Restructuring and Related Charges

3 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2024

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Global Restructuring Program

Beginning in fiscal year 2023, the Company initiated a global program (Global Restructuring Program) which was expanded in fiscal year 2024 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 rightsize our cost structure to reflect these portfolio actions. This program includes 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%.

The following tables summarize the pretax restructuring and related charges (credits) related to the Global Restructuring Program:


	Three Months Ended July 31,				Total Charges Incurred to Date
	2024		2023
Charges (Credits) by Segment:
Research	$	2,323	$	1,947	$	12,146
Learning	227		218		19,479
Held for Sale or Sold	(242)		2,623		12,870
Corporate Expenses	5,241		6,992		73,490
Total Restructuring and Related Charges	$	7,549	$	11,780	$	117,985

Charges (Credits) by Activity:
Severance and termination benefits	$	5,782	$	5,944	$	60,165
Impairment of operating lease ROU assets and property and equipment	—		1,575		22,739
Acceleration of expense related to operating lease ROU assets and property and equipment	—		364		6,288
Facility related charges, net	1,402		829		9,806
Consulting (credits) costs	(556)		1,823		10,696
Other activities	921		1,245		8,291
Total Restructuring and Related Charges	$	7,549	$	11,780	$	117,985

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 three months ended July 31, 2023, these charges were recorded in the Research segment.

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 the operating lease ROU assets and the property and equipment immediately subsequent to the impairment was $0.9 million in the three months ended July 31, 2023 and was categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.

In the three months ended July 31, 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, 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.

The following table summarizes the activity for the Global Restructuring Program liability for the three months ended July 31, 2024:


	April 30, 2024		Charges (Credits)		Payments		Foreign Translation & Other Adjustments		July 31, 2024
Severance and termination benefits	$	5,396	$	5,782	$	(5,143)	$	20	$	6,055
Consulting costs	1,794		(556)		(1,076)		—		162
Other activities	1,879		921		(1,854)		8		954
Total	$	9,069	$	6,147	$	(8,073)	$	28	$	7,171

Approximately $5.0 million of the restructuring liability for accrued severance and termination benefits is reflected in Accrued employment costs and approximately $1.1 million is reflected in Other long-term liabilities on our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. The liabilities for Consulting costs and Other activities are reflected in Other accrued liabilities on our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

Business Optimization Program

For the three months ended July 31, 2024 and 2023, we recorded pretax restructuring net credits of $(3.6) million and charges of $0.3 million, respectively, related to this program. The credits in the three months ended July 31, 2024 are primarily due to the termination of a portion of a lease that was previously impaired in our Corporate Expenses category. As of fiscal year 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.