diff --git a/src/contrib/src/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/contrib/HSSFRegionUtil.java b/src/contrib/src/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/contrib/HSSFRegionUtil.java
index f587f022f..ea525149c 100644
--- a/src/contrib/src/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/contrib/HSSFRegionUtil.java
+++ b/src/contrib/src/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/contrib/HSSFRegionUtil.java
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel.HSSFRow;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel.HSSFSheet;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel.HSSFWorkbook;
 
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang.exception.NestableException;
 
diff --git a/src/examples/src/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/examples/MergedCells.java b/src/examples/src/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/examples/MergedCells.java
index c44d81617..fa66d76f0 100644
--- a/src/examples/src/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/examples/MergedCells.java
+++ b/src/examples/src/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/examples/MergedCells.java
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel.examples;
 
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel.*;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.FileOutputStream;
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/dev/HSSF.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/dev/HSSF.java
index 7dddca966..4302357c4 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/dev/HSSF.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/dev/HSSF.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import java.io.FileInputStream;
 import java.io.FileOutputStream;
 
 import org.apache.poi.poifs.filesystem.POIFSFileSystem;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel.*;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.*;
 
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/CFHeaderRecord.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/CFHeaderRecord.java
index d74d54ab1..224f5e5c1 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/CFHeaderRecord.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/CFHeaderRecord.java
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.record;
 
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cf.CellRange;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndian;
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/aggregates/CFRecordsAggregate.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/aggregates/CFRecordsAggregate.java
index 81154ebb2..d91269ed3 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/aggregates/CFRecordsAggregate.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/aggregates/CFRecordsAggregate.java
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.CFHeaderRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.CFRuleRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.Record;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.RecordInputStream;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.util.POILogFactory;
 import org.apache.poi.util.POILogger;
 
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cf/CellRange.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cf/CellRange.java
index f45b79b00..41cb4a2a2 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cf/CellRange.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cf/CellRange.java
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.List;
 
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 
 /**
  * 
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFConditionalFormatting.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFConditionalFormatting.java
index d9e470a68..6a08c4b30 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFConditionalFormatting.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFConditionalFormatting.java
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.CFHeaderRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.CFRuleRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.aggregates.CFRecordsAggregate;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cf.CellRange;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 
 /**
  * HSSFConditionalFormatting class encapsulates all settings of Conditional Formatting. 
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFSheet.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFSheet.java
index 4aad1e1b1..ca0c126f4 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFSheet.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFSheet.java
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.formula.ReferencePtg;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.HSSFCellRangeAddress;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.HSSFDataValidation;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.PaneInformation;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.CellStyle;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Row;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.util.POILogFactory;
 import org.apache.poi.util.POILogger;
 
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/util/Region.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/Region.java
similarity index 93%
rename from src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/util/Region.java
rename to src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/Region.java
index 67d52eb13..e44026cde 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/util/Region.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/util/Region.java
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 ==================================================================== */
 
 
-package org.apache.poi.hssf.util;
+package org.apache.poi.ss.util;
 
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.MergeCellsRecord.MergedRegion;
 
@@ -218,4 +218,14 @@ public class Region
         return ((1 + (getRowTo() - getRowFrom()))
                 * (1 + (getColumnTo() - getColumnFrom())));
     }
+    
+    /**
+     * @return the string reference for this region
+     */
+    public String getRegionRef() {
+    	CellReference cellRefFrom = new CellReference(rowFrom, colFrom);
+    	CellReference cellRefTo = new CellReference(rowTo, colTo);
+    	String ref = cellRefFrom.formatAsString() + ":" + cellRefTo.formatAsString();
+		return ref;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/ooxml/interfaces-jdk15/org/apache/poi/ss/usermodel/Sheet.java b/src/ooxml/interfaces-jdk15/org/apache/poi/ss/usermodel/Sheet.java
index fe533b284..e9fd943ba 100644
--- a/src/ooxml/interfaces-jdk15/org/apache/poi/ss/usermodel/Sheet.java
+++ b/src/ooxml/interfaces-jdk15/org/apache/poi/ss/usermodel/Sheet.java
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ package org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel;
 import java.util.Iterator;
 
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.PaneInformation;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 
 public interface Sheet extends Iterable<Row> {
 
diff --git a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFSheet.java b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFSheet.java
index d6106ff20..50ae19b89 100644
--- a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFSheet.java
+++ b/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFSheet.java
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import java.util.LinkedList;
 import java.util.List;
 
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.PaneInformation;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.CellStyle;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Comment;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.CommentsSource;
@@ -37,6 +36,7 @@ import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.PrintSetup;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Row;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Sheet;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.util.CellReference;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.xssf.model.CommentsTable;
 import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.helpers.ColumnHelper;
 import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlOptions;
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ import org.openxmlformats.schemas.spreadsheetml.x2006.main.CTCols;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.spreadsheetml.x2006.main.CTDialogsheet;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.spreadsheetml.x2006.main.CTHeaderFooter;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.spreadsheetml.x2006.main.CTHyperlink;
+import org.openxmlformats.schemas.spreadsheetml.x2006.main.CTMergeCell;
+import org.openxmlformats.schemas.spreadsheetml.x2006.main.CTMergeCells;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.spreadsheetml.x2006.main.CTPageBreak;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.spreadsheetml.x2006.main.CTPageMargins;
 import org.openxmlformats.schemas.spreadsheetml.x2006.main.CTPageSetUpPr;
@@ -72,6 +74,7 @@ public class XSSFSheet implements Sheet {
     protected ColumnHelper columnHelper;
     protected XSSFWorkbook workbook;
     protected CommentsSource sheetComments;
+    protected CTMergeCells ctMergeCells;
 
     public static final short LeftMargin = 0;
     public static final short RightMargin = 1;
@@ -189,10 +192,18 @@ public class XSSFSheet implements Sheet {
     }
     
     public int addMergedRegion(Region region) {
-        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
-        return 0;
+    	addNewMergeCell(region);
+    	return ctMergeCells.sizeOfMergeCellArray();
     }
 
+    private void addNewMergeCell(Region region) {
+    	if (ctMergeCells == null) {
+    		ctMergeCells = worksheet.addNewMergeCells();
+    	}
+    	CTMergeCell ctMergeCell = ctMergeCells.addNewMergeCell();
+    	ctMergeCell.setRef(region.getRegionRef());
+	}
+
     public void autoSizeColumn(short column) {
     	columnHelper.setColBestFit(column, true);
     }
diff --git a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestBugs.java b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestBugs.java
index f05c1d115..119556c22 100644
--- a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestBugs.java
+++ b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestBugs.java
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel;
 
 import junit.framework.TestCase;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
+
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.util.TempFile;
 
 import java.io.*;
diff --git a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestCloneSheet.java b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestCloneSheet.java
index a663602ed..6a0b15158 100644
--- a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestCloneSheet.java
+++ b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestCloneSheet.java
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel;
 
 import junit.framework.TestCase;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
+
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 
 /**
  * Test the ability to clone a sheet. 
diff --git a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestDataValidation.java b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestDataValidation.java
index 34885e7a2..2c28edf3a 100644
--- a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestDataValidation.java
+++ b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestDataValidation.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel;
 import junit.framework.TestCase;
 
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.*;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 
 import java.io.*;
 import java.util.*;
diff --git a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestHSSFConditionalFormatting.java b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestHSSFConditionalFormatting.java
index 5dcc61aa4..d03a3a407 100644
--- a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestHSSFConditionalFormatting.java
+++ b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestHSSFConditionalFormatting.java
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import junit.framework.TestCase;
 
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.CFRuleRecord.ComparisonOperator;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.HSSFColor;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 /**
  * 
  * @author Dmitriy Kumshayev
diff --git a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestHSSFSheet.java b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestHSSFSheet.java
index 13eafa4fd..f3283677b 100644
--- a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestHSSFSheet.java
+++ b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestHSSFSheet.java
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.SCLRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.VCenterRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.WSBoolRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.WindowTwoRecord;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.poifs.filesystem.POIFSFileSystem;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.util.TempFile;
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestWorkbook.java b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestWorkbook.java
index efe726a6a..bf6953e78 100644
--- a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestWorkbook.java
+++ b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestWorkbook.java
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.BackupRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.LabelSSTRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.Record;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.aggregates.ValueRecordsAggregate;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.poifs.filesystem.POIFSFileSystem;
+import org.apache.poi.ss.util.Region;
 import org.apache.poi.util.TempFile;
 
 import java.io.File;
diff --git a/src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xssf/util/TestCellReference.java b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestCellReference.java
similarity index 99%
rename from src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xssf/util/TestCellReference.java
rename to src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestCellReference.java
index 79a1c3717..f13b22113 100644
--- a/src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xssf/util/TestCellReference.java
+++ b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestCellReference.java
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
    limitations under the License.
 ==================================================================== */
 
-package org.apache.poi.xssf.util;
+package org.apache.poi.ss.util;
 
 import org.apache.poi.ss.util.CellReference;
 
diff --git a/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestRegion.java b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestRegion.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8cd620d38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/util/TestRegion.java
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+/* ====================================================================
+   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;
+
+
+/**
+ * Tests that the common CellReference works as we need it to
+ */
+public class TestRegion extends TestCase {
+	
+	public void testGetRegionRef() {
+		int rowFrom = 3;
+		short colFrom = 3;
+		int rowTo = 9;
+		short colTo = 9;
+		Region region = new Region(rowFrom, colFrom, rowTo, colTo);
+		assertEquals("D4:J10", region.getRegionRef());
+	}
+	
+	public void testContains() {
+		int rowFrom = 3;
+		short colFrom = 3;
+		int rowTo = 9;
+		short colTo = 9;
+		Region region = new Region(rowFrom, colFrom, rowTo, colTo);
+		assertEquals("D4:J10", region.getRegionRef());
+		assertTrue(region.contains(5, (short) 7));
+		assertTrue(region.contains(9, (short) 9));
+		assertFalse(region.contains(9, (short) 10));
+	}
+	
+}