diff --git a/Laptop/mercs Files.cpp b/Laptop/mercs Files.cpp
index 8bbda718..3e41ad50 100644
--- a/Laptop/mercs Files.cpp	
+++ b/Laptop/mercs Files.cpp	
@@ -1070,14 +1070,27 @@ void DisplayMercsStats( UINT8 ubMercID )
 	if (gubCurMercFilesTogglePage == MERC_FILES_INV_PAGE)
 	{
 		//Gear Cost
-		usPosY = usPosY + 145;
+		usPosY = usPosY + 148;
 		DrawTextToScreen( MercInfo[MERC_FILES_GEAR], MERC_STATS_SECOND_COL_X, usPosY, 0, MERC_STATS_FONT, MERC_STATIC_STATS_COLOR, FONT_MCOLOR_BLACK, FALSE, LEFT_JUSTIFIED);
 		
-		if ( (gMercProfiles[ ubMercID ].ubMiscFlags & PROFILE_MISC_FLAG_ALREADY_USED_ITEMS ) 
-			&& ( !(gMercProfiles[ ubMercID ].ubMiscFlags2 & PROFILE_MISC_FLAG2_MERC_GEARKIT_UNPAID) || gGameExternalOptions.fGearKitsAlwaysAvailable ) )
+		if ( (gMercProfiles[ubMercID].ubMiscFlags & PROFILE_MISC_FLAG_ALREADY_USED_ITEMS)
+			&& (!(gMercProfiles[ubMercID].ubMiscFlags2 & PROFILE_MISC_FLAG2_MERC_GEARKIT_UNPAID) || gGameExternalOptions.fGearKitsAlwaysAvailable) )
+		{
 			gMercProfiles[ ubMercID ].usOptionalGearCost = 0;
+		}
+#ifdef JA2UB
+		if ( gSelectedMercKit == 0 ) // First kit is free, due to M.E.R.C special offer
+		{
+			gMercProfiles[ubMercID].usOptionalGearCost = 0;
 
-		swprintf(NsString, L"+ ");
+			// Special offer text above the gear cost
+			const auto y = usPosY - MERC_SPACE_BN_LINES + 2;
+			swprintf( NsString, MercInfo[MERC_FILES_SPECIAL_OFFER] );
+			DrawTextToScreen( NsString, usPosX, y, 95, MERC_TITLE_FONT, MERC_TITLE_COLOR, FONT_MCOLOR_BLACK, FALSE, RIGHT_JUSTIFIED );
+		}
+#endif // JA2UB
+
+		swprintf( NsString, L"+ " );
 		swprintf(sTemp, L"%d",gMercProfiles[ ubMercID ].usOptionalGearCost);
 		InsertCommasForDollarFigure( sTemp );
 		InsertDollarSignInToString( sTemp );
@@ -1089,7 +1102,11 @@ void DisplayMercsStats( UINT8 ubMercID )
 		DrawTextToScreen( MercInfo[MERC_FILES_TOTAL], MERC_STATS_SECOND_COL_X, usPosY, 0, MERC_NAME_FONT, MERC_STATIC_STATS_COLOR, FONT_MCOLOR_BLACK, FALSE, LEFT_JUSTIFIED);
 
 		swprintf(N2sString, L"= ");
+#ifdef JA2UB
+		swprintf( sTemp, L"%d", gMercProfiles[ubMercID].usOptionalGearCost + gMercProfiles[ubMercID].uiWeeklySalary );
+#else
 		swprintf(sTemp, L"%d",gMercProfiles[ ubMercID ].usOptionalGearCost+gMercProfiles[ ubMercID ].sSalary);
+#endif
 		InsertCommasForDollarFigure( sTemp );
 		InsertDollarSignInToString( sTemp );
 		wcscat( N2sString, sTemp );
@@ -1207,16 +1224,25 @@ BOOLEAN MercFilesHireMerc(UINT8 ubMercID)
 			AddTransactionToPlayersBook( HIRED_MERC, ubMercID, GetWorldTotalMin(), Namount );
 		}
 		
-		#ifdef JA2UB
+#ifdef JA2UB
 		//add an entry in the finacial page for the hiring of the merc
-		AddTransactionToPlayersBook(PAY_SPECK_FOR_MERC, ubMercID, GetWorldTotalMin(), -(INT32)( gMercProfiles[ubMercID].uiWeeklySalary ) );
-		#endif
+		INT32 totalCost = gMercProfiles[ubMercID].uiWeeklySalary;
+		if ( gSelectedMercKit > 0 ) // First kit is included in the initial fee
+		{
+			totalCost += gMercProfiles[ubMercID].usOptionalGearCost;
+		}
+		AddTransactionToPlayersBook(PAY_SPECK_FOR_MERC, ubMercID, GetWorldTotalMin(), -totalCost );
+#endif
 
 		//JMich_MMG: Setting the flag that we bought the gear and still haven't paid for it if we succesfully hired the merc
 		if ( fMercBuyEquipment )
 		{
 			gMercProfiles[ ubMercID ].ubMiscFlags |= PROFILE_MISC_FLAG_ALREADY_USED_ITEMS;
+#ifdef JA2UB
+			// Gear cost gets added to initial hiring fee in UB
+#else
 			gMercProfiles[ ubMercID ].ubMiscFlags2 |= PROFILE_MISC_FLAG2_MERC_GEARKIT_UNPAID;
+#endif // JA2UB
 		}
 
 		return(TRUE);
diff --git a/i18n/_ChineseText.cpp b/i18n/_ChineseText.cpp
index 3b7f881c..56deb055 100644
--- a/i18n/_ChineseText.cpp
+++ b/i18n/_ChineseText.cpp
@@ -5478,6 +5478,7 @@ STR16			MercInfo[] =
 	L"未结账单", //L"Unsettled Bills",
 	L"生平", //L"Bio",
 	L"物品", //L"Inv",
+	L"Special Offer!",
 };
 
 
diff --git a/i18n/_DutchText.cpp b/i18n/_DutchText.cpp
index 976ea802..580bb33c 100644
--- a/i18n/_DutchText.cpp
+++ b/i18n/_DutchText.cpp
@@ -5481,6 +5481,7 @@ STR16			MercInfo[] =
 	L"Unsettled Bills", // TODO.Translate
 	L"Bio", // TODO.Translate
 	L"Inv",							
+	L"Special Offer!",
 };
 
 
diff --git a/i18n/_EnglishText.cpp b/i18n/_EnglishText.cpp
index 0f5f947e..377ad755 100644
--- a/i18n/_EnglishText.cpp
+++ b/i18n/_EnglishText.cpp
@@ -5478,6 +5478,7 @@ STR16			MercInfo[] =
 	L"Unsettled Bills",
 	L"Bio",
 	L"Inv",
+	L"Special Offer!",
 };
 
 
diff --git a/i18n/_FrenchText.cpp b/i18n/_FrenchText.cpp
index 6a259577..fbd776a8 100644
--- a/i18n/_FrenchText.cpp
+++ b/i18n/_FrenchText.cpp
@@ -5485,6 +5485,7 @@ STR16			MercInfo[] =
 	L"Payez sa solde",
 	L"Biographie",
 	L"Inventaire",								
+	L"Special Offer!",
 };
 
 
diff --git a/i18n/_GermanText.cpp b/i18n/_GermanText.cpp
index 53bb2601..4b66db3f 100644
--- a/i18n/_GermanText.cpp
+++ b/i18n/_GermanText.cpp
@@ -5429,6 +5429,7 @@ STR16 MercInfo[] =
 	L"Offene Beträge",
 	L"Bio",
 	L"Inv",								
+	L"Special Offer!",
 };
 
 // For use at the M.E.R.C. web site. Text relating to opening an account with MERC
diff --git a/i18n/_ItalianText.cpp b/i18n/_ItalianText.cpp
index 6f9cbb10..0601468b 100644
--- a/i18n/_ItalianText.cpp
+++ b/i18n/_ItalianText.cpp
@@ -5468,6 +5468,7 @@ STR16			MercInfo[] =
 	L"Unsettled Bills", // TODO.Translate
 	L"Bio", // TODO.Translate
 	L"Inv",								
+	L"Special Offer!",
 };
 
 
diff --git a/i18n/_PolishText.cpp b/i18n/_PolishText.cpp
index 8445de0d..f49fe637 100644
--- a/i18n/_PolishText.cpp
+++ b/i18n/_PolishText.cpp
@@ -5481,6 +5481,7 @@ STR16			MercInfo[] =
 	L"Unsettled Bills", // TODO.Translate
 	L"Bio", // TODO.Translate
 	L"Inv",
+	L"Special Offer!",
 };
 
 
diff --git a/i18n/_RussianText.cpp b/i18n/_RussianText.cpp
index 110c38e7..5b1a777e 100644
--- a/i18n/_RussianText.cpp
+++ b/i18n/_RussianText.cpp
@@ -5474,6 +5474,7 @@ STR16			MercInfo[] =
 	L"Неоплаченные счета",
 	L"Информация",
 	L"Снаряжение",
+	L"Special Offer!",
 };
 
 
diff --git a/i18n/include/Text.h b/i18n/include/Text.h
index 6d97672a..12584904 100644
--- a/i18n/include/Text.h
+++ b/i18n/include/Text.h
@@ -1262,6 +1262,7 @@ enum
 	MERC_FILES_MERC_OUTSTANDING,
 	MERC_FILES_BIO,	//JMich_MMG: Adding two new texts for the small button, assuming we manage to add a silhouette with the gear, add it after this.
 	MERC_FILES_INVENTORY,
+	MERC_FILES_SPECIAL_OFFER,
 	TEXT_NUM_MERC_FILES,
 };
 extern		STR16			MercInfo[];