At a glance: Britain's new high street giant

Number of employees: 43,607

Annual revenues in year to end of March: Carphone - £3.3bn, Dixons - £7.2bn

Annual pre-tax profits in year to end of March: Carphone - £133m, Dixons - £133m

Chairman of Dixons Carphone: Sir Charles Dunstone (Carphone Warehouse co-founder)

Deputy chairman: Roger Taylor (Carphone) and John Allan (Dixons)

Chief executive: Sebastian James (Dixons chief executive)

Deputy chief executive: Andrew Harrison (Carphone Warehouse chief executive)

Finance director: Humphrey Singer (Dixons)

What the critics say: “With both businesses boasting a similar market capitalisation, concerns remain that the emphasis on equality in the merger may be masking indecision over who should take charge. Although there are plenty of reasons to view the merger in a positive light, the history of M&A is littered with the corpses of failed unions." - David Alexander, retail analyst at Conlumino, said.

“Despite both retailers being keen to point to the ‘Connected world’ being one step closer thanks to the merger, in reality, this is a simple and relatively boring cost-cutting exercise, which they are attempting to give a more interesting futuristic sheen." - Patrick O’Brien, retail analyst at Verdict, said.

"Two past their sell by date retailers merging does not an Amazon make." - Louise Cooper

What the backers say: "We have a deep respect for each other and we see the merger of these two great companies as an opportunity to bring our skills together for the consumer and create a new retailer for the digital age. We are also creating jobs and we see many opportunities for further growth." - Sir Charles Dunstone

"We will build what I hope will be the first and best truly multi-channel proposition that allows customers not only to buy and experience the explosion of new connected products that are emerging, but to also get the advice, connectivity and services that will allow them to use technology as it should be used - to make their lives better. In turn, this will allow us profoundly to change the nature of what we do. We will move from a transactional to a lifelong relationship with customers everywhere." - Sebastian James

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