Aviva Investors, a top-40 shareholder in Barclays, says it will back the bank’s management in their upcoming boardroom showdown with activist investor Edward Bramson.

David Cumming, chief investment officer for equities at Aviva Investors, said in a February 21 statement: “As significant shareholders in Barclays and Sherborne Investors, we do not see merit in Edward Bramson’s proposal to join Barclays’ board as a non-executive director.