Note B. Dispositions and Reserves related to Former Operations

Consolidation of A.J. Wright: On December 8, 2010, TJX’s Board of Directors approved the consolidation of the A.J. Wright division whereby TJX would convert 90 A.J. Wright stores into T.J. Maxx, Marshalls or HomeGoods stores and close A.J. Wright’s remaining 72 stores, two distribution centers and home office. The liquidation process commenced in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 and was completed during the first quarter of fiscal 2012.

The A.J. Wright consolidation was not classified as a discontinued operation due to TJX’s expectation that a significant portion of the sales of the A.J. Wright stores would migrate to other TJX stores. As a result, the costs incurred in fiscal 2012 relating to the A.J. Wright consolidation were reflected in continuing operations as part of the A.J. Wright segment. The first quarter of fiscal 2012 included a $49 million A.J. Wright segment loss which includes operating losses and the cost to close the remaining stores.

Reserves Related to Former Operations: TJX has a reserve for its estimate of future obligations of former business operations that TJX has either closed or sold. The reserve activity is presented below:


	Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
	July 28,			July 30,
In thousands	2012			2011
Balance at beginning of year	$	45,381		$	54,695
Additions to the reserve charged to net income:
A.J. Wright closing costs		—			32,686
Interest accretion		356			430
Charges against the reserve:
Lease-related obligations		(6,929	)		(14,123	)
Termination benefits and all other		(1,153	)		(15,471	)

Balance at end of period	$	37,655		$	58,217

In the first quarter of fiscal 2012, TJX increased the reserve by $33 million for the estimated cost of closing the A.J. Wright stores that remained open in fiscal 2012 and were not converted to other banners.

The lease-related obligations included in the reserve reflect TJX’s estimation of lease costs, net of estimated subtenant income, and the cost of probable claims against TJX for liability, as an original lessee or guarantor of the leases of A.J. Wright and other former TJX businesses, after mitigation of the number and cost of these lease obligations. The actual net cost of these lease-related obligations may differ from TJX’s estimate. TJX estimates that the majority of the former operations reserve will be paid in the next three to five years. The actual timing of cash outflows will vary depending on how the remaining lease obligations are actually settled.

TJX may also be contingently liable on up to 13 leases of BJ’s Wholesale Club, a former TJX business, and up to five leases of Bob’s Stores, also a former TJX business, in addition to leases included in the reserve. The reserve for former operations does not reflect these leases because TJX believes that the likelihood of future liability to TJX is remote.