Edelman Reps Diebold's Not-So-Amicable Split

The PR firm Edelman "is handling the recasting of Diebold Election Systems to Premier Election Solutions," following the parent company's failure to sell its e-voting subsidiary. PES "will have its own management team and board of directors," and is based in Allen, Texas, while Diebold headquarters are in Ohio. Diebold blamed the lack of buyers on "rapidly evolving political uncertainties and controversies surrounding ... electronic voting systems." Diebold also lowered its e-voting revenue expectations by $120 million, according to Crain's Cleveland Business. A Diebold spokesman "acknowledged that the highly charged attention paid to the subsidiary ... has been a distraction to Diebold." The parent company now hopes to "concentrate on its core ATM and security segments."