Chico's increases dividend

FORT MYERS — Women's retailer Chico's FAS says it plans to pay a 5.25 cents-per-share cash dividend on June 25.

The quarterly payout, which will be paid to Chico's shareholders of record on June 11, is 5% higher than the dividend the company paid in June 2011.

Chico's initiated the company's quarterly cash dividend in March 2010 at 4 cents per share. It was the company's first dividend since its shares became publicly traded in 1993.

Chico's reported net income rose 25% last year to $144.4 million compared with the prior year on nearly $2.2 billion in sales.

The company operates about 1,300 stores through its flagship Chico's brand as well as White House | Black Market and Soma Intimates. The company acquired online and catalog retailer Boston Proper last year.