MOSCOW, May 5 - Severstal-Metiz, the hardware division of Severstal, has increased its stake in Ukraine's Dniprometiz plant to 95% from 60%, the Russian company announced.

Severstal bought the 60% of the Dnipropetrovsk-based Dniprometiz for $33 million from Ukraine's TAS industrial group in February 2006. Severstal also received an option, which it has exercised, to buy another 35% of the shares. The option expired in February this year.