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Segment Information, Shared Services and Administrative Costs by Function (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	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

X

- 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

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+ References

No definition available.

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