INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' REPORT To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of New England Business Service, Inc. Groton, Massachusetts We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of New England Business Service, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of September 28, 2002 and the related condensed consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the three- month periods ended September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data and of making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed consolidated financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We have previously audited, in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, the consolidated balance sheet of New England Business Service, Inc. and subsidiaries as of June 29, 2002, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated July 31, 2002, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 28, 2002 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived. /S/ Deloitte & Touche LLP October 22, 2002 Boston, Massachusetts