3 RLJ firms among the most successful black-owned businesses in 2014 – Black Enterprise Magazine

Robert L. Johnson, Founder and Chairman of The RLJ Companies

The RLJ Companies has announced that 3 of its portfolio businesses are listed among the “2014 B.E. 100s – (most successful black-owned businesses) List,” published annually by Black Enterprise magazine.

RLJ McLarty Landers Automotive ranks 1st in the auto dealerships category marking the company’s fifth consecutive year in the top spot on the list, which is based on 2013 revenue among 60 minority auto dealers from around the United States.

Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, RLJ McLarty Landers Automotive is the largest African American owned automotive franchise in the U.S. consisting of 35 automotive franchises and 3 Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealerships across the South Central, Southeast, and Midwest regions of the country.

RLJ Equity Partners, LLC ranks 12th on the private equity firms list. Founded by Johnson and The Carlyle Group, RLJ Equity Partners specializes in middle-market leveraged buy-outs, leveraged recapitalizations, and growth equity. RLJ Equity Partners currently has 9 portfolio companies within aerospace/defense, automotive and transportation, business services, consumer and retail, and general industrial sectors.

RLJ Credit Management, LLC ranks 14th on the private equity firms list. With 3 portfolio companies, RLJ Credit provides flexible debt capital solutions for both private equity sponsored and non-sponsored lower middle market companies and can provide senior, subordinated, or unitranche loans to support buyouts, recapitalizations, refinancings, and growth financings.

About The RLJ Companies: The RLJ Companies, founded by Robert L. Johnson, is an innovative business network that provides strategic investments in a diverse portfolio of companies. Within The RLJ Companies portfolio, Johnson owns or holds interests in businesses operating in a publicly traded hotel real estate investment trust; private equity; financial services; asset management; automobile dealerships; sports and entertainment; and video lottery terminal (VLT) gaming. The RLJ Companies is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, with affiliate operations in Charlotte, North Carolina; Little Rock, Arkansas; Los Angeles, California; San Juan, Puero Rico; and Monrovia, Liberia.

Prior to founding The RLJ Companies, Johnson was founder and chairman of Black Entertainment Television (BET).

Source: The RLJ Companies