Toronto’s Noble House Entertainment, a union of two Canadian companies – theatrical producer/ distributor Richmond House and multimedia distributor United Multimedia – commenced public trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange Oct. 9 under the symbol nblh.

Robert Ortali, secretary and head of investor relations, says the company traded 88,000 shares in its first day, with shares ranging in price from $1 to $1.05 each.

Principals behind the company include president and ceo Mohamed Verjee, who oversees marketing, sales and financing, and Canadian producer/director Damien Lee as vp of film distribution. The company will produce and distribute features and distribute multimedia product. Ortali says he hopes the company will reach the $30 million to $50 million annual sales mark very quickly and will be looking to acquire an active video distribution company.

The company currently has 25 films in its library, including Death Wish v starring Charles Bronson, which was written and produced by Lee. Ortali says the company is actively looking to distribute action/adventure and family features in the $2 million to $4 million range.

Lee – who recently directed Moving Target starring Michael Dudikoff and Billy Dee Williams, and whose writer/producer credits include the Sundance fest winner Fun, Crime and Punishment and National Lampoon’s Last Resort – will begin producing his next feature, Fear (working title), in Toronto in November. The cast currently includes Chris Penn, Michelle Johnson and Michael Madsen.

The company also has an office in l.a. staffed by George Marinos and Lynn Mooney, both of whom come with American distribution experience.

Noble House celebrated its first day of public trading by hosting a bash at The Guverment night club in Toronto.