August 2, 2021 – Hughes Hubbard has been shortlisted for two honors in The Deal Awards 2021 for assisting BAC Florida Bank in the sale of the Coral Gables-based bank to Brazil’s Banco Bradesco.

The firm was nominated for “Deal of the Year” and “Financial Services Deal of the Year” in the middle market segment for serving as lead legal advisor to the shareholders of BAC Florida Bank in Banco Bradesco's first-ever acquisition in the U.S. market. HHR’s role in the sale also earned a nomination for “Deal of the Year” in M&A at International Financial Law Review’s Americas Awards 2021 earlier this year.

The annual Deal Awards – absent last year due to the pandemic – celebrate the top firms and individuals transforming the economy. They recognize the advisers, professionals, firms and banks driving the market forward. This year’s winners will be revealed on Sept. 23 at an awards ceremony at the JW Marriott Essex House in New York.

An HHR Latin America team represented shareholders of BAC Florida Bank in negotiating and executing a stock purchase agreement for a minimum price of $500 million. The deal was announced in May 2019 and closed in October 2020. BAC now operates as a unit of Bradesco's subsidiary Lecce Holdings SA. The Brazilian lender plans to expand investment offerings in the U.S. to BAC's affluent clients, as well as other banking services such as checking accounts, credit cards and real estate financing. 

Ruben Diaz led the HHR team, which also included Freddie Goudie and Francesca Ferraresi.