Execution snaps up Noble

Execution, the stockbroker, has bought mid-sized investment bank Noble Group in to create a "new force" in international investment banking.Noble will add a corporate finance arm to Execution's existing research, sales and trading operations to form a stand-alone investment bank. Nick Finegold, founder of Execution, will become executive chairman of the enlarged group, to be named Execution Noble.Finegold said that he hoped to take advantage of the financial crisis which has rocked the big, "bulge-bracket" investment banks. No price was disclosed for the deal. Lloyds Banking owns a 10% stake in Execution.