The RLJ Companies and BlackEntertainment Television LLC founder Robert Johnson and have collaboratedto launch the full-service, minority-owned investment bank RLJ Capital Markets.

The i-bank will provide capital market solutions to corporationsand advise them on raising equity and debt capital, investing in their businessesand pursuing growth opportunities. The company will provide resources in underwriting,placing equity and fixed income offerings, sales and trading, and research and corporateaccess for institutional investors with expertise in business services, consumer,clean technology, health care, industrials, media, resources and technology.

Founding members of RLJ Capital Markets include Eddie Polite,who was most recently at ROTH Capital and Ernita Thomas, senior vice president andcontroller at The RLJ Companies.