Nov 24, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. UPM has acquired 99% of the shares of the Russian logging company ZAO Tikhvinsky Komplexny Lespromkhoz from 200 private owners. Through this acquisition, UPM aims to improve the availability of quality timber to UPM's own production plants in Russia as well as to the company's mills in Finland. ZAO Tikhvinsky Komplexny Lespromkhoz has a logging licence for almost 200,000 hectares of forests in Tikhvin municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Leningrad province about 250 kilometres east of St. Petersburg. The company also owns two small sawmills. The company employs 500 to 700 persons, depending on the season. Mr. Juri Vasilievits Orlov will continue as a Managing Director of the company. UPM aims to develop the know how of the Tikhvinsky staff and to improve the efficiency of the company's operations. One part of this is a development project which will result in forest management and wood sourcing practices fulfilling the criteria of the international forest certification standards.