Over 4,000 Baron Funds Shareholders Attend 23rd Annual Baron Investment Conference

The 23rd Annual Baron Investment Conference drew over 4,000 Baron Funds shareholders today at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Shareholders of the 13 Baron Funds were invited to the all-day conference, which included presentations from six CEOs of businesses in which the funds have invested (see below). Those presentations were followed by remarks from Baron Capital Group President Linda Martinson, and later a panel of Baron fund managers were questioned by Bloomberg Television's Stephanie Ruhle, the moderator of the open session.

The presentations were concluded with remarks from Baron Capital Group Chairman and CEO Ron Baron.

Baron Capital Group, at its own expense, presents the event to Baron Funds shareholders in recognition for their support of the Baron investment team and process, and provides entertainment in appreciation. This year's surprise performer was Paul McCartney, following performances earlier in the day by Janelle Monáe, Carrie Underwood, and Vanessa Williams and the cast of Show Boat.

"Baron investors are the type of people who want to understand firsthand what they're investing in," said Mr. Baron. "For 23 years Baron Funds shareholders have attended this conference so they can better understand our investment process and hear directly from not only Baron fund managers, but also the leadership of the companies in which we invest their hard-earned money."

Presenting at the conference this year were:

• T. Andrew Smith, CEO, Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. (NYSE: BKD)
• Yos Shiran, CEO, CaesarStone Sdot-Yam Ltd. (NASDAQ: CSTE)
• James E. Cashman III, President & CEO, Ansys, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANSS)
• Selim Bassoul, Chairman & CEO, The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ: MIDD)
• Edward Woodward, Executive Vice-Chairman & CEO, Manchester United plc (NYSE: MANU)

The Baron Funds' investment team includes Ron Baron, portfolio manager of Baron Growth Fund, Baron Partners Fund and Baron Focused Growth Fund; Cliff Greenberg, portfolio manager of Baron Small Cap Fund; Alex Umansky, portfolio manager of Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund and Baron Global Advantage Fund; Mike Lippert, portfolio manager of Baron Opportunity Fund; Andrew Peck, portfolio manager of Baron Asset Fund; Michael Kass, portfolio manager of Baron International Growth Fund and Baron Emerging Markets Fund; Jeff Kolitch, portfolio manager of Baron Real Estate Fund, James Stone, portfolio manager of Baron Energy and Resources Fund, and Laird Bieger and Randy Gwirtzman, portfolio managers of Baron Discovery Fund. Linda Martinson is a 30-year Baron veteran and serves as the firm's president.

About Baron Funds and Baron Capital Group

Baron Funds include 13 no-load mutual funds: Baron Asset Fund (Retail Shares: BARAX; Institutional Shares: BARIX), Baron Growth Fund (BGRFX; BGRIX), Baron Small Cap Fund (BSCFX; BSFIX), Baron Opportunity Fund (BIOPX; BIOIX), Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund (BFTHX; BFTIX), Baron Partners Fund (BPTRX; BPTIX), Baron Focused Growth Fund (BFGFX; BFGIX), Baron Discovery Fund (BDFFX; BDFIX), Baron International Growth Fund (BIGFX; BINIX), Baron Emerging Markets Fund (BEXFX; BEXIX), Baron Global Advantage Fund (BGAFX; BGAIX), Baron Real Estate Fund (BREFX; BREIX), and Baron Energy and Resources Fund (BENFX; BENIX). More information about Baron Funds is available by calling (800) 99-BARON or by visiting www.baronfunds.com. The advisor to Baron Funds is BAMCO, Inc., a unit of Baron Capital Group.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risk, and charges and expenses of the investment carefully before investing. Baron Funds are described in prospectuses that contain this and other information about the Funds. You should carefully read the prospectus before investing. You can read, print, or download a prospectus at www.BaronFunds.com/prospectus. Or call 800-99-BARON to receive a prospectus in the mail. Baron Capital, Inc., is the distributor of the Baron Funds.