A good example of this strategy during the quarter was our investment in Concur Technologies, Inc. (CNQR), a $7.2 billion company that was the subject of a takeover by global software firm SAP. Baron Growth Fund has owned Concur, a leading provider of travel and expense management software, since 2009, when the company had a market value of roughly $1.1 billion. We have since earned about six times our initial investment. Concur joins CFR Pharmaceuticals SA, Windy City Investments Holdings, LLC (Nuveen Investments), Kerzner International Holdings Ltd. and Targa Resources Corp. as other Baron Growth Fund investments that have been the subject of acquisitions in 2014.
Shares of Concur Technologies, Inc. (CNQR) increased in the third quarter. Concur is a leading provider of travel booking and expense management software. On September 18, SAP SE announced an agreement to acquire Concur for $129 per share, a 28% premium to the closing price on September 2, the day before Bloomberg reported that Concur was exploring a sale. The $8.3 billion acquisition implied a valuation of roughly 9.7 times Concur’s estimated fiscal year 2015 revenue and confirmed our view that Concur was a valuable strategic asset. (Neal Kaufman)
From Ron Baron (Trades, Portfolio)’s Baron Growth Fund Q3 2014 Report.
