NEW YORK—The pending KKR acquisition of National Vision, Inc. (NVI) announced last Friday morning, as reported by VMail, is being pegged by financial news sources as potentially valued in excess of $1 billion.
 
NVI execs decline any further comment on terms of the transaction or the value the deal, as does KKR, but the Wall Street Journal and Reuters cite “people close to the matter” as sources on that amount.
 
NVI, the fourth largest optical retailer in the U.S., operating over 750 retail locations in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, is the fastest growing independent optical retailer and is one of the few retailers that is focused exclusively on the value segment of the industry. The company operates vision centers across the country, including America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses and Eyeglass World free-standing concepts and vision centers inside Walmart, Fred Meyer and on U.S. Military bases. NVI also sells its products direct to consumers through 25 consumer sites including ACLens.com and DiscountContactLenses.com.
 
KKR is purchasing NVI from Berkshire Partners, who originally bought National Vision and also, America’s Best, in 2005 for $190 million.