ShopKo Takeover Faces Still Opposition

New York City, The $1 billion takeover of ShopKo Stores Inc. by buyout firm Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison may be in jeopardy after proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) recommended that stockholders vote against the proposed leveraged buyout.

The ISS recommendation follows similar calls by activist hedge fund investor John Levin, which owns 6% of ShopKo, and a group of other shareholders who have filed lawsuits against the company claming the $24 a share that Goldner Hawn has agreed to pay is too low.

Shareholders are scheduled to vote on the buyout on Sept. 14.