KKR to Acquire 1-800 Contacts from AEA Investors

1-800 Contacts, the largest retailer of contact lenses in the US, announced a definitive agreement under which global investment firm KKR will acquire the company from AEA Investors.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“1-800 Contacts was founded 25 years ago to offer consumers a better way to buy contact lenses. Since the very beginning, we’ve kept the customer at the center of everything we do,” John Graham, CEO of 1-800 Contacts, said in a company news release. “It’s gratifying that KKR sees such incredible value in our brand and that they will continue to support us in doing what we do best – delivering the best vision care to consumers with the highest quality customer service.”

During the peak of the COVID-19 shutdown, 1-800 Contacts experienced a 100 percent year-over-year increase in new and returning customers, according to the news release. During that period, usage of the ExpressExam app also increased 200 percent and the Rx Reader app experienced a 700 percent increase in monthly active users. In order to maintain the highest quality customer service, 1-800 Contacts also invested in more than 200 new hires in its Utah and North Carolina operations.