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Segment Information, Shared Services and Administrative Costs by Function (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Apr. 30, 2017 | Apr. 30, 2016 | Apr. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Shared services and administrative costs | $ 524,180 | $ 537,326 | $ 520,432
One-Time Pension Settlement [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Shared services and administrative costs | 8,842 | 0 | 0
Restructuring Charges [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Shared services and administrative costs | 8,023 | 20,080 | 18,293
Distribution and Operation Services [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Shared services and administrative costs | 75,806 | 80,043 | 85,758
Technology and Content Management [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Shared services and administrative costs | 266,801 | 258,641 | 245,415
Finance [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Shared services and administrative costs | 47,049 | 46,759 | 49,750
Other Administration [Member] |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Shared services and administrative costs | $ 117,659 | $ 131,803 | $ 121,396

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- Definition The aggregate total of expenses of managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
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- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
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