init SE anticipates another record year

EQS-News: init innovation in traffic systems SE / Key word(s): AGM/EGM
init SE anticipates another record year

06.06.2024 / 17:20 CET/CEST
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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  * After winning two major contracts in the first quarter of 2024, order
    backlog grows to EUR 384m (previous year: EUR 195m)

* Shareholders' meeting approves dividend increase to EUR 0.70 per share

  * Managing Board member Dr. Jürgen Greschner and Chairman of the
    Supervisory Board Hans-Joachim Rühlig step down

init innovation in traffic systems SE (ISIN DE 0005759807) expects another
record year ahead and is forecasting growth of 10 to 15 per cent in the
coming years. As an indication, after winning two major contracts, the order
intake swelled to EUR 256.1m in the first quarter of 2024 (Q1 2023: EUR 69.5
m). At today's shareholders' meeting of the global leader in digital
transformation solutions for buses and trains, the shareholders applauded
this growth trajectory. Proposals for the appropriation of profits and an
increase in the regular dividend to EUR 0.70 per share were also passed with
a large majority.

The Managing Board and Supervisory Board justified the proposed dividend
with the solid profit generated by the company in 2023 and the future
prospects as a provider of integrated planning, dispatch, telematics and
ticketing solutions for public transport. At the end of the first quarter
init's order backlog amounted to EUR 384m (previous year: EUR 195 m). On
this basis, the Managing Board anticipates double-digit growth in revenue to
between EUR 240m and 260m (2023: EUR 211 m). EBIT should therefore amount to
between EUR 24m and 28m (2023: EUR 21 m).

Megatrend towards sustainable investment drives init growth

"We are benefiting from the global megatrend towards sustainable investment
in the digital transformation of the public transport sector. As the
recognised technology leader in this area, with a large and stable customer
base, there is also further up-selling and cross-selling potential for our
software solutions and hardware components. We therefore also see positive
opportunities to increase our double-digit EBIT margin," said Dr. Gottfried
Greschner in his report to the shareholders.

For the shareholders, this is reflected not only in higher dividends, but
also in a rapid rise in the price of init stock, which has grown by more
than 30 per cent in the last six months to today EUR 40.00. Analysts
currently see further growth potential for the share to reach beyond the EUR
50.00 mark. Dr. Gottfried Greschner and the CFO, Dr. Marco Ferber's
announcements were met with applause by the shareholders.

The shareholders also paid tribute to two people who have played a key role
in the success of the company over the past decades and who were attending
the shareholders' meeting for the last time: Chief Sales Director and Deputy
Chairman of the Managing Board, Dr. Jürgen Greschner, and the Chairman of
the Supervisory Board, Mr. Hans-Joachim Rühlig, both of whom are stepping
down from their respective board positions at their own volition.

"Dr. Jürgen Greschner has been responsible for sales since 2004 and has
played a decisive role in the successful internationalization of init. As
Managing Director, he established INIT Innovations in Transportation, Inc.
in the USA in 1999, which is now one of the main pillars of our company.
Most recently, under his leadership, init won the largest single contract in
its corporate history. Under Dr. Jürgen Greschner's leadership, init broke
into the global market and now has locations in 14 countries on 4
continents. We owe him a great debt of gratitude and are very happy that he
intends to remain actively involved in operations in a managerial position
to assist the sales function," said Dr. Gottfried Greschner in recognition
of Dr. Jürgen Greschner's achievements.

init share price has more than doubled

Dr. Gottfried Greschner, init's founder, then moved on to thank Hans-Joachim
Rühlig for his work on the Supervisory Board. During Mr. Rühlig's term as
Chairman of the Supervisory Board, many key strategic decisions were made
which set init on its successful trajectory, whose implementation he then
constructively monitored. As examples, Greschner cited the founding of new
subsidiaries and corporate acquisitions such as the DResearch
Fahrzeugelektronik Group, inola in Austria and Mattersoft in Finland.

"Dear Hans-Joachim, I would like to thank you on behalf of the entire
Managing Board and the shareholders represented here today for your
wonderfully collaborative work, your corporate governance input, your
far-reaching vision for key decisions and, most of all, your fantastic
leadership of the Supervisory Board. In this time, init has more than
doubled its revenue, headcount and share price," concluded Greschner. "init
innovation in traffic systems SE has become a very stable stock with
extraordinarily good growth perspectives. We intend to maintain this
successful course in the future."

Continued success with AI-based software

According to Gottfried Greschner, the increasing use of AI-based software is
an important driver of this trend. "With AI, public transport operators can
generate substantial productivity and quality gains. At the same time, AI is
helping to make public transport safer, more efficient and more
climate-friendly."

init has been using AI to optimise its processes for the planning and
dispatching of transport fleets for many years now. Among other things, this
enables improved departure forecasts, optimal route planning and fast
responses to current events, such as accidents or traffic jams. In a pilot
project led by init and Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation
District that was set up in the highly congested city of San Francisco, an
AI-based software solution significantly improved the reliability of
departure forecasts from 49 per cent to 85 per cent. Another area of
application is the analysis and forecasting of vehicle occupancy rates to
provide passengers with better information, via apps on their smartphones,
for example.

MOBILE-FLEX from init, an integrated booking, dispatch and optimisation
solution for on-demand services, is another example of the use of AI in
public transport. An AI-based optimisation algorithm links passenger
requests in an efficient and easy-to-use manner, allowing shorter booking
times based on real-time vehicle positions. Smaller and more economical
vehicles means fewer but better utilized trips, creating a win-win situation
for both public transport operators and passengers.

Another major challenge for public transport systems is the shortage of
skilled workers. init's MOBILE-PERDIS nextGen application creates the best
duty rosters for drivers or transport operators on the basis of their
individual wants and needs and can be continuously updated. This not only
increases flexibility but also staff satisfaction among drivers which are a
scarce resource. In this way, it also counters the problem of driver
shortages for public transport operations. This avoids restricted
availability for fixed route services, low fare receipts and disgruntled
passengers. "There are also major global growth opportunities for these
solutions," states the Chairman of the Managing Board in his outlook.

Contact:

Person making the notification:
Simone Fritz
Investor Relations
ir@initse.com


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   Language:       English
   Company:        init innovation in traffic systems SE
                   Käppelestraße 4-10
                   76131 Karlsruhe
                   Germany
   Phone:          +49 (0)721 6100 0
   Fax:            +49 (0)721 6100 399
   E-mail:         ir@initse.com
   Internet:       www.initse.com
   ISIN:           DE0005759807
   WKN:            575980
   Listed:         Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
                   Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf,
                   Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
   EQS News ID:    1920041

End of News EQS News Service
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1920041 06.06.2024 CET/CEST