v3.25.2
Restructuring and Related Charges
12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2025
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]  
Restructuring and Related Charges Restructuring and Related Charges
Global Restructuring Program

The Company began a global restructuring program in fiscal year 2023, which aimed to enhance Wiley’s position and drive profitability (Global Restructuring Program) which was expanded in fiscal year 2024. 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 35%.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, the program was further extended due to the completion of our divestitures with a focus on optimizing our cost structure, with particular emphasis on aligning our technology costs and other corporate expenses. As a result of these initiatives, this expanded program includes severance related charges, facility-related costs associated with certain properties, and other activities.

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
202520242023
Charges (Credits) by Segment:
Research$10,047 $7,410 $2,413 $19,870 
Learning1,515 11,448 7,804 20,767 
Held for Sale or Sold(117)7,326 5,786 12,995 
Corporate expenses
17,902 35,370 32,879 86,151 
Total Restructuring and Related Charges$29,347 $61,554 $48,882 $139,783 
Charges by Activity:
Severance and termination benefits$20,596 $28,556 $25,827 $74,979 
Impairment of operating lease ROU assets and technology, property and equipment
656 10,043 12,696 23,395 
Acceleration of expense related to operating lease ROU assets, technology, property and equipment, and intangible assets
1,786 4,148 2,140 8,074 
Facility related charges, net4,249 4,254 4,150 12,653 
Consulting costs657 8,967 2,285 11,909 
   Other activities1,403 5,586 1,784 8,773 
Total Restructuring and Related Charges$29,347 $61,554 $48,882 $139,783 

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.

In the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, 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.
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.

In addition, in the years ended April 30, 2025 and 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, 2025 these charges were recorded in the Research segment. In the year ended April 30, 2024, these charges were recorded in the Learning and Research segments, and in Corporate Expenses.

In the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, 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 the years ended April 30, 2025 and 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 revised remaining useful life. The acceleration of expense in the year ended April 30, 2025 also includes the acceleration of amortization expense of an intangible asset in our Research segment due to a revision of the useful life which resulted in the asset being fully amortized over its revised remaining useful life.

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

In fiscal year 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 consisted 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 completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025. Since we were substantially liquidated as of April 30, 2023, we wrote off $1.4 million, $1.0 million, and $1.1 million in the years ended April 30, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively, of cumulative translation adjustment gains in earnings. This is reflected in Net foreign exchange transaction (losses) gains in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). Included in the table above are restructuring charges for the years ended April 30, 2025, 2024, and 2023 of $0.9 million, $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, 2025:

April 30, 2024
Charges
Payments
Foreign
Translation
& Other Adjustments
April 30, 2025
Severance and termination benefits$5,396 $20,596 $(18,477)$(893)$6,622 
Consulting costs1,794 657 (1,525)927 
Other activities1,879 1,403 (2,331)(662)289 
Total$9,069 $22,656 $(22,333)$(1,554)$7,838 

Approximately $5.6 million of the restructuring liability for accrued severance and termination benefits is reflected in Accrued employment costs and approximately $1.0 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, 2025, 2024, and 2023, we recorded pretax restructuring (credits) charges of $(3.8) million, $1.4 million, and $0.5 million, respectively, related to this program. The net credits in the year ended April 30, 2025 are primarily due to the termination of a portion of a lease that was previously impaired in our Corporate Expenses category.

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.