Income taxes
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income taxes
Income taxes

Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Continuing operations
 
 
 
Provision for income taxes (in millions)
$
14.4

 
9.4

Effective tax rate
26.2
%
 
105.6
%


2017 Compared to U.S. Statutory Rate
The effective income tax rate on continuing operations in the first three months of 2017 was less than the 35% U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the significant tax benefits related to the distribution of share-based payments partially offset by the impact of Venezuela’s earnings and related tax expense.
Excluding those items, our effective tax rate on continuing operations in the first three months of 2017 is 37%.  The rate is higher than 35% primarily due to the seasonality of book losses for which no tax benefit can be recorded, nondeductible expenses in Mexico, taxes on cross border payments and the characterization of a French business tax as an income tax, partially offset by the geographical mix of earnings and a French income tax credit.

2016 Compared to U.S. Statutory Rate
The effective income tax rate on continuing operations in the first three months of 2016 was greater than the 35% U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the significant costs related to the winding down of operations in the Republic of Ireland, for which no tax benefit can be recorded, and the nondeductible expenses resulting from the currency devaluation in Venezuela.

Excluding those items, our effective tax rate on continuing operations in the first three months is 54%. The rate was higher than 35% primarily due to the seasonality of book losses for which no tax benefit can be recorded, nondeductible expenses in Mexico, taxes on undistributed earnings and the characterization of a French business tax as an income tax, partially offset by the geographical mix of earnings and a French income tax credit.