Joined up with the company at the front (7)

I believe the answer is:

coupled

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'joined' is the definition.
(I know that joined can be written as coupled)

'up with the company at the front' is the wordplay.
'up with' becomes 'upled' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'the company' becomes 'co' (abbreviation).
'at the front' means one lot of letters go next to another (some letters go in front of others).
'upled' put after 'co' is 'COUPLED'.

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I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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