Confused about what’s going on with Family Dollar? We break it down in 5 steps
The Story
Shareholders likely to approve sale of Matthews-based Family Dollar to Dollar Tree Thursday.
Long trip down the dollar-laden path
This drama has been going on for quite some time. We break it down for you in 5 easy steps:
(1) Family Dollar’s bottom line has gotten thin over the past few years, thanks to a lousy economy, too many sales and promotions that cost big advertising dollars and increasing reliance on food, cleaning supplies and other low-profit “consumable” goods.
It’s the LAST DAY for your chance to WIN! Follow the directions in the pic & ENTER #StartFreshSweeps NOW! pic.twitter.com/IxbaFFSoOZ
— Family Dollar (@myfamilydollar) January 18, 2015
(2) The chain’s poor performance made it appealing to its competitors. A bidding war erupted.
(3) Dollar Tree is bidding $8.5 billion. Dollar General has offered $9.1 billion.
Dollar Tree CEO Demands Vote in Family Dollar Deal: The chief executive of Dollar Tree warned his counterpart … http://t.co/vFMDbpLWYw
— Steven Guynn (@GuynnSteven) January 12, 2015
Dollar General prepared to go to court as it pursues Family Dollar – http://t.co/VwZevRjCJw
— NashvilleBizJournal (@nashvillebiz) January 15, 2015
(4) So Dollar General will win, right? Probably not. It has far more stores, making federal regulator approval unlikely without the chain selling off thousands of stores. Dollar Tree will only have to sell about 300.
Family Dollar’s bid to be acquired by Dollar Tree just got a boost http://t.co/pFMb7BGjPK #charobs #cltbiz pic.twitter.com/DDI7R5hjdm
— John Arwood (@johnarwood) January 14, 2015
(5) Analysts are recommending Family Dollar accept the Dollar Tree bid. Shareholders appeared poised to do that.
The picture just about nails it. RT @Bidnessetc http://t.co/NBX5hbP0fc $DLTR $FDO pic.twitter.com/NJInI0FSO2
— Jeremy Markovich (@deftlyinane) January 15, 2015
Why should I care?
Family Dollar has been a local corporate stalwart. The Levine family has invested millions into Charlotte. With this acquisition, the Matthews headquarters will likely shrink, affecting 1,300 people who work there.
Matthews community anxious ahead of Family Dollar decision http://t.co/ImfgqFxFEJ
— Ask Charlotte (@AskCharlotteNC) January 16, 2015
Photo: Mark Hames / Charlotte Observer
This story was originally published January 21, 2015 at 1:03 AM with the headline "Confused about what’s going on with Family Dollar? We break it down in 5 steps."