Motive Partners has completed its acquisition of Mobius, a UK-based pension investment platform, from Phoenix Equity Partners following receipt of required regulatory approvals.
The transaction gives Motive ownership of a scaled investment infrastructure business serving pensions and wealth clients across the United Kingdom.
Mobius supports more than 600 clients and has over £36 billion in assets under administration. The platform is connected to more than 100 investment managers and serves workplace pension schemes across both Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit structures, as well as Self-Invested Personal Pensions.
Mobius operates as a UK life insurance company and provides an open-architecture platform that enables clients to create customized investment products combining traditional and alternative assets.
Its structure allows clients to blend, wrap, and unitize different asset classes, including private markets, into daily-priced, tax-efficient fund products for pension and wealth portfolios.
Motive said the acquisition aligns with its Wealth & Asset Management investment strategy, particularly around expanding access to private markets, improving pension investment products, and supporting demand for modern investment infrastructure.
The firm plans to apply its Investor-Operator-Innovator model to Mobius, combining capital with operational capabilities, financial technology expertise, and support for technology-led transformation.
Motive and Mobius intend to expand the platform’s capabilities, strengthen connectivity across the investment ecosystem, and support clients seeking more sophisticated retirement and wealth solutions.
The acquisition also comes as pension providers, wealth platforms, and asset managers face growing demand for flexible infrastructure that can handle more complex investment strategies and broader asset classes.
Mobius CEO James Finch will continue leading the company as it enters its next phase of growth.
Support: Lazard, Oliver Wyman, Proskauer, and PwC served as advisers to Motive Partners on the transaction.
KEY QUOTES:
“Motive is delighted to complete this investment and formally welcome Mobius to our portfolio. Mobius has established a distinctive position in an increasingly important part of the financial services ecosystem: enabling pension schemes, wealth platforms and asset managers to bring more sophisticated investment solutions to market.”
Scott Kauffman, Founding Partner And Head Of Investments At Motive Partners
“The completion of this transaction is an important milestone for Mobius. We are excited to begin this new chapter with Motive Partners, whose deep expertise across financial technology, wealth and asset management makes them an especially strong partner for our business.”
James Finch, CEO Of Mobius
“Mobius has a clear opportunity to help define the next generation of pension and wealth investment infrastructure. The market is evolving quickly, driven by increasing product complexity, private markets adoption and the need to improve outcomes for pensioners.”
Neil Cochrane, Founding Partner, Investments At Motive Partners
“Today marks a strong vote of confidence in the Mobius team, our platform and the opportunity ahead. Motive shares our conviction that the pensions and wealth market requires flexible, scalable infrastructure capable of supporting increasingly sophisticated investment strategies.”
Steve Groves, Chair Of Mobius
