Restructuring and Related Charges (Credits)

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2024

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring and Related Charges (Credits)

Global Restructuring Program

In May 2022, the Company initiated a global program (Global Restructuring Program) to restructure and align our cost base with current and anticipated future market conditions, which was previously referred to as the Fiscal Year 2023 Restructuring Program. This program included severance related charges for the elimination of certain positions, the exit of certain leased office space, and the reduction of our occupancy at other facilities. Under this program, we reduced our real estate square footage occupancy by approximately 22%.

In the three months ended July 31, 2023, we expanded the scope of the program to include those actions that will focus Wiley on its leading global position in the development and application of new knowledge and drive greater profitability, growth, and cash flow. We will focus on our strongest and most profitable businesses and large market opportunities in Research and Learning, as well as streamline our organization and right-size our cost structure to reflect these portfolio actions. As part of the Global Restructuring Program, we are further reducing our real estate square footage occupancy by approximately 13% due to actions taken in the year ended April 30, 2024.

The following tables summarize the pretax restructuring charges related to the Global Restructuring Program:


	For the Years Ended April 30,				Total Charges Incurred to Date
	2024		2023
Charges by Segment:
Research	$	7,410	$	2,413	$	9,823
Learning	11,448		7,804		19,252
Held for Sale or Sold	7,326		5,786		13,112
Corporate expenses	35,370		32,879		68,249
Total Restructuring and Related Charges	$	61,554	$	48,882	$	110,436

Charges by Activity:
Severance and termination benefits	$	28,556	$	25,827	$	54,383
Impairment of operating lease ROU assets and technology, property and equipment	10,043		12,696		22,739
Acceleration of expense related to operating lease ROU assets and technology, property and equipment	4,148		2,140		6,288
Facility related charges, net	4,254		4,150		8,404
Consulting costs	8,967		2,285		11,252
Other activities	5,586		1,784		7,370
Total Restructuring and Related Charges	$	61,554	$	48,882	$	110,436

The severance related charges are for certain employees affected by the reduction in force under this program who are entitled to severance payments and certain termination benefits.

The impairment charges include the impairment of operating lease ROU assets related to certain leases that will be subleased, and the related property and equipment described further below. In the year ended April 30, 2024, these charges were recorded in Corporate Expenses and the Research segment. In the year ended April 30, 2023, these charges were recorded in Corporate Expenses. In addition, in fiscal year 2024 the impairment charges include the impairment of certain work-in-process capitalized software because it is no longer probable that the software being developed will be completed, and the work-in-process capitalized software was reported at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value which was zero. In the year ended April 30, 2024, these charges were recorded in Learning segment, Research segment and Corporate expenses.

Due to the actions taken above, we tested the operating lease ROU assets and the related property and equipment for those being subleased for recoverability by comparing the carrying value of the asset group to an estimate of the future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset group. Based on the results of the recoverability test, we determined that the undiscounted cash flows of the asset groups were below the carrying values. Therefore, there was an indication of impairment. We then determined the fair value of the asset groups by utilizing the present value of the estimated future cash flows attributable to the assets. The fair value of these operating lease ROU assets and the property and equipment immediately subsequent to the impairment was $8.7 million and $12.1 million in the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and were categorized as Level 3 within the FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements” fair value hierarchy.

The acceleration of expense includes the acceleration of rent expense associated with operating lease ROU assets related to certain leases that will be abandoned or terminated, and the related depreciation and amortization of property and equipment. In addition, in fiscal year 2024 the acceleration of expense includes the acceleration of amortization expense of certain capitalized software as a result of our decision to discontinue the use of those assets. We determined that a revision of the useful lives was warranted, and certain capitalized software was fully amortized over its remaining useful life.

In addition, we incurred ongoing facility-related costs associated with certain properties, consulting costs, and other costs for other activities, which includes relocation and other employee related costs.

In the three months ended January 31, 2023, due to the political instability and military actions between Russia and Ukraine, we made the decision to close our operations in Russia which primarily consists of technology development resources. We were substantially complete with our closure as of April 30, 2023, except for the formal liquidation of the Russian legal entity, which we expect to complete in fiscal year 2025. Since we were substantially liquidated as of April 30, 2023, we wrote off $1.0 million and $1.1 million in the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, of cumulative translation adjustment gains in earnings. This is reflected in Foreign exchange transaction (losses) gains in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income. Included in the table above are restructuring charges for the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 of $2.0 million and $8.3 million, respectively, related to these actions.

The following table summarizes the activity for the Global Restructuring Program liability for the year ended April 30, 2024:


	April 30, 2023		Charges		Payments		Foreign Translation & Other Adjustments		April 30, 2024
Severance and termination benefits	$	4,572	$	28,556	$	(27,625)	$	(107)	$	5,396
Consulting costs	—		8,967		(7,170)		(3)		1,794
Other activities	9		5,586		(3,725)		9		1,879
Total	$	4,581	$	43,109	$	(38,520)	$	(101)	$	9,069

Approximately $4.8 million of the restructuring liability for accrued severance and termination benefits is reflected in Accrued employment costs and approximately $0.6 million is reflected in Other long-term liabilities on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The liability for consulting costs and other activities is reflected in Other accrued liabilities on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

Business Optimization Program

For the years ended April 30, 2024, 2023, and 2022, we recorded pretax restructuring charges (credits) of $1.4 million, $0.5 million, and $(1.4) million, respectively, related to this program. The net credits for the year ended April 30, 2022 are primarily due to changes in the number of headcount reductions and estimates for previously accrued costs. As of April 30, 2023, we substantially completed this program and we have no restructuring liability outstanding. We currently anticipate immaterial ongoing facility charges and do not anticipate any further material charges related to the Business Optimization Program.