EXHIBIT 99.1 THE TJX COMPANIES INC. NEWS RELEASE PUBLIC INFORMATION: 508-390-2309 CONTACTS: Steven Wishner Sherry Lang Vice President Assistant Vice President Treasurer Investor Relations Director FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Monday, December 9, 1996) THE TJX COMPANIES, INC. CONSUMMATES CHADWICK'S OF BOSTON SALE Framingham, MA -- The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TJX), the world's largest off-price apparel retailer, today announced the completion of the previously announced sale of the Chadwick's of Boston catalog company to Brylane, L.P. Bernard Cammarata, President and Chief Executive Officer of The TJX Companies, Inc. commented, "We wish everyone at Chadwick's continued success as they join with Brylane. This divestiture allows TJX to grow as a Company more focused on our off-price, large store formats." The TJX Companies, Inc. is the world's largest off-price apparel retailer, with 596 T.J. Maxx stores, 466 Marshalls stores, 65 Winners Apparel Ltd. off-price family apparel stores in Canada and 23 HomeGoods off-price home fashions stores. TJX is also developing T.K. Maxx, an off-price apparel concept operating 18 stores in the United Kingdom. -END- 770 COCHITUATE ROAD, FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 01701