(Reuters) - Two independent proxy advisory firms have recommended that Shoppers Drug Mart (>> Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation) shareholders vote in favor of Loblaw Co Ltd's (>> Loblaw Companies Limited) C$12.4 billion ($11.76 billion) takeover offer, the Canadian pharmacy chain said on Tuesday.

Institutional Shareholder Services Inc (ISS) and Glass Lewis & Co, which offer advice on shareholder votes, both backed the deal. Glass Lewis noted the deal offers attractive diversification at a time of increasing competition in Canada.

Shoppers is Canada's biggest drugstore chain, and Loblaw is the country's biggest grocery chain.

Shareholders of Shoppers are expected to approve the acquisition, Canada's biggest deal so far this year, when they vote at a special meeting on September 12, Shoppers CEO Domenic Pilla told Reuters last week.

($1=$1.0541 Canadian)

(Reporting by Solarina Ho; Editing by Jeffrey Hodgson; and Peter Galloway)

Stocks treated in this article : Loblaw Companies Limited, Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation