LONDON (Reuters) - Melrose Industries has secured the backing of investor advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) for its 7 billion pound hostile bid for British engineering firm GKN.

"Given the sensible strategic rationale, (Melrose's) turnaround track record and reasonable valuation, approval of the acquisition is warranted," ISS said in a note circulated to clients last week. Melrose investors are due to vote on the proposed deal at a meeting on March 8.

(Reporting by Ben Martin; editing by Jason Neely)

Stocks treated in this article : GKN, Melrose Industries