10. Restructuring and Impairments

Restructuring

The Company accounts for charges resulting from operational restructuring actions in accordance with ASC Topic 420, Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations (“ASC 420”) and ASC Topic 712, Compensation—Nonretirement Postemployment Benefits (“ASC 712”). In accounting for these obligations, the Company is required to make assumptions related to the amounts of employee severance, benefits, and related costs and the time period over which leased facilities will remain vacant, sublease terms, sublease rates and discount rates. Estimates and assumptions are based on the best information available at the time the obligation arises. These estimates are reviewed and revised as facts and circumstances dictate; changes in these estimates could have a material effect on the amount accrued on the consolidated balance sheet.

During the year ended March 31, 2012, the Company initiated restructuring activities in order to reorganize its global operations, streamline various functions of the business, and reduce its global workforce to better reflect the demand for its products. These activities resulted in the reduction of its global workforce by approximately 50%. During the nine months ended December 31, 2012, the Company initiated further restructuring activities to lower operating costs and enhance liquidity. On November 28, 2012, the Company undertook an action to reduce its global workforce by approximately 25%. As a result, for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2012, the Company incurred restructuring costs of $2.2 million and $2.3 million, respectively. During the three months ended, December 31, 2012, $1.1 million of these additional charges were paid and the remaining balance of accrued restructuring is expected to be paid through December 2013.

The following table presents restructuring charges and cash payments (in thousands):


		Severance pay		Facility
Three months ended December 31, 2012		and benefits		exit costs		Total
Accrued restructuring balance at October 1, 2012	$	302		-	$	302
Charges to operations		2,194		-		2,194
Cash payments		(1,112)		-		(1,112)
Accrued restructuring balance at December 31, 2012	$	1,384	$	-	$	1,384

Nine months ended December 31, 2012
Accrued restructuring balance at April 1, 2012	$	680	$	294	$	974
Charges to operations		2,377		(39)		2,338
Cash payments		(1,673)		(255)		(1,928)
Accrued restructuring balance at December 31, 2012	$	1,384	$	-	$	1,384

All restructuring charges discussed above are included within restructuring and impairments in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company includes accrued restructuring within accounts payable and accrued expenses in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Impairments

The Company periodically evaluates its long-lived assets consisting principally of fixed assets and amortizable intangible assets for potential impairment. In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance for the treatment of long-lived assets, the Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets or asset group that is held and used, including intangible assets subject to amortization, for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Under the held and used approach, the asset or asset group to be tested for impairment should represent the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities. The Company evaluates its long-lived assets whenever events or circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable from the estimated undiscounted future cash flows.

In November 2012, in response to challenging conditions in the wind power market, the Company undertook certain restructuring activities, to reduce costs. Since the restructuring action impacted all of the Company’s operations, the Company concluded that there were indicators of potential impairment of its long-lived assets, and it therefore conducted an assessment of the recoverability of these assets during the three months ended December 31, 2012 by comparing the carrying value of the assets to the pre-tax undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets over their remaining useful lives. Based on the calculation performed by management, the sum of the undiscounted cash flows forecasted to be generated by certain assets within its Grid segment and its Wind segment were less than the carrying value of those assets. In addition, the excess undiscounted cash flows generated by all of its reporting units were insufficient to cover the carrying value of its Corporate assets. Therefore, there was an indication that its Corporate reporting unit, Wind segment and certain of its Grid segment assets were impaired and, as a result, the Company performed additional analysis. An evaluation of the level of impairment was made by comparing the implied fair value of those definite long-lived tangible and intangible assets of its Corporate reporting unit, Wind segment and Grid segment against their carrying values.

The fair values of the impacted property and equipment were based on what the Company could reasonably expect to sell each asset from the perspective of a market participant. The determination of the fair value of its property and equipment includes estimates and judgments regarding the marketability and ultimate sales price of individual assets. The Company utilized market data and approximations from comparable analyses to arrive at the estimated fair values of the impacted property and equipment. The fair values of amortization intangible assets related to completed technology and trade names were determined using primarily the relief-from-royalty method over the estimated economic lives of those assets from the perspective of a market participant. During the three months ended December 31, 2012, the Company determined that certain of its Corporate assets and Grid segment property, plant and equipment were impaired as their carrying values exceeded their fair values. The Company determined the long-lived assets of its Wind segment were not impaired. Accordingly, the Company recorded an aggregate impairment charge of $4.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2012.