McDonald's Corp. is selling Golden-based Boston Market to the private equity firm Sun Capital Partners.

Sun Capital spokesman Richard Hurwitz confirmed the deal, but declined further comment.

Golden-based Boston Market has 630 company-owned stores in 28 states and 14,000 employees nationwide.

In a regulatory filing today, Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's said it had agreed to sell Boston Market but didn't disclose the name of the buyer. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter.

The deal comes seven months after McDonald's acknowledged it was studying strategic options for the chain.

McDonald's acquired Boston Market, originally called Boston Chicken, in 2000 for $173.5 million as part of an effort to diversify its business.

Two years earlier, Boston Market had run out of cash to pay creditors and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

McDonald's shares climbed 66 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $49.18 in afternoon trading.