Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and the RLJ Companies, in collaboration with ROTH Capital Partners has launched a full-service minority-owned investment bank, RLJ Capital Markets. RLJ Capital Markets will provide corporations with capital markets solutions that will enhance their ability to raise equity and debt capital, invest in their businesses and pursue growth opportunities.
RLJ Capital Markets will provide resources in underwriting and placing equity and fixed income offerings, sales and trading, research and corporate access for institutional investors. The RLJ Companies is one of the nation’s leading minority-owned businesses and owns a controlling stake in RLJ Capital Markets.
The combination of The RLJ Companies and ROTH Capital Partners, a well-established investment banking firm dedicated to emerging companies and the small and midcap public market, ensures that clients have access to a network of experienced industry advisors, as well as sales, trading and research platforms. RLJ Capital Markets brings specific sector expertise in Business Services, Consumer, Cleantech, Healthcare, Industrials, Media, Resources and Technology.
Johnson, founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies, stated, “Over the past 15 years we have built a platform of minority owned businesses aimed at creating value for large corporations, including top ranked money center banking institutions, which have invested in NYSE traded RLJ Lodging Trust, RLJ Equity Partners and RLJ Credit Opportunity Fund. RLJ Capital Markets is a natural extension to this robust financial platform.
As a full service broker-dealer, it is RLJ Capital Markets’ objective to help clients achieve their growth goals as they seek a diverse solution for debt and equity securities offerings, sales and trading and corporate access with an experienced minority firm that has deep expertise and capabilities. Importantly, because RLJ Capital Markets is collaborating with Roth Capital Partners, an established leader in the financial services industry, its clients will have access to an extensive network of expertise, and a set of research and trading resources that align with its competencies to meet each client’s particular goals.”
Byron Roth, chairman and CEO of ROTH Capital Partners, said, “We are pleased to be collaborating with such a respected organization and with Bob Johnson, a true visionary, to build a business that fills an unmet need in the market. In my more than 30 years in the investment banking business, it’s become abundantly clear that there is an enormous opportunity to transform the way all types of companies and business leaders access and benefit from the capital markets.”
The RLJ Capital Markets founding team includes the following:
- Eddie Polite: Most recently at ROTH Capital, Polite brings to RLJ Capital Markets more than 25 years of experience working in the securities industry. Prior to Roth Capital, Mr. Polite was responsible for the execution desk at Montgomery Securities. He was named the youngest managing director while at Mabon Securities and was directly responsible for setting up and building out the trading desk as Director of Trading at Global Hunter Securities.
- Ernita F. Thomas: As SVP and controller, Thomas brings 25 years of corporate experience in various financial functions, including managerial and financial accounting, regulatory reporting, budgeting, corporate compliance, planning and forecasting. Previously, Ms. Thomas was an assistant controller at Freddie Mac, where she provided reporting and credit analysis related to securitizations and mortgage guarantees.