Dunkin' Brands Considering Dividend

Dunkin' Brands is planning to raise $625 million of debt financing through an offering of senior notes. The proceeds, along with a new $1.35 billion senior credit facility and available cash, would be used to pay off debt and make a cash dividend to the company's shareholders, which include The Carlyle Group, Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners. The three firms acquired Dunkin' Brands, which is the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, in a 2006 LBO for $2.425 billion.