ATLANTA (Reuters) - Proxy adviser RiskMetrics Group (RMG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) urged on Monday shareholders of Furniture Brands International Inc (FBN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) to support three board nominees put forward by private equity firm Sun Capital instead of voting for the furniture company's candidates.

"The long-term financial and operational performance of the company and the dissidents' skill sets and track record establish both the need for change and the dissidents' ability to effect change," the proxy firm said in its recommendation.

RiskMetrics, which owns ISS Governance Services, said Furniture Brands has underperformed its peer companies in profit margin and stock price performance.

Furniture Brands shares were down 20 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $13.80 in New York Stock Exchange trading on Monday.

The St. Louis-based maker of Broyhill, Thomasville and Lane furniture has urged shareholders to reject Sun Capital's board nominees in the proxy fight. The annual meeting is scheduled for May 1.

In its report, RiskMetrics said the Sun Capital nominees -- Yale law professor Alan Schwartz, former Claire's Stores Chief Financial Officer Ira Kaplan and Sun Capital Managing Director T. Scott King -- "would bring valuable insight" to the board.

The proxy adviser noted that Furniture Brands' board has historically not had much turnover, and added that "boards with limited turnover may lack new perspectives that can add value."

Sun Capital, which owns 9.5 percent of Furniture Brands' stock, offered in February to buy the company at a "substantial premium" to its stock price, which was then $10.18. Since Sun Capital's buyout interest was made public, Furniture Brands stock has risen about 33 percent.

Sun Capital told Reuters last week that it was not wedded to the idea that Furniture Brands should be sold, but would be open to other options including pursuing a more aggressive recovery plan.