GoPro said it plans to finalize a binding combination with Starman Optical, the privately held photonics firm, while redirecting its strategy toward AI data centers and defense. CEO Nicholas Woodman said, "We expect this merger to enable GoPro to grow across consumer, commercial and defense markets as a leading American imaging and optical solutions company, addressing important areas of national security related to cameras, optics and AI infrastructure." The company declined to share more details beyond the release.
As part of the transaction, GoPro said shareholders will receive $285 million in cash - amounting to $1.14 per share - and that its common stock will continue to be listed on the Nasdaq. The stock finished the day up 40% after the announcement. GoPro added that the $92 million it owes will be retired at closing.
Earlier this summer, BlackRock reported holding a 6.4% position. GoPro, which came public at $38 per share in 2014, has had a hard time regaining investor trust and was hovering near penny-stock levels until only a few days back.
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According to the company, it "will continue to fully support its existing consumer products and its subscription and cloud platform while investing in growth and a broader, diversified product roadmap." It is not alone chasing AI momentum. In April, retailer Allbirds said it would shift focus from producing its sustainable shoes to AI compute and hardware, rebranding as Smartbird. "People always roll their eyes when it's something they don't understand," Smartbird CEO Nadia Carlsten said on CNBC's The Exchange last week, adding, "It's about building a product, building a pipeline of customers, making sure that the world understands what it is that you're building, getting customers to sign contracts to actually sell them your product and so on."
If a household name known for action cameras can find fresh oxygen in AI, it shows how powerful the theme has become for re-rating beaten-down brands. Cash to shareholders, debt getting cleared, and a continued Nasdaq listing are all tangible markers to watch as this plays out. The next tell: whether new AI and defense work can translate into steadier revenue on top of GoPro's existing consumer business.