Strategy

Boston — EnerNOC, a leading provider of data-driven energy efficiency applications, announced that Sears Holdings has selected EnerNOC's EfficiencySMART Commissioning, which blends traditional commissioning services with real-time, persistent commissioning technology, to drive energy savings at its 2.4 million-sq.-ft. corporate headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Ill., a 2010 Energy Star rated facility.

New York - Gymboree Corp. said Monday it did not receive any offers that top Bain Capital's $1.8 billion bid for the company and so the buyout will proceed.

The allotted time for Gymboree to receive competing offers expired Friday.

"Despite a broad solicitation of potentially interested parties, the Company did not receive any alternative acquisition proposals during the 'go-shop' period," Gymboree said in a statement.

Bentonville, Ark.

New York City -- AnnTaylor Stores Corp.'s fiscal third-quarter profit rose, aided by better-than-expected sales growth. Net income surged to $24.2 million in the third quarter ended Oct. 30, compared with $2.1 million a year earlier.

Total sales rose 9.3% to $505.3 million, above analysts' expectations of $492.8 million.

Same-store sales increased 11.7% overall, with a 21.9% rise at the Ann Taylor brand and a 4.5% less expensive Loft chain.

Philadelphia -- Destination Maternity said its fourth-quarter net income tripled as cost-cutting measures paid off, even as sales in some categories fell.

The company earned almost $4.3 million for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, up from $1.4 million during the same period last year. Revenue rose slightly to $124.3 million, from $123.8 million a year earlier. Same-store sales fell 2.3%.

By Julius C. Dorsey Jr., [email protected] and Roy T. Bergold Jr.[email protected]

Aside from maybe the eccentric billionaire who on a whim decides to open a shop to sell hand-whittled tumbleweed sculptures, probably not many. For the rest of the owners and managers in the real world, sales and profits are the only reasons they’re in business.