However, a big chunk of the improvement stemmed from non-operating items, aided by its debt refinancing. Interest expense for the most recently ended quarter dropped to $98.9 million, down almost $10 million a year earlier. The bottom line was helped by $15.3 million in other income, up from $4.2 million in that category the prior year, primarily owing to currency fluctuations. The other boost was a $13 million increase in operating income, helped along by $9-million drop in amortization expense and a $3-million decline in restructuring costs. In an earnings webcast, CEO Charles Phillips said "IT spending was generally stable," but that in terms of Infor's regions "EMEA was a challenge". However, he continued that the APAC region was showing a return to consistency in growth. Infor stuck to its pledge made during the summer's annual results webcast to increase R&D spending. That category hit $89.9 million in the first quarter, an 8.7-percent increase from $82.7 million a year earlier