Tricorn close to first shipment from new Chinese facility

AIM-listed tube manufacturer Tricorn surged on Monday following the release of its interim results, in which it reported a decent increase in the half-year dividend.The company, which operates in three main segments - Energy & Utilities, Transportation and Aerospace - is to pay shareholder 0.1p per share in respect of its first-half performance, up 43% on the 0.7p a share paid out last year.Revenue in the six months to the end of September fell from £12.42m to £11.55m as a result of "softening markets" in the second quarter.Nevertheless, improvements in operating profit margins across all three businesses helped group pre-tax profit grow from £0.72m to £0.85m.Tricorn said that its plan to establish a manufacturing facility in China is "on track" and shipments of first products are expected later this month.Chairman Nick Paul said: "We have delivered a strong set of half year results demonstrating continued improvements in operating margins, strong cash generation has led to a considerably strengthened balance sheet and we have made encouraging progress in establishing our manufacturing facility in China. This, alongside the pipeline of opportunities for new business positions us well for further growth.."While Paul admitted that, in the shorter term, the softening in markets seen is likely to continue into the second half, investors didn't seem too bothered, with shares up 6.47% at 18.10p by 15:40.