Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd (Sumitomo Metals) and France-based Vallourec S.A. have agreed on arrangements intended to strengthen their respective positions in the premium joint business in the USA. Specifically, they will merge two premium joint companies, VAM USA Co. (VAM USA) and V&M Atlas Bradford LLC (Atlas Bradford), to establish a new premium joint threading joint venture owned by Vallourec, Sumitomo Metals, and Sumitomo Corp. The name of the merged entity is VAM USA LLC. By strengthening the premium joint business, Sumitomo Metals aims to make a further leap forward in the pipe and tube business.