Anthony Nunn.

ST. LOUIS—Clarkson Eyecare, one of the largest eyecare groups in the Midwest, announced today a strategic investment in Eyecarecenter (ECC), a 61-office optometry practice across North Carolina and South Carolina. HPC Puckett & Company acted as financial advisor to ECC, and Golub Capital provided financing for the transaction. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.

“We are honored to be partnering with ECC, who has been dedicated to the eye health of its patients for 61 years,” said Anthony Nunn, president of Clarkson Eyecare. “Clarkson Eyecare will be working closely with Dr. Allan Barker, president of ECC, and his team to ensure they have all the tools necessary to effectively expand business and continue as the leading eyecare provider in the Carolinas.”

Allan Barker, OD, said “ECC’s mission is to be the most patient-centric company in the Carolinas. We know that this new relationship with Clarkson Eyecare has tremendous benefits which will enhance our mission and ability to deliver the highest quality, most efficient eyecare to our patients.”

Since 1954, ECC has been a premier source for eyecare products and services in North Carolina and South Carolina. Its services include comprehensive vision and eye health examinations, vision check-ups for children and products and fittings for glasses, contact lenses and prescription sunglasses.

Founded in 1979, Clarkson Eyecare currently offers comprehensive medical eyecare services at more than 100 offices located throughout Missouri, Southern Illinois, Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina. Clarkson serves the vision care needs of hundreds of thousands of patients annually and offers ophthalmological and lasik service, and an integrated full-service lab. Clarkson’s Eyecare360 software was specifically designed for the optical retail industry and has benefited from years of feedback from Clarkson optometrists, opticians and office staff.

In April 2015, FFL Partners, a San Francisco-based U.S. private equity firm, made an undisclosed growth investment in Clarkson. In July 2015, Clarkson acquired EyeCare Associates, a 19-office optometry practice in Alabama and Pinnacle Optical LLC, a full-service wholesale lab in Alabama. This transaction was backed by FFL Partners.