Nexi's private equity owners sell 8.8% stake at 14.2 euros/share

MILAN (Reuters) - Mercury UK, a vehicle of private equity firms that hold a controlling stake in Nexi , has placed an 8.8% stake in the Italian payments group at a price of 14.2 euros (12.63 pounds) per share, a Milan-based trader said.The price represents a 7.2% discount to Nexi's closing price of 15.305 euros a share on Tuesday.The sale comes as Nexi advances in talks with rival SIA over a potential merger to create an Italian champion in the fast-growing payments sector.Mercury UK, which..