As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 16, 2003 Registration No. 333-45852 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 RETAIL VENTURES, INC. (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) Ohio 20-0090238 (State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 3241 Westerville Road Columbus, Ohio 43224 (Address of Registrant's principal executive offices) RETAIL VENTURES, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 1991 STOCK OPTION PLAN (Full Title of the Plan) James A. McGrady Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary Retail Ventures, Inc. 3241 Westerville Road Columbus, Ohio 43224 (614) 478-2300 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) Copies of Correspondence to: Robert J. Tannous, Esq. Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP 41 South High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 This post-effective amendment is being filed pursuant to Rule 414 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), to reflect the adoption by Value City Department Stores, Inc., an Ohio corporation ("Value City"), of a holding company form of organizational structure. The holding company organizational structure was effected pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") among Value City, Retail Ventures, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the "Registrant"), and Value City Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant ("Merger Corporation"). The Merger Agreement provides for, among other things, the merger (the "Merger") of Merger Corporation with and into Value City, with Value City as the surviving corporation. The Merger was approved by the shareholders of Value City at a meeting for which proxies were solicited pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which was held on September 26, 2002. As a result of the Merger, which was consummated at 12:01 a.m. on October 8, 2003, Value City became a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant. Each share of common stock, without par value, of Value City issued and outstanding was converted into and exchanged for one share of common stock, without par value, of the Registrant. Immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, the Registrant had nominal assets and liabilities. In accordance with Rule 414 under the Securities Act, the Registrant, as successor issuer to Value City, hereby expressly adopts this registration statement as its own for all purposes of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. The Value City Department Stores, Inc. Amended and Restated 1991 Stock Option Plan to which this registration statement relates (the "Plan") shall be known as the Retail Ventures, Inc. Amended and Restated 1991 Stock Option Plan. Subsequent to the holding company reorganization, the Plan will continue to cover employees of Value City. However, shares of stock issued in accordance with the Plan shall be shares of stock of the Registrant rather than shares of Value City. The applicable registration fees were paid at the time of the original filing of this registration statement. - 1 - SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, on October 15, 2003. RETAIL VENTURES, INC. By: * John C. Rossler ---------------------------------------- John C. Rossler, President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated: SIGNATURE TITLE DATE *Jay L. Schottenstein Chairman of the Board ) October 15, 2003 ----------------------------------- ) Jay L. Schottenstein ) ) ) *John C. Rossler President and Chief Executive Officer ) October 15, 2003 ----------------------------------- (Principal Executive Officer) ) John C. Rossler ) ) ) /s/ James A. McGrady Executive Vice President, Chief ) October 15, 2003 ----------------------------------- Financial Officer, Treasurer, and ) James A. McGrady Secretary (Principal Financial Officer) ) ) ) *Henry L. Aaron Director ) October 15, 2003 ----------------------------------- ) Henry L. Aaron ) ) ) *Ari Deshe Director ) October 15, 2003 ----------------------------------- ) Ari Deshe ) ) ) *Jon P. Diamond Director ) October 15, 2003 ----------------------------------- ) Jon P. Diamond ) ) ) *Elizabeth M. Eveillard Director ) October 15, 2003 ----------------------------------- ) Elizabeth M. Eveillard ) ) ) *Harvey L. Sonnenberg Director ) October 15, 2003 ----------------------------------- ) Harvey L. Sonnenberg ) ) - 2 - *James L. Weisman Director ) October 15, 2003 ----------------------------------- ) James L. Weisman ) *By: /s/ James A. McGrady ------------------------------------------ James A. McGrady, attorney-in-fact for each of the persons indicated - 3 - Registration No. 333-45852 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 RETAIL VENTURES, INC. EXHIBITS EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Exhibit Number Description ------ ----------- 4(a) * Retail Ventures, Inc. Amended and Restated 1991 Stock Option Plan. 4(b) Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Retail Ventures, Inc. (Previously filed as Exhibit 3(a) to Form 8-K (file No. 001-10767) filed October 8, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference). 4(c) Amended and Restated Code of Regulations of Retail Ventures, Inc. (Previously filed as Exhibit 3(b) to Form 8-K (file No. 001-10767) filed October 8, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference). 5 * Opinion of Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP regarding legality. 23(a) Consent of Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP (included in Exhibit 5 filed herewith). 23(b) * Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. 24 * Powers of Attorney. * Filed with this Registration Statement