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                             The TJX Companies, Inc.

                             Underwriting Agreement

Salomon Brothers Inc
Seven World Trade Center
New York, New York  10048


Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  The TJX Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to sell to the underwriters named in Schedule II hereto
(the "Underwriters"), for whom you (the "Representative") are acting as
representative, the principal amount of its securities identified in Schedule I
hereto (the "Securities"), to be issued under an indenture (the "Indenture")
dated as of September 15, 1993, between the Company and The First National Bank
of Chicago, as trustee (the "Trustee"). If the firm or firms listed in Schedule
II hereto include only the firm or firms listed in Schedule II hereto, then the
terms "Underwriters" and "Representative", as used herein, shall each be deemed
to refer to such firm or firms.

                  1.  Representations  and  Warranties. The Company represents 
and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter, as set forth in  this
Section 1.
        
                  (a) If the offering of the Securities is a Delayed Offering
         (as specified in Schedule I hereto), paragraph (i) below is applicable
         and, if the offering of the Securities is a Non-Delayed Offering (as so
         specified), paragraph (ii) below is applicable.

                                    (i) The Company meets the requirements for
                  the use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
                  amended (the "Securities Act") and has filed with the
                  Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
                  registration statement (the file number of which is set forth
                  in Schedule I hereto) on such Form, including a basic
                  prospectus, for registration under the Securities Act of the
                  offering and sale of the Securities. The Company may have
                  filed one or more amendments thereto, and may have used a
                  Preliminary Final Prospectus (as defined below), each of which
                  has previously been furnished to you. Such registration
                  statement, as so amended, has become effective. The offering
                  of the Securities is a Delayed Offering and, although the
                  Basic Prospectus (as defined below) may not include all the
                  information with respect to the Securities and the offering
                  thereof required by the Securities Act and the rules
                  thereunder to be included in the Final Prospectus (as defined
                  below), the Basic Prospectus includes all such information
                  required by the Securities Act and the rules thereunder to be
                  included therein as of the Effective Date (as defined below).
                  The Company will next file with the Commission pursuant to
                  Rules 415 and 424(b)(2) or (5) a final 



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                  supplement to the form of prospectus included in such
                  registration statement relating to the Securities and the
                  offering thereof. As filed, such final prospectus supplement
                  shall include all required information with respect to the
                  Securities and the offering thereof and, except to the extent
                  the Representative shall agree in writing to a modification,
                  shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to
                  you prior to the Execution Time (as defined below) or, to the
                  extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only
                  such specific additional information and other changes (beyond
                  that contained in the Basic Prospectus and any Preliminary
                  Final Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the
                  Execution Time, will be included or made therein.

                                    (ii) The Company meets the requirements for
                  the use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and has filed
                  with the Commission a registration statement (the file number
                  of which is set forth in Schedule I hereto) on such Form,
                  including a basic prospectus, for registration under the
                  Securities Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. The
                  Company may have filed one or more amendments thereto,
                  including a Preliminary Final Prospectus, each of which has
                  previously been furnished to you. The Company will next file
                  with the Commission either (x) a final prospectus supplement
                  relating to the Securities in accordance with Rules 430A and
                  424(b)(1) or (4), or (y) prior to the effectiveness of such
                  registration statement, an amendment to such registration
                  statement, including the form of final prospectus supplement.
                  In the case of clause (x), the Company has included in such
                  registration statement, as amended at the Effective Date, all
                  information (other than Rule 430A Information) required by the
                  Securities Act and the rules thereunder to be included in the
                  Final Prospectus with respect to the Securities and the
                  offering thereof. As filed, such final prospectus supplement
                  or such amendment and form of final prospectus supplement
                  shall contain all Rule 430A Information, together with all
                  other such required information, with respect to the
                  Securities and the offering thereof and, except to the extent
                  the Representative shall agree in writing to a modification,
                  shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to
                  you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not
                  completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such
                  specific additional information and other changes (beyond that
                  contained in the Basic Prospectus and any Preliminary Final
                  Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the
                  Execution Time, will be included or made therein.

                  (b) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement (as
         defined below) did or will, and when the Final Prospectus is first
         filed (if required) in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing
         Date, the Final Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in
         all material respects with the applicable requirements of the
         Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
         "Exchange Act") and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
         "Trust Indenture Act") and the respective rules thereunder; on the
         Effective Date, the Registration Statement did not or will not contain
         any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
         fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
         statements therein not misleading; on the Effective Date and on the
         Closing Date the Indenture did or will comply in all material 



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         respects with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules
         thereunder; and, on the Effective Date, the Final Prospectus, if not
         filed pursuant to Rule 424(b), did not or will not, and on the date of
         any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Final
         Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not, include any
         untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
         necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided,
         however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to
         (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the
         Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the Trust
         Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) any information relating to the
         Underwriters that was contained in or omitted from the Registration
         Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in
         reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing
         to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the
         Representative specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement
         or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).

                  (c) The terms which follow, when used in this Agreement, shall
         have the meanings indicated. The term "the Effective Date" shall mean
         each date that the Registration Statement and any post-effective
         amendment or amendments thereto became or become effective and each
         date after the date hereof on which a document incorporated by
         reference in the Registration Statement is filed. "Execution Time"
         shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and
         delivered by the parties hereto. "Basic Prospectus" shall mean the
         prospectus referred to in paragraph (a) contained in the Registration
         Statement at the Effective Date including, in the case of a Non-Delayed
         Offering, any Preliminary Final Prospectus. "Preliminary Final
         Prospectus" shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the
         Basic Prospectus. "Final Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus
         supplement relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to
         Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time, together with the Basic
         Prospectus or, if, in the case of a Non-Delayed Offering, no filing
         pursuant to Rule 424(b) is required, shall mean the form of final
         prospectus relating to the Securities, including the Basic Prospectus,
         included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date.
         "Registration Statement" shall mean the registration statement referred
         to in paragraph (a), including incorporated documents, exhibits and
         financial statements, as amended at the Execution Time (or, if not
         effective at the Execution Time, in the form in which it shall become
         effective), and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto
         becomes effective prior to the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined),
         shall also mean such registration statement as so amended. Such term
         shall include any Rule 430A Information deemed to be included therein
         at the Effective Date as provided by Rule 430A. "Rule 415", "Rule 424",
         "Rule 430A" and "Regulation S-K" refer to such rules or regulation
         under the Securities Act. "Rule 430A Information" means information
         with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be
         omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective
         pursuant to Rule 430A. Any reference herein to the Registration
         Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or
         the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
         documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form
         S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Securities Act on or before the
         Effective Date of the Registration 




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         Statement or the issue date of the Basic Prospectus, as the case may
         be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. A "Non-Delayed
         Offering" shall mean an offering of securities which is intended to
         commence promptly after the effective date of a registration
         statement, with the result that, pursuant to Rules 415 and 430A, all
         information (other than Rule 430A Information) with respect to the
         securities so offered must be included in such registration statement
         at the effective date thereof. A "Delayed Offering" shall mean an
         offering of securities pursuant to Rule 415 which does not commence
         promptly after the effective date of a registration statement, with
         the result that only information required pursuant to Rule 415 need be
         included in such registration statement at the effective date thereof
         with respect to the securities so offered. Whether the offering of the
         Securities is a Non-Delayed Offering or a Delayed Offering shall be
         set forth in Schedule I hereto.

                  (d) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly
         existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of Delaware,
         has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to
         conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus and is duly
         qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
         jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
         leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent
         that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not
         have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or
         otherwise, or on the earnings, business or operations of the Company
         and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (e) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated,
         is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
         the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and
         authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described
         in the Final Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and
         is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
         business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
         qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified
         or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the
         condition, financial or otherwise, or on the earnings, business or
         operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (f) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
         delivered by the Company.

                  (g) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
         Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
         the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
         enforceable in accordance with its terms except as (i) the
         enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
         similar laws 


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         affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) may be limited by
         equitable principles of general applicability.

                  (h) The Securities have been duly authorized and, when
         executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the
         Indenture and delivered to and duly paid for by the Underwriters
         pursuant to this Agreement, will be entitled to the benefits of the
         Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company,
         enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except as (i) the
         enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
         similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) may be
         limited by equitable principles of general applicability.

                  (i) When issued, the Securities will conform to the
         description contained in the Final Prospectus under the caption
         "Description of Notes."

                  (j) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
         performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement,
         the Securities and the Indenture will not violate any provision of
         applicable law or conflict with or result in a default under or
         pursuant to the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company
         or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of
         its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries,
         taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental
         body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any
         subsidiary, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
         qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the
         performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the
         Securities and the Indenture, except registration under the Securities
         Act of the Securities and under the Trust Indenture Act of the
         Indenture and such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky
         laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the
         Securities.

                  (k) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
         violation of its charter or in default in the performance or observance
         of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
         contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other
         instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party
         or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the
         property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
         subject, other than any such violation or default that would not have a
         material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or on
         the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (l) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
         development that would reasonably be expected to cause a material
         adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
         earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
         taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Final Prospectus; and
         there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of
         its subsidiaries which are required to be disclosed in the Final
         Prospectus, other than those set forth in the Final Prospectus.


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                  (m) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or,
         to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to which the Company or any
         of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be
         described in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus and are
         not so described or any statutes, regulations, contracts or other
         documents that are required to be described in the Registration
         Statement or the Final Prospectus (or required to be filed under the
         Exchange Securities Act if upon such filing they would be incorporated
         by reference therein), as amended or supplemented, or to be filed as
         exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed
         as required.

                  (n) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has all necessary
         consents, authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates and permits
         of and from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all
         federal, state, local and other governmental authorities, all
         self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals, to
         own, lease, license and use its properties and assets and to conduct
         its business in the manner described in the Final Prospectus, except to
         the extent that the failure to obtain or file would not have a material
         adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or on the
         earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
         taken as a whole. Except as set forth in the Final Prospectus, the
         Company has not been notified in writing that any federal or state
         authorities intend to modify, suspend or revoke any such consents,
         authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates or permits or that such
         authorities or any other governmental agencies are conducting any
         material investigation of the Company or any subsidiary or related
         parties other than in the ordinary course of administrative review. The
         Company and its subsidiaries own, or are licensed or otherwise have
         sufficient right to use, all material trademarks or trade names in or
         necessary for the conduct of their business as described in the Final
         Prospectus. No material claims have been asserted against the Company
         or any of its subsidiaries by any person to the use of any trademarks
         or trade names or challenging or questioning the validity or
         effectiveness of any such trademark or trade name. The use, in
         connection with the business and operations of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, of their trademarks and trade names does not infringe on
         the rights of any person, other than infringements which, singly or in
         the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on the
         condition, financial or otherwise, or on the earnings, business or
         operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (o) There are no contracts or documents of the Company or any
         of its subsidiaries that are required to be filed as exhibits to the
         Registration Statement or to any documents incorporated by reference
         therein by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or by the rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder that have not been so filed.

                  (p) The Company and its subsidiaries possess all certificates,
         authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or
         foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective
         businesses, except for such certificates, authorizations and permits
         the failure to possess which would not result in a material adverse
         change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings,
         business or 


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         operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and
         neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of
         proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
         certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate,
         if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would
         result in a material adverse change in the condition, financial or
         otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company
         and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as described in or
         contemplated by the Final Prospectus.

                  (q) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
         "controlled" by an "investment company" as such terms are defined in
         the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                  (r) The Company and its subsidiaries are (i) in compliance
         with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and
         regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the
         environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or
         contaminants ("Environmental Laws"), (ii) have received all permits,
         licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable
         Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are
         in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license
         or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws,
         failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or
         failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits,
         licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
         material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or on
         the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (s) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has title in fee
         simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all
         personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the
         Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and
         clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions except such
         as (i) are referred to in the Final Prospectus, (ii) do not materially
         affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with
         the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company
         and its subsidiaries, or (iii) were incurred in the ordinary course of
         business and are not, singly or in the aggregate, material to the
         condition, financial or otherwise, or on the earnings, business or
         operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and
         any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its
         subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable
         leases (except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by the
         effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
         similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the
         rights and remedies of creditors and the effect of general principles
         of equity) with such exceptions as are not material, singly or in the
         aggregate, and do not materially interfere with the use made and
         proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and
         its subsidiaries, in each case except as described in or contemplated
         by the Final Prospectus.

                  (t) The accountants who have certified or shall certify the
         certified financial statements filed or to be filed with the Commission
         as part of the Registration Statement 


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         and the Final Prospectus are independent accountants as required by the
         Securities Act. The consolidated financial statements of the Company
         and its subsidiaries (together with the related notes thereto) included
         in the Registration Statement present fairly the financial position and
         results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries at the
         respective dates and for the respective periods to which they apply,
         subject to normal year-end adjustments. Such financial statements have
         been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
         principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved except
         as otherwise stated therein.

                  (u) There are no holders of securities (debt or equity) of the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries, or holders of rights, options, or
         warrants to obtain securities of the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries, who have the right to have securities held by them
         registered by the Company under the Securities Act in connection with
         the offering of the Securities and there are no holders of debt
         securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or holders of
         rights, options or warrants to obtain debt securities of the Company or
         any of its subsidiaries, who have the right to have debt securities
         held by them registered by the Company under the Securities Act.

                  (v) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section
         517.075, Florida Statutes, relating to doing business with the
         Government of Cuba or with any person or any affiliate located in Cuba.

                  (w) The Securities, when issued, will be rated as "investment
         grade securities" by a "nationally recognized statistical rating
         organization," as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)
         under the Securities Act.

                  (x) The net sales of the Company and T.J. Maxx of Texas, Inc.,
         T.J. Maxx of PA, Inc., T.J. Maxx of Illinois, Inc., Hit or Miss, Inc.,
         Chadwicks of Boston, Ltd., NBC First Realty Corp., NBC Second Realty
         Corp., NBC Fourth Realty Corp. and NBC Sixth Realty Corp.
         (collectively, excluding the Company, the "Significant Subsidiaries"),
         determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
         accounted for not less than 90% of the net sales of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole, for the fiscal year ended January 28,
         1995 and the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 1995. The total assets of
         the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries, determined in accordance
         with generally accepted accounting principles, accounted for not less
         than 90% of the total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken
         as a whole, as of April 29, 1995.

                  2. Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and
in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the
Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price
set forth in Schedule I hereto the principal amount of the Securities set forth
opposite such Underwriter's name in Schedule II hereto.

                  3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the
Underwriters' Securities shall be made on the date and at the time specified in
Schedule I hereto (or such later 


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date not later than four business days after such specified date as the
Representative shall designate), which date and time may be postponed by
agreement between the Representative and the Company or as provided in Section 8
hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being
herein called the "Closing Date"). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to
the Representative for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters
against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representative of the
purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by certified or
official bank check or checks drawn on, or wire transferred to, an account
designated in writing by the Company and payable in immediately available funds.
Delivery of the Securities shall be made at such location as the Representative
shall reasonably designate at least one business day in advance of the Closing
Date and payment for the Securities shall be made at the office specified in
Schedule I hereto. Certificates for the Securities shall be registered in such
names and in such denominations as the Representative may request not less than
two full business days in advance of the Closing Date.

                  The Company agrees to have the Securities available for
inspection, checking and packaging by the Representative in New York, New York,
not later than 1:00 PM on the business day prior to the Closing Date.

                  4. Agreements. The Company agrees with the several
         Underwriters that:

                 (a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the
         Registration Statement, if not effective at the Execution Time, and any
         amendment thereto, to become effective. Prior to the termination of the
         offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of
         the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Final
         Prospectus or any Preliminary Final Prospectus) to the Basic Prospectus
         unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior to
         filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to
         which you reasonably object. Subject to the foregoing sentence, the
         Company will cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any
         supplement thereto to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the
         applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed
         and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representative of such
         timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Representative (i)
         when the Registration Statement, if not effective at the Execution
         Time, and any amendment thereto, shall have become effective, (ii) when
         the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed
         with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (iii) when, prior to
         termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the
         Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iv)
         of any request by the Commission for any amendment of the Registration
         Statement or supplement to the Final Prospectus or for any additional
         information, (v) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
         suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
         institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The
         Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such
         stop order and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal
         thereof.

                 (b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the
         Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, any
         event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then
         supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact 



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         or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
         therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made
         not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration
         Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the
         Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder,
         the Company promptly will (i) prepare and file with the Commission,
         subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, an
         amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission
         or effect such compliance and (ii) supply any supplemented Prospectus
         to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

                  (c) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally
         available to its security holders and to the Representative an earnings
         statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries which will
         satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the
         rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder covering
         twelve-month periods beginning, in each case, not later than the first
         day of the Company's fiscal quarter next following the "effective date"
         (as defined in Rule 158 under the Securities Act) of the Registration
         Statement with respect to each sale of Securities. If such fiscal
         quarter is the last fiscal quarter of the Company's fiscal year, such
         earning statement shall be made available not later than 90 days after
         the close of the period covered thereby and in all other cases shall be
         made available not later than 45 days after the close of the period
         covered thereby.

                  (d) The Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel
         for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of the Registration
         Statement (including exhibits and all amendments thereto and all
         documents incorporated by reference therein) and, so long as delivery
         of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the
         Securities Act, as many copies of any Preliminary Final Prospectus and
         the Final Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representative
         may reasonably request.

                  (e) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the
         Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdiction as the
         Representative may designate, will maintain such qualifications in
         effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities and
         will arrange for the determination of the legality of the Securities
         for purchase by institutional investors.

                  (f) Until the business date set forth on Schedule I hereto,
         the Company will not, without the consent of the Representative, offer,
         sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly or
         indirectly, or announce the offering of, any debt securities issued or
         guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities).

                  (g) The Company shall furnish to the Representative such
         relevant documents and certificates of officers of the Company relating
         to the business, operations and affairs of the Company, the
         Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any amendments or
         supplements thereto, the Indenture, the Securities, this Agreement, and
         the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or
         thereunder as the Representative may from time to time reasonably
         request.



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                  (h) The Company shall notify the Representative promptly in
         writing of any downgrading, or of its receipt of any notice of any
         intended or potential downgrading or of any review for possible change
         that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the
         rating accorded any of the Company's securities by any "nationally
         recognized statistical rating organization," as such term is defined
         for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act.

                  (i) The Company will, whether or not any sale of Securities is
         consummated, pay all expenses incident to the performance of its
         obligations under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, including:
         (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any
         Preliminary Final Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and all
         amendments and supplements thereto, (ii) the preparation, issuance and
         delivery of the Securities, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the
         Company's counsel and accountants and of the Trustee and its counsel,
         (iv) the qualification of the Securities under securities or Blue Sky
         laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(e), including
         filing fees and the fees and disbursements of Latham & Watkins, counsel
         for the Representative, in connection therewith and in connection with
         the preparation of any Blue Sky or Legal Investment Memoranda, (v) the
         printing and delivery to the Representative in quantities as
         hereinabove stated of copies of the Registration Statement and all
         amendments thereto and of any Preliminary Final Prospectus and the
         Final Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vi) the
         printing and delivery to the Representative of copies of any Blue Sky
         or Legal Investment Memoranda, (vii) any fees payable to rating
         agencies for the rating of the Securities, (viii) the fees and
         expenses, if any, incurred with respect to any filing with the National
         Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., including fees and
         disbursements of Latham & Watkins, counsel for the Representative, in
         connection therewith, and (ix) any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
         the Representative approved in advance by the Company.

                  5. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to
the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company
contained herein as of the Execution Time and the Closing Date, to the accuracy
of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the
provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

                 (a) If the Registration Statement has not become effective
         prior to the Execution Time, unless the Representative agrees in
         writing to a later time, the Registration Statement will become
         effective not later than (i) 6:00 PM New York City time, on the date of
         determination of the public offering price, if such determination
         occurred at or prior to 3:00 PM New York City time on such date or (ii)
         12:00 Noon on the business day following the day on which the public
         offering price was determined, if such determination occurred after
         3:00 PM New York City time on such date; if filing of the Final
         Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, is required pursuant to Rule
         424(b), the Final Prospectus, and any such supplement, shall have been
         filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b);
         and no stop order suspending the 


                                       11
   12

effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

         (b)     The Company shall have furnished to the Representative the
opinion of Ropes and Gray, special counsel for the Company, dated the Closing 
Date, to the effect that:

                 (i)     the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly 
         existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
         of Delaware, has the corporate power and authority to own its property
         and to conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus, as
         then amended or supplemented, and is duly qualified to transact
         business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
         conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property
         requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to
         be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material
         adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or on the
         earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
         taken as a whole;
        
                 (ii)     each of the Significant Subsidiaries is a subsidiary 
         of the Company, has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
         corporation in good standing under the laws of Delaware, has the
         corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its
         business as described in the Final Prospectus, as then amended or
         supplemented, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in
         good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
         business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
         qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so
         qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse
         effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or on the earnings,
         business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
         whole;
        
                 (iii)    this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
         delivered by the Company; 

                 (iv)     the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
         Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
         the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
         enforceable in accordance with its terms except as (i) the
         enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
         similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) may be
         limited by equitable principles of general applicability;
        
                 (v)      the Securities have been duly authorized and, when 
         executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the
         Indenture and delivered to and duly paid for by the Underwriters
         pursuant to this Agreement, will be entitled to the benefits of the
         Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company,
         enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except as (i)
         the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
         similar laws 
        

                                       12
   13

                  affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) may be limited
                  by equitable principles of general applicability;

                           (vi) the execution and delivery by the Company of,
                  and the performance by the Company of its obligations under,
                  this Agreement, the Securities, and the Indenture will not
                  violate any provision of applicable law or conflict with or
                  result in a default under or pursuant to the certificate of
                  incorporation or by-laws of the Company or, to the best of
                  such counsel's knowledge, any agreement or other instrument
                  binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is an
                  exhibit to the Registration Statement, or any judgment, order
                  or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having
                  jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, and no
                  consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification
                  with, any governmental body or agency is required for the
                  performance by the Company of its obligations under this
                  Agreement, the Securities, and the Indenture, except such as
                  may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the
                  various states in connection with the offer and sale of the
                  Securities;

                           (vii) the statements (1) in the Final Prospectus, as
                  then amended or supplemented, under the captions "Description
                  of Notes" and "Description of the Debt Securities," (2) in the
                  Registration Statement under Item 15, and (3) in "Item 3 -
                  Legal Proceedings" of the Company's most recent annual report
                  on Form 10-K incorporated by reference in the Final
                  Prospectus, in each case insofar as such statements constitute
                  summaries of the legal matters, documents or proceedings
                  referred to therein, fairly present the information called for
                  with respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings
                  and fairly summarize the matters referred to therein;

                           (viii) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know
                  of any legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened
                  to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or
                  to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its
                  subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in
                  the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or
                  required to be filed under the Exchange Act if upon such
                  filing they would be incorporated by reference therein), as
                  then amended or supplemented, and that are not so described or
                  of any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents
                  that are required to be described in the Registration
                  Statement or the Final Prospectus (or required to be filed
                  under the Exchange Act if upon such filing they would be
                  incorporated by reference therein), as then amended or
                  supplemented, or to be filed as exhibits to such Registration
                  Statement that are not described, filed or incorporated as
                  required;

                           (ix) such counsel is of the opinion ascribed to it in
                  the Final Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, under
                  the caption "United States Federal Taxation";

                                       13
   14

                           (x) the Company is not an "investment company" or an
                  entity "controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms
                  are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

                           (xi) such counsel has participated in discussions
                  with various representatives of the Company and Coopers &
                  Lybrand L.L.P., independent public accountants for the
                  Company, in certain of which your representatives and counsel
                  also participated, at which the business and affairs of the
                  Company and the contents of the Registration Statement, the
                  Final Prospectus and any amendment thereof or supplement
                  thereto were discussed. Such counsel also has made inquiries
                  of representatives of the Company and its accountants as to
                  whether there have been any material changes in the affairs of
                  the Company since the date that the Registration Statement
                  became effective. There is no assurance that all material
                  facts as to the Company and its affairs were disclosed to such
                  counsel or that their familiarity with the Company is such
                  that they have necessarily recognized the materiality of such
                  facts as were disclosed to them, and they have to a large
                  extent relied upon statements of representatives of the
                  Company as to materiality of the facts disclosed to them.
                  Except with respect to the description referred to in
                  subparagraphs (vii) and (ix) above, such counsel is not
                  passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the
                  accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained
                  in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus.

                           Based upon such counsel's participation in the
                  foregoing discussions, the foregoing inquiries and their
                  examination of the documents referred to above and such other
                  documents as came to their attention as a result of such
                  discussions and inquiries such counsel is of the opinion that
                  (1) each document, if any, filed pursuant to the Exchange Act
                  and incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus, as then
                  amended or supplemented (except for financial statements and
                  schedules included therein as to which such counsel need not
                  express any opinion), complied when so filed as to form in all
                  material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable
                  rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (2) the
                  Registration Statement and Final Prospectus, as then amended
                  or supplemented, if applicable (except for financial
                  statements and schedules included therein as to which such
                  counsel need not express any opinion), comply as to form in
                  all material respects with the Securities Act and the
                  applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
                  Further, such counsel has no reason to believe that (3)
                  (except for financial statements and schedules as to which
                  such counsel need not express any belief and except for that
                  part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the form
                  T-1 heretofore referred to) the Registration Statement, as
                  then amended, if applicable, when it became effective
                  contained, and as of the date such opinion is delivered,
                  contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
                  state a material fact required to be stated therein or
                  necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and
                  (4) (except for financial statements and schedules as to which
                  such counsel need not express any belief) the Final
                  Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, if


                                       14
   15

                  applicable, as of the date such opinion is delivered contains
                  any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
                  material fact necessary in order to make the statements
                  therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
                  were made, not misleading.

                           (xii) the Registration Statement has become
                  effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
                  Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for
                  such purpose are pending before or threatened by the
                  Commission.

                  The opinion of Ropes & Gray described in this paragraph (b)
shall be rendered to you at the request of the Company and shall so state
therein.

                  Ropes and Gray will not be required to deliver the opinions
set forth in subparagraphs (ii) and (viii) and clauses (3) and (4) of
subparagraph (vii) of this paragraph (b)(i) if Jay Meltzer, Esq., the General
Counsel of the Company, delivers such opinions to you. If Mr. Meltzer elects to
deliver the opinions set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, Mr.
Meltzer's opinion shall also include the opinion contained in subparagraph (vi)
of this paragraph (b) with respect to any agreement or other instrument binding
upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is not an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                  (c) The Representative shall have received from Latham &
         Watkins, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated
         the Closing Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the
         Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Final
         Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related
         matters as the Representative may reasonably require, and the Company
         shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for
         the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

                  (d) The Company shall have furnished to the Representative a
         certificate of the Company, signed by the principal financial or
         accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the
         effect that the signer of such certificate have carefully examined the
         Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus, any supplement to the
         Final Prospectus and this Agreement and that:

                           (i)  the representations and warranties of the
                  Company in this Agreement are true and correct in all material
                  respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as
                  if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with
                  all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its
                  part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing
                  Date;

                           (ii)  no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
                  the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings
                  for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company's
                  knowledge, threatened; and


                                       15
   16


                           (iii)  since the date of the most recent financial
                  statements included in the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any
                  supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse change
                  in the condition (financial or other), earnings, business or
                  properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
                  whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the
                  ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or
                  contemplated in the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any
                  supplement thereto).

                  (e)  The Representative shall have received letters from 
         Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent public accountants, dated as of
         the Execution Time and the Closing Date (in the latter case
         constituting an affirmation of the statements set forth in the
         former), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
         Representative, with respect to the financial statements and certain
         financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the
         Final Prospectus.
        
                  (f)  Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the 
         dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
         (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Final Prospectus
         (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there shall not have been 2.
         any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to
         in paragraph (e) of this Section 5 or 3. any change, or any
         development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the
         business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries the effect
         of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in
         the judgment of the Representative, so material and adverse as to make
         it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery
         of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement
         (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Final Prospectus
         (exclusive of any supplement thereto).
        
                  (g)  Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have 
         been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company's debt
         securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
         organization" (as defined for purpose of Rule 436(g)(2) under the
         Securities Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential
         decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating
         that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.
        
                  (h)  Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have 
         furnished to the Representative such further information, certificates
         and documents as the Representative may reasonably request.
        
                  If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not
have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this
Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and counsel for the
Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder
may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the
Representative. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in
writing or by telephone or telegraph confirmed in writing.

                                       16
   17


                  The documents required to be delivered by this Section 5 shall
be delivered at the office of Latham & Watkins counsel for the Underwriters, at
885 Third Avenue, New York, New York, on the Closing Date.

                  6.  Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If the sale of 
the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to
the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 5 hereof is not
satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 5 hereof or because
of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any
agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a
default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters
severally upon demand for all out-of-pocket expense (including reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in
connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.
        
                  7.  Indemnification and Contribution.

                  (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
         Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the
         meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any
         and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
         which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act,
         the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation,
         at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
         liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
         upon (i) any breach or alleged breach of any representation, warranty
         or agreement of the Company contained in this Agreement or (ii) any
         untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
         contained in the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any
         amendment thereof, or in the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final
         Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or
         supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
         alleged omission thereof or supplement thereto, to state therein a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such
         indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
         by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
         claim, damage, liability or action, as incurred; provided, however,
         that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that
         any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based
         upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
         or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity
         with written information relating to the Underwriters that was
         furnished to the Company by the Underwriters specifically for use in
         connection with the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will
         be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have;
         provided further that the Company shall not be liable to any
         Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter as
         aforesaid with respect to the Basic Prospectus or the Final Prospectus
         to the extent such loss, claim, damage or liability results from the
         fact that such Underwriter sold Securities to a person who was not sent
         or given, prior to or concurrently with written confirmation of such
         sale, a copy of the Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended
         or supplemented in each case where such delivery is required by the
         Securities Act, if the Company has previously 


                                       17
   18

         furnished copies thereof to such Underwriter and the loss, claim,
         damage or liability of such Underwriter is caused by such untrue
         statement or omission that was corrected in such Final Prospectus or
         Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented.

                  (b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold
         harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who
         signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the
         Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange
         Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to
         each Underwriter, but only with reference to (i) any breach or alleged
         breach of any representation, warranty or agreement of such Underwriter
         contained in this Agreement or (ii) written information relating to
         such Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Representative
         specifically for use in the preparation of the documents referred to in
         the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition
         to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company
         acknowledges that the statements set forth in the last paragraph of the
         cover page and the third and fourth paragraph under the heading
         "Underwriting" in any Preliminary Final Prospectus and in the Final
         Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or
         on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in the documents
         referred to in the foregoing indemnity and you, as the Representative,
         confirm that such statements are correct.

                  (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under
         Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
         party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
         indemnifying party under the Section 7, notify the indemnifying party
         in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify
         the indemnifying party will relieve the indemnifying party of liability
         under this Section 7 only to the extent actually prejudiced by such
         omission and will not relieve it from any liability which it may have
         to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. In case
         any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it
         notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the
         indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and to the
         extent that it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified
         party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such
         indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
         reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however,
         that if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified
         party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have
         reasonably concluded that there may be a legal defense available to it
         and/or other indemnified parties which is different from or additional
         to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or
         parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assert such
         legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such
         action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of
         notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
         election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the
         indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable
         to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other
         expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
         with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have
         employed separate counsel in connection with the assertion of legal
         defenses in accordance with the proviso to the 



                                       18
   19

         immediately preceding sentence, (ii) the indemnifying party shall not
         have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party
         within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action or
         (iii) the indemnifying party shall have authorized the employment of
         counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying
         party; and except that, if clause (i) or (iii) is applicable, such
         liability shall be only in respect of the counsel referred to in such
         clause (i) or (iii). It is understood that the indemnifying party shall
         not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in
         connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
         jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one
         separate firm (in addition to any local counsel with respect to matters
         of local law or for the purpose of allowing pro hac vice appearance
         only) for all such indemnified parties, and that all such fees and
         expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any
         such separate firm for the Underwriters and such control person of the
         Underwriters, such firm shall be designated in writing by Salomon
         Brothers Inc. In the case of any such firm for the Company, such firm
         shall be designated in writing by the Company. The indemnifying party
         shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
         without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if
         there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party
         agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or
         liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying
         party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
         party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in
         respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party
         and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
         party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
         indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject
         matter of such proceeding.

                  (d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a)
         or (b) of this Section 7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold
         harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the
         Underwriters agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims,
         damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably
         incurred in connection with investigating or defending same)
         (collectively "Losses") to which the Company and one or more of the
         Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to
         reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and by the
         Underwriters from the offering of the Securities; provided, however,
         that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any
         agreement among Underwriters relating to the offering of the
         Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting
         discount or commission applicable to the Securities purchased by such
         Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately
         preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the
         Underwriters shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to
         reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of
         the Company and of the Underwriters in connection with the statements
         or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other
         relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company
         shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering
         (before deducting expenses), and benefits received by the Underwriters
         shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and
         commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Final
         Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether
         any alleged untrue statement 



                                       19
   20

         or omission relates to information provided by the Company or the
         Underwriters. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not
         be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata
         allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take
         account of the equitable considerations referred to above.
         Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty
         of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
         the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
         who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes
         of this Section 7, each person who controls an Underwriter within the
         meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each
         director, officer, employee and agent of such Underwriter shall have
         the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person
         who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities
         Act or the Exchange Act, and each officer of the Company shall have the
         same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the
         applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

                  8. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters
shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased
by such Underwriter or underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall
constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this
Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up
and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set
forth opposite their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate amount
of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters)
the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate
amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities set
forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to
purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the
Securities, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the
Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting
Underwriter or the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set
forth in this Section 8, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period,
not exceeding seven days, as the Representative shall determine in order that
the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or
in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in
this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if
any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by
its default hereunder.

                  9. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination
in the absolute discretion of the Representative, by notice given to the Company
prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if prior to such time (i)
trading in the Company's Common Stock shall have been suspended by the New York
Stock Exchange or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange
shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been
established on such Exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared
either by Federal of New York State authorities or (iii) there shall have
occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United
States of a national emergency or war or other calamity or crisis the effect of
which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the judgment of the
Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or


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delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Final Prospectus (exclusive of
any supplement thereto, after the date hereof).

                  10. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective
agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to
this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of
the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof,
and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of
Sections 6 and 7 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this
Agreement.

                  11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing
and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representative, will be
mailed, delivered or telefaxed and confirmed to Salomon Brothers Inc at Seven
World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, Attention: Pam Kendall, (telefax
number: 212-783-2274), with a copy to Latham & Watkins, 885 Third Avenue, New
York, New York 10128, Attention: Kirk A. Davenport, Esq. (telefax number:
212-751-4864), or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or
telefaxed and confirmed to the Company at 770 Cochituate Road, Framingham,
Massachusetts, 01701, Attention: General Counsel (telefax number 508-390-2457),
with a copy to Ropes & Gray, One International Place, Boston, Massachusetts
02110, Attention: Arthur G. Siler, Esq. (telefax number: 617-951-7050).

                  12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the
officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof,
and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

                  13. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

                            [signature page follows]

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                  If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of
our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof,
whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement
among the Company and the several Underwriters.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     The TJX Companies, Inc.



                                                     By:_______________________
                                                     Title:




The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and 
accepted as of the date specified in Schedule I 
hereto.

Salomon Brothers Inc

By:___________________________________
         Vice President

For itself and the other several Underwriters, if 
any, named in Schedule II to the foregoing 
Agreement.



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                                   SCHEDULE I

Underwriting Agreement dated:   June ____, 1995
                                     
Registration Statement No.:  33-60059

Representative:   Salomon Brothers Inc

Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:

         Title:

         Principal amount:

         Purchase price (include
             accrued interest or amortization, if any):

         Sinking fund provisions:

         Redemption provisions:

         Other provisions:

Closing Date, Time and Location:

Type of Offering: Delayed Offering

Date referred to in Section 4(f) after which the Company may offer or sell debt
    securities issued or guaranteed by the Company without the consent of the
    Representative(s):___________ .


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                                  SCHEDULE II


                                                      Principal Amount of 
Underwriters                                          Securities to be Purchased
- ------------                                          --------------------------
                                                    
SALOMON BROTHERS INC                                   $
                           
BA SECURITIES, INC.

FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.






                                                       -----------

Total:                                                 $
                                                       ===========