GoPro, Inc. (NASDAQ: GPRO) and U.S.-based optical-photonics company Starman Optical, Inc. announced on September 1, 2026, that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement.

Under the agreement, GoPro shareholders will receive an aggregate cash payment of $285 million, or $1.14 per share, subject to potential adjustment based on GoPro’s net working capital at closing. Existing GoPro shareholders will retain approximately 10% ownership of the combined company.

GoPro’s outstanding debt of approximately $92 million is expected to be repaid in full at closing, resulting in a substantially debt-free balance sheet. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals, approval by GoPro’s stockholders and other customary closing conditions. GoPro will remain a publicly listed company on Nasdaq following the transaction.

Product Portfolio Expansion and Technology Integration

GoPro said it will continue to support its existing consumer products, subscription and cloud platform while investing in growth and a broader, diversified product roadmap.

Starman’s U.S.-made optical transceivers are expected to be added to GoPro’s product portfolio, extending the company’s reach into the market for optical transceivers used in AI infrastructure.

Following the closing of the transaction, the combined company also intends to leverage GoPro’s intellectual property, optics and imaging capabilities together with Starman’s transceiver capabilities and U.S. manufacturing platform to address markets including defense, government, robotics and aerospace.

GoPro said that over the past 24 years, it has developed an intellectual property portfolio of more than 2,500 U.S. patents. The merger is intended to maximize the value of GoPro’s intellectual property and growth potential by recapitalizing the company, strengthening its balance sheet, investing in growth and onshoring the manufacturing of products for strategic markets.

Starman Optical, Inc., a Starman Holding company, is a privately held U.S. optical-photonics company focused on the development and domestic manufacturing of optical transceivers and related photonics technologies through its Starman New Photonics business.

Photo: GoPro