Author: Catherine Harris

Christchurch wind turbine company Windflow Technology has been put into voluntary liquidation.

The company appointed Wendy Somerville and Malcolm Hollis of PwC as liquidators on Wednesday, according to their first report to creditors.

It is expected to be a "solvent liquidation," meaning all its known debts should be paid.

Windflow, which formed in 2000 to design and manufacture wind turbines, delisted from the NZAX in November last year and moved to the Unlisted platform until trading was halted last week.

The liquidators said the company had been put into liquidation after revenue opportunities, which it had been pursuing in New Zealand and other marketplaces, "failed to materialise". 
 
The company promoted a particular type of double-bladed turbine technology.

"While it is likely all creditors will be paid, should they not be, during the liquidation we will, pursuant to the [Companies]  Act, investigate the actions of the directors to ensure all relevant legislation has been complied with."

PwC will now go about selling the company's assets which include inventory, spare parts, plant and equipment, cash and intellectual property for its double-bladed turbine technology.

Three of Windflow's six employees were given notice prior to the liquidation and the remaining three would help with the company's wind-down. All staff entitlements were paid prior to the company's liquidation, PwC said. 

Windflow's founder Geoff Henderson resigned as chief executive from the company two years ago, but remained as managing director, by which stage the company was operating as a going concern.

The company listed in 2003 with shareholder support from some leading names in the alternative energy sector, including former Green Party leader Jeanette Fitzsimons.

But it proved impossible to break into the market in a big way, aside from its partnership with NZ Windfarms, an unrelated company.

Geoff Henderson, founder of Windflow Technology, resigned as chief executive in 2017 but remained involved.

Nearly 76 per cent of the company is owned by David Walter Iles of New York.

Fitzsimmons and former Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown and her husband Alistair Nicholson, are among the many small shareholders, and Mercury NZ owned 2.58 per cent.

Windflow supplied 97 turbines to NZ Windfarm's Te Rere Hau wind farm in the Tararuas, and it also maintained eight turbines in Scotland, owning six of them. 

However, it sold its UK turbines to Iles in exchange for a $23 million debt to him, and in February Iles sold his entire stake to Constantine Wind Energy, ending Windflow's maintenance contract from March next year.

Article: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/118409446/wind-turbine-maker-windflow-technology-put-into-liquidation
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