Interest expense, net
Interest expense, net of $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, decreased $0.3 million, or 8%, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016. Interest income increased $0.3 million from interest on deposits in foreign jurisdictions. Interest expense decreased $0.1 million due to decreased borrowings under our Revolver, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016.
Foreign currency (gains) losses, net
Foreign currency (gains) losses, net for the three months ended March 31, 2017, amounted to net gains of $0.4 million, as compared to $2.2 million in net gains for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Foreign currency gains in the three months ended March 31, 2017, were primarily due to the movement of the Brazilian, Argentinian and Mexican currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign currency gains and losses primarily arise from intercompany balances.
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
The provision for income taxes was $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The effective income tax rates for these periods were 10.6% and 3.0%, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we concluded it was more likely than not that the value of deferred tax assets related to a foreign subsidiary would be realized, and it was no longer necessary to maintain a valuation allowance. The provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2017, included a $3.8 million benefit from the valuation allowance release and also included a $1.4 million benefit related to the exercise of employee stock options. Without the benefit of the valuation allowance release and the benefit related to employee stock options, the effective income tax rate was 30.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2016, included a $2.5 million benefit from the release of a domestic valuation allowance and a $2.1 million benefit related to previously unrecognized tax benefits. Without these benefits, the effective income tax rate was 27.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2016.
Our future effective income tax rate may fluctuate due to various factors, including the relative amounts of income earned in different taxing jurisdictions, changes in statutory tax rates, potential strategies to reduce our overall income tax expense, discrete items, the benefit of employee stock option exercises and certain non-deductible items.
Net income
Net income of $23.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, increased $5.1 million, as compared to net income of $18.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The increase was a result of the factors described above, including the $7.5 million gain on insurance settlement.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA of $29.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, increased $0.1 million, or less than 1%, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016. Animal Health Adjusted EBITDA decreased $0.3 million, or 1%, due to increased SG&A, partially offset by sales growth and increased gross profit. Mineral Nutrition increased $0.3 million, or 8%, due to improved operating margins from volume growth and from higher average selling prices, partially offset by higher raw material costs. Performance Products decreased less than $0.1 million, as lower average selling prices were offset by higher volumes. Corporate expenses decreased $0.1 million due to lower compensation costs and lower professional fees.
Comparison of the nine months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016
Net sales
Net sales of $569.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2017, increased $7.1 million, or 1%, as compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2016. Animal Health grew $9.2 million, while Mineral Nutrition and Performance Products declined $0.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively.