Investment income and other gains and losses - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Net realized gains (losses) from change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities	$ (0.8)	$ 1.6
Net realized loss from sale of subsidiaries	$ 0.5
Realized gain on cost-basis investment transaction		1.2
Net realized gains from sale of investments available-for-sale		2.9
Facility Closing
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Office closure costs		$ 1.3

Realized Investment Gains (Losses), Fair Value Reduction of Contingent Liability

No definition available.

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- Definition

This item represents the difference between the gross realized gains and losses realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27357-111563

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- Definition

Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Includes, but is not limited to, one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, and termination benefits associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement. Excludes expenses associated with special or contractual termination benefits, a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.3)
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b))
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

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- Definition

This item represents the gain (loss) realized during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting and any losses recognized thereon for impairments of other than a temporary nature.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(7)(c))
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
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-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(9)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of equity in securities of subsidiaries.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (13)(g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

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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.

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