POOLE-based Merlin Entertainments could become one of Britain's 100 biggest companies when it joins the stock market in around two years' time.

Thousands of workers across three continents would benefit. Merlin plans to share profits with staff after the company floats on the London Stock Exchange.

On Monday Merlin became the world's second largest visitor attraction business after Disney when it bought Madame Tussauds, the London Eye, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington for £1.03 billion.

Merlin already owns the Legoland group, 23 Sea Life parks (including one at Weymouth), five Dungeon attractions, Earth Explorer and Italy's biggest theme park Gardaland.

Merlin's growth has been dramatic. In May 2005 it was bought by US private equity group Blackstone for £102 million - now Merlin is worth at least £2 billion.

Merlin chief executive Nick Varney said they were keen to continue its rapid expand expansion over the next two years.

"If Merlin is not FTSE 100, then it will be knocking on the door of the FTSE 100," he said.

"One of the reasons I have always wanted float Merlin is that you can offer share save schemes so that all the (13,000) employees can take part and share the profits."

Merlin's acquisition of the Tussauds Group creates a business with 30 million visitors a year at 50 attractions across 12 countries..

Merlin bought Tussauds from Dubai International Capital but will provide it with a 20 per cent stake in the combined company.

Merlin, which is based in Market Close, Poole town centre, will target expansion for all its key brands.

Its key target is North America with new Madame Tussauds attractions set to open in Washington DC in 2007 and Hollywood in 2008. A new Legoland park - the group's fifth - is planned for Missouri.

It will benefit from the recent roll-out of Tussauds which has taken the brand to New York, Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Tussauds chief executive Peter Phillipson - formerly boss of Dorchester-based Eldridge Pope - will become non-executive chairman of the new enlarged Merlin.

He said joining forces with Merlin presented new opportunities for the combined group.

"The combined group will be in an excellent position to continue the development of the London Eye and our theme parks, as well as accelerate the roll out of Madame Tussauds around the world."