MorganFranklin Cyber, a fast-growing standalone cybersecurity advisory and managed services firm, is advancing its strategy by acquiring Lynx Technology Partners. Beyond expanding service capabilities, the deal brings Lynx’s founder, Aric K. Perminter, into MorganFranklin’s leadership, signaling a strong alignment in growth ambition and client-centric culture.
Deal Summary
- Buyer: MorganFranklin Cyber, which became an independent firm earlier in 2025 with backing from private equity firm MC Partners.
- Target: Lynx Technology Partners, founded in 2009, delivers cybersecurity, compliance, and risk advisory services.
- Geographic Reach: Lynx operates out of the U.S., and its team will integrate into MorganFranklin’s advisory platform.
- Leadership: Aric K. Perminter, Founder and Chairman of Lynx, joins MorganFranklin as Managing Director of Client Relations, reporting to CRO Ferdinand Hamada.
- Strategic Rationale: MorganFranklin sees Lynx’s disciplined client engagement, risk-management expertise, and market reputation as critical enablers for its next growth phase.
- Integration: The Lynx team will be fully folded into MorganFranklin Cyber, and all staff will be offered inclusion in MorganFranklin’s employee ownership plan.
Industry Context
The cybersecurity advisory market is heating up, with consultancies and managed services firms consolidating to assemble deeper, more specialized capabilities. Clients are no longer just asking for firewalls - they expect risk intelligence, long-term resilience planning, and strategic advisory across cyber, compliance, and operations.
MorganFranklin’s acquisition of Lynx aligns perfectly with this market dynamic. By integrating a firm known for risk management and compliance advisory, it can provide end-to-end cyber guidance. At the same time, it reinforces its go-to-market engine with seasoned client relationship leadership - a powerful combination in an increasingly competitive cybersecurity services landscape.
Lower-Middle-Market Roll-Up Perspective
From a PE and platform-strategy angle, this deal illustrates several key themes:
- Capability-Driven M&A: Rather than buy for scale alone, MorganFranklin acquired a firm with highly complementary skills and industry credibility in risk and compliance.
- Leadership Continuity: With Aric Perminter joining the leadership team, MorganFranklin retains Lynx’s client-trusted face and strategic vision.
- Scalability through Integration: MorganFranklin can layer its infrastructure - technology, operations, client delivery - on top of Lynx’s advisory expertise to scale more efficiently.
- PE-Enabled Growth: Backed by MC Partners, MorganFranklin is executing a growth model that uses M&A to accelerate service expansion and geographic reach.
- Employee Alignment: By offering equity to Lynx employees, MorganFranklin ensures cultural alignment and incentivizes long-term retention.
Why This Sector Is Attractive for Roll-Ups
- Fragmentation with Upside: Many boutique cyber advisory firms lack the capital or scale to grow globally - making them natural partners or targets for roll-up platforms.
- Recurring and Strategic Revenue: Risk advisory, compliance, and managed services provide stable, high-margin revenue streams.
- Sophisticated Demand: Clients increasingly seek deep expertise in third-party risk, governance, and resilience, not just tactical security.
- Tech + Talent Synergy: Platforms can combine technology-enabled delivery (e.g., managed services) with high-touch advisory work for differentiated outcomes.
- PE Appetite: Investors continue to back cyber platforms that can serve advisory, managed services, and digital transformation needs.
Conclusion
MorganFranklin Cyber’s acquisition of Lynx Technology Partners is a strategically significant move that strengthens its advisory capabilities and leadership bench. By bringing in Lynx’s expertise and elevating Aric Perminter to a senior role, MorganFranklin is forging a deeper, more durable cyber-risk advisory platform.
For investors, this transaction reinforces the value of building cyber platforms that combine advisory, risk services, and delivery scale. For founders of specialized cybersecurity firms, it highlights a compelling exit path: partner with an ambitious, PE-backed firm to scale while preserving mission and expertise.