Nature Of The Business And Operations And Liquidity	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Nature Of The Business And Operations And Liquidity [Abstract]
Nature Of The Business And Operations And Liquidity	1. Nature of the Business and Operations and Liquidity Nature of the Business and Operations American Superconductor Corporation (“AMSC” or the “Company”) was founded on April 9, 1987. The Company is a leading provider of megawatt-scale solutions that lower the cost of wind power and enhance the performance of the power grid. In the wind power market, the Company enables manufacturers to field wind turbines through its advanced engineering, support services and power electronics products. In the power grid market, the Company enables electric utilities and renewable energy project developers to connect, transmit and distribute power through its transmission planning services and power electronics and superconductor-based products. The Company’s wind and power grid products and services provide exceptional reliability, security, efficiency and affordability to its customers. The Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2013, were prepared on a going concern basis in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The going concern basis of presentation assumes that the Company will continue operations and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. Liquidity The Company has experienced recurring operating losses and as of March 31, 2013, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $800.1 million. In addition, the Company has experienced recurring negative operating cash flows, which has resulted in a decrease in its cash balance. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. These financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. At March 31, 2013 the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $39.2 million which compares to cash used in operations of $45.3 million and $141.0 million for the years ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Cash used in operations for the year ended March 31, 2013 included approximately $14.3 million in payments to settle adverse purchase commitments. The Company obtained financing totaling approximately $35.0 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2012. No additional financing has been obtained since then. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, the Company reduced its global workforce by approximately 19%. The Company is currently in the process of consolidating certain business operations to reduce facility costs. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had a global workforce of approximately 362 persons. The Company expects that its cost reduction efforts and anticipated revenue growth will result in a further reduction of cash used for operations during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014. The Company plans to closely monitor its expenses and if required, expects to further reduce operating costs and capital spending to enhance liquidity. On April 4, 2012, the Company completed a private placement of $25.0 million aggregate principal amount of a 7% senior unsecured convertible note (the “Initial Note”). On December 20, 2012, the Company agreed to exchange the Initial Note for a new unsecured, senior convertible note (the “Exchanged Note”), which had the same principal amount and accrued interest as the Initial Note at the time of the exchange. The Exchanged Note contains certain covenants and restrictions including, among others, limitations on the transfer of certain assets. Events of default under the Exchanged Note include failure to pay principal or interest as due on the Exchanged Note, failure to deliver registered shares of common stock upon the holders request for conversion of part or all of the Exchanged Note, failure to maintain the Company’s common stock eligible for trading on defined markets, cross defaults to other material indebtedness, receipt of uninsured judgments against the Company in excess of defined limits and other administrative covenants, as defined in the Exchanged Note and related documentation. Upon an event of default, the holders may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Exchanged Note in cash plus penalties as specified in the agreement. In addition, if the Company fails to maintain an effective registration statement covering common stock to be used in settling obligations under the Exchanged Note, the Company will be required to pay a penalty as specified in the agreement. On June 5, 2012, the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the “Term Loan”), under which the Company borrowed $10.0 million. The Term Loan contains certain covenants and restrictions including, among others, a requirement to maintain a minimum unrestricted cash balance in the U.S. equal to the remaining principal balance. (See Note 9, “Debt”, for further information regarding these debt arrangements, including the covenants, restrictions and events of default under the agreements.) The going concern opinion represents a violation of a covenant under the Term Loan. The Company received a waiver from the lender for the covenant violation, which is filed as an exhibit to this Annual report on Form 10-K. In the absence of the waiver, the going concern opinion would have been an event of default under the Term Loan, which would have then resulted in an event of default under the Exchanged Note. In order for the Company to continue operations beyond the next twelve months and be able to discharge its liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business, the Company needs to significantly increase sales through executing its strategy to broaden its customer base, enter new markets, and commercialize its superconductor product line. In addition, the Company must potentially reduce operating expenses in line with business conditions in order to decrease the amount of cash used in operations and continue to work with the holder of its convertible note in order to maintain the ability to make monthly amortization payments on the convertible note in shares of common stock. In addition, the Company is actively seeking to sell its minority investments in Tres Amigas and Blade Dynamics and has recently engaged a financial advisor to assist with that effort. (See Note 15, “Equity Investments”, for further information about such investments.) There can be no assurance that a commercially reasonable offer can be found. If the Company successfully executes on its plans discussed above, then the Company believes that its available cash, together with additional reductions in operating costs and capital expenditures that it expects to make, if necessary, will be sufficient to fund its operations, capital expenditures and scheduled cash payments under its debt obligations through the next twelve months. The Company’s ability to pay required monthly installment payments under the Exchanged Note in equity instead of cash is based on certain stock price and trading volume conditions that are outside of the Company’s control. If one or both of these equity conditions are not met (absent a waiver from the lender), the Company may be required to make required monthly installment payments in cash. As of the date of this Form 10-K, the Company has only made payments to the lender in shares of common stock and as a result, the principal balance has been reduced by $9.6 million through March 31, 2013. If the Company fails one or both of the equity conditions, the Company can still make required payments in its common stock with a waiver from the lender, which has been provided in the past. There is no assurance that the lender will provide any waivers in the future. The Company’s liquidity is highly dependent on its ability to profitably grow revenues through both the acquisition of new customers and growth from its existing customers, manage its operating expenses, continue to make amortization payments under the Exchanged Note in shares of the Company’s common stock, maintain compliance with the covenants and restrictions on its debt obligations (or obtain waivers from our lenders in the event of non-compliance), and raise additional capital, as required. Potential sources of additional capital include sales of its minority investments in Tres Amigas and Blade Dynamics, (See Note 15, “Equity Investments”, for further information about such investments.) and obtaining additional financing (with the consent of our lenders, if required). There can be no assurance that sources of additional financing or other forms of liquidity will be available on commercially acceptable terms or at all.

1. Nature of the Business and Operations and Liquidity

Nature of the Business and Operations

American Superconductor Corporation (“AMSC” or the “Company”) was founded on April 9, 1987. The Company is a leading provider of megawatt-scale solutions that lower the cost of wind power and enhance the performance of the power grid. In the wind power market, the Company enables manufacturers to field wind turbines through its advanced engineering, support services and power electronics products. In the power grid market, the Company enables electric utilities and renewable energy project developers to connect, transmit and distribute power through its transmission planning services and power electronics and superconductor-based products. The Company’s wind and power grid products and services provide exceptional reliability, security, efficiency and affordability to its customers.

The Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2013, were prepared on a going concern basis in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The going concern basis of presentation assumes that the Company will continue operations and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business.

Liquidity

The Company has experienced recurring operating losses and as of March 31, 2013, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $800.1 million. In addition, the Company has experienced recurring negative operating cash flows, which has resulted in a decrease in its cash balance. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. These financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. At March 31, 2013 the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $39.2 million which compares to cash used in operations of $45.3 million and $141.0 million for the years ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Cash used in operations for the year ended March 31, 2013 included approximately $14.3 million in payments to settle adverse purchase commitments. The Company obtained financing totaling approximately $35.0 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2012. No additional financing has been obtained since then.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, the Company reduced its global workforce by approximately 19%. The Company is currently in the process of consolidating certain business operations to reduce facility costs. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had a global workforce of approximately 362 persons. The Company expects that its cost reduction efforts and anticipated revenue growth will result in a further reduction of cash used for operations during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014. The Company plans to closely monitor its expenses and if required, expects to further reduce operating costs and capital spending to enhance liquidity.

On April 4, 2012, the Company completed a private placement of $25.0 million aggregate principal amount of a 7% senior unsecured convertible note (the “Initial Note”). On December 20, 2012, the Company agreed to exchange the Initial Note for a new unsecured, senior convertible note (the “Exchanged Note”), which had the same principal amount and accrued interest as the Initial Note at the time of the exchange. The Exchanged Note contains certain covenants and restrictions including, among others, limitations on the transfer of certain assets. Events of default under the Exchanged Note include failure to pay principal or interest as due on the Exchanged Note, failure to deliver registered shares of common stock upon the holders request for conversion of part or all of the Exchanged Note, failure to maintain the Company’s common stock eligible for trading on defined markets, cross defaults to other material indebtedness, receipt of uninsured judgments against the Company in excess of defined limits and other administrative covenants, as defined in the Exchanged Note and related documentation. Upon an event of default, the holders may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Exchanged Note in cash plus penalties as specified in the agreement. In addition, if the Company fails to maintain an effective registration statement covering common stock to be used in settling obligations under the Exchanged Note, the Company will be required to pay a penalty as specified in the agreement.

On June 5, 2012, the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the “Term Loan”), under which the Company borrowed $10.0 million. The Term Loan contains certain covenants and restrictions including, among others, a requirement to maintain a minimum unrestricted cash balance in the U.S. equal to the remaining principal balance. (See Note 9, “Debt”, for further information regarding these debt arrangements, including the covenants, restrictions and events of default under the agreements.) The going concern opinion represents a violation of a covenant under the Term Loan. The Company received a waiver from the lender for the covenant violation, which is filed as an exhibit to this Annual report on Form 10-K. In the absence of the waiver, the going concern opinion would have been an event of default under the Term Loan, which would have then resulted in an event of default under the Exchanged Note.

In order for the Company to continue operations beyond the next twelve months and be able to discharge its liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business, the Company needs to significantly increase sales through executing its strategy to broaden its customer base, enter new markets, and commercialize its superconductor product line. In addition, the Company must potentially reduce operating expenses in line with business conditions in order to decrease the amount of cash used in operations and continue to work with the holder of its convertible note in order to maintain the ability to make monthly amortization payments on the convertible note in shares of common stock. In addition, the Company is actively seeking to sell its minority investments in Tres Amigas and Blade Dynamics and has recently engaged a financial advisor to assist with that effort. (See Note 15, “Equity Investments”, for further information about such investments.) There can be no assurance that a commercially reasonable offer can be found.

If the Company successfully executes on its plans discussed above, then the Company believes that its available cash, together with additional reductions in operating costs and capital expenditures that it expects to make, if necessary, will be sufficient to fund its operations, capital expenditures and scheduled cash payments under its debt obligations through the next twelve months. The Company’s ability to pay required monthly installment payments under the Exchanged Note in equity instead of cash is based on certain stock price and trading volume conditions that are outside of the Company’s control. If one or both of these equity conditions are not met (absent a waiver from the lender), the Company may be required to make required monthly installment payments in cash. As of the date of this Form 10-K, the Company has only made payments to the lender in shares of common stock and as a result, the principal balance has been reduced by $9.6 million through March 31, 2013. If the Company fails one or both of the equity conditions, the Company can still make required payments in its common stock with a waiver from the lender, which has been provided in the past. There is no assurance that the lender will provide any waivers in the future. The Company’s liquidity is highly dependent on its ability to profitably grow revenues through both the acquisition of new customers and growth from its existing customers, manage its operating expenses, continue to make amortization payments under the Exchanged Note in shares of the Company’s common stock, maintain compliance with the covenants and restrictions on its debt obligations (or obtain waivers from our lenders in the event of non-compliance), and raise additional capital, as required. Potential sources of additional capital include sales of its minority investments in Tres Amigas and Blade Dynamics, (See Note 15, “Equity Investments”, for further information about such investments.) and obtaining additional financing (with the consent of our lenders, if required). There can be no assurance that sources of additional financing or other forms of liquidity will be available on commercially acceptable terms or at all.