The third quarter brought a flurry of acquisitions for several holdings. Ag Growth International (TSX: AFN, OTC: AGGZF) announced it will expand into the fertilizer-equipment and services-provider business after acquiring GJ Vis Enterprises for $15 million. Vis will allow AGI to provide its customers with material-handling equipment used in the fertilizer, feed and grain sectors.
      AGI reported third-quarter 2015 adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) fell 22% to C$20.8 million. A 5% drop in U.S. corn production depressed North American sales of farm and commercial equipment. Also, the company had a strong third quarter in 2014. 

Because of the timing of shipments, sales for Ag Growth’s newly acquired Westeel business dropped to C$29.8 million from C$49.9 million. Westeel is still working through high levels of inventory from the first quarter.

Management says it expects current-quarter sales to fall short of 2014 numbers due to slightly higher inventory levels. 

A hot movie lineup propelled Cineplex’s (TSX: CGX, OTC: CPXGF) third-quarter revenues, which rose 9.8% to C$328.2 million as attendance increased 7.6% to 19.4 million. The bottom line jumped 34% to C$21.4 million.

The company set new third-quarter records for box office revenues, which rose 6.1% to C$172.6 million. Food service revenue also rose 14.5% to C$105.5 million. Movie patrons spent more on average so that concession revenues rose 6.3% to $5.43 per patron.

During the quarter, Cineplex announced plans to build its second Rec Room—a dining, gaming and general entertainment center for young adults and families. The new Calgary location will open in December 2016.

Management is optimistic about the fourth quarter, as a strong film lineup is expected to continue drawing audiences.

Acquisitions made in September 2014 drove Dream Industrial REIT’s (TSX: DIR-U, OTC: DREUF) third-quarter 2015 total net operating income growth of 6.6% to C$29.9 million. Funds from operations (FFO) for the quarter were C$18.7 million, or C$0.238 per unit, 2.1% higher than last year. Adjusted FFO rose 5.1% per unit to C$0.206. However, overall occupancy slipped to 94.6% from 95.5% compared to the third quarter in 2014.

TransForce (TSX: TFI, OTC: TFIFF) announced that its subsidiary Transport America purchased a majority stake in Optimal Freight, a non-asset-based truckload freight brokerage. Optimal Freight specializes in van, flat bed and refrigerated services. The   acquisition expands Transport America’s services and locations in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

New Flyer Industries (TSX: NFI, OTC: NFYEF) announced it will buy fellow industry leader Motor Coach Industries for C$604 million. MCI makes coach buses, supplying  more than half of the U.S. market . Although MCI’s charter buses are built differently from New Flyer’s inner-city buses, both use the same parts, so the merger will improve efficiencies considerably.

In the first nine months of 2015, MCI made $443 million in revenue through service fees and unit sales.

The deal is expected to close by the end of the year pending U.S. and Canadian regulatory approval. Following the announcement of the merger, New Flyer said it will raise its annual dividend by 12.9% to C$0.70 per share.

Peyto Exploration & Development’s (TSX: PEY, OTC: PEYUF) FFO declined 19% to C$135 million and fell 22% to C$0.85 per share after a 23% drop in realized commodity prices. The decline was partially offset by a 22% reduction in cash costs.

The company’s board approved a preliminary 2016 capital program ranging from $600 million to $650 million, which is roughly in line with 2015 spending.