Breaking

GoPro Agrees to $285 Million Merger With Starman Optical to Enter AI Data-Center Optics

September 1, 2026 at 12:04 EDT

Funding & M&A
Infra & Chips

GoPro, Inc. has entered a definitive merger agreement with Starman Optical, Inc., a privately held optical-photonics company, in a recapitalization that would pay GoPro shareholders an aggregate $285 million in cash, or $1.14 per share, while leaving them with about 10% of the combined company. The Nasdaq-listed camera maker said it will remain public and fully support its existing consumer products and its subscription and cloud platform as it adds U.S.-made optical transceivers aimed at AI data centers.

September 1, 2026 · GoPro

GoPro Recapitalizes Into AI Optics

Starman Optical would pay shareholders $285 million in cash, repay $92 million of debt, and add U.S.-made optical transceivers for AI data centers. GoPro stays listed on Nasdaq and says consumer cameras will continue.

$285M

Cash to shareholders

$1.14

Cash per share

~10%

Stake holders retain

$92M

Debt repaid at close

Who would own the combined company

Each stacked block is 10% of outstanding shares after close. Existing GoPro holders keep a one-block stub.

~90%

Starman side

~10%

Existing GoPro holders

What the combined company says it will do

Keep cameras and cloud

→

Add U.S. transceivers

→

Serve AI data centers

→

Defense and aerospace

Why supporters like it

The deal would clear about $92 million of debt, keep action cameras and subscriptions running, and attach a domestic optical-transceiver line to the AI infrastructure buildout.

Why skeptics hesitate

Starman Optical was incorporated on August 31 and has little public operating history. Existing holders would keep only about 10%, and the merger still needs stockholder and regulatory approval.

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