HSBC acquisition poses big test for Bradesco CEO Trabuco

Banco Bradesco SA sat on the sidelines for years while Brazilian banking rivals bulked up through a series of takeovers. On Monday, it made a grab for HSBC Holdings Plc's domestic business, one that will boost its assets by 16 percent. Now comes the hard part - integrating that business, including HSBC's 851 branches, 5 million clients and 21,000 employees in Brazil, in the midst of the country's worst economic downturn in 25 years.