Motive Partners announced a strategic investment in UK-based pension investment platform Mobius, acquiring the company from Phoenix Equity Partners in a deal expected to close later this year, subject to customary closing conditions.
Mobius provides investment administration services to more than 600 clients across defined benefit, defined contribution, and self-invested personal pension markets. The company oversees more than £30 billion in assets under administration and connects clients to over 100 investment managers, enabling pension and retirement solutions through a flexible, open architecture platform.
The investment aligns with Motive Partners’ thesis around the convergence of pensions, wealth management, and private markets. The firm believes that increasing product complexity, the rise of alternative investments, and demand for modern infrastructure are transforming wealth and asset management.
Under Phoenix Equity Partners’ ownership, Mobius expanded its platform capabilities, including fund wrapping, blending, and unitization, allowing clients to combine traditional and alternative assets into scalable investment solutions. These capabilities position the company to support growing demand for customized pension and retirement offerings.
The transaction also enhances Motive Partners’ broader ecosystem strategy across wealth and asset management. The firm has built capabilities spanning data and connectivity, execution, product manufacturing, and post-trade processing, with Mobius adding product structuring and distribution capabilities across pensions and long-term savings.
Motive Partners said it will apply its investor, operator, innovator (IOI) model to support Mobius’ growth, innovation, and scalability through operational expertise and technology-driven transformation initiatives.
The investment comes amid significant changes in the UK pensions and wealth market, including consolidation, increasing allocations to private markets, and rising demand for improved accumulation and decumulation solutions.
Advisors to Motive Partners on the transaction included Lazard, Oliver Wyman, Proskauer, and PwC.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are excited to partner with Mobius at a pivotal moment in the evolution of wealth and pensions. Our investment thesis is grounded in the belief that wealth and asset management is being reshaped by the rise of alternatives, increasing complexity of products, and the need for modern infrastructure. Mobius has built a distinctive platform that enables this shift, connecting asset managers, pension schemes, and wealth platforms through flexible, open architecture. We believe Mobius is well positioned to help shape the future of wealth and retirement investing. As demand grows for private markets access, more personalized investment solutions, and modern infrastructure, Mobius is a category leader at the intersection of those trends. We’re excited to partner with the team to support the company’s next phase of international growth, expand its capabilities, and further strengthen connectivity across the investment ecosystem.”
Scott Kauffman, Founding Partner, Head of Investments, Motive Partners, and Neil Cochrane, Partner, Motive Partners
“Motive is the ideal partner for the next phase of our growth. Mobius is an established, innovative business with a unique position in the UK pensions market. With Motive’s investment and experience, we can accelerate development of our platform and capabilities for the benefit of clients. Global demand for better pension and retirement outcomes is increasing, driving the need for more advanced investment infrastructure and deep operational expertise. With Motive’s support, I’m excited about the role Mobius will play in the future of pensions and wealth.”
James Finch, CEO, Mobius
“At a time when pension systems and wealth platforms are evolving rapidly, the need for flexible, scalable investment infrastructure has never been greater. Mobius has built a distinctive position at the intersection of pensions, wealth, and private markets, helping clients access increasingly sophisticated investment solutions through a modern, open-architecture platform. Motive Partners brings deep sector expertise, a strong global network, and a shared vision for the future of investment infrastructure. We are delighted to welcome them as a strategic partner as we accelerate the next phase of growth for the business.”
Steve Groves, Chair, Mobius
