Docker Inc. is reportedly set to bolster its finances to the tune of $75 million.
Bloomberg is reporting the privately held company is in the process of securing the funds, which is set to close by the end of August. The new round of financing could push the company's value to $1.3 billion.
The report noted some of the new funds would target the company’s enterprise-focused sales and marketing teams.
Docker’s last significant funding round was in 2015, when the firm pulled in $95 million in Series D financing. That round came quick on the heels of a Series C round of $40 million, and a Series B round of $15 million.
Past investors have included Sequoia Capital, Greylock Partners, Insight Venture Partners, Benchmark, Trinity Ventures, and Jerry Yang/AME Cloud Ventures.
Docker, in May, announced a leadership change with industry veteran Steve Singh replacing Ben Golub as CEO. At the time, Singh's stated focus was on scaling the firm’s “business, brand, and continued innovation serving Docker’s customers, partners, and community.” Singh had served as chairman of the board at the company as well as CEO of Concur.
Docker’s main claim-to-fame is its Docker container platform, which the firm launched in 2013. The Linux-based platform ushered in the current container craze.
From a business model perspective, the company offers various managed services designed to ease the use of the Docker platform.
However, some financial analysts have questioned the company’s ability to remain an independent entity.
“Despite its impressive name recognition and presence within the container industry, Docker’s long-term financial success – at least as an independent company – is hardly a fait accompli,” noted Cowen & Company in a recent report. “We do believe that Docker will have to work hard in order to overcome its smaller footprint with enterprise [companies] particularly given the growing influence of public cloud vendors. As such, we expect that Docker will continue to leverage its partnerships with large IT vendors, such as [Microsoft] and Oracle.”
Microsoft ConnectionMicrosoft has been long-rumored in talks about acquiring Docker Inc., with reports last year of a $4 billion offer being put on the table. While a deal was obviously not struck, analysts continue to note an opportunity.
“The next 12-24 months could determine whether Docker Inc. chooses to remain an independent entity, based on commercial performance,” Cowen and Company noted. “If Docker were to sell itself, we view [Microsoft] as the most likely buyer.”
The two companies have a history together, including plans earlier this year to further tighten collaboration into Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform.
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