CIR

Cir Spa (compagnie Industriali Riunite)

An Italian industrial holding company, CIR (short for Compagnie Industriali Riunite) controls businesses in media, healthcare and other sectors. It was founded in 1976 when financier Carlo De Benedetti brought together a group of companies, with the name literally meaning "united industrial companies." CIR is best known as the parent of GEDI Gruppo Editoriale, the publisher behind Italy's daily newspapers la Repubblica and L'Espresso magazine, alongside healthcare and automotive-parts ventures.