Extens, an investment fund specializing in healthcare software and
data, supported the Lyon-based Imagine Human Group in its acquisition of
Qualnet®, a French publisher of software solutions specializing in
Quality, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) management.
This transaction is part of Imagine Human’s development strategy
aimed at strengthening its digital QHSE and CSR offering and
consolidating its position as a leader in this segment, combining
organic growth with targeted external growth. It enables the group to
enhance its software platform, accelerate its innovation capabilities –
particularly in Business Process Management and no-code technologies –
and strengthen its sector expertise in the service of its clients in
France and internationally.
Founded in 2019, Imagine Human is an international “impact technology”
group addressing the major economic, social, and environmental
challenges faced by both private and public organizations. The group
develops and delivers digital solutions in more than 40 countries
dedicated to Quality, Occupational Health & Safety, Environment
(QHSE), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) governance. Imagine
Human has been owned by Extens and its management team since early 2024.
With the integration of Qualnet®, Imagine Human expands its QHSE
offering with tailor-made solutions for the digitalization of quality,
safety, and environmental processes. The acquisition also strengthens
the group’s industrial development capabilities and supports the
acceleration of its innovation initiatives, particularly in artificial
intelligence and process automation.
Founded in 1997, Qualnet® is a French QHSE software publisher recognized
for its expertise in regulatory and standards-related challenges. The
company develops the Intraqual suite, comprising quality document
management solutions and process digitalization tools based on
customizable workflows. For nearly 30 years, its no-code tools have
supported quality managers in public and private organizations in
improving efficiency, compliance, and collaboration around their
management systems.
Already recognized for its simple, innovative, and reliable digital
solutions, the Imagine Human Group now offers a unique software
portfolio, distinguished by the complementarity of its functionalities
and its international reach. It deploys a comprehensive, strategic
approach to QHSE and CSR challenges and provides companies with a
complete range of interconnected solutions in more than 40 countries,
including Fletchr®, Qualipro®, Qualnet®, and Winlassie®.
“The integration of Qualnet® perfectly complements our portfolio of
digital QHSE and CSR solutions and offers our clients new opportunities
to digitalize their Quality, Safety, and Environment processes. Our
ambition is to meet their needs regardless of their size, industry, or
level of organizational maturity. This acquisition significantly
strengthens our position in the French market and, of course, supports
the acceleration of our international development. We are delighted to
welcome Olivier Le Pape and the entire Qualnet® team to the Group,” said
Yannick Jarlaud, President of the Imagine Human Group.
“It is with great enthusiasm that Qualnet® and its team are joining the
Imagine Human Group today. Becoming part of a software suite and an
ecosystem of QHSE professionals will allow us to further enhance our
value proposition in France and to develop it internationally within a
fast-growing group. This change enables us to strengthen our innovation
capabilities while remaining true to our commitments to quality and
close customer relationships. I am delighted to open this new chapter in
our history and to contribute to the growth of the Imagine Human
Group,” stated Olivier Le Pape, Chief Executive Officer of Qualnet®.
“This acquisition perfectly illustrates the strategy we are pursuing
with Imagine Human: building, through consolidation, a reference QHSE
and CSR software platform. Qualnet® brings complementary building
blocks, particularly in process digitalization, which strengthen the
group’s value proposition for organizations of all sizes. At Extens, we
are proud to support this sustainable growth trajectory and the
acceleration of Imagine Human’s international rollout,” declared Charles
Bourgain, Executive Director at Extens.
This transaction illustrates Extens’s value-creation strategy, which is
based on active operational support of its portfolio companies to help
them become leaders in their respective markets. It fully aligns with
the consolidation momentum initiated by Imagine Human since Extens’
entry into its share capital.