Dive Brief:

• Dollar Tree Inc. said Tuesday that the Federal Trade Commission is close to completing its review of Dollar Tree's acquisition of rival dollar store chain Family Dollar Stores Inc. 
• In its review, the agency identified around 340 stores for divestiture, more than the 300 predicted by Dollar Tree in February. Dollar Tree said that almost all the stores to be divested will be Family Dollar locations. 
• Following the merger, Dollar Tree will run more than 13,000 stores. 

Dive Insight:

The amount of stores up for divestiture was a pivotal deciding point for Family Dollar shareholders when voting on takeover bids from both Dollar Tree and Dollar General earlier this year. While slightly above the number Dollar Tree offered in February, the amount of stores identified for divestiture is well below the 500 stores that the FTC was reviewing.

Once the merger is completed, Dollar Tree will have to address some problems troubling the discount retail industry, including rising competition from big box chains and increased scrutiny of sourcing and manufacturing practices.