A Skechers USA shareholder has sued the company over its $9.4 billion buyout by 3G Capital, alleging lack of transparency and a controlled sales process by the founder and his family.
In the United States, a shareholder of Skechers USA Inc., the well-known footwear manufacturer based in Manhattan Beach, California, has filed a lawsuit seeking further details about the company’s $9.4 billion buyout by private equity firm 3G Capital. The complaint was lodged on May 30, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Skechers USA Inc. is recognized globally as the third-largest footwear maker, famous for its comfort-first sneakers. The company was founded by Robert Greenberg, who, along with his family, controls approximately 60% of the company’s voting power. The recent lawsuit alleges that the Greenbergs manipulated the sale process to favor a single bidder—3G Capital—depriving minority shareholders of a fair bidding process.
The shareholder group, including Florida-based Key West Police Officers & Firefighters Retirement Plan, contends that Skechers must provide additional disclosures mandated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to ensure shareholders have enough information to evaluate the fairness of the buyout terms.
The buyout, expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, values Skechers at $63 per share in cash, which is about 20% lower than its 52-week high of $78.82 recorded in January 2025. Robert Greenberg, age 85, stands to receive over $1 billion from the deal. The lawsuit comes amid broader challenges facing Skechers, including tariff pressures from the U.S. government on imports from China and the company’s recent withdrawal of full-year financial guidance.
Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital is known for its rigorous cost-cutting strategies at other major companies such as Anheuser-Busch InBev and
