The deal announced this week in Milan will give Deutsche Bank branches, private bankers, and wealth management affiliates access to a selection of funds run on the global asset manager’s flagship MFS Meridian funds.

The Luxembourg-domiciled funds will be available on Deutsche’s platform and include equity, fixed income and multi-asset strategies, both firms said in a statement.

The US Boston-based asset house, which launched the first mutual fund in 1924 and is known for its longer-term investment approach, manages around $466 billion in assets globally. The firm said that it has built a “solid reputation with professional buyers” since entering the Italian market in 2005, and will use the deal to leverage Deutsche Bank’s extensive retail distribution clout.

Managing director for Italy, Andrea Baron, said the goal is to create “a full service partnership” that gives Deutsche advisors access to high-quality strategies, training sessions, and a “deep-pool" of market analysis and insights.

Deutsche said a distribution agreement with such a "major player" will allow it to deepen and diversify products and services for its network of branches, private bankers and financial advisors.