ii) such Participant remains in the continuous employ of the Company or a
Subsidiary through December 31, 2015, or (iii) of such Participant’s termination of employment with
the Company or Subsidiary at or after age 55 with at least 10 years of service or at or after age
65 (i.e., retirement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, all payments under this Plan must be
approved by the Committee (even after vesting). Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2(f) and
Section 5.3, the vested amounts in a Participant’s VAP Account, including any Award for the year
2015, shall be payable as soon as practicable following both the approval thereof by the Committee
and the earlier to occur of:

	 	(i)	 	December 31, 2015;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	the date of a Participant’s Separation From Service for death,
Disability or retirement (as defined above); provided, however, that if the
Participant is a Key Employee, such payment shall be delayed for a period of
six months following retirement (with interest continuing to accrue until the
actual payment date); or
	 
	 	(iii)	 	the termination of this Plan pursuant to Section 9, to the
extent permitted by Code Section 409A.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may vest a Participant whose employment otherwise
terminates in such amounts, up to 100 percent of his VAP Account, as the Committee may in its sole
discretion determine; provided that such vesting shall not result in the acceleration of the
payment thereof to a date earlier than the dates specified above.

     (b) In the event that all or any portion of a Participant’s VAP Account does not vest pursuant
to Section 5.2(a), the VAP Amount represented thereby shall terminate and be forfeited.

     (c) As soon as practicable following the payment dates specified above and Committee approval
of such payments, the Company or Subsidiary shall deliver to the Participant or, if applicable, his
designated beneficiaries (or, if none, his estate) a check in full payment of the amount
represented by the Participant’s vested interest in his VAP Account. The employer by which the
Participant was last employed prior to the payment date of an Award

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shall be liable for the payment of such Award to or on behalf of such Participant, but such
employer’s liability shall be limited to its proportionate share of such amount, as hereinafter
provided. If the Award(s) payable to or on behalf of a Participant are based on the Participant’s
employment with more than one employer, the liability for such Awards shall be shared by all such
employers (by reimbursement to the employer making such payment(s)) as determined by the Company
(taking into consideration the Participant’s service and compensation paid by each such employer)
and as will permit the deduction (for purposes of federal and foreign income tax) by each such
employer of its portion of the payments made and to be made hereunder. Expenses of administering
the Plan shall be paid by the Company and the Subsidiaries, as directed by the Company.

     (d) The amounts payable under this Plan shall be calculated as of a valuation date determined
by the Committee, and in the absence of such determination, shall be calculated based on the value
of the VAP Account as of the December 31 coincident with or immediately preceding the date of
payment.

     (e) There shall be deducted from each payment the amount of any tax required by any
governmental authority to be withheld and paid by the Company or Subsidiary to such governmental
authority for the account of the person entitled to such payment.

     (f) At any time a Participant may request in writing that the Committee permit the Participant
to exercise and receive payment of an amount up to his then vested interest in his VAP Account if
such funds are needed because of an Unforeseeable Emergency; provided, however, that such payment
shall be permitted only to the extent the amount does not exceed the amount reasonably necessary to
satisfy the emergency need (plus an amount necessary to pay taxes and penalties reasonably
anticipated as a result of the distribution) (or, if less, 40% of the

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Participant’s vested interest in his VAP Account). Such payments may not be made to the
extent such Unforeseeable Emergency is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by
insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent such
liquidation would not itself cause severe financial hardship).

     5.3 Forfeiture of VAP Amounts. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Plan, (a) in the event a Participant shall intentionally commit an act materially adverse to
the interests of the Company or a Subsidiary, and the Board of Directors of the Company or the
Committee shall so find, his Award shall be deemed to have terminated at the time of such act and
his interest in his VAP Account shall immediately be terminated and forfeited and (b) the Committee
shall have the sole and absolute discretion to reduce a Participant’s vested interest in his VAP
Account, in the event that the Committee determines that an adjustment is required to be made under
Section 8(e) hereof (provided, however, that the Committee shall not have the discretion to reduce
the amount of any amount that was previously paid to a Participant hereunder).

6. ASSIGNABILITY

     No Award to an employee under this Plan shall be transferable by him for any reason
whatsoever; provided, however, that the right to the proceeds of an Award which are payable upon
vesting pursuant to Section 5.2 may be transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

7. VAP ACCOUNTS

     The Company shall maintain an account (“VAP Account”) on its books and records in the name of
each Participant to reflect the Participant’s interest under this Plan. The VAP Account of each
Participant shall be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5 and 8 hereof. Each
Participant’s VAP Account also shall be credited with earnings as determined in

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accordance with provisions of this Section 7 and shall be debited for any distributions made
to the Participant from his VAP Account.

     As of the end of each calendar year, each Participant’s VAP Account shall be credited with an
amount determined by multiplying the Participant’s average VAP Account balance during such year by
the average monthly rate during such year for 10-year U.S. Treasury Bonds. In the event that a
Participant terminates employment prior to the end of a calendar year and becomes entitled to a
payment of his VAP Account hereunder, the Participant’s VAP Account shall be credited with a
pro-rata share of earnings, based on the portion of the year prior to the payment date.

     The Vice President — Financial Services of the Company (or his delegate) shall keep an
accurate record of the amounts credited or debited to each Participant’s VAP Account and, as of
December 31 of each year, shall deliver to each Participant a written statement showing the credits
and debits made during the year to this VAP Account and the accumulated balance thereof.

8. CALCULATION OF VALUE APPRECIATION;

     ADJUSTMENTS OF VAP AMOUNTS

     Value Appreciation and all VAP Amounts to be credited to a Participant’s VAP Account under
this Plan shall be determined based on the actual performance of Current Projects and on the
acquisition and actual performance of New Projects as hereinafter described. Following the
acquisition of New Projects, the VAP Targets for New Projects shall be included in the VAP Goals
for Current and New Projects.

     (a) Annual Value Appreciation of Current and New Projects

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     As of December 31 of each year, the amount to be credited to a Participant’s VAP Account based
on the annual Value Appreciation of all Current and New Projects shall be determined as follows:

	 	 	 
	 

	 	VAP Amount for Annual Value Appreciation of all Current and New Projects

= VAP Multiplier x 30% x VAP Target Amount
	 
	 	 
	where
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	VAP Multiplier = (4 x VAP Ratio) - 3
	 
	 	 
	where
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	VAP Ratio = Total actual annual Value Appreciation of all Current and New Projects

                        Total annual VAP Goal of all Current Projects

                        (including VAP Targets for New Projects)

          However, if the VAP Multiplier calculated above is less than 0, it shall be 0, and if greater
than 2.00, it shall be 2.00. See Exhibit A hereto.

     (b) Cumulative Value Appreciation of Current and New Projects

As of December 31 of each year, the amount to be credited to a Participant’s VAP Account based on
the cumulative Value Appreciation of all Current and New Projects from the beginning of the Plan
Term (or from the beginning of a Participant’s participation in this Plan, if later) shall be
determined as follows:

	 	 	 
	 

	 	VAP Amount for Cumulative Value Appreciation of all Current and New Projects

= VAP Multiplier x 30% x VAP Target Amount
	 
	 	 
	where
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	VAP Multiplier = (4 x VAP Ratio) - 3
	 
	 	 
	where
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	VAP Ratio = Actual cumulative Value Appreciation of all Current and New Projects

                        Cumulative VAP Goal of all Current Projects

                        (including VAP Targets for New Projects)

          However, if the VAP Multiplier calculated above is less than 0, it shall be 0, and if greater
than 2.00, it shall be 2.00. See Exhibit A attached hereto.

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     (c) VAP Amounts for the Acquisition of New Projects

          The acquisition of a New Project for purposes of this Plan shall be determined by the
Committee. The amount to be credited to a Participant’s VAP Account for the Acquisition of a New
Project shall be determined as follows:

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	VAP Amount for the Acquisition of New Projects

= VAP Multiplier x 40% x VAP Target Amount x 10
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	where
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	VAP Multiplier = A

                               B
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	where
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	A
	 	=
	 	the present value of the expected cumulative Value

Appreciation of all New Projects for the actual expected term(s) of the New

Project(s) based on an annual discount factor of 10%, and
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	B
	 	=
	 	the total VAP Goal for New Projects over the Plan Term as determined by the

Committee.

          The expected cumulative Value Appreciation for each New Project shall be reviewed from time to
time and the VAP Amount for the Acquisition of the New Projects shall be adjusted, as appropriate
(including, without limitation, adjustments for amounts previously credited to the VAP Account).
Any earnings on such VAP Amount during the period between reviews shall not be adjusted.

     (d) Total VAP Amount for Current and New Projects

          The total VAP Amount to be credited to each Participant’s VAP Account shall be determined as
of December 31 of each year by adding the VAP Amounts for Current and New Projects (as determined
under Section 8(a) and 8(b)) to the VAP Amounts for the Acquisition of New Projects (as determined
under Section 8(c)).

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     (e) Committee Discretion

          Notwithstanding the provisions of this Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may make
equitable adjustments by increasing or decreasing the VAP Amount to be credited (or that was
previously credited) to a Participant’s VAP Account or may approve an Award where one otherwise
would not be made.

9. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

     (a) The Committee or the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole and absolute
discretion, may alter or amend this Plan from time to time; provided, however, that no such
amendment shall, without the consent of a Participant, affect the Participant’s rights in or the
amount of any outstanding Award of such Participant.

     (b) The Committee or the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole and absolute
discretion, may terminate this Plan in its entirety at any time; provided that, except as provided
in this Subsection, no such termination shall, without the consent of a Participant, affect the
Participant’s rights in or the amount of any outstanding Award of such Participant. Upon any
termination of the Plan, all outstanding Awards shall be immediately 100% vested. Except as
otherwise provided in an amendment to the Plan, all Awards granted prior to any termination of this
Plan shall continue to be subject to the terms of this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon a
complete termination of the Plan, the Committee or the Board of Directors of the Company, in its
sole and absolute discretion, shall have the right to change the time of distribution of
Participants’ Awards under the Plan, including requiring that all such Awards Units be immediately
distributed; provided such action does not otherwise violate the requirements of Code Section 409A.

     (c) Any amendment or termination of the Plan shall be in the form of a written instrument
executed by an officer of the Company on the order of the Committee or the Board of

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Directors of the Company. Such amendment or termination shall become effective as of the date
specified in the instrument or, if no such date is specified, on the date of its execution.

10. GENERAL PROVISIONS

     Neither the adoption or operation of this Plan, nor any document describing or referring to
the Plan, or any part thereof, shall confer upon any employee any right to continue in the employ
of the Company or any Subsidiary, or shall in any way affect the right and power of the Company or
any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any employee at any time with or without assigning a
reason therefore to the same extent as the Company or a Subsidiary might have done if this Plan had
not been adopted.

     The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Texas, except when pre-empted by Federal law.

     If an Award is payable to a minor, to a person declared incompetent or to a person incapable
of handling the disposition of his property, the Committee may direct payment of such Award to the
guardian, legal representative or person having the care and custody of such minor, incompetent or
person. The Committee may require such proof of incompetency, minority, incapacity or guardianship
as it may deem appropriate prior to the distribution of such Award. Such distribution shall
completely discharge the Company and the Subsidiaries from all liability with respect to such
Award.

     No trust has been created by the Company or any Subsidiary for the payment of VAP Amounts
granted under this Plan; nor have the Participants been granted any lien on any assets of the
Company or any Subsidiary to secure payment of such benefits. This Plan represents only an
unfunded, unsecured promise to pay by the Company or a Subsidiary, as applicable, and the
Participants hereunder are unsecured creditors of their employer.

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     Headings are given to the sections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate
reference. Such headings, numbering and paragraphing shall not in any case be deemed in any way
material or relevant to the construction of the Plan or any provisions thereof. The use of the
masculine gender shall also include within its meaning the feminine. The use of the singular shall
also include with its meaning the plural, and vise versa.

11. EFFECTIVE DATE

     The effective date of this Plan was January 1, 2006.

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EXHIBIT A

TO

THE NORTH AMERICAN COAL CORPORATION

VALUE APPRECIATION PLAN

	 	 	 
	VAP RATIO	 	VAP MULTIPLIER
	0.00
	 	0.0
	0.75
	 	0.0
	0.85
	 	0.4
	0.95
	 	0.8
	1.00
	 	1.0
	1.05
	 	1.2
	1.15
	 	1.6
	1.25
	 	2.0
	1.50
	 	2.0

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EXHIBIT 10.1

EXECUTION COPY

$125,000,000

Retail Ventures, Inc.

$125,000,000 6.625% Mandatorily Exchangeable Notes due September 15, 2011

Underwriting Agreement

August 10, 2006

Lehman Brothers Inc.

as Underwriter

745 Seventh Ave.

New York, New York 10019

Dear Sirs:

Retail Ventures, Inc., an Ohio corporation (“Retail Ventures”), proposes to issue and sell Premium
Income Exchangeable SecuritiesSM  (the “PIES”) consisting of $125,000,000 in
aggregate principal amount of Retail Ventures’ 6.625% Mandatorily Exchangeable Notes due September
15, 2011, exchangeable into Class A common shares, no par value per share (“Shares”), of DSW Inc.,
an Ohio corporation (“DSW”), to be issued under an indenture, to be dated as of August 16, 2006
(the “Indenture”), between Retail Ventures and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as trustee (the
“Trustee”) (such PIES, the “Firm PIES”) to Lehman Brothers Inc., as Underwriter (the “Underwriter”)
and, at your election, additional PIES consisting of up to $18,750,000 aggregate principal amount
of additional PIES (the “Optional PIES”) (the Firm PIES and the Optional PIES which the Underwriter
elects to purchase pursuant to Section 3 being collectively called the “PIES”). On September 15,
2011, unless Retail Ventures shall have settled its obligations under the PIES, in whole or in part
in cash, as provided in the Indenture, the principal amount of each PIES will be mandatorily
exchangeable by Retail Ventures into Shares, at the rate specified in the PIES Prospectus (as
defined below). The PIES will be secured initially by a pledge of DSW Class B common shares, no
par value per share (the “Class B Common Shares”) (which are exchangeable for Shares) equal to the
maximum number of Shares deliverable by Retail Ventures upon exchange of the PIES. This agreement
(this “Agreement”) is to confirm the agreement concerning the purchase of the PIES from Retail
Ventures by the Underwriter.

In connection with the offering and sale of the PIES, DSW has agreed, on behalf of Retail Ventures,
to file a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-134227) (which registration statement
has since been converted via the filing of Pre-effective Amendment

 

 

No. 2 thereto to a registration
statement on Form S-3) (the “Shares Registration Statement”) registering Shares for which the PIES
are to be exchanged.

          1. Representations and Warranties of Retail Ventures Regarding the PIES. Retail Ventures
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter that:

          (a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-134225) with respect to
the PIES (i) has been prepared by Retail Ventures in conformity with the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and
the rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) thereunder, (ii) has been filed with
the Commission under the Securities Act, (iii) either has become effective
under the Securities Act and is not proposed to be amended or is proposed to be
amended by amendment or post-effective amendment and (iv) no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or any registration
statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations has been
issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of Retail Ventures, are contemplated
by the Commission. If Retail Ventures does not propose to amend such registration
statement and if any post-effective amendment to such registration statement has
been filed with the Commission prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the most recent such amendment has been declared effective by the
Commission. Copies of such registration statement as amended to date have been
delivered by Retail Ventures to you.

For purposes of this Agreement:

     (i) “Applicable Time” means 10:00 p.m. (New York City time)
on the date of this Agreement;

     (ii) “Effective Date” means the date and time as of which
such registration statement, or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereto, was declared effective by the Commission;

     (iii) “PIES Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating
to the PIES, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
of the Rules and Regulations;

     (iv) “PIES Registration Statement” means such registration
statement, as amended as of the Effective

2

 

Date, including any
Preliminary PIES Prospectus (as defined below), or the PIES
Prospectus, and all exhibits to such registration statement,
including any documents incorporated by reference therein and all
information contained in the final prospectus filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) in accordance with Section 5(a)
hereof and deemed to be a part thereof as of the Applicable Time
pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A of the Rules and
Regulations;

     (v) “Preliminary PIES Prospectus” means any preliminary
prospectus relating to the PIES included in such registration
statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of
the Rules and Regulations;

     (vi) “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable
Time, the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus, together with
each Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below),
filed or used by Retail Ventures on or before the Applicable Time,
other than a road show that is a Retail Ventures Free Writing
Prospectus but is not required to be filed under Rule 433 of the
Rules and Regulations; and

     (vii) “Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus” means each
“free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and
Regulations) prepared by or on behalf of Retail Ventures or used
or referred to by Retail Ventures in connection with the offering
of the PIES.

     Any reference to any Preliminary PIES Prospectus or the PIES
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents
incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3 under the
Securities Act as of the date of such Preliminary PIES Prospectus
or the PIES Prospectus, as the case may be. Any reference to the
“most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer
to the latest Preliminary PIES Prospectus included in the
Registration Statement or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) prior to
or on the date hereof. Any reference to any amendment or
supplement to any Preliminary PIES Prospectus or the PIES
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer
to and include any document filed under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”),

3

 

after the date of such Preliminary PIES Prospectus or the PIES Prospectus,
as the case may be, and incorporated by reference in such
Preliminary PIES Prospectus or the PIES Prospectus, as the case
may be; and any reference to any amendment to the PIES
Registration Statement shall be deemed to include any documents
incorporated by reference therein.

          (b) Retail Ventures was not at the time of initial filing of the PIES
Registration Statement and at the earliest time thereafter that Retail Ventures or
another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule
164(h)(2) of the Rules and Regulations) of the PIES, is not on the date hereof and
will not be on the applicable Delivery Date (as defined below), an “ineligible
issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations).

          (c) The PIES Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material
respects on the Effective Date and on the applicable Delivery Date, and any
amendment to the PIES Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will
conform in all material respects when filed, to the requirements of the Securities
Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Preliminary PIES Prospectus conformed, and
the PIES Prospectus will conform, in all material respects when filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the applicable Delivery Date to the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The documents
incorporated by reference in any Preliminary PIES Prospectus or the PIES Prospectus
conformed, when filed with the Commission, in all material respects to the
requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

          (d) The PIES Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date and as
of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is
made as to information contained in or omitted from the PIES Registration Statement
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to Retail
Ventures by the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information
is specified in Section 10(f).

          (e) The PIES Prospectus will not, as of its date and on the applicable
Delivery Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or

4

 

necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information
contained in or omitted from the PIES Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to Retail Ventures by the Underwriter
specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section
10(f).

          (f) The documents incorporated by reference in any Preliminary PIES Prospectus
or the PIES Prospectus did not, and any further documents filed and incorporated by
reference therein will not, when filed with the Commission, contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were or are made, not misleading.

          (g) The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no
representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from
the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to Retail Ventures by the Underwriter specifically for
inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 10(f).

          (h) Each Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus (including, without
limitation, any road show that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433), when
considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time,
did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided
that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or
omitted from any Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to Retail Ventures by the Underwriter
specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section
10(f).

          (i) Each Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in
all material respects to the requirements of
the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations on the date of first use
thereof, and Retail Ventures has complied with all prospectus delivery and any
filing requirements applicable to such Retail Ventures Free Writing

5

 

Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. Retail Ventures has not made any offer
relating to the PIES that would constitute a Retail Ventures Free Writing
Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Underwriter. Retail Ventures
has retained in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Retail Ventures Free
Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and
Regulations.

          (j) The statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by
reference in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure
Package are based on or derived from sources which Retail Ventures reasonably and
in good faith believes are reliable and accurate; provided that no representation
or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the PIES
Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
Retail Ventures by the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which
information is specified in Section 10(f).

          (k) Each of Retail Ventures and each of its subsidiaries (as defined in
Section 18) (i) has been duly incorporated or formed and is validly
existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, in good
standing or in full force and effect, as applicable, under the laws of its
respective jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, (ii) is duly
qualified to do business and is in good standing or in full force and effect, as
applicable, as a foreign corporation or limited liability company in each
jurisdiction in which its respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct
of its respective business requires such qualification, except where the failure to
be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the general affairs,
management, business, prospects, financial position, revenues or expenses,
properties, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of Retail Ventures and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”), and (iii)
has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its respective properties and
to conduct the business in which it is engaged. Retail Ventures does not own or
control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other
than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to Retail Ventures’ Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year. Except as set forth in the most recent
Preliminary PIES Prospectus, Retail Ventures does not have any direct or indirect
ownership interest by stock
ownership or otherwise in any other corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, firm, association or business enterprise.

6

 

          (l) The capitalization of Retail Ventures as of the date of the most recent
balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in each of the most recent
Preliminary PIES Prospectus and in the PIES Prospectus is as set forth in each of
the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus and in the PIES Prospectus. All the
issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of Retail Ventures that is a
corporation have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable; all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership
interests of each subsidiary of Retail Ventures are owned directly or indirectly by
Retail Ventures, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims,
except as disclosed in each of the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus and in
the PIES Prospectus; and the issuance of such shares of capital stock of each
subsidiary of Retail Ventures has not been made in violation of any preemptive or
other similar rights of shareholders.

          (m) Each of the Indenture and the Collateral Agreement, to be dated as of
August 16, 2006, between Retail Ventures and HSBC Bank USA, National Association,
as collateral agent, trustee and securities intermediary (the “Collateral
Agreement”), has been duly and validly authorized, and, when executed and
delivered by Retail Ventures, will be duly and validly executed and delivered, and
will be a valid and binding agreement of Retail Ventures, enforceable against
Retail Ventures in accordance with its terms, and the Exchange Agreement, dated as
of July 5, 2005, by and between Retail Ventures and DSW (the “Exchange Agreement”),
has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered and is a valid and
binding agreement of Retail Ventures, enforceable against Retail Ventures in
accordance with its terms, except in each case as the enforceability thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and
by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The Indenture (i) has
been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust
Indenture Act”), (ii) complies as to form with the requirements of the
Trust Indenture Act and (iii) conforms to the description thereof in each
of the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus and in the PIES Prospectus.

          (n) The PIES have been duly authorized by Retail Ventures for issuance and
sale to the Underwriter pursuant to this
Agreement and, when executed by Retail Ventures and authenticated by the
Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to the Underwriter against
payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof,

7

 

will have been validly issued
and delivered, free of any preemptive or similar rights to subscribe to or purchase
the same arising by operation of law or under the charter or by-laws (or other
equivalent organizational document) of Retail Ventures or otherwise, and will
constitute valid and binding obligations of Retail Ventures entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture and enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as
the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable
principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding
in equity or at law), and the PIES conform, or will conform, to the description
thereof in each of the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus and in the PIES
Prospectus. At the first Delivery Date (as defined herein), the Collateral
Agreement will create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the
holders from time to time of the PIES, a valid and perfected lien on the collateral
purported to be covered thereby, subject to no equal or prior lien.

          (o) Retail Ventures has the full right, power and authority and all
authorization and approvals required by law to pledge, assign, transfer and to
deliver to the Collateral Agent the DSW Class B Common Shares to be pledged by
Retail Ventures pursuant to the Collateral Agreement. The sale, transfer and
delivery of the DSW Class A Common Shares pursuant to the PIES is not, and upon
exchange of the PIES will not be, subject to any right of first refusal or similar
rights of any person pursuant to any contract to which Retail Ventures is a party
or is bound.

          (p) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus, no
subsidiary of Retail Ventures is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from
paying any dividends to Retail Ventures, from making any other distribution on its
capital stock to Retail Ventures, from repaying to Retail Ventures any loans or
advances to any such subsidiary from Retail Ventures or from transferring title to
any of its property or assets to Retail Ventures.

          (q) Retail Ventures has all requisite corporate power and authority to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and to issue,
sell and deliver the PIES in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement and in each of
the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus and the PIES Prospectus. This
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Retail Ventures.

8

 

          (r) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture,
the Collateral Agreement, Retail Ventures’ Exchange Request, to be dated on or
before the Initial Delivery Date (as defined below) (the “PIES Exchange Request”),
to be delivered to DSW by Retail Ventures pursuant to the Exchange Agreement,
requesting that DSW exchange Class B Common Shares for Shares in connection with
the exchange of the PIES and each of the other documents specified in Schedule IV
to be entered into in connection with the issuance and sale of the PIES (such
agreements, collectively, the “Applicable Contracts”), the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the application of the proceeds
from the sale of the PIES described under “Use of Proceeds” in each of the most
recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus and in the PIES Prospectus will not conflict
with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement
or other agreement or instrument to which any of Retail Ventures or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which Retail Ventures or any of its subsidiaries is
bound or to which any of the property or assets of any of Retail Ventures or any of
its subsidiaries is subject (assuming that the consents required under the Amended
and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated July 5, 2005, by and among Value
City Department Stores LLC (“Value City”), as lead borrower, the other Borrowers
(as defined herein), National City Business Credit, Inc., as Administrative Agent,
Revolving Credit Lender and Collateral Agent (each as defined therein), and other
Revolving Credit Lenders (the “VCDS Revolving Credit Agreement”), and the Second
Amended and Restated Senior Loan Agreement, dated July 5, 2005, by and among Value
City, as borrower, the Guarantors (as defined therein), Cerberus Partners, L.P.
(“Cerberus”), as Agent and Lender (each as defined therein), and the Lenders (the
“Senior Loan Agreement” and collectively, with the VCDS Revolving Credit Agreement,
the “VCDS Debt”) will be obtained upon the effectiveness and satisfaction of the
terms of the First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Loan and Security
Agreement, to be dated August 16, 2006, by and among the parties to the VCDS
Revolving Credit Agreement, and the execution and delivery of, and the satisfaction
of the terms of the Prepayment, Covenant Termination and Release Agreement, to be
dated August 16, 2006, by and among the parties to the Senior Loan Agreement
(collectively, the “VCDS Debt Amendments”), except where such conflict or violation
would not have a Material Adverse Effect, nor will such actions result in any
violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws (or other equivalent
organizational document) of any of Retail

9

 

Ventures or any of its subsidiaries, or
any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over any of Retail Ventures or any of its subsidiaries, or
any of their respective properties or assets; and except for (i) the
registration of the PIES under the Securities Act, (ii) the registration of
the Shares under the Securities Act, (iii) the qualification of the
Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and (iv) such consents, approvals,
authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable
state and foreign securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution
of the PIES by the Underwriter, no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
filing or registration with, any such court or governmental agency or body is
required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
Indenture, the Collateral Agreement, the PIES Exchange Request or any of the
Applicable Contracts by any of Retail Ventures or any of its subsidiaries, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except where the
failure to have such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or
qualifications would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (s) Neither the filing of the PIES Registration Statement nor the offering or
sale of the PIES as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights, other
than those which have been duly waived or satisfied, for or relating to the
registration of any securities of Retail Ventures

          (t) Retail Ventures has not sold or issued any securities that would be
integrated with the delivery of the PIES or the delivery of the Shares upon the
exchange of the PIES pursuant to the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations or
the interpretations thereof by the Commission.

          (u) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus, neither
Retail Ventures nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or
interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity,
whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or
governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated
in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus; and, since such date, there has not
been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of Retail Ventures or any of
its subsidiaries, nor any Material Adverse Effect, nor
any development that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, in each case, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the most
recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus and except, in the case of capital stock and
long-term debt, for issuances of stock and grants of

10

 

options pursuant to existing
benefit plans described in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus and for
scheduled repayments of long-term debt and repayments and reborrowings of revolving
credit debt under exiting revolving credit facilities.

          (v) The historical financial statements (including the related notes and
supporting schedules) included or incorporated by reference in the most recent
Preliminary PIES Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and present fairly the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported
to be shown thereby, at the dates and for the periods indicated, and have been
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The other financial data,
selected financial ratios, operating data and statistical information and data
included or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary PIES
Prospectus are presented fairly and have been prepared on a basis consistent in all
material respects with such financial statements and the books and records of
Retail Ventures and its subsidiaries (as defined in Section 18).

          (w) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of
Retail Ventures, and whose report appears in the most recent Preliminary PIES
Prospectus or is incorporated by reference therein and who have delivered the
initial letter with respect to Retail Ventures referred to in Section 9(j), are an
independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and
the Rules and Regulations.

          (x) Each of Retail Ventures and each of its subsidiaries has good and
marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by it and good title to
all personal property owned by it that is material to the business of Retail
Ventures and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all
liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, pledges, security interests, defects or other
restrictions, except such as are described in the most recent Preliminary PIES
Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do
not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property
by Retail Ventures and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and all assets held under
lease by Retail Ventures and each of its subsidiaries are held by them under
valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material
and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and
buildings by Retail Ventures and its

11

 

subsidiaries, in each case, except as
described in or contemplated by the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus.

          (y) Retail Ventures and its subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance
from insurers of recognized financial responsibility in such amounts and covering
such risks as they reasonably believe is adequate for the conduct of their
respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is
reasonable and customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar
industries; and all policies of insurance of Retail Ventures and its subsidiaries
or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in
full force and effect in all material respects.

          (z) Retail Ventures and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use
all material patents, patent rights, patent applications, trademarks, service
marks, service names, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark
registrations, copyrights and licenses necessary for the conduct of their
respective businesses as described in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus
(the “Retail Ventures Intellectual Property”) and have no reason to believe that
the conduct of their respective businesses will conflict with, infringe or violate,
and have not received any notice of any claim of conflict with, infringement of or
violation of, any such rights of others with respect to any Retail Ventures
Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any
Retail Ventures Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest
of Retail Ventures or its subsidiaries therein. Retail Ventures knows of no
infringement by others of Retail Ventures Intellectual Property owned by Retail
Ventures or any of its subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. Retail Ventures and its subsidiaries have taken
reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of
the Retail Ventures Intellectual Property and other proprietary information in all
material respects.

          (aa) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus, there
are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which Retail Ventures or any of
its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of Retail Ventures
or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to Retail
Ventures or any of its
subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
and to the best of Retail Ventures’ knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened
or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others.

12

 

          (bb) There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the
PIES Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus or filed
as exhibits to the PIES Registration Statement or to a document incorporated by
reference into the PIES Registration Statement by the Securities Act or by the
Rules and Regulations which have not been described in the most recent Preliminary
PIES Prospectus and filed as exhibits to the PIES Registration Statement.

          (cc) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among Retail
Ventures or any of its subsidiaries on the one hand, and directors, officers,
shareholders, other affiliates, customers or suppliers of Retail Ventures or any of
its subsidiaries on the other hand, which is required to be described in the most
recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus or the PIES Prospectus which is not so described
in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus.

          (dd) No labor disturbance by the employees of Retail Ventures or any of its
subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of Retail Ventures, is imminent, and, to
Retail Ventures’ knowledge, no labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or
any of its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors exists
or is imminent, which, in either case, might be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

          (ee) Retail Ventures has not taken and shall not take, directly or indirectly,
any action that has constituted or that was designed to or might reasonably be
expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the
stabilization or manipulation of the price of the PIES to facilitate the sale or
resale of the PIES or the Shares.

          (ff) Each of Retail Ventures and its subsidiaries is in compliance in all
material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and
published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”); no “reportable event” (as defined
in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for
which Retail Ventures or any of its subsidiaries would have any liability; none of
Retail Ventures or any of its subsidiaries has incurred, nor do any of Retail
Ventures or any of its subsidiaries expect to incur liability under (i)
Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any
“pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations
thereunder (the “Code”); and each “pension plan” for which Retail Ventures or any
of its subsidiaries would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code has

13

 

received a favorable determination letter from the
Internal Revenue Service with respect to the qualified status of such plan, and, to
the knowledge of Retail Ventures, nothing has occurred, whether by action or by
failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

          (gg) Each of Retail Ventures and its subsidiaries has filed all federal, state
and local income and franchise tax returns required to be filed through the date
hereof (other than any tax returns not so required to be filed through the date
hereof as a result of the existence of any waiver or extension granted in
connection with any such tax returns) and has paid all taxes due thereon (other
than tax assessments being contested in good faith), and no tax deficiency has been
determined adversely to Retail Ventures or any of its subsidiaries which has had
(nor does Retail Ventures have any knowledge of any tax deficiency which, if
determined adversely to Retail Ventures or any of its subsidiaries, could
reasonably be expected to have) a Material Adverse Effect.

          (hh) Since the date as of which information is given in the most recent
Preliminary PIES Prospectus through the date hereof, and except as may otherwise be
disclosed in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus, Retail Ventures has not
(i) issued or granted (a) any options with respect to any
securities, except as set forth or contemplated in the most recent Preliminary PIES
Prospectus and issuances of stock or grants of options pursuant to existing benefit
plans described in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus, or (b) any
other securities, (ii) incurred any liability or obligation, indirect,
direct or contingent, other than non-material liabilities and obligations which
were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iii) entered into any
transaction not in the ordinary course of business or (iv) declared, paid
or made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock.

          (ii) Retail Ventures (i) makes and keeps accurate books, records and
accounts that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions
and dispositions of the assets of Retail Ventures, and (ii) maintains
effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15 under
the Exchange Act and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with
management’s general or specific
authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of its financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and to maintain accountability for its assets, (C)
access to its assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or
specific authorization and (D) the recorded accountability for its

14

 

assets
is compared with Retail Ventures’ existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

          (jj) Retail Ventures has established and maintains disclosure controls and
procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act),
which (i) are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed
by Retail Ventures in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act
is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive
and principal financial officer of Retail Ventures, or persons performing similar
functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure,
and that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within
the time periods specified in the Rules and Regulations; (ii) have been
evaluated for effectiveness; and (iii) are effective in all material
respects to perform the functions for which they were established.

          (kk) Since the date of the most recent balance sheet of Retail Ventures and
its consolidated subsidiaries reviewed or audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP and
reviewed by the audit committee of the board of directors of Retail Ventures and
included or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary PIES
Prospectus, Retail Ventures has not been advised of (i) any significant
deficiency in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting
which is reasonably likely to adversely affect Retail Ventures’ ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial information, or any material weaknesses in
internal controls; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that
involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Retail
Ventures’ internal controls.

          (ll) Since the date of the most recent balance sheet of Retail Ventures and
its consolidated subsidiaries reviewed or audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP and
reviewed by the audit committee of the board of directors of Retail Ventures and
included or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary PIES
Prospectus, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other
factors that could significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective
actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

          (mm) There is and has been no failure on the part of Retail Ventures or, to
Retail Ventures’ knowledge, any of Retail Ventures’ directors or officers, in their
capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with the provisions of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection
therewith.

15

 

          (nn) The section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies” incorporated by
reference in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus fairly summarizes in all
material respects (A) the accounting policies that Retail Ventures believes
are the most important in the portrayal of Retail Ventures’ financial condition and
results of operations and that require management’s most difficult, subjective or
complex judgments; (B) the judgments and uncertainties affecting the
application of critical accounting policies; and (C) the likelihood that
materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using
different assumptions and an explanation thereof.

          (oo) To the best knowledge of Retail Ventures, no change in any laws or
regulations is pending which could reasonably be expected to be adopted and if
adopted, could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate
with all such changes, a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or
contemplated in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus.

          (pp) Neither Retail Ventures nor any of its subsidiaries (i) is in
violation of its charter or by-laws (or other equivalent organizational document),
(ii) is in default in any material respect, and no event has occurred
which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in
the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in
any material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement
or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its
properties or assets is subject (assuming that the consents required under the VCDS
Debt, as amended, will be obtained upon the due execution and delivery of, and
satisfaction of the terms of, the VCDS Debt Amendments) or (iii) is in
violation in any material respect of any law, ordinance, governmental rule,
regulation or court decree to which it or its property or assets may be subject or
has failed to obtain any consent, approval, authorization, registration,
qualification, license, permit, certificate, franchise or other governmental
authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property or to the
conduct of its business (each, a “Consent”). No
Consent contains a materially burdensome restriction not adequately disclosed
in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus.

          (qq) The minute books of Retail Ventures and each of its subsidiaries have
been made available to the Underwriter and contain a complete summary of all
meetings and other actions of the directors and

16

 

shareholders of each of Retail
Ventures and
each of its subsidiaries in all material respects for the last five
years, and reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes accurately in all
material respects.

          (rr) Neither Retail Ventures nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to Retail
Ventures’ knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person
associated with or acting on behalf of Retail Ventures or any of its subsidiaries,
has, directly or indirectly, used any corporate funds for any unlawful
contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political
activity; made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic
government official or employee or to foreign or domestic political parties or
campaigns from corporate funds; violated or is in violation of any provision of the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence
payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

          (ss) The operations of Retail Ventures and each of its subsidiaries are and
have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with
applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and
Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering
statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related
or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by
any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action,
suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body
or any arbitrator involving Retail Ventures or any of its subsidiaries with respect
to the Money Laundering Laws is pending, or to the knowledge of Retail Ventures,
threatened.

          (tt) Neither Retail Ventures nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge
of Retail Ventures, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of Retail
Ventures or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions
administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury
Department (“OFAC”); and Retail Ventures will not directly or indirectly use the
proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such
proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, which,
to Retail Ventures’ knowledge, will use such proceeds for the purpose of
financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions
administered by OFAC.

          (uu) Neither Retail Ventures nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of or
has received notice of any violation with respect to any federal or state law
relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or

17

 

pay of employees, nor any
applicable federal or state wage and hour laws, nor any state law precluding the
denial of credit due to the neighborhood in which a property is situated, the
violation of any of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

          (vv) There has been no storage, disposal, generation, manufacture, refinement,
transportation, handling or treatment of toxic wastes, medical wastes, hazardous
wastes or hazardous substances by Retail Ventures or any of its subsidiaries (or,
to the knowledge of Retail Ventures, any of their predecessors in interest) at,
upon or from any of the real property now or previously owned or leased by Retail
Ventures or any of its subsidiaries (i) in violation of any applicable law,
ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or (ii)
which would require remedial action under any applicable law, ordinance, rule,
regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit, except, in the case of clauses (i)
and (ii), for any violation or remedial action which would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate with all such violations and
remedial actions, a Material Adverse Effect; there has been no material spill,
discharge, leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping or release of any kind onto
such real property or into the environment surrounding such real property of any
toxic wastes, medical wastes, solid wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous
substances due to or caused by Retail Ventures or any of its subsidiaries or with
respect to which Retail Ventures or any such subsidiary has knowledge, except for
any such spill, discharge, leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping or release
which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate
with all such spills, discharges, leaks, emissions, injections, escapes, dumpings
and releases, a Material Adverse Effect; and the terms “hazardous wastes,” “toxic
wastes,” “hazardous substances” and “medical wastes” shall have the meanings
specified in any applicable local, state, federal and foreign laws or regulations
with respect to environmental protection.

          (ww) No supplier of merchandise to Retail Ventures or any of its subsidiaries
has ceased shipments of merchandise to Retail Ventures or indicated, to Retail
Ventures’ knowledge, an interest in decreasing or ceasing its sales to Retail
Ventures or any of its subsidiaries
or otherwise modifying its relationship with Retail Ventures or any of its
subsidiaries, other than in the normal and ordinary course of business consistent
with past practices in a manner which would not, individually or in the aggregate,
result in a Material Adverse Effect.

18

 

          (xx) Neither Retail Ventures nor any of its subsidiaries is, or, as of the
applicable Delivery Date and, after giving effect to the offer and sale by Retail
Ventures of the PIES and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described
in each of the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus and in the PIES Prospectus,
will be, an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment
company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
“Investment Company Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, or a “business development company” (as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of
the Investment Company Act.)

          (yy) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus, the
PIES will rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future senior debt
of Retail Ventures.

          (zz) Retail Ventures has been since the time of the initial filing of the PIES
Registration Statement and as of the date hereof is eligible to use Form S-3 for
the offering of the PIES.

          (aaa) On or prior to the applicable Delivery Date, each of the Applicable
Contracts to which Retail Ventures is a party will have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by Retail Ventures, in substantially the form previously
provided to the Underwriter and will conform to the descriptions thereof in the
most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus and the PIES Prospectus.

          (bbb) Neither Retail Ventures nor any of its subsidiaries has distributed,
nor, prior to the later to occur of any Delivery Date and completion of the
distribution of the PIES, will any of them distribute any offering material in
connection with the offering and sale of the PIES other than any Preliminary PIES
Prospectus, the PIES Prospectus and any Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus to
which the Underwriter has consented in accordance with Section 1(i) or 5(g).

          Any certificate signed by any officer of Retail Ventures and delivered to the Underwriter or
counsel for the Underwriter in connection with the offering of the PIES shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by Retail Ventures as to matters covered thereby, to the Underwriter.

          2. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of DSW and Retail Ventures Regarding DSW. DSW
and Retail Ventures, jointly and severally, represent, warrant and agree with the Underwriter that:

19

 

          (a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (which registration statement has
since been converted via the filing of Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 thereto to a
registration statement on Form S-3) with respect to Shares issuable upon exchange
of the PIES (i) has been prepared by DSW in conformity with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder,
(ii) has been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act,
(iii) either has become effective under the Securities Act and is not
proposed to be amended or is proposed to be amended by amendment or post-effective
amendment and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such
registration statement or any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b)
of the Rules and Regulations has been issued under the Securities Act and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the
knowledge of DSW, are contemplated by the Commission. If DSW does not propose to
amend such registration statement and if any post-effective amendment to such
registration statement has been filed with the Commission prior to the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, the most recent such amendment has been declared
effective by the Commission. Copies of such registration statement as amended to
date have been delivered by DSW to you. Copies of such registration statement and
each of the amendments thereto have been delivered by DSW to you. As used in this
Agreement:

     (i) “DSW Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing
prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations)
prepared by or on behalf of DSW or used or referred to by DSW in
connection with the offering by Retail Ventures of the PIES;

     (ii) “Preliminary Shares Prospectus” means any preliminary
prospectus relating to Shares issuable upon exchange of the PIES
included in such registration statement or filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

     (iii) “Shares Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable
Time, the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus, together with
each DSW Free Writing Prospectus, filed or used by DSW on or
before the Applicable Time, other than a road show that is a DSW
Free Writing Prospectus but is not required to be filed under
Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations;

20

 

     (iv) “Shares Effective Date” means the date and time as of
which such registration statement or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereto, was declared effective by the
Commission;

     (v) “Shares Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating
to Shares issuable upon exchange of the PIES, as filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;
and

     (vi) “Shares Registration Statement” means such registration
statement, as amended as of the Shares Effective Date, including
any Preliminary Shares Prospectus or the Shares Prospectus and all
exhibits to such registration statement, including any documents
incorporated by reference therein and all information contained in
the final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof and deemed to be a
part thereof as of the Effective Time pursuant to paragraph (b) of
Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations.

     Any reference to any Preliminary Shares Prospectus or the
Shares Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any
documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3
under the Securities Act as of the date of such Preliminary Shares
Prospectus or the Shares Prospectus, as the case may be. Any
reference to the “most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus” shall
be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Shares Prospectus
included in the Shares Registration Statement or filed pursuant to
Rule 424(b) prior to or on the date hereof. Any reference to any
amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Shares Prospectus or
the Shares Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any
document filed under the Exchange Act, after the date of such
Preliminary Shares Prospectus or the Shares Prospectus, as the
case may be, and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary
Shares Prospectus or the Shares Prospectus, as the case may be;
and any reference to any amendment to the Shares Registration
Statement shall
be deemed to include any documents incorporated by reference
therein.

21

 

          (b) DSW was not at the time of initial filing of the Shares Registration
Statement and at the earliest time thereafter that DSW, Retail Ventures or another
offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)
of the Rules and Regulations) of Shares issuable upon exchange of the PIES, is not
on the date hereof and will not be on the applicable Delivery Date an “ineligible
issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations).

          (c) The Shares Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all
material respects on the Shares Effective Date and on the applicable Delivery Date,
and any amendment to the Shares Registration Statement filed after the date hereof
will conform in all material respects when filed, to the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Preliminary Shares Prospectus
conformed, and the Shares Prospectus will conform, in all material respects when
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the applicable Delivery
Date, to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The
documents incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Shares Prospectus or the
Shares Prospectus conformed, when filed with the Commission, in all material
respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as
applicable, and the Rules and Regulations.

          (d) The Shares Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date and as
of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is
made as to information contained in or omitted from the Shares Registration
Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
DSW and/or Retail Ventures by the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein,
which information is specified in Section 10(f).

          (e) The Shares Prospectus will not, as of its date and on the applicable
Delivery Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information
contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to DSW and/or Retail Ventures by the
Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified
in Section 10(f).

22

 

          (f) The documents incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Shares
Prospectus or the Shares Prospectus did not, and any further documents filed or
incorporated by reference therein will not, when filed with the Commission, contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

          (g) The Shares Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no
representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from
the Shares Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to DSW by the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein,
which information is specified in Section 10(f).

          (h) Each DSW Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any road
show that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433), when considered together
with the Shares Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no
representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from
any DSW Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to DSW by the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein,
which information is specified in Section 10(f).

          (i) Each DSW Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material
respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations on
the date of first use, and DSW and Retail Ventures have complied with all
prospectus delivery and any filing requirements applicable to such DSW Free Writing
Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. Neither DSW nor Retail Ventures
has made any offer relating to Shares issuable upon exchange of the PIES that would
constitute a DSW Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the
Underwriter. DSW has retained in accordance with the
Rules and Regulations all DSW Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required
to be filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations.

23

 

          (j) The statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by
reference in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus and the Shares
Disclosure Package are based on or derived from sources which each of DSW and
Retail Ventures reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate;
provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in
or omitted from the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to DSW by the Underwriter
specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section
10(f).

          (k) DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse Inc., a Missouri corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of DSW (“DSW Shoe Warehouse”), (i) have been duly incorporated
and are validly existing as corporations in good standing under the laws of their
respective jurisdictions of incorporation, (ii) are duly qualified to do
business and are in good standing as foreign corporations in each jurisdiction in
which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their
respective businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be
so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the general affairs,
management, business, prospects, financial position, revenues or expenses,
properties, stockholders’ equity or results of operation of DSW and DSW Shoe
Warehouse taken as a whole (a “DSW Material Adverse Effect”), and (iii)
have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties
and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged. DSW Shoe Warehouse is the
only subsidiary of DSW, and is a “significant subsidiary” of DSW, as such term is
defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations. Except as set forth in the most
recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus, DSW does not have any direct or indirect
ownership interest by stock ownership or otherwise in any other corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, firm, association or
business enterprise.

          (l) DSW has an authorized capitalization as set forth in each of the most
recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus and in the Shares Prospectus, and all the
issued shares of capital stock of DSW have been duly and validly authorized and
issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and conform to the description thereof
contained in each of the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus and in the
Shares Prospectus; and all
the issued shares of capital stock of DSW Shoe Warehouse have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned
directly by DSW, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,

24

 

equities or claims,
except as described in each of the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus and in
the Shares Prospectus; and the issuance of such shares of capital stock of DSW and
DSW Shoe Warehouse was not subject to, and has not been made in violation of, any
preemptive or other similar rights of shareholders. All of DSW’s options, warrants
and other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of DSW’s capital
stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, conform to the description
thereof contained in each of the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus and in
the Shares Prospectus and were issued in compliance with federal and state
securities laws.

          (m) Except as described in each of the most recent Preliminary Shares
Prospectus and in the Shares Prospectus, the shares of capital stock of DSW held by
Retail Ventures are owned directly by Retail Ventures, free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, equities or claims.

          (n) Shares to be delivered by Retail Ventures upon the exchange of the PIES
have been duly authorized and, when issued upon exchange, pursuant to the Exchange
Agreement, of the Class B Common Shares owned by Retail Ventures being pledged
under the Collateral Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable; and the Shares conform to the descriptions thereof contained in
each of the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus and in the Shares Prospectus
under the caption “Description of Capital Stock.” The Class B Common Shares owned
by Retail Ventures are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.

          (o) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus under
the caption “Description of Indebtedness,” DSW Shoe Warehouse is not currently
prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to DSW, from making
any other distribution on its capital stock to DSW, from repaying to DSW any loans
or advances to any such subsidiary from DSW or from transferring title to any of
its property or assets to DSW.

          (p) DSW has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by DSW.

          (q) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the execution,
delivery and acknowledgement of the PIES
Exchange Request, delivered to DSW by Retail Ventures pursuant to the Exchange
Agreement, to exchange DSW Class B Common Shares for Shares upon exchange of the
PIES, the consummation of the transactions

25

 

contemplated hereby and thereby and the
delivery of Shares to the Collateral Agent upon the exchange of the PIES as
contemplated by the PIES Exchange Request will not conflict with or result in a
breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
instrument to which DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse is a party or by which any of them or
any of their respective subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or
assets of any of them or any of their respective subsidiaries is subject, except
where such violation or conflict would not have a Material Adverse Effect; nor will
such actions result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws
(or other equivalent organizational document) of DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse, or any
statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over any of them or any of their respective subsidiaries,
or any of their respective properties or assets.

          (r) Except for (i) the registration of Shares issuable upon exchange
of the PIES under the Securities Act and (ii) such consents, approvals,
authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under the
Exchange Act and applicable state and foreign securities laws in connection with
the delivery by Retail Ventures of Shares upon the exchange of the PIES, no
consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any
such court or governmental agency or body is required for the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement by DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except where the
failure to have such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or
qualifications would not reasonably be expected to have a DSW Material Adverse
Effect.

          (s) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus,
there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between DSW and any person
granting such person the right to require DSW to file a registration statement
under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of DSW owned or to be owned
by such person or to require DSW to include such securities in the securities
registered pursuant to the Shares Registration Statement or in any securities being
registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by DSW under the
Securities Act.

          (t) DSW has not sold or issued any securities of DSW that would be integrated
with the delivery of Shares upon the exchange of

26

 

the PIES pursuant to the
Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations or the interpretations thereof by the
Commission.

          (u) Neither DSW nor DSW Shoe Warehouse has sustained, since the date of the
latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus, any material loss or interference with
its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered
by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or
decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the most recent Preliminary
Shares Prospectus; and, since such date, there has not been any change in the
capital stock or long-term debt of DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse, nor any DSW Material
Adverse Effect, nor any development that would reasonably be expected to have a DSW
Material Adverse Effect, in each case, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated
in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus, except, in the case of capital
stock and long-term debt, for issuances of stock and grants of options pursuant to
existing benefit plans described in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus
and for scheduled repayments of long-term debt and repayments of reborrowings of
revolving credit debt under existing revolving credit facilities.

          (v) The historical financial statements (including the related notes and
supporting schedules) included or incorporated by reference in the most recent
Preliminary Shares Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and present fairly the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported
to be shown thereby, at the dates and for the periods indicated, and have been
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The other financial data,
selected financial ratios and other financial information, operating data and
statistical information and data included or incorporated by reference in the most
recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus are presented fairly and have been prepared on
a basis consistent in all material respects with such financial statements and the
books and records of DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse.

          (w) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of
DSW, whose report appears in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus or is
incorporated by reference therein and
who have delivered the initial letter referred to in Section 9(j), are an

27

 

independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and
the Rules and Regulations.

          (x) Each of DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse has good and marketable title in fee
simple to all real property owned by it, if any, and good title to all personal
property owned by it that is material to the business of DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse
taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, charges, claims,
encumbrances, pledges, security interests, defects or other restrictions, except
such as are described in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus or such as
do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere
with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by DSW and DSW Shoe
Warehouse; and all assets held under lease by DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse are held
by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are
not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such
property and buildings by DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse, in each case, except as
described in or contemplated by the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus.

          (y) DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse carry, or are covered by, insurance from
insurers of recognized financial responsibility in such amounts and covering such
risks as they reasonably believe is adequate for the conduct of their respective
businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is reasonable and
customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries; and
all policies of insurance of DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse or their respective
businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect
in all material respects.

          (z) DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse own or possess adequate rights to use all
material patents, patent rights, patent applications, trademarks, service marks,
service names, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations,
copyrights and licenses necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as
described in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus (the “DSW Intellectual
Property”) and have no reason to believe that the conduct of their respective
businesses will conflict with, infringe or violate, and have not received any
notice of any claim of conflict with, infringement of or violation of, any such
rights of others with respect to any DSW Intellectual Property or of any facts or
circumstances which would render any DSW Intellectual Property invalid or
inadequate to protect the interest of DSW or

28

 

DSW Shoe Warehouse therein. DSW knows
of no
infringement by others of DSW Intellectual Property owned by DSW or DSW Shoe
Warehouse that could reasonably be expected to have a DSW Material Adverse Effect.
DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse have taken reasonable security measures to protect the
secrecy, confidentiality and value of the DSW Intellectual Property and other
proprietary information in all material respects.

          (aa) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus,
there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which DSW or DSW Shoe
Warehouse is a party or of which any property or assets of DSW or DSW Shoe
Warehouse is the subject which, if determined adversely to DSW or DSW Shoe
Warehouse, could reasonably be expected to have a DSW Material Adverse Effect; and
to the best of DSW’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated
by governmental authorities or threatened by others.

          (bb) There are no contracts or other documents which are required to be
described in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus or filed as exhibits to
the Shares Registration Statement or to a document incorporated by reference
therein by the Securities Act or by the Rules and Regulations which have not been
described in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus and filed as exhibits to
the Shares Registration Statement.

          (cc) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus, no
relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among DSW on the one hand, and
directors, officers, shareholders, other affiliates, customers or suppliers of DSW
on the other hand, which is required to be described in the most recent Preliminary
Shares Prospectus or in the Shares Prospectus which is not so described.

          (dd) No labor disturbance by the employees of DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse exists
or, to the knowledge of DSW, is imminent, and, to DSW’s knowledge, no labor
disturbance by the employees of any of its or DSW Shoe Warehouse’s principal
suppliers, manufacturers or contractors exists or is imminent, which, in either
case, might be expected to have a DSW Material Adverse Effect.

          (ee) DSW has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action that has
constituted or that was designed to or might reasonably be expected to cause or
result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation
of the price of any security of DSW to facilitate the sale or resale of the PIES or
the Shares.

29

 

          (ff) DSW is in compliance in all material respects with all presently
applicable provisions of ERISA; no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has
occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which DSW
would have any liability; DSW has not incurred and does not expect to incur
liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or
withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the
Code; and each “pension plan” for which DSW would have any liability that is
intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the
qualified status of such plan, and, to the knowledge of DSW, nothing has occurred,
whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such
qualification.

          (gg) DSW has filed all federal, state and local income and franchise tax
returns required to be filed through the date hereof (other than any tax returns
not so required to be filed through the date hereof as a result of the existence of
any waiver or extension granted in connection with any such tax returns) and has
paid all taxes due thereon (other than tax assessments being contested in good
faith), and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to DSW or DSW Shoe
Warehouse which has had (nor does DSW have any knowledge of any tax deficiency
which, if determined adversely to DSW or any of its subsidiaries, could reasonably
be expected to have) a DSW Material Adverse Effect.

          (hh) Since the date as of which information is given in the most recent
Preliminary Shares Prospectus through the date hereof, and except as may otherwise
be disclosed in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus, DSW has not
(i) issued or granted (a) options with respect to any securities,
except as set forth or contemplated in the most recent Preliminary Shares
Prospectus and issuances of stock and grants of options pursuant to existing
benefit plans described in the most recent Preliminary Share Prospectus, or
(b) any other securities, (ii) incurred any liability or
obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, other than non-material liabilities and
obligations which were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iii)
entered into any transaction not in the ordinary course of business or (iv)
declared, paid or made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital
stock.

          (ii) DSW (i) makes and keeps accurate books, records and accounts
that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and
dispositions of the assets of DSW, and (ii) maintains effective internal
control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-

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15 under the Exchange Act and a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are
executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization,
(B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of its
financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
and to maintain accountability for its assets, (C) access to its assets is
permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization
and (D) the recorded accountability for its assets is compared with DSW’s
existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences.

          (jj) DSW has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as
such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act), which (i)
are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by DSW in the
reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and
communicated to management, including the principal executive and principal
financial officer of DSW, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate
to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and that such information
is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified
in the Rules and Regulations; (ii) have been evaluated for effectiveness;
and (iii) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions
for which they were established.

          (kk) Since the date of the most recent balance sheet of DSW and its
consolidated subsidiaries reviewed or audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP and reviewed
by the audit committee of the board of directors of DSW and included or
incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus, DSW has
not been advised of (i) any significant deficiency in the design or
operation of internal controls over financial reporting which is reasonably likely
to adversely affect DSW’s ability to record, process, summarize and report
financial information, or any material weaknesses in internal controls; or
(ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in DSW’s internal controls.

          (ll) Since the date of the most recent balance sheet of DSW and its
consolidated subsidiaries reviewed or audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP and reviewed
by the audit committee of the board of directors of DSW and included or
incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus, there
have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that
could significantly affect internal

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controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses.

          (mm) There is and has been no failure on the part of DSW or, to DSW’s
knowledge, any of DSW’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to
comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

          (nn) The section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies” in the most
recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus fairly summarizes in all material respects
(A) the accounting policies that DSW believes are the most important in the
portrayal of DSW’s financial condition and results of operations and that require
management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments; (B) the
judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of critical accounting
policies; and (C) the likelihood that materially different amounts would be
reported under different conditions or using different assumptions and an
explanation thereof.

          (oo) To the best knowledge of DSW, no change in any laws or regulations is
pending which could reasonably be expected to be adopted and if adopted, could
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate with all such
changes, a DSW Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in
the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus.

          (pp) Neither DSW nor DSW Shoe Warehouse (i) is in violation of its
charter or by-laws (or other equivalent organizational document), (ii) is
in default in any material respect, and no event has occurred which, with notice or
lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or
observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any material indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which
it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets
is subject or (iii) is in violation in any material respect of any law,
ordinance, governmental rule, regulation or court decree to which it or its
property or assets may be subject or has failed to obtain any consent, approval,
authorization, registration, qualification, license, permit, certificate, franchise
or other governmental authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its
property or to the conduct of its business (each, a “DSW Consent”). No DSW Consent
contains a materially burdensome

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restriction not adequately disclosed in the most recent Preliminary Shares
Prospectus.

          (qq) The minute books of each of DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse have been made
available to the Underwriter and contain a complete summary of all meetings and
other actions of the directors and shareholders of each of DSW and DSW Shoe
Warehouse in all material respects for the last five years, and reflect all
transactions referred to in such minutes accurately in all material respects.

          (rr) Neither DSW nor DSW Shoe Warehouse, nor, to DSW’s knowledge, any
director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on
behalf of DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse, has, directly or indirectly, used any
corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other
unlawful expense relating to political activity; made any direct or indirect
unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee or to
foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds; violated
or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977;
or made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful
payment.

          (ss) The operations of DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse are and have been conducted
at all times in compliance in all material respects with the Money Laundering Laws
and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency,
authority or body or any arbitrator involving DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse with
respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending, or to the knowledge of DSW,
threatened.

          (tt) Neither DSW nor DSW Shoe Warehouse nor, to the knowledge of DSW, any
director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse is
currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

          (uu) Neither DSW nor DSW Shoe Warehouse is in violation of or has received
notice of any violation with respect to any federal or state law relating to
discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, nor any applicable
federal or state wage and hour laws, nor any state law precluding the denial of
credit due to the neighborhood in which a property is situated, the violation of
any of which could reasonably be expected to have a DSW Material Adverse Effect.

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          (vv) There has been no storage, disposal, generation, manufacture, refinement,
transportation, handling or treatment of toxic wastes, medical wastes, hazardous
wastes or hazardous substances by DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse (or, to the knowledge
of DSW, any of their predecessors in interest) at, upon or from any of the real
property now or previously owned or leased by DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse (i)
in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment,
decree or permit or (ii) which would require remedial action under any
applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit,
except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), for any violation or remedial action
which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate
with all such violations and remedial actions, a DSW Material Adverse Effect; there
has been no material spill, discharge, leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping
or release of any kind onto such real property or into the environment surrounding
such real property of any toxic wastes, medical wastes, solid wastes, hazardous
wastes or hazardous substances due to or caused by DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse or
with respect to which DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse have knowledge, except for any such
spill, discharge, leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping or release which would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate with all such
spills, discharges, leaks, emissions, injections, escapes, dumpings and releases, a
DSW Material Adverse Effect; and the terms “hazardous wastes,” “toxic wastes,”
“hazardous substances” and “medical wastes” shall have the meanings specified in
any applicable local, state, federal and foreign laws or regulations with respect
to environmental protection.

          (ww) No supplier of merchandise to DSW or DSW Shoe Warehouse has ceased
shipments of merchandise to DSW or indicated, to DSW’s knowledge, an interest in
decreasing or ceasing its sales to DSW or otherwise modifying its relationship with
DSW, other than in the normal and ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices in a manner which would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in
a DSW Material Adverse Effect.

          (xx) DSW is not, and, as of the applicable Delivery Date, will not be, an
“investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” as
defined in the Investment Company Act, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, or a “business development company” (as defined in Section
2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act).

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          (yy) DSW has been, since the time of the filing of pre-effective Amendment No.
2 to the Shares Registration Statement, and is, as of the date hereof, eligible to
use Form S-3 for the registration of the Shares.

          (zz) On or prior to the applicable Delivery Date, each of the Applicable
Contracts to which DSW is a party and the PIES Exchange Request acknowledged by DSW
will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by DSW, in substantially the
form previously provided to the Underwriter and will conform to the descriptions
thereof in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus.

          (aaa) DSW has not distributed, nor, prior to the later to occur of any
Delivery Date and completion of the distribution of the PIES, will DSW distribute
any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the PIES
(including any Shares for which the PIES are exchangeable) other than any
Preliminary Shares Prospectus, the Shares Prospectus and any DSW Free Writing
Prospectus to which the Underwriter has consented in accordance with Section 2(i)
or 6(g).

          (bbb) The Shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock
Exchange.

          (ccc) The Exchange Agreement, dated as of July 5, 2005, between Retail
Ventures and DSW, has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered and
is a valid and binding agreement of DSW, enforceable against DSW in accordance with
its terms, except in each case as the enforceability thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or
hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by
general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

          Any certificate signed by any officer of Retail Ventures or DSW and delivered to the
Underwriter or counsel for the Underwriter in connection with the offering of the PIES and Shares
into which the PIES are exchangeable shall be deemed a representation and warranty by Retail
Ventures of DSW, as applicable, as to matters covered thereby, to the Underwriter.

          3. Purchase of the PIES by the Underwriter. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions and upon
the basis of the representations and warranties herein set forth, Retail Ventures agrees to issue
and sell to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter agrees to purchase from Retail Ventures, the
principal amount of the Firm PIES set forth opposite its name in Schedule I hereto.

35

 

          (b) In addition, Retail Ventures grants to the Underwriter an option to
purchase the Optional PIES. Such option is exercisable in the event that the
Underwriter sells a greater aggregate principal amount of PIES than the aggregate
principal amount of Firm PIES in the offering and as set forth in Section 4. Any
such election to purchase Optional PIES shall be made as set forth in Schedule II
hereto.

          (c) Both the Firm PIES and the Optional PIES shall be purchased by the
Underwriter at a purchase price equal to 97% of the principal amount thereof, plus
accrued interest, if any, from August 16, 2006, if settlement occurs after that
date. The Underwriter proposes to offer the PIES to the public as set forth in the
most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus and in the PIES Prospectus.

          4. Delivery of and Payment for PIES. Delivery of the PIES shall be made at the offices of
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York, at 10:00 a.m., New York City time,
on August 16, 2006 or on such other date and time or place as shall be determined by agreement
between Retail Ventures and the Underwriter. This date and time are sometimes referred to as the
“Initial Delivery Date.” Delivery of the PIES shall be made to you by or on behalf of Retail
Ventures against payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available
funds. Delivery of the PIES shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company
unless you shall otherwise instruct. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery of the PIES at the
time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the
Underwriter.

          The option granted in Section 3(b) will expire 30 days after the date of this Agreement and
may be exercised in whole or from time to time in part by written notice being given to Retail
Ventures by the Underwriter; provided that if such date falls on a day that is not a business day,
the option granted in Section 3(b) will expire on the next succeeding business day. Such notices
shall set forth the aggregate number of Optional PIES as to which the option is being exercised,
the names of the beneficial owners for whose account the Optional PIES are to be issued, the
denominations in which such Optional PIES are to be issued and the date and time, as determined by
the Underwriter, when the Optional PIES are to be delivered; provided, however, that this date and
time shall not be earlier than the Initial Delivery Date nor earlier than the second business day
after the date on which the option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day
after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. Each date and time any Optional PIES
are delivered is sometimes referred to as an “Optional PIES Delivery Date,” and the Initial
Delivery Date and any Optional PIES Delivery Date are sometimes each referred to as a “Delivery
Date.”

          Delivery of the Optional PIES by Retail Ventures and payment for the Optional PIES by the
Underwriter shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on

36

 

the date specified in the corresponding notice described in the preceding paragraph or at such
other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Underwriter and Retail
Ventures. On the Optional PIES Delivery Date, Retail Ventures shall deliver or cause to be
delivered the Optional PIES Stock to the Underwriter against payment by the Underwriter of the
aggregate purchase price of the Optional PIES being sold by Retail Ventures to or upon the order of
Retail Ventures of the purchase price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the
accounts specified by Retail Ventures. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and
place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of the
Underwriter hereunder. Delivery of the Optional PIES shall be through the facilities of The
Depository Trust Company unless you otherwise instruct.

          5. Covenants of Retail Ventures. Retail Ventures agrees:

          (a) To prepare the PIES Prospectus in a form approved by the Underwriter,
which form shall not contain any changes from or amendments to the disclosures set
forth or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package, and file such
PIES Prospectus and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) of the Rules and Regulations not later than the Commission’s close of
business on the second Business Day following the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule
430A(a)(3) of the Rules and Regulations; to make no further amendment or any
supplement to the PIES Registration Statement or the PIES Prospectus prior to the
last Delivery Date except as provided herein; to advise the Underwriter, promptly
after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the PIES
Registration Statement or the PIES Prospectus has been filed or becomes effective
and to furnish the Underwriter with copies thereof; to notify you promptly, after
it receives notice thereof, of any issuance by the Commission of any stop order or
of any order preventing or suspending the use of the PIES Prospectus or any Retail
Ventures Free Writing Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the
PIES for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of
any proceeding or examination for any such purpose or of any request by the
Commission for any amendment of or supplement to the PIES Registration Statement,
the PIES Prospectus or any Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus or for
additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of
any order preventing or suspending the use of the PIES Prospectus or any Retail
Ventures Free Writing Prospectus or suspending such qualification, to use promptly
its best efforts to obtain the lifting thereof.

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          (b) To furnish promptly to the Underwriter and to counsel for the Underwriter
a signed copy of the PIES Registration Statement as originally filed with the
Commission, and each amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all
consents and exhibits filed therewith;

          (c) To deliver promptly to the Underwriter such number of the following
documents as the Underwriter shall reasonably request: (A) conformed
copies of the PIES Registration Statement, as originally filed, and each amendment
thereto (in each case excluding exhibits), (B) each Preliminary PIES
Prospectus, the PIES Prospectus and any amended or supplemented PIES Prospectus,
(C) each Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus and (D) any
document incorporated by reference in the PIES Registration Statement, any
Preliminary PIES Prospectus or the PIES Prospectus.

          (d) To comply, within the time during which the PIES Prospectus is required to
be delivered under the Securities Act, with all requirements imposed upon it by the
Securities Act, as now and hereafter amended, and by the Rules and Regulations, as
from time to time in force, so far as is necessary to permit the continuance of
sales of or dealings in the PIES as contemplated by the provisions hereof and by
the PIES Prospectus; and, if during such period any event occurs as a result of
which the PIES Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made
when such PIES Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason
it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the PIES Prospectus in order to comply
with the Securities Act, to notify the Underwriter and, upon its request, to file
such document and use its best efforts to have any amendment to the PIES
Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid
any disruption in use of the PIES Prospectus, and to prepare and furnish without
charge to the Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the
Underwriter may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented
PIES prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such
compliance;

          (e) To file promptly with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the
PIES Registration Statement or the PIES Prospectus that may, in the judgment of
Retail Ventures or the Underwriter, be required by the Securities Act or requested
by the Commission;

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          (f) Prior to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the
PIES Registration Statement, the PIES Prospectus, any document incorporated by
reference in the PIES Registration Statement or the PIES Prospectus or any
amendment to any document incorporated by reference in the PIES Registration
Statement or the PIES Prospectus, to furnish a copy thereof to the Underwriter and
counsel for the Underwriter and obtain the consent of the Underwriter to the
filing;

          (g) Not to make any offer relating to the PIES that would constitute a Retail
Ventures Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the
Underwriter;

          (h) To retain in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Retail Ventures
Free Writing Prospectuses not required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and
Regulations; and if at any time after the date hereof any events shall have
occurred as a result of which any Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus, as then
amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the PIES
Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus or the PIES
Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any
other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Retail Ventures Free
Writing Prospectus, to notify the Underwriter and, upon its request, to file such
document and to prepare and furnish without charge as many copies as the
Underwriter may reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Retail Ventures
Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or
effect such compliance;

          (i) As soon as practicable, to make generally available to its security
holders (and to deliver to the Underwriter) an earnings statement satisfying the
requirements of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and
Regulations (it being understood that such delivery requirements shall be deemed to
have been satisfied by Retail Ventures’ compliance with the reporting requirements
pursuant to the Exchange Act);

          (j) For a period of three years following the Effective Date, other than
information which is publicly available on the Commission’s Electronic Data
Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System, to furnish to the Underwriter copies of
all materials furnished by Retail Ventures to its shareholders and all public
reports and all reports and financial statements furnished by Retail Ventures to
the principal national

39

 

securities exchange upon which the PIES may be listed pursuant to requirements
of or agreements with such exchange or to the Commission pursuant to the Exchange
Act or any rule or regulation of the Commission thereunder;

          (k) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Underwriter may
reasonably request to qualify the PIES for offering and sale under the securities
laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter may request and to comply with such
laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such
jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the
PIES; provided that in connection therewith Retail Ventures shall not be required
to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of
process or subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any
jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject;

          (l) Not to, directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge or
otherwise dispose of, or enter into any transaction or device (including, without
limitation, through the filing of a registration statement) which is designed to,
or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the
future of any Shares or Class B Common Shares (collectively “Common Shares”) or
other capital stock of DSW or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
Common Shares or other capital stock of DSW, for a period of 90 days from the date
of this Agreement (in each case, other than (i) the issuance and sale of
the PIES or (ii) sales or transfers pursuant to currently outstanding
options, warrants or rights granted by Retail Ventures), or sell or grant options,
rights or warrants with respect to any Common Shares or other capital stock of DSW
or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares or other capital
stock of DSW, or announce any intention to do any of the foregoing, or (2)
enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in
whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such Common
Shares or other capital stock of DSW, whether any such transaction described in
clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares or other
capital stock of DSW or other securities, in cash or otherwise, in each case
without the prior written consent of the Underwriter. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if (A) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted period
Retail Ventures or DSW issues an earnings release or material news or a material
event relating to Retail Ventures or DSW occurs or (B) prior to the
expiration of the 90-day restricted period, Retail Ventures or DSW announces that
it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day
of the 90-day period, then the restrictions imposed by this section

40

 

shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on
the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or
material event; and to cause Schottenstein Stores Corporation and each executive
officer and director of Retail Ventures to furnish to the Underwriter, prior to the
First Delivery Date, a letter or letters, substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto, pursuant to which each such person shall agree not to, directly or
indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of (or
enter into any transaction or device which is designed to, or could be expected to,
result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any Common
Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares of DSW, or
announce any intention to do any of the foregoing, or (2) enter into any
swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in
part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such Common Shares of
DSW, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be
settled by delivery of Common Shares of DSW or other securities, in cash or
otherwise, in each case for a period of 90 days (subject to the proviso above) from
the date of this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Schottenstein Stores Corporation may transfer any of
the warrants issued by Retail Ventures as described in the most recent Preliminary
PIES Prospectus (the “Warrants”) it currently holds without the prior written
consent of the Underwriter. The Warrants are, at the option of the holder,
exercisable either for common shares of Retail Ventures or Shares which may be
acquired by Retail Ventures upon exchange of certain DSW Class B Shares held by
Retail Ventures which are not being pledged to secure Retail Ventures’ exchange
obligations under the PIES. In addition, Retail Ventures is permitted, without the
prior written consent of the Underwriter, to transfer any Shares so issuable upon
exercise of outstanding warrants by Schottenstein Stores Corporation, Cerberus
Partners, L.P., or Millennium Partners, L.P., or their permitted transferees.

          Retail Ventures hereby undertakes to notify in writing each person who delivers a letter
agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto if at any time the 90-day restricted period described
above is extended for any reason described in such agreement. In addition, DSW hereby undertakes
to direct its transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon any securities of DSW that
are bound by such “lock-up” agreements for the duration of the periods contemplated in such
agreements, including any extensions thereof.

          (m) To apply the net proceeds from the offering of the PIES as set forth in
the Prospectus;

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          (n) To take such steps as shall be necessary to ensure that neither Retail
Ventures nor any subsidiary shall become an “investment company” as defined in the
Investment Company Act, nor a “business development company” (as defined in Section
2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act); and

          (o) Until termination of the offering of the PIES to timely file all documents
and amendments to previously filed documents required to be filed by it pursuant to
Section 12, 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

          6. Covenants of DSW. DSW agrees:

          (a) To prepare the Shares Prospectus in a form approved by the Underwriter,
which form shall not contain any changes from or amendments to the disclosures set
forth or incorporated by reference in the Shares Disclosure Package, and file such
Shares Prospectus and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations not later than the Commission’s close of
business on the second Business Day following the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule
430A(a)(3) of the Rules and Regulations; to make no further amendment or any
supplement to the Shares Registration Statement or the Shares Prospectus prior to
the last Delivery Date except as provided herein; to advise the Underwriter,
promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the
Shares Registration Statement or the Shares Prospectus has been filed or becomes
effective and to furnish the Underwriter with copies thereof; to notify you
promptly after it receives notice thereof of any issuance by the Commission of any
stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Shares
Prospectus or any DSW Free Writing Prospectus, of the suspension of the
qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding or examination for any such purpose or
of any request by the Commission for any amendment of or supplement to the Shares
Registration Statement, the Shares Prospectus or any DSW Free Writing Prospectus or
for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or
of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Shares Prospectus or any DSW
Free Writing Prospectus or suspending such qualification, to use promptly its best
efforts to obtain the lifting thereof.

          (b) To furnish promptly to the Underwriter and to counsel for the Underwriter
a signed copy of the Shares Registration Statement as originally filed with the
Commission, and each amendment

42

 

thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed
therewith;

          (c) To deliver promptly to the Underwriter such number of the following
documents as the Underwriter shall reasonably request: (A) conformed
copies of the Shares Registration Statement, as originally filed, and each
amendment thereto (in each case excluding exhibits), (B) each Preliminary
Shares Prospectus, Shares issuable upon exchange of the PIES and any amended or
supplemented Shares Prospectus; (C) each DSW Free Writing Prospectus and
(D) any document incorporated by reference in the Shares Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Shares Prospectus or the Shares Prospectus;

          (d) To comply, within the time during which the Shares Prospectus is required
to be delivered under the Securities Act, with all requirements imposed upon it by
the Securities Act, as now and hereafter amended, and by the Rules and Regulations,
as from time to time in force, so far as is necessary to permit the continuance of
sales of or dealings in the Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof and by
the Shares Prospectus; and, if during such period any event occurs as a result of
which the Shares Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made
when such Shares Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other
reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Shares Prospectus in order
to comply with the Securities Act, to notify the Underwriter and, upon its request,
to file such document and use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Shares
Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid
any disruption in use of the Shares Prospectus, and to prepare and furnish without
charge to the Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the
Underwriter may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented
Shares prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such
compliance;

          (e) To file promptly with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the
Shares Registration Statement or the Shares Prospectus that may, in the judgment of
DSW or the Underwriter, be required by the Securities Act or requested by the
Commission;

          (f) Prior to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the
Shares Registration Statement, the Shares Prospectus, any document incorporated by
reference in the Shares Registration

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Statement or the Shares Prospectus or any amendment to any document
incorporated by reference in the Shares Registration Statement or the Shares
Prospectus, to furnish a copy thereof to the Underwriter and counsel for the
Underwriter and obtain the consent of the Underwriter to the filing;

          (g) Not to make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a DSW
Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Underwriter;

          (h) To retain in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all DSW Free
Writing Prospectuses not required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and
Regulations; and if at any time after the date hereof any events shall have
occurred as a result of which any DSW Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Shares Registration
Statement, the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus or the Shares Prospectus
or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other
reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any DSW Free Writing
Prospectus, to notify the Underwriter and, upon its request, to file such document
and to prepare and furnish without charge as many copies as the Underwriter may
reasonably request of an amended or supplemented DSW Free Writing Prospectus that
will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance;

          (i) As soon as practicable, to make generally available to its security
holders (and to deliver to the Underwriter) an earnings statement satisfying the
requirements of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and
Regulations (it being understood that such delivery requirements shall be deemed to
have been satisfied by DSW’s compliance with the reporting requirements pursuant to
the Exchange Act);

          (j) For a period of three years following the Effective Date, other than
information which is publicly available on the Commission’s Electronic Data
Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System, to furnish to the Underwriter copies of
all materials furnished by DSW to its shareholders and all public reports and all
reports and financial statements furnished by DSW to the principal national
securities exchange upon which the Shares may be listed pursuant to requirements of
or agreements with such exchange or to the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act
or any rule or regulation of the Commission thereunder;

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          (k) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Underwriter may
reasonably request to qualify Shares issuable upon exchange of the PIES for
offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the
Underwriter may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the
continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may
be necessary to complete the distribution of Shares issuable upon exchange of the
PIES; provided that in connection therewith DSW shall not be required to qualify as
a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process or subject
itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is
not otherwise so subject;

          (l) For a period of 90 days from the date of this Agreement, not to, directly
or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, or
enter into any transaction or device (including, without limitation, through the
filing of a registration statement) which is designed to, or could be expected to,
result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of, any Common
Shares or other capital stock of DSW or securities convertible into or exchangeable
for Common Shares or other capital stock of DSW (other than sales or transfers
pursuant to currently outstanding options, warrants or rights granted by DSW,
issuances of any Common Shares or grants of options to purchase Common Shares
pursuant to existing benefit plans of DSW described in the most recent Preliminary
Shares Prospectus, or exchanges of Class B Common Shares held by Retail Ventures
for Shares pursuant to the Exchange Agreement upon (i) the exercise of
holders of the Warrants issued by Retail Ventures for Shares or (ii)
settlement of the PIES by delivery of Shares), or sell or grant options, rights or
warrants with respect to any Common Shares or other capital stock of DSW or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares or other capital
stock of DSW, or announce any intention to do any of the foregoing, or (2)
enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in
whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such Common
Shares or other capital stock of DSW, whether any such transaction described in
clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares or other
capital stock of DSW or other securities, in cash or otherwise, in each case
without the prior written consent of the Underwriter. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted period
DSW issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to DSW
occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day restricted period, DSW
announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning
on the last day of the 90-day period, then the restrictions imposed by this

45

 

section shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period
beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material
news or material event; and to cause each officer and director of DSW to furnish to
the Underwriter, prior to the First Delivery Date, a letter or letters,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, pursuant to which each such person
shall agree not to, directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell,
pledge or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device which is
designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at
any time in the future of) any Common Shares or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for Common Shares of DSW, or announce any intention to do any of the
foregoing, or (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that
transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of
ownership of such Common Shares of DSW, whether any such transaction described in
clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares of DSW or
other securities, in cash or otherwise, in each case for a period of 90 days
(subject to the proviso above) from the date of this Agreement, without the prior
written consent of the Underwriter.

          DSW hereby undertakes to notify in writing each person who delivers a letter agreement in the
form of Exhibit A hereto pursuant to this Section 6(l) if at any time the 90-day restricted period
described above is extended for any reason described in such agreement. In addition, DSW hereby
undertakes to direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon any securities of
DSW that are bound by such “lock-up” agreements for the duration of the periods contemplated in
such agreements, including any extensions thereof;

          (m) To use its best efforts to ensure the continued listing of the Shares on
the New York Stock Exchange; and

          (n) Until termination of the offering of the PIES, to timely file all
documents and amendments to previously filed documents required to be filed by it
pursuant to Section 12, 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

          7. Covenant of the Underwriter. The Underwriter agrees that it shall not include any “issuer
information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Rules and Regulations) in any “free writing
prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Rules and Regulations) used or referred to by the
Underwriter without the prior consent of Retail Ventures (in the case of information relating to
Retail Ventures) or DSW (in the case of information relating to DSW) (any such issuer information
regarding Retail Ventures with respect to whose use Retail Ventures has given its consent,
“Permitted Retail Ventures Issuer Information”, and any such issuer information regarding DSW with
respect to whose use DSW has given its consent, the “Permitted DSW Issuer

46

 

Information”); provided that (i) no such consent shall be required with respect to (a) any
such issuer information regarding Retail Ventures contained in any document filed by the Retail
Ventures with the Commission prior to the use of such free writing prospectus or (b) any such
issuer information regarding DSW contained in any document filed by DSW with the Commission prior
to the use of such free writing prospectus and (ii) “issuer information,” as used in this Section
7, shall not be deemed to include information prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter on the
basis of or derived from issuer information.

          8. Expenses. Whether or not the sale of the PIES to the Underwriter is consummated or this
Agreement is terminated, Retail Ventures shall pay or cause to be paid (A) all fees and
expenses (including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees and fees and expenses of
Retail Ventures’ and DSW’s accountants but excluding fees and expenses of counsel for the
Underwriter) incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, delivery and shipping
of each of the PIES Registration Statement and the Shares Registration Statement (each, a
“Registration Statement”) (including the financial statements therein and all amendments and
exhibits thereto), each Preliminary PIES Prospectus and Preliminary Shares Prospectus (each, a
“Preliminary Prospectus”), each of the PIES Prospectus and the Shares Prospectus (each, a
“Prospectus”), the Indenture, the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of the Trustee on Form
T-1 filed with the Commission (the “Form T-1”) and any amendments or supplements of the foregoing
and any documents incorporated by reference into any of the foregoing and the copying, delivery and
shipping of this Agreement and Blue Sky Memoranda, (B) all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the preparation and delivery to the Underwriter of the PIES (including the cost of
printing the PIES), (C) all filing fees of counsel to the Underwriter incurred in
connection with the qualification of the PIES and Shares issuable upon exchange of the PIES under
state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Underwriter relating to such filing and registration, which fees
and disbursements of counsel will not exceed $30,000), (D) any fees required to be paid to
rating agencies incurred in connection with the rating of the PIES, (E) the fees, costs and
charges of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee, the filing
fees incident to securing the review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the
terms of sale of Shares issuable upon exchange of the PIES; (F) any applicable listing or
other fees; (G) the costs and expenses of Retail Ventures relating to investor
presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the
PIES, including, without limitation, documented expenses associated with the production of road
show slides and graphics, documented fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection
with the road show presentations with the prior approval of Retail Ventures, documented travel and
lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of Retail Ventures and any such consultants,
and the documented cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show and (H)
all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder for

47

 

which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that,
except as provided in this Section 8 and Sections 10 and 12, the Underwriter shall pay all of its
own costs and expenses, including the fees of its counsel and any advertising expenses incurred in
connection with any offers it may make.

          9. Conditions of Underwriter’s Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriter hereunder are
subject to the accuracy, when made and on each Delivery Date, of the representations and warranties
of each of Retail Ventures and DSW contained herein, to the performance by each of Retail Ventures
and DSW of its respective obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

          (a) Each of the Preliminary PIES Prospectus, the PIES Prospectus, the
Preliminary Shares Prospectus and the Shares Prospectus and any supplement thereto
will be filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time period required
by Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, and any material required to be filed
by Retail Ventures and/or DSW pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations
shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods
prescribed for such filings by Rule 433 and no such filings shall have been made
without the consent of the Underwriter or contain any changes from or amendments to
the disclosures set forth or incorporated by reference in (i) the Pricing
Disclosure Package or (ii) the Shares Disclosure Package; the PIES
Registration Statement, the Shares Registration Statement and all post-effective
amendments to the PIES Registration Statement and the Shares Registration Statement
shall have become effective, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the PIES
Registration Statement, the Shares Registration Statement or any amendment or
supplement thereto or suspending the qualification of the PIES or the Shares for
offering or sale in any jurisdiction shall have been issued; no proceedings for the
issuance of any such order shall have been initiated or threatened; and any request
of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the PIES
Registration Statement, the Shares Registration Statement or the PIES Prospectus or
the Shares Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been disclosed to you and complied
with to your satisfaction.

          (b) No Underwriter shall have discovered and disclosed to Retail Ventures on
or prior to such Delivery Date that any of the PIES Registration Statement, the
PIES Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Shares Registration Statement,
the Shares Prospectus or the Shares Disclosure Package, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of
counsel for the Underwriter, is material or omits to state a fact which, in the
opinion of

48

 

such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading.

          (c) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the
authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Indenture, the Collateral
Agreement, the PIES Exchange Request, the PIES, the Shares, each Registration
Statement, each Prospectus, any Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus, any DSW
Free Writing Prospectus, the VCDS Debt Amendments and all other legal matters
relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and by the VCDS
Debt Amendments shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to
counsel for the Underwriter, and Retail Ventures and DSW shall have furnished to
such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to
enable them to pass upon such matters.

          (d) Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP shall have furnished to the
Underwriter their written opinion, as Ohio counsel to each of (i) Retail
Ventures and its Ohio subsidiaries and (ii) DSW, addressed to the
Underwriter and dated such Delivery Date, in substantially the form attached hereto
as Exhibit B.

          (e) Julia A. Davis, General Counsel to Retail Ventures and its subsidiaries,
shall have furnished to the Underwriter her written opinion, addressed to the
Underwriter and dated such Delivery Date, in substantially the form attached hereto
as Exhibit C.

          (f) William L. Jordan, General Counsel to DSW and DSW Shoe Warehouse, shall
have furnished to the Underwriter his written opinion, addressed to the Underwriter
and dated such Delivery Date, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit
D.

          (g) Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP shall have furnished to the
Underwriter their separate written opinions, as special counsel to each of
(i) Retail Ventures and (ii) DSW, addressed to the Underwriter and
dated such Delivery Date, in substantially the respective forms attached hereto as
Exhibits E-1 and E-2.

          (h) The Underwriter shall have received from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, special
counsel for the Underwriter, such opinion or opinions, dated such Delivery Date,
with respect to the issuance and sale of the PIES, each Registration Statement,
each Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Shares Disclosure Package and
other related matters as the Underwriter may reasonably require, and each of Retail
Ventures and DSW shall have furnished to such counsel such

49

 

documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass
upon such matters.

          (i) The Underwriter shall have received from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP,
special counsel for the Underwriter, such opinion or opinions with respect to the
validity of the PIES and other related matters as you may reasonably request and
such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they request to
enable them to pass upon such matters.

          (j) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Underwriter shall have
received from Deloitte & Touche LLP separate letters relating to Retail Ventures
and DSW, in form and substance satisfactory in each case to the Underwriter,
addressed to the Underwriter and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that
they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act
and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the
qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission
and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof (or, with respect to matters
involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified
financial information is given in the applicable Prospectus, as of a date not more
than five days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and findings of such firm
with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by
accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public
offerings.

          (k) With respect to the letters of Deloitte & Touche LLP relating to Retail
Ventures and DSW, respectively, referred to in the preceding paragraph and
delivered to the Underwriter concurrently with the execution of this Agreement
(each, an “initial letter”), Retail Ventures and DSW, as applicable, shall have
furnished to the Underwriter a letter or letters (each, a “bring-down letter”) of
such accountants, addressed to the Underwriter and dated such Delivery Date
(i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the
meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable
requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of
Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the date of the
bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments
since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in
the applicable Prospectus, as of a date not more than five days prior to the date
of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect
to the financial information and other matters covered by the initial letters

50

 

and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and
findings set forth in the applicable initial letter.

          (l) Retail Ventures shall have furnished to the Underwriter a certificate,
dated such Delivery Date, of its President and Chief Executive Officer and its
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary stating
that:

     (i) The representations, warranties and agreements of Retail
Ventures in Sections 1 and 2 are true and correct on and as of
such Delivery Date, and Retail Ventures has complied with all its
agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on
its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to
such Delivery Date;

     (ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the PIES
Registration Statement has been issued; and no proceedings or
examination for that purpose have been instituted or, to the
knowledge of such officers, threatened; and

     (iii) They have carefully examined the PIES Registration
Statement, the PIES Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package,
the Shares Registration Statement, the Shares Prospectus and the
Shares Disclosure Package and, in their opinion, (A)(1)
the PIES Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date,
(2) the PIES Prospectus, as of its date and on the date
hereof, (3) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the
Applicable Time, (4) the Shares Registration Statement, as
of the Shares Effective Date, (5) the Shares Prospectus,
as of its date and on the date hereof, or (6) the Shares
Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not and do not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not and do
not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of
the PIES Registration Statement and the Shares Registration
Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading and (B)(1) since the
Effective Date, no event has occurred that should have been set
forth in a supplement or amendment to the PIES Registration
Statement, the PIES Prospectus or any Retail Ventures Free Writing
Prospectus that has not been so set

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forth and (2) since the Shares Effective Date, no
event has occurred that should have been set forth in a supplement
or amendment to the Shares Registration Statement, the Shares
Prospectus or any DSW Free Writing Prospectus that has not been so
set forth;

          (m) DSW shall have furnished to the Underwriter a certificate, dated such
Delivery Date, of its President and its Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer stating that:

     (i) The representations, warranties and agreements of DSW in
Section 2 and are true and correct on and as of such Delivery
Date, and DSW has complied with all its agreements contained
herein and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Delivery
Date;

     (ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shares
Registration Statement has been issued; and no proceedings or
examination for that purpose have been instituted or, to the
knowledge of such officers, threatened; and

     (iii) They have carefully examined the Shares Registration
Statement, the Shares Prospectus and the Shares Disclosure
Package, and, in their opinion, (A) (1) the Shares
Registration Statement, as of the Shares Effective Date,
(2) the Shares Prospectus, as of its date and on the
applicable Delivery Date, or (3) the Shares Disclosure
Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not and do not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact and did not and do not omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Shares
Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading and (B) since the
Shares Effective Date, no event has occurred that should have been
set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Shares Registration
Statement, the Shares Prospectus or any DSW Free Writing
Prospectus that has not been so set forth;

          (n) (A) Neither Retail Ventures, DSW nor any of their respective subsidiaries
shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
included or incorporated by reference in the

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most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus (in the case of Retail Ventures and
its subsidiaries) or the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus (in the case of
DSW and its subsidiaries) any loss or interference with its respective business
from fire, explosion, flood, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by
insurance, or shall have become party to any labor dispute, litigation or court or
governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated
in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus (in the case of Retail Ventures and
its subsidiaries) or in the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus (in the case
of DSW and its subsidiaries) and (B) since such date there shall not have been any
change in the capital stock or long-term debt of Retail Ventures, DSW or any of
their respective subsidiaries (except for issuances of stock and grants of options
pursuant to existing benefit plans described in the most recent Preliminary PIES
Prospectus (in the case of Retail Ventures) or the most recent Preliminary Shares
Prospectus (in the case of DSW)) or any adverse change, or any development
involving a prospective adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs,
management, financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of
Retail Ventures, DSW or any of their subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or
contemplated in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus (in the case of Retail
Ventures and its subsidiaries) or the most recent Preliminary Shares Prospectus (in
the case of DSW and its subsidiaries), in each case regardless of whether arising
in the ordinary course of business, the effect of which, in any such case described
in clause (A) or (B), is, in the judgment of the Underwriter, so material and
adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public
offering or the delivery of the PIES being delivered on such Delivery Date on the
terms and in the manner contemplated in the most recent Preliminary PIES Prospectus
and in the PIES Prospectus.

          (o) You shall have been furnished by each of Retail Ventures and DSW such
additional documents and certificates as you or counsel for the Underwriter may
reasonably request.

          (p) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall
not have occurred any downgrading with respect to any debt securities of Retail
Ventures or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical
rating organization” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule
436(g)(2) under the Securities Act or any public announcement that any such
organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any such debt
securities (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible
upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading of such rating).

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          (q) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not
have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in securities generally on
the New York Stock Exchange or in the over-the-counter market, or trading in any
securities of Retail Ventures or DSW on any exchange or in the over-the-counter
market, shall have been suspended or the settlement of such trading generally shall
have been materially disrupted or minimum prices shall have been established on any
such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other
regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a
banking moratorium shall have been declared by Federal or state authorities or
there shall have occurred a material disruption in commercial banking or securities
settlement or clearance services in the United States, (iii) the United
States shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been a material
escalation in hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a
declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (iv)
there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic,
political or financial conditions, including without limitation as a result of
terrorist activities after the date hereof, (or the effect of international
conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such) as to make
it, in the judgment of the Underwriter, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed
with the public offering or delivery of the PIES being delivered on such Delivery
Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the PIES Prospectus.

          (r) The VCDS Debt Amendments shall have been duly executed and delivered, and
shall have become effective.

          (s) All such opinions, certificates, letters and documents shall be in
compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory in
form and substance to counsel for the Underwriter. Retail Ventures and DSW shall
furnish to you conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other
documents in such number as you shall reasonably request.

          10. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) Retail Ventures shall indemnify and hold harmless
the Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls the
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss,
claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not
limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of PIES),
to which the Underwriter, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the
Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out
of, or is based

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upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in (A) any Preliminary Prospectus, any Registration Statement or any Prospectus
or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (B) any Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus
or DSW Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (C) any Permitted
Retail Ventures Issuer Information or Permitted DSW Issuer Information used or referred to in any
“free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405) used or referred to by the Underwriter,
(D) any “road show” as defined in Rule 433 not constituting a Retail Ventures Free Writing
Prospectus or a DSW Free Writing Prospectus (a “Non-Prospectus Road Show”) or (E) any Blue
Sky application or other document prepared or executed by Retail Ventures or DSW (or based upon any
written information furnished by Retail Ventures or DSW for use therein) specifically for the
purpose of qualifying any or all of the PIES or the Shares under the securities laws of any state
or other jurisdiction (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a
“Blue Sky Application”), (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary
Prospectus, any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Retail Ventures Free Writing
Prospectus, DSW Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any
Permitted Retail Ventures Issuer Information or Permitted DSW Issuer Information, any
Non-Prospectus Road Show or any Blue Sky Application, any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any act or
failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by the Underwriter in connection with, or
relating in any manner to, the PIES or the offering contemplated hereby, and that is included as
part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon
matters covered by clause (i) or (ii) above (provided that Retail Ventures shall not be liable
under this clause (iii) to the extent that it is determined in a final judgment by a court of
competent jurisdiction that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from
any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by the Underwriter through its
gross negligence or willful misconduct), and shall reimburse the Underwriter and each such
director, officer, employee or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Underwriter, director, officer, employee or controlling person
in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that Retail Ventures
shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, any Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus, DSW Free Writing Prospectus or in any such
amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Retail Ventures Issuer Information, any
Permitted DSW Issuer Information, any Non-Prospectus Road Show or any Blue Sky Application, in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning the Underwriter furnished to
Retail Ventures by the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein which information consists
solely of the information specified in Section 10(f). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in
addition to any liability that Retail Ventures may otherwise

55

 

 have to the Underwriter or to any officer, employee or controlling person of the Underwriter.

          (b) DSW shall indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, its directors,
officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim,
damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including,
but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to
purchases and sales of PIES), to which the Underwriter, officer, employee or
controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise,
insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based
upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in (A) any Preliminary Shares Prospectus, any Shares
Registration Statement or any Shares Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, (B) any DSW Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto (C) any Permitted DSW Issuer Information used or
referred to in any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 ) used or
referred to by the Underwriter, (D) any “road show” as defined in Rule 433
not constituting a DSW Free Writing Prospectus (a “DSW Non-Prospectus Road Show”)
or (E) any Blue Sky application or other document prepared or executed by
DSW (or based upon any written information furnished by DSW for use therein)
specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Shares under the
securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction (any such application, document
or information being hereinafter called a “DSW Blue Sky Application”), (ii)
the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Shares Prospectus, any
Shares Registration Statement, any Shares Prospectus, any DSW Free Writing
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Permitted DSW
Issuer Information, any DSW Non-Prospectus Road Show or any DSW Blue Sky
Application, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any act or failure to act
or any alleged act or failure to act by the Underwriter in connection with, or
relating in any manner to, the PIES or the offering contemplated hereby, and that
is included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or
action arising out of or based upon matters covered by clause (i) or (ii) above
(provided that DSW shall not be liable under this clause (iii) to the extent that
it is determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or
failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by the Underwriter through its
gross negligence or willful misconduct), and shall reimburse the Underwriter and
each such director, officer, employee or controlling

56

 

person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by the Underwriter, director, officer, employee or controlling person in
connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided,
however, that DSW shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made
in any Preliminary Shares Prospectus, any Shares Registration Statement, any Shares
Prospectus, any DSW Free Writing Prospectus or in any such amendment or supplement
thereto or in any Permitted DSW Issuer Information, any DSW Non-Prospectus Road
Show or any DSW Blue Sky Application, in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information concerning the Underwriter furnished to DSW by the Underwriter
specifically for inclusion therein which information consists solely of the
information specified in Section 10(f). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in
addition to any liability that DSW may otherwise have to the Underwriter or to any
officer, employee or controlling person of the Underwriter.

          (c) The Underwriter shall indemnify and hold harmless each of Retail Ventures,
DSW, each officer of Retail Ventures or DSW who has signed the PIES Registration
Statement or the Shares Registration Statement, as applicable, each of their
respective directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls
either of Retail Ventures or DSW within the meaning of the Securities Act, from and
against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in
respect thereof, to which Retail Ventures, DSW, or any such director, officer,
employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or
otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of,
or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Registration Statement,
any Prospectus, any Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus, DSW Free Writing
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Non-Prospectus Road
Show or Blue Sky Application, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to
state in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Registration Statement, any Prospectus,
any Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus, DSW Free Writing Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any Non-Prospectus Road Show or Blue Sky
Application any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning the
Underwriter

57

 

furnished to Retail Ventures by the Underwriter specifically for inclusion
therein, which information is limited to the information set forth in Section
10(f), and shall reimburse Retail Ventures, DSW and any such director, officer or
controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by Retail
Ventures, DSW or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection
with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred. The foregoing
indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Underwriter may
otherwise have to any of Retail Ventures, DSW or any such director, officer,
employee or controlling person.

          (d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 10 of
notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall,
if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under
subsection 10(a), 10(b) or 10(c), notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to
notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may
have under subsection 10(a), 10(b) or 10(c) except to the extent it has been
materially prejudiced by such failure and, provided further, that the failure to
notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may
have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection 10(a), 10(b) or 10(c).
If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it
shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any
other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense
of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the
indemnified party under this Section 10 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the
Underwriter shall have the right to employ counsel to represent the Underwriter and
its respective officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to
liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by
the Underwriter against any of Retail Ventures or DSW under this Section 10 if
(i) Retail Ventures, DSW and the Underwriter shall have so agreed in
writing; (ii) Retail Ventures and DSW have failed within a reasonable time
to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter; (iii) the
Underwriter and its directors, officers, employees and controlling persons shall
have

58

 

reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to them that
are different form or in addition to those available to Retail Ventures and/or DSW;
or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded
parties) include both the Underwriter or its directors, officers, employees or
controlling persons, on the one hand, and Retail Ventures and/or DSW, on the other
hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, and in
any such event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by
Retail Ventures. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written
consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect
of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not
the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action)
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of
each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit
or proceeding and does not include any findings of fact or admissions of fault or
culpability as to the indemnified party, or (ii) be liable for any
settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the
indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such
action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any
indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment.

          (e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 10 shall for any
reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party
under Section 10(a), 10(b) or 10(c) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or
liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party,
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of
such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in
such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by Retail Ventures and DSW, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other
hand, from the offering of the PIES or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of Retail Ventures and/or DSW, on the one hand,
and the Underwriter, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omissions
which resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action

59

 

in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by Retail Ventures and DSW, on the one hand, and the
Underwriter, on the other hand, with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be
in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the PIES
purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Retail
Ventures, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions
received by the Underwriter with respect to the PIES purchased under this
Agreement, on the other hand, bear to the total gross proceeds from the offering of
the PIES under this Agreement, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover
page of the PIES Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference
to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by Retail
Ventures and/or DSW or the Underwriter, the intent of the parties and their
relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. Retail Ventures, DSW and the Underwriter agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 10 were
to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which
does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim,
damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this
Section 10 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 10(e), any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 10(e), the Underwriter shall not be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the
PIES underwritten by it and distributed to the public was offered to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages which the Underwriter has otherwise paid or
become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.

          (f) The Underwriter confirms and each of Retail Ventures and DSW acknowledges
and agrees that the statements regarding the delivery of the PIES by the
Underwriter set forth on the cover page of, and the concession figures appearing
under the caption “Underwriting” in the PIES Prospectus are correct and constitute
the only information concerning the Underwriter furnished in writing to Retail
Ventures by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion in the PIES

60

 

Registration Statement, any Preliminary PIES Prospectus, the PIES Prospectus,
any Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement
thereto or in any Non-Prospectus Road Show.

          11. Termination. The obligations of the Underwriter hereunder may be terminated by the
Underwriter by notice given to and received by Retail Ventures prior to delivery of and payment for
the Firm PIES if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 9(n), 9(p) and 9(q)
shall have occurred or if the Underwriter shall decline to purchase the PIES for any reason
permitted under this Agreement.

          12. Reimbursement of Underwriter’s Expenses. If (a) Retail Ventures shall fail to
tender the PIES for delivery to the Underwriter by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on
the part of Retail Ventures or DSW to perform any agreement on their part to be performed, or
because any other condition to the Underwriter’s obligations hereunder required to be fulfilled by
Retail Ventures or DSW is not fulfilled for any reason or (b) the Underwriter shall decline
to purchase the PIES for any reason permitted under this Agreement or terminate this Agreement
pursuant to Section 11, Retail Ventures will reimburse the Underwriter for all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the
Underwriter in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the PIES, and in
connection with any investigation or preparation made by them in respect of the marketing of the
PIES or in contemplation of the performance by them of their obligations hereunder, and upon demand
Retail Ventures shall pay the full amount thereof to the Underwriter

          13. Research Analyst Independence. Each of Retail Ventures and DSW acknowledges that the
Underwriter’s research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their
respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal
policies, and that the Underwriter’s research analysts may hold views and make statements or
investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to Retail Ventures, DSW
and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions.
Retail Ventures and DSW each hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any
claims that Retail Ventures or DSW may have against the Underwriter with respect to any conflict of
interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research
analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice
communicated to Retail Ventures or DSW by the Underwriter’s investment banking divisions. Retail
Ventures and DSW acknowledge that the Underwriter is a full service securities firm and as such
from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own
account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity
securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

61

 

          14. No Fiduciary Duty. Retail Ventures and DSW acknowledge and agree that in connection with
this offering, the sale of the PIES or any other services the Underwriter may be deemed to be
providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between
the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the
Underwriter: (i) no fiduciary or agency relationship between the Retail Ventures, DSW and
any other person, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other, exists; (ii) the
Underwriter is not acting as advisors, expert or otherwise, to either Retail Ventures or DSW,
including, without limitation, with respect to the determination of the public offering price of
the PIES, and such relationship between Retail Ventures and DSW, on the one hand, and the
Underwriter, on the other, is entirely and solely commercial, based on arms-length negotiations;
(iii) any duties and obligations that the Underwriter may have to Retail Ventures or DSW
shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; and (iv) the
Underwriter and its affiliates may have interests that differ from those of Retail Ventures and
DSW. Retail Ventures and DSW hereby waive any claims that Retail Ventures or DSW may have against
the Underwriter with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with this offering.

          15. Notices, Etc. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and:

          (a) if to the Underwriter, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to (i) Lehman Brothers Inc., 605 Third Avenue, New
York, New York 10158, Attention: Syndicate Department (Fax: 646-497-4815), with a
copy, in the case of any notice pursuant to Section 10(c), to the Director of
Litigation, Office of the General Counsel, Lehman Brothers Inc., 399 Park Avenue,
10th Floor, New York, NY 10022 (Fax: 212-520-0421), and (ii) with a copy,
which shall not constitute notice, to Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, 919 Third Avenue,
New York, NY 10022, Attention: Steven J. Slutzky, Esq. (Fax: 212-909-6836);

          (b) if to Retail Ventures, (i) shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to Julia A. Davis, Esq., General Counsel, 3241
Westerville Road, Columbus, OH 43223 (Fax: 614-337-4682) and (ii) with a
copy, which shall not constitute notice, to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
LLP, Four Times Square, New York, NY 10036, Attention: Robert M. Chilstrom, Esq.
(Fax: 212-735-2000);

          (c) if to DSW, (i) shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to William L. Jordan, Esq., General Counsel, 4150 East 5th
Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43219 (Fax: 614-872- 1464) and (ii) with a copy,
which shall not constitute notice, to Skadden,

62

 

Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Four Times Square, New York, NY 10036,
Attention: Robert M. Chilstrom, Esq. (Fax: 212-735-2000).

Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt
thereof. Retail Ventures and DSW shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent,
notice or agreement given or made by the Underwriter.

          16. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the Underwriter, Retail Ventures, DSW, and their respective successors. This
Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons,
except that (A) the representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements of Retail
Ventures and DSW contained in this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the
directors, officers and employees of the Underwriter and each person or persons, if any, who
control the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and (B) the
indemnity agreement of the Underwriter contained in Section 10(c) of this Agreement shall be deemed
to be for the benefit of the directors of Retail Ventures and DSW, the officers of Retail Ventures
who have signed the PIES Registration Statement and any person controlling Retail Ventures within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and officers of DSW who have signed the Shares
Registration Statement. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any
person, other than the persons referred to in this Section 15, any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein.

          17. Survival. The respective indemnities, representations, warranties and agreements of
Retail Ventures, DSW and the Underwriter contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of
them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the
PIES and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of any of them or any person controlling any of them.

          18. Definition of the Terms “Business Day” and “Subsidiary.” For purposes of this Agreement,
(a) “business day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a
day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to close and (b) ”subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the
Rules and Regulations and includes both partnerships and subsidiaries.

          19. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.

          20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed
in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts

63

 

shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one
and the same instrument.

          21. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not
intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

64

 

          If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among Retail Ventures, DSW and the
Underwriter, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Very truly yours,	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Retail Ventures, Inc.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ James A. McGrady 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name: James A. McGrady	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title: Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	DSW Inc.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Douglas J. Probst 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name: Douglas J. Probst	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title: Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer	 	 

Confirmed and accepted as of

the date first above mentioned

Lehman Brothers Inc.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	/s/ Michael A. Goldberg 	 	 
	 

	 	 

	 	 
	Name:
	 	Michael A. Goldberg 	 	 
	 

	 	 

	 	 
	Title:
	 	Managing Director 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

65

 

SCHEDULE I – COMMITMENTS FOR FIRM PIES

Underwriting Agreement dated August 10, 2006

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Principal Amount of PIES	 
	Underwriter	 	to be Purchased	 
	Lehman
Brothers Inc.
	 	$	125,000,000	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Total
	 	$	125,000,000	 
	 
	 	 	 

 

 

SCHEDULE II – COMMITMENTS FOR OPTIONAL PIES

Underwriting Agreement dated August 10, 2006

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Principal Amount of PIES	 
	Underwriter	 	to be Purchased	 
	Lehman
Brothers Inc.
	 	$	18,750,000	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Total
	 	$	18,750,000	 
	 
	 	 	 

2

 

SCHEDULE III

Retail Ventures Free Writing Prospectuses:

RVI Free Writing Prospectus, filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 on August 10, 2006.

DSW Free Writing Prospectuses:

DSW Free Writing Prospectus, filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 on August 10, 2006.

3

 

SCHEDULE IV

Applicable Contracts

All applicable UCC-1 Financing Statements

4

 

EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER AGREEMENT FOR DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Lock-Up Letter Agreement

Lehman Brothers Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Dear Sirs:

The undersigned understands that you propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the
“Underwriting Agreement”) providing for the purchase by you (the “Underwriter”) of certain Premium
Income Exchangeable Securities (the “PIES”) of Retail Ventures, Inc. (“Retail Ventures”), which
PIES are mandatorily exchangeable for Class A common shares, no par value per share (the “Common
Shares”), of DSW Inc., an Ohio corporation (“DSW”), and that the Underwriter proposes to reoffer
the PIES to the public (the “Offering”).

In consideration of the execution of the Underwriting Agreement by the Underwriter, and for other
good and valuable consideration, the undersigned hereby irrevocably agrees that, without the prior
written consent of Lehman Brothers Inc., as Underwriter, the undersigned will not, directly or
indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any
transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by
any person at any time in the future of) any Common Shares (including, without limitation, Common
Shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Common Shares that may be issued or
delivered upon exercise of any option or warrant) or securities convertible into or exchangeable
for Common Shares owned by the undersigned on the date of execution of this Lock-Up Letter
Agreement or on the date of the completion of the Offering or announce any intention to do any of
the foregoing, or (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers
to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such Common
Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by
delivery of Common Shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise, for a period of 90 days after
the date of the final prospectus relating to the Offering.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer
the Common Shares without the prior written consent of Lehman Brothers Inc.,

5

 

provided that (1) Lehman Brothers Inc. receives a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the
lockup period from each donee, trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the case may be, (2) any
such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value and (3) each transfer is:

     (i) a bona fide gift or gifts; or

     (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate
family of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “immediate family” shall mean
any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); or

     (iii) as a distribution to limited partners or stockholders of the undersigned; or

     (iv) to the undersigned’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or
managed by the undersigned,

provided, in each case, that no filings relating to the beneficial ownership of securities of DSW
shall be required or voluntarily made by the undersigned or such donee, trustee, distribute or
transferee, as the case may be, in connection with such transfer for the duration of the 90-day
restricted period (as the same may be extended as described below).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted
period Retail Ventures or DSW issues an earnings release or material news or a material event
relating to Retail Ventures or DSW occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day
restricted period, Retail Ventures or DSW announces that it will release earnings results during
the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day period, then the restrictions imposed by
this letter shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the
issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.

In furtherance of the foregoing, DSW and its Transfer Agent are hereby authorized to decline to
make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this
Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

It is understood that, if Retail Ventures notifies you that it does not intend to proceed with the
Offering, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement
(other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated
prior to payment for and delivery of the PIES, the undersigned will be released from all
obligations under this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

The undersigned understands that Retail Ventures and the Underwriter will proceed with the Offering
in reliance on this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

6

 

Whether or not the Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market
conditions. Any Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of
which are subject to negotiation between Retail Ventures and the Underwriter.

7

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to
enter into this Lock-Up Letter Agreement and that, upon request, the undersigned will execute any
additional documents necessary in connection with the enforcement hereof. Any obligations of the
undersigned shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of
the undersigned.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Very truly yours,	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:	 	 

Dated:                                        

8

 

EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER AGREEMENT FOR SCHOTTENSTEIN STORES CORPORATION

Lock-Up Letter Agreement

Lehman Brothers Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Dear Sirs:

The undersigned understands that you propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the
“Underwriting Agreement”) providing for the purchase by you (the “Underwriter”) of certain Premium
Income Exchangeable Securities (the “PIES”) of Retail Ventures, Inc. (“Retail Ventures”), which
PIES are mandatorily exchangeable for Class A common shares, no par value per share (the “Common
Shares”), of DSW Inc., an Ohio corporation (“DSW”), and that the Underwriter proposes to reoffer
the PIES to the public (the “Offering”).

In consideration of the execution of the Underwriting Agreement by the Underwriter, and for other
good and valuable consideration, the undersigned hereby irrevocably agrees that, without the prior
written consent of Lehman Brothers Inc. as Underwriter, the undersigned will not, directly or
indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any
transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by
any person at any time in the future of) any Common Shares (including, without limitation, Common
Shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Common Shares that may be issued or
delivered upon exercise of any option or warrant) or securities convertible into or exchangeable
for Common Shares owned by the undersigned on the date of execution of this Lock-Up Letter
Agreement or on the date of the completion of the Offering or announce any intention to do any of
the foregoing, or (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers
to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such Common
Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by
delivery of Common Shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise, for a period of 90 days after
the date of the final prospectus relating to the Offering.

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer
the Common Shares without the prior written consent of Lehman Brothers Inc., provided that (1)
Lehman Brothers Inc. receives a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the lockup period from
each donee, trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the case may be, (2) any such transfer shall
not involve a disposition for value and (3) each transfer is:

     (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts; or

     (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate
family of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “immediate family” shall mean
any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); or

     (iii) as a distribution to limited partners or stockholders of the undersigned; or

     (iv) to the undersigned’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or
managed by the undersigned,

provided, in each case, that no filings relating to the beneficial ownership of securities of DSW
shall be required or voluntarily made by the undersigned or such donee, trustee, distribute or
transferee, as the case may be, in connection with such transfer for the duration of the 90-day
restricted period (as the same may be extended as described below).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may (i) transfer the warrants issued by
Retail Ventures, as described in the most recent preliminary prospectus relating to the Offering
(the “Warrants”) it currently holds or (ii) exercise such Warrants for Common Shares
without the prior written consent of Lehman Brothers Inc.; provided, however, in
the case of the foregoing clause (ii) that any Common Shares received by the undersigned in
connection with the exercise of the Warrants during the 90-day restricted period (as the same may
be extended as described below) shall otherwise be subject to the restrictions imposed by this
Lock-Up Agreement Letter. The Warrants are, at the option of the holder, exercisable into either
common shares of Retail Ventures or Common Shares which may be acquired by Retail Ventures upon
exchange of certain DSW Class B Shares held by Retail Ventures pursuant to the Exchange Agreement,
dated July 5, 2005, by and between Retail Ventures and DSW, which are not being pledged to secure
Retail Ventures’ obligations under the PIES.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted
period Retail Ventures or DSW issues an earnings release or material news or a material event
relating to Retail Ventures or DSW occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day
restricted period, Retail Ventures or DSW announces that it will release earnings results during
the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day period, then the

2

 

restrictions imposed by this letter shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day
period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or
material event.

In furtherance of the foregoing, DSW and its Transfer Agent are hereby authorized to decline to
make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this
Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

It is understood that, if Retail Ventures notifies you that it does not intend to proceed with the
Offering, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement
(other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated
prior to payment for and delivery of the PIES, the undersigned will be released from all
obligations under this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

The undersigned understands that Retail Ventures and the Underwriter will proceed with the Offering
in reliance on this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

Whether or not the Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market
conditions. Any Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of
which are subject to negotiation between Retail Ventures and the Underwriter.

3

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to
enter into this Lock-Up Letter Agreement and that, upon request, the undersigned will execute any
additional documents necessary in connection with the enforcement hereof. Any obligations of the
undersigned shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of
the undersigned.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Very truly yours,	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:	 	 
	Dated: July 26, 2006
	 	 	 	 	 	 

4

 

EXHIBIT A-3

FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER AGREEMENT FOR

JAY SCHOTTENSTEIN, ARI DESHE AND JON DIAMOND

Lock-Up Letter Agreement

Lehman Brothers Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

The undersigned understands that you propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the
“Underwriting Agreement”) providing for the purchase by you (the “Underwriter”) of certain Premium
Income Exchangeable Securities (the “PIES”) of Retail Ventures, Inc. (“Retail Ventures”), which
PIES are mandatorily exchangeable for Class A common shares, no par value per share (the “Common
Shares”), of DSW Inc., an Ohio corporation (“DSW”), and that the Underwriter proposes to reoffer
the PIES to the public (the “Offering”).

In consideration of the execution of the Underwriting Agreement by the Underwriter, and for other
good and valuable consideration, the undersigned hereby irrevocably agrees that, without the prior
written consent of Lehman Brothers Inc., as Underwriter, the undersigned will not, directly or
indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any
transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by
any person at any time in the future of) any Common Shares (including, without limitation, Common
Shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Common Shares that may be issued or
delivered upon exercise of any option or warrant, but excluding, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Lock-Up Letter Agreement, the sale by Schottenstein Stores Corporation of any
warrant which may at the holder’s election be exercisable into Common Shares, provided that
the transfer of such warrant is permitted by the separate lock-up letter agreement, dated July 26,
2006, between Schottenstein Stores Corporation and Lehman Brothers Inc., a copy of which is
attached hereto) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares owned by the
undersigned on the date of execution of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement or on the date of the
completion of the Offering or announce any intention to do any of the foregoing, or (2)
enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in
part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such Common Shares, whether any such
transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares or
other securities, in cash or otherwise, for a period of 90 days after the date of the final
prospectus relating to the Offering.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer
the Common Shares without the prior written consent of Lehman Brothers Inc., provided that (1)
Lehman Brothers Inc. receives a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the lockup period

 

 

from each donee, trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the case may be, (2) any such transfer
shall not involve a disposition for value and (3) each transfer is:

     (i) a bona fide gift or gifts; or

     (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate
family of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “immediate family” shall mean
any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); or

     (iii) as a distribution to limited partners or stockholders of the undersigned; or

     (iv) to the undersigned’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or
managed by the undersigned,

provided, in each case, that no filings relating to the beneficial ownership of securities of DSW
shall be required or voluntarily made by the undersigned or such donee, trustee, distribute or
transferee, as the case may be, in connection with such transfer for the duration of the 90-day
restricted period (as the same may be extended as described below).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted
period Retail Ventures or DSW issues an earnings release or material news or a material event
relating to Retail Ventures or DSW occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day
restricted period, Retail Ventures or DSW announces that it will release earnings results during
the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day period, then the restrictions imposed by
this letter shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the
issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.

In furtherance of the foregoing, DSW and its Transfer Agent are hereby authorized to decline to
make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this
Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

It is understood that, if Retail Ventures notifies you that it does not intend to proceed with the
Offering, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement
(other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated
prior to payment for and delivery of the PIES, the undersigned will be released from all
obligations under this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

The undersigned understands that Retail Ventures and the Underwriter will proceed with the Offering
in reliance on this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.

Whether or not the Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market
conditions. Any Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of
which are subject to negotiation between Retail Ventures and the Underwriter.

2

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to
enter into this Lock-Up Letter Agreement and that, upon request, the undersigned will execute any
additional documents necessary in connection with the enforcement hereof. Any obligations of the
undersigned shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of
the undersigned.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Very truly yours,	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:	 	 

Dated:                                        

3

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