A London-based media group has added four trade shows in the UK and South Africa to its offering.

United Business Media has bought security, marketing and interior design shows for a combined £4.7 million in cash.

The deal has introduced the Sleep Event, the Arc Show, Securex and International Direct Marketing Fair (IDMF) to its Live Media subsidiary, which was formerly part of CMP Information.

High-end interior design tradeshows the Sleep Event and the Arc Show are staged in London.

Sleep is a design-led exhibition, conference and awards ceremony for hotel owners, operators, designers, architects, investors and developers. This year’s event is expected to generate revenues of some £1 million. Arc is a lighting event and conference for the architectural, retail and commercial lighting sectors that makes £500,000 a year.

United Business also took a 50 per cent stake in Securex, a South African security event, from African tradeshow organiser Andry Montgomery.

IDMF was sold by Reed Elsevier and focuses on the direct marketing industry, attracting printers, mailing houses and distribution companies. In 2008 it made some £1.3 million.

Live Media chief executive Jane Risby-Rose said these acquisitions broaden the company’s event portfolio in key markets.