Synergy Group

Synergy Group

Synergy Group Corp. is a South American conglomerate created and owned by Germán Efromovich, an entrepreneur holding multiple citizenship of Brazil, Colombia and Poland. The group is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It operates several airlines in South America, among which are AviancaTaca with a 66.66% stake and is active in the exploration of oil and natural gas throughout the region. Furthermore, it operates hydroelectric power plants, participates in the construction of telecommunications infrastructure, shipbuilding and technical inspections, radiochemistry, radiopharmaceuticals, agriculture and hospitality.

Synergy Group has integrated the airlines and companies of TACA with Avianca under a holding company named "AviancaTaca". The Synergy Group owns 66.66% of the newly created subsidiary company. Kingsland Holding (Texas) owns the other 33.33% of Avianca-TACA.

It remains unclear whether the Synergy Group will be retaining the minority shareholdings that Grupo TACA has in Islena Airlines and Volaris Airlines. Presently Grupo TACA owns only 20% of Islena Airlines. Volaris, the only codeshare partner of Southwest Airlines in the United States, is 25% owned by Grupo TACA, until the acquisition or divestiture by the Synergy Group is completed.

Synergy Aerospace Corp., a sub-division of Synergy Group, is headquartered in Bogota. It is the major shareholder of AviancaTaca Holding. The company controls eight airlines in four countries. These are Avianca and Tampa Cargo in Colombia, Avianca Brazil, VarigLog and Synerjet in Brazil, VIP and Aerogal in Ecuador and Grupo TACA in El Salvador. In November 2012 Synergy Aerospace Corp. has established Synergy Aerospace Europe.

Synergy Aerospace established a joint venture in March 2011 with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Brazil based company EAE Aerospace Solutions was established to become the shareholder and holding company of the group’s activities in Brazil. Synergy wants to invest in Flight Technologies (FT), a manufacturer of tactical UAVs for the Brazilian Army, based in São José dos Campos. The joint venture will offer advanced defense systems, such as Umanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Multi Mission Transporters, mission and fighter aircraft upgrades, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) advanced systems and radars.

The Synergy Group also has relevant activities, including the control of the EISA Shipping Agency, currently building a 500 ton patrol ship for the Brazilian Navy, and the Brazilian Digex company, operating in aircraft maintenance area.

Subsidiary Synergy Aerospace are the only candidate in the acquisition of Portuguese state carrier TAP Portugal, which is in the final stages of privatization. In November 2012 Synergy Group was created Synergy Europe based in Luxemburg, to deal with the possible takeover of the Portuguese airline. As Synergy is the sole bidder for Portuguese TAP Portugal all European activities will be handled by its European subsidiary. Through this unit, the company could also partner with European investors, including Portuguese airline EuroAtlantic Airways.