The Financial Post reports in its Thursday, Aug. 29, edition that National Bank of Canada beat analysts' expectations in the third quarter, reporting profit gains in all of its business segments. The Post's Naimul Karim writes that the Montreal-based bank's adjusted net income was $960-million for the three-month period that ended on July 31, 23 per cent higher than the $781-million it reported last year. On a per share basis, the bank earned $2.68, up from $2.18 during the same period last year. Adjusted earnings excluded some items related to the acquisition last month of Canadian Western Bank, a deal valued at $5-billion that the bank's shareholders are preparing to vote on next week. On a fully reported basis, net income was up 24 per cent to approximately $1-billion, or $2.89 per share. National's chief executive officer, Laurent Ferreira, did not provide additional numbers or specific details on the benefits of the acquisition on a conference call on Wednesday, but said that the deal would be "bringing together two strong teams and highly complementary banks." Mr. Ferreira said if the deal goes through it could expand National Bank's reach in Alberta and British Columbia.