The private equity firms who back Dunkin' Brands Inc are considering an initial public offering in the second half of 2011 from $500 to $750 million for the franchising firm.

Dunkin' Brands has yet to pick banks to lead its IPO, the sources said. Banks that have previously provided financing to the company inlcude Barclays Plc, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. A consortium of private equity firms Bain Capital, The Carlyle Group [CYL.UL] and Thomas H. Lee Partners reached an agreement to take Dunkin' Brands private for $2.4 billion in cash in 2005. - Reuters

Dunkin' Brands is the franchisor for a doughnut chain and Baskin Robbins ice cream franchises.