NEBS layoffs begin (M&A - 107 jobs lost to begin with)

[UpInArms]

http://www.pepperellfreepress.com/Stories/0,1413,109~5517~2304403,00.html

GROTON -- The acquisition of New England Business Service (NEBS) by Deluxe Corporation of Shoreview, Minn., was completed June 29 and has already affected the local work force.

According to sources in the former NEBS headquarters at 500 Main St., as of last week, 107 people have been laid off company-wide. NEBS had affiliates in Canada, the United Kingdom and France as well as its Groton and Townsend facilities. It is not known how many employees from the local area are affected.

Dan Junius, NEBS executive vice president and chief financial officer, said in May that the acquisition would have an impact on employees of both NEBS and Deluxe, but it was too early to speculate on what it might be. Attempts to speak to Junius Wednesday revealed he is no longer with the company.

Sources in Groton and Townsend indicate that the NEBS computer information systems group has been hit hard. Much of the work is now being outsourced and the in-house work force has been cut in half. As of Wednesday, the sales force had not been affected by the acquisition.

NEBS employees were given two weeks' notice in what is the first phase of work-force reductions.

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