Virtual exhibition and conferencing group Expocentric has been awarded three new contracts from across the pond. The deals include a partnership with American exhibition organiser EJ Krause - producer of more than 60 events each year - which will see Expocentric put together a virtual version of the Maryland Technology Showcase. Exhibitors at MTS include the likes of Microsoft, IBM and Cisco. The other contracts include a three-day on-line conference-trade show in conjunction with the Trade Show News Network and a deal with Palm Beach County in Florida to develop a virtual tour of its new convention centre. The agreements afford Expocentric greater territorial diversity, figures for the year to December revealing that 62% of its £171m of turnover came from the UK alone. In April the company also signed a deal with the managers of one of South East Asia's biggest conference centres to promote its virtual technology. House broker Investec Henderson Crosthwaite forecasts losses of £6.9m for the current year, £5.7m better than in 2000.