RLJ Lodging Trust, a Bethesda-based hotel company started by Black Entertainment Television founder Robert L. Johnson, made its debut Wednesday as a public company, with shares closing slightly below their initial public offering price. The company’s stock closed at $17.68 per share, down 32 cents from its initial price of $18. The company originally hoped to price its offering at $19 to $21 a share. The IPO, based on 27.5 million shares outstanding, raised $495 million for the company, which plans to use most of the proceeds to repay debt. Read full article > >

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RLJ Lodging starts life as a public company