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Equity Method Investments | 12 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2011
Equity Method Investments |
Equity Method Investments | 14. Equity Investments Investment in Tres Amigas On October 9, 2009, the Company made an investment in Tres Amigas LLC, ("Tres Amigas"), a merchant transmission company, for $1.8 million, consisting of $0.8 million in cash and $1.0 million in AMSC common stock. On January 6, 2011 and May 20, 2011, the Company increased its minority position in Tres Amigas by an additional $1.8 million on each date. As of June 30, 2011, the Company holds a 37% ownership interest. The Company determined that Tres Amigas is a variable interest entity ("VIE") and that the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Therefore, the Company has not consolidated Tres Amigas as of June 30, 2011. The investment is carried at the acquisition cost, plus the Company's equity in undistributed earnings or losses. The Company's maximum exposure to loss is limited to the Company's recorded investment in this VIE. The Company's investment in Tres Amigas is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet and the equity in undistributed losses of Tres Amigas is included in other income (expense), net, on the consolidated statements of operations. The net investment activity for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands):
Balance at April 1, 2009 |  | $ | — |
Purchase of minority investment |  |  | 1,809 |
Minority interest in net losses |  |  | (59) |
Balance at March 31, 2010 |  |  | 1,750 |
Purchase of minority investment |  |  | 1,765 |
Minority interest in net losses |  |  | (489) |
Balance at March 31, 2011 |  | $ | 3,026 |
Investment in Blade Dynamics Ltd. On August 12, 2010, the Company acquired (through AMSC Windtec), a minority ownership position in Blade Dynamics Ltd. ("Blade Dynamics"), a designer and manufacturer of advanced wind turbine blades based on proprietary materials and structural technologies, for $8.0 million in cash. The Company uses the equity method of accounting for this investment since it does not have a controlling ownership interest in the operating and financial policies of Blade Dynamics. As such, the investment is carried at the acquisition cost, plus the Company's equity in undistributed earnings or losses. The Company's investment is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet and the minority interest in net losses of Blade Dynamics is included in other income (expense), net, on the consolidated statements of operations. As of March 31, 2011, the Company holds a 25% ownership interest. The net investment activity for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 is as follows (in thousands):
Balance at April 1, 2010 |  | $ | — |
Purchase of minority investment |  |  | 8,000 |
Minority interest in net losses |  |  | (908) |
Net foreign exchange rate impact |  |  | 811 |
Balance at March 31, 2011 |  | $ | 7,903 |

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- Definition This item represents disclosure of information related to equity method investments in common stock. The information which should be considered for disclosure includes: (a) the name of each investee or group of investments for which combined disclosure is appropriate, (2) the percentage ownership of common stock, (3) the difference, if any, between the carrying amount of an investment and the value of the underlying equity in the net assets and the accounting treatment of difference, if any, and (4) the aggregate value of each identified investment based on its quoted market price, if available. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph a, b + Details
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