Footwear brand Skechers to be taken private in US$9-billion deal

Skechers said on Monday it had agreed to be taken private by investment firm 3G Capital in a $9.4-billion deal, at a time when the footwear company grapples with the impact of steep U.S. tariffs and erratic trade policy. 3G Capital has offered $63 per Skechers share in cash, representing a 28 per cent premium to the stock's Friday close, according to Reuters calculation. Shares of the company jumped more than 25 per cent to $61.90 premarket after the announcement. Skechers withdrew its annual results forecast last month, citing the Trump administration's trade policies that have jolted the global economy…