Managed firm united by Republican spite (7)
I believe the answer is:
rancour
'spite' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'managed firm united by republican' is the wordplay.
'managed' becomes 'ran' (I've seen this before).
'firm' becomes 'co' (a firm is a company).
'united by' becomes 'u' (I am not sure about the 'by' bit.**).
'republican' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'ran'+'co'+'u'+'r'='RANCOUR'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rancour that I've seen before include "Bad feeling and resentment" , "'Bitterness, resentment (7)'" , "generating ill-feeling ..." , "Malicious hostility" , "Bitter feeling or ill-will" .)