Fair value measurement disclosure requirements specify a hierarchy of valuation techniques based upon whether the inputs to those valuation techniques reflect assumptions other market participants would use based upon market data obtained from independent sources (“observable inputs”) or reflect the Company’s own assumptions of market participant valuation (“unobservable inputs”). In accordance with the fair value guidance, the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value are categorized into three levels based on the reliability of the inputs as follows:

In determining fair value, the Company uses valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. The Company also considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value. Classification of the financial or non-financial asset or liability within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Measurement of Fair Value

The Company measures fair value as an exit price, the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, using the procedures described below for all financial and non-financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value.

Deferred Compensation Plan Assets and Liabilities

The Company maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”) for the benefit of certain management employees. The investment funds offered to the participants generally correspond to the funds offered in the Company’s 401(k) plan, and the account balance fluctuates with the investment returns on those funds. The Deferred Compensation Plan permits the deferral of up to 50% of base salary and 100% of compensation received under the Company’s annual incentive plan. The deferrals are held in a separate trust, which has been established by the Company to administer the Deferred Compensation Plan. The assets of the trust are subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors in the event that the Company becomes insolvent. Consequently, the trust qualifies as a grantor trust for income tax purposes (i.e., a “Rabbi Trust”). The liabilities of the Deferred Compensation Plan are presented in other accrued expenses and the assets held by the trust are classified within prepaid expenses and other current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Changes in deferred compensation plan assets and liabilities are charged to selling and administrative expenses. The fair value is based on unadjusted quoted market prices for the funds in active markets with sufficient volume and frequency (Level 1).

Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors

Non-employee directors are eligible to participate in a deferred compensation plan with deferred amounts valued as if invested in the Company’s common stock through the use of phantom stock units (“PSUs”). Under the plan, each participating director’s account is credited with the number of PSUs equal to the number of shares of the Company’s common stock that the participant could purchase or receive with the amount of the deferred compensation, based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Company’s common stock on the last trading day of the fiscal quarter when the cash compensation was earned. Dividend equivalents are paid on PSUs at the same rate as dividends on the Company’s common stock and are re-invested in additional PSUs at the next fiscal quarter-end. The liabilities of the plan are based on the fair value of the outstanding PSUs and are presented in other accrued expenses (current portion) or other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value of the PSUs are presented in selling and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of earnings (loss). The fair value of each PSU is based on an unadjusted quoted market price for the Company’s common stock in an active market with sufficient volume and frequency on each measurement date (Level 1).

Restricted Stock Units for Non-Employee Directors

Under the Company’s incentive compensation plans, cash-equivalent restricted stock units (“RSUs”) of the Company were previously granted at no cost to non-employee directors. These cash-equivalent RSUs are subject to a vesting requirement (usually one year), earn dividend-equivalent units and are settled in cash on the date the director terminates service or such earlier date as a director may elect, subject to restrictions, based on the then current fair value of the Company’s common stock. The fair value of each cash-equivalent RSU payable is based on an unadjusted quoted market price for the Company’s common stock in an active market with sufficient volume and frequency on each measurement date (Level 1). Additional information related to RSUs for non-employee directors is disclosed in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.

The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at January 28, 2023 and January 29, 2022. The Company did not have any transfers between Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 during 2022, 2021 or 2020.


	Fair Value Measurements
($ thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Asset (Liability)
January 28, 2023:
Non-qualified deferred compensation plan assets	$	7,890	$	7,890	$	—	$	—
Non-qualified deferred compensation plan liabilities		(7,890)		(7,890)		—		—
Deferred compensation plan liabilities for non-employee directors		(1,662)		(1,662)		—		—
Restricted stock units for non-employee directors		(2,028)		(2,028)		—		—
January 29, 2022:
Non-qualified deferred compensation plan assets		7,463		7,463		—		—
Non-qualified deferred compensation plan liabilities		(7,463)		(7,463)		—		—
Deferred compensation plan liabilities for non-employee directors		(1,770)		(1,770)		—		—
Restricted stock units for non-employee directors		(2,568)		(2,568)		—		—

Impairment Charges

The Company assesses the impairment of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors the Company considers important that could trigger an impairment review include underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results, a significant change in the manner of the use of the asset or a negative industry or economic trend. When the Company determines that the carrying value of long-lived assets may not be recoverable based upon the existence of one or more of the aforementioned factors, impairment is measured based on a projected discounted cash flow method. Certain factors, such as estimated store sales and expenses, used for this nonrecurring fair value measurement are considered Level 3 inputs as defined by FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement. Long-lived assets held and used with a carrying amount of $562.2 million, $545.1 million and $615.7 million in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, were assessed for indicators of impairment. This assessment resulted in the impairment charges presented in the table below, primarily for operating lease right-of-use assets, leasehold improvements, and furniture and fixtures in the Company’s retail stores, as well as capitalized software. Higher impairment charges were recorded in 2020, reflecting adverse economic conditions, driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic.



($ thousands)	2022		2021		2020
Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges
Famous Footwear	$	200	$	1,241	$	14,900
Brand Portfolio		1,603		2,894		41,443
Total long-lived asset impairment charges	$	1,803	$	4,135	$	56,343

The Company performed its annual impairment review of intangible assets, which involves estimating the fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The intangible asset impairment reviews performed in 2022 and 2021 resulted in no impairment charges. As a result of its annual impairment testing, the Company recorded $46.2 million in impairment charges in 2020, as further discussed in Note 1 and Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

During 2022 and 2021, the Company performed a qualitative assessment of goodwill as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter. The reviews indicated no impairment. During 2020, the Company performed an interim impairment test of goodwill, as further discussed in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements. A quantitative assessment was performed for all reporting units as of May 2, 2020, which involved estimating the fair value of the reporting units using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The assessment indicated that the carrying values of the goodwill associated with the Brand Portfolio and Vionic reporting units were impaired, resulting in total goodwill impairment charges of $240.3 million. The quantitative assessment performed as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter of 2020 resulted in no further impairment charges. Refer to Note 1 and Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information related to the goodwill impairment tests.

Fair Value of the Company’s Other Financial Instruments

The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and trade accounts payable approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

The fair values of the borrowings under revolving credit agreement of $307.5 million and $290.0 million as of January 28, 2023 and January 29, 2022, respectively, approximate their carrying value due to the short-term nature of the borrowings. (Level 1).