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Equity Investments
 6 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Equity Investments [Abstract]  
Equity Investments

14. Equity Investments 

Investment in Tres Amigas

On October 9, 2009, the Company made an investment in Tres Amigas LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tres Amigas”), focused on providing the first common interconnection of America's three power grids to help the country achieve its renewable energy goals and facilitate the smooth, reliable and efficient transfer of green power from region to region, 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 investing an additional $1.8 million in cash on each date. As of September 30, 2012, the Company holds a 26% ownership interest in Tres Amigas.

The Company’s investment in Tres Amigas is included in other assets on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet and the equity in undistributed losses of Tres Amigas is included in other income, net, on the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The net investment activity for the six months ended September 30, 2012 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Balance at April 1, 2012

$
3,859 

    Minority interest in net losses

 
(476)

Balance at September 30, 2012

$
3,383 

Investment in Blade Dynamics Ltd.

On August 12, 2010, the Company acquired (through its Austrian subsidiary), 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.  As of September 30, 2012, the Company holds a 24% ownership interest in Blade Dynamics.

The Company has determined that Blade Dynamics is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and that the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Therefore, the Company has not consolidated Blade Dynamics as of September 30, 2012. 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 Blade Dynamics is included in other assets on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet and the equity in undistributed losses of Blade Dynamics is included in other income, net, on the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The net investment activity for the six months ended September 30, 2012 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Balance at April 1, 2012

$
6,083 

    Minority interest in net losses

 
(1,018)

    Net foreign exchange rate impact

 
(232)

Balance at September 30, 2012

$
4,833