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NEW YORK—AEA Investors, a leading global private investment firm focused on private equity and debt investments in the middle market, is considering the sale of leading online contacts retailer 1-800 Contacts, Reuters reported. Including debt assumption, a deal would value 1-800 Contacts at more than $2 billion, according to Reuters. A spokeswoman for 1-800 Contacts told VMAIL, the company has “no information to share” about the reports of AEG shopping the company. “Since 2007, 1-800 Contacts has been owned by three different private equity firms,” the spokeswoman noted.

“While it isn’t uncommon for companies to change hands every few years, we have no information to share at this time. We remain laser focused on serving our customers and supporting our employees, as we’ve done for the past 25 years.”

AEG officials could not be reached for comment.

AEG acquired a majority stake in 1-800 Contacts in December 2015 from the buyout firm Thomas H. Lee Partners, as VMAIL reported. 

1-800 Contacts moved to expand in the area of online vision testing at the end of 2019, with the acquisition of the Israeli tech firm 6over6 Vision for an undisclosed amount, according to a VMAIL report. 

According to the Reuters report, AEA has designated Goldman Sachs to handle the deal process for 1-800 Contacts.