** Shares of discount retailer Dollar Tree DLTR.O up ~3% at $69.20 premarket
** Co is nearing a sale of its Family Dollar banner to a consortium of private equity investors for about $1 billion, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing people familiar with the matter
** Discount-retail chain is set to be bought by Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management - report
** Adds that a deal is expected to be announced later Wednesday morning, when DLTR reports its quarterly results
** In June last year, DLTR said it was exploring options for its Family Dollar business
** Up to last close, stock down about 10% YTD
(Reporting by Anuja Bharat Mistry in Bengaluru)
((AnujaBharat.Mistry@thomsonreuters.com))