KB PARTNERS ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT IN RUBICON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
By Keith Bank
KB Partners
Published July 2002

Northbrook, IL, July 22, 2002 – Northbrook, IL based KB Partners, L.L.C., a venture capital firm focused on early stage technology companies located primarily in the Midwest, announced today that it had co-lead a $9.5 million Series B financing for Rubicon Technology, Inc. Other venture capital firms participating in this investment included co-lead investor Gazelle TechVentures, Cross Atlantic Capital Partners, and River Cities Capital Funds.

Byron Denenberg, Managing Director of KB Partners and Don Aquilino, Managing Director of Gazelle TechVentures, will join Rubicon's Board of Directors. Other members include Glenn Rieger, Chairman of Cross Atlantic Capital Partners, Don Caldwell, President of Cross Atlantic Capital Partners and Chris Moffitt, founder and CEO of Rubicon Technology.

Rubicon is a Chicago-area manufacturer of exotic optical-grade materials for the opto-electronics market. It will use the funds to continue to expand production of single crystal sapphire substrates—materials used in the manufacturing of opto-electronic devices, as well as compound semiconductors, and optical and laser applications. Specifically, Rubicon will use the funds to meet market demand by increasing its production capabilities and furthering its technology development of larger diameter sapphires and new exotic materials.

Single crystal sapphire substrates—commonly used in light emitting diodes or LEDs for public signage and video displays—also are used in products expected to replace white light and incandescent light bulbs and will be available to consumers within the next three years.

LEDs have the potential to capture significant market share of the general illumination market because of their durability and significantly lower energy consumption. Sapphire materials also are increasingly used in the defense industry because of their optical properties and resistance to heat, impact, and chemical abrasion.

"Rubicon has positioned itself well to be a leader in the development of next-generation optical-grade products," said Byron Denenberg, managing director of KB Partners.

About KB Partners
KB Partners is a Chicago-based venture capital firm established in 1996 to make investments in early-stage technology companies in the Midwest. KB's objective is to build dominant new enterprises by working in partnership with talented entrepreneurs and experienced managers. KB Partners has $95 million under management in two venture funds.

About Rubicon Technology, Inc.
Rubicon Technology is a leading materials science solutions provider in research, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of high-quality single-crystal sapphire and other advanced technology materials. Chicago manufacturing facilities house the company's crystal growth furnaces, state-of-the-art fabrication equipment, and the latest quality control methodology. Rubicon, founded in 1995, provides materials to the opto-electronics, compound semiconductor, optical and laser, semiconductor fabrication, and telecommunications market. For more information, go to www.rubitech.net.