Integrity has always been the focus of TJX’s corporate culture. During 1997 and 1998, the senior management team of TJX gathered to solidify and select a series of leadership success factors. These factors would form the basis for succession planning at the Company, as well as serve as the standard against which job performance — from the manager level and up — would be measured. At these management sessions, the overriding leadership success factor emerged as “acting with integrity.” The other factors were established as “delivers results,” “leads with vision,” “listens/communicates,” “thinks strategically,” “develops others,” “knows the business” and “builds effective teams.” However, acting with integrity was positioned as the leadership success factor that touched every other factor. In other words, the performance evaluation system at TJX places enormous emphasis on acting with integrity as it pervades all other aspects of job performance.

The significance of TJX’s adopting this set of standards is several-fold. First, it establishes that, from the manager level up through the most senior ranks, the same set of high leadership qualities are expected. Also, these leadership success factors are used for succession planning and performance evaluation at every division throughout the entire Company. Finally, and most importantly, we believe that by instilling these values deeply into the organization, we are going a long way to build the future leaders of the Company.

Our Associate Code of Conduct formalized many principles and practices already in place when it was adopted in 1998. Updated annually, the Code outlines in detail how all of our associates are expected to conduct themselves with integrity. Associates receive the Code when they join the Company and are required to attest each year that they have read and abided by the Code. A synopsis of our Associate Code of Conduct is posted to our corporate website, www.tjx.com.

A long-standing tradition at TJX has been our “Open Door” philosophy. This philosophy ensures that associates have the opportunity to speak openly and be treated fairly.

We are proud of our long tradition of placing acting with integrity at the core of our corporate culture.