diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/SheetUtil.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/SheetUtil.java
index 71c3c3cb4..6b55e223f 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/SheetUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/SheetUtil.java
@@ -293,4 +293,41 @@ public class SheetUtil {
         return false;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Return the cell, taking account of merged regions. Allows you to find the
+     *  cell who's contents are shown in a given position in the sheet.
+     * 
+     * <p>If the cell at the given co-ordinates is a merged cell, this will
+     *  return the primary (top-left) most cell of the merged region.
+     * <p>If the cell at the given co-ordinates is not in a merged region,
+     *  then will return the cell itself.
+     * <p>If there is no cell defined at the given co-ordinates, will return
+     *  null.
+     */
+    public static Cell getCellWithMerges(Sheet sheet, int rowIx, int colIx) {
+        Row r = sheet.getRow(rowIx);
+        if (r != null) {
+            Cell c = r.getCell(colIx);
+            if (c != null) {
+                // Normal, non-merged cell
+                return c;
+            }
+        }
+        
+        for (int mr=0; mr<sheet.getNumMergedRegions(); mr++) {
+            CellRangeAddress mergedRegion = sheet.getMergedRegion(mr);
+            if (mergedRegion.isInRange(rowIx, colIx)) {
+                // The cell wanted is in this merged range
+                // Return the primary (top-left) cell for the range
+                r = sheet.getRow(mergedRegion.getFirstRow());
+                if (r != null) {
+                    return r.getCell(mergedRegion.getFirstColumn());
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        
+        // If we get here, then the cell isn't defined, and doesn't
+        //  live within any merged regions
+        return null;
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestSheetUtil.java b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestSheetUtil.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c8f5d912d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestSheetUtil.java
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+/* ====================================================================
+   Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
+   contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with
+   this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.
+   The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+   (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
+   the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+   
+   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+   
+   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+   limitations under the License.
+   ==================================================================== */
+
+package org.apache.poi.ss.util;
+
+import junit.framework.TestCase;
+
+import org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel.HSSFWorkbook;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Row;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Sheet;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Workbook;
+
+/**
+ * Tests SheetUtil.
+ *
+ * @see org.apache.poi.ss.util.SheetUtil
+ */
+public final class TestSheetUtil extends TestCase {
+    public void testCellWithMerges() throws Exception {
+        Workbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook();
+        Sheet s = wb.createSheet();
+        
+        // Create some test data
+        Row r2 = s.createRow(1);
+        r2.createCell(0).setCellValue(10);
+        r2.createCell(1).setCellValue(11);
+        Row r3 = s.createRow(2);
+        r3.createCell(0).setCellValue(20);
+        r3.createCell(1).setCellValue(21);
+        
+        s.addMergedRegion(new CellRangeAddress(2, 3, 0, 0));
+        s.addMergedRegion(new CellRangeAddress(2, 2, 1, 4));
+        
+        // With a cell that isn't defined, we'll get null
+        assertEquals(null, SheetUtil.getCellWithMerges(s, 0, 0));
+        
+        // With a cell that's not in a merged region, we'll get that
+        assertEquals(10.0, SheetUtil.getCellWithMerges(s, 1, 0).getNumericCellValue());
+        assertEquals(11.0, SheetUtil.getCellWithMerges(s, 1, 1).getNumericCellValue());
+        
+        // With a cell that's the primary one of a merged region, we get that cell
+        assertEquals(20.0, SheetUtil.getCellWithMerges(s, 2, 0).getNumericCellValue());
+        assertEquals(21., SheetUtil.getCellWithMerges(s, 2, 1).getNumericCellValue());
+        
+        // With a cell elsewhere in the merged region, get top-left
+        assertEquals(20.0, SheetUtil.getCellWithMerges(s, 3, 0).getNumericCellValue());
+        assertEquals(21.0, SheetUtil.getCellWithMerges(s, 2, 2).getNumericCellValue());
+        assertEquals(21.0, SheetUtil.getCellWithMerges(s, 2, 3).getNumericCellValue());
+        assertEquals(21.0, SheetUtil.getCellWithMerges(s, 2, 4).getNumericCellValue());
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file