Dollar Tree Required to Divest Some Stores, Says FTC

Dollar Tree said Friday that the Federal Trade Commission has indicated it will require divestment of some stores, in order to get approval for the company's approximately $8.5 billion acquisition of Family Dollar Stores. Dollar Tree said it doesn't believe it will need to divest more than the up to 500 stores it previously indicated it was willing to divest. Rival Dollar General has offered two larger bids for Family Dollar, but both bids have been rejected by Family Dollar for fear that regulators would not approve the deal. A special meeting for Family Dollar shareholders to vote on the acquisition by Dollar Tree is scheduled for Dec. 23. But Dollar Tree said it and Family Dollar have agreed not to close the deal until January 30th, 2015 due to the FTC's ongoing review. Dollar Tree said that could change if the FTC finishes its review and ends the necessary waiting period early.