Two associations representing corporate issuers and securities analysts have proposed guidelines to govern their relationship.

The Association of Investment Management and Research and the National Investor Relations Institute last week published some obvious corporate "best practices" that NIRI has already advocated, like asking companies not to discriminate among analysts based on prior opinions.

However, NIRI was noticeably absent from the press release announcing the new guidelines.

Thompson

According to chairman Lou Thompson, NIRI was "not yet comfortable with a joint release implying we're in sync."

The hang-up: an AIMR requirement that companies put in writing policies that describe who can have access to corporate management, and how.

While neither group has regulatory oversight or enforcement powers, the guidelines are open for public comment through May 31. Download below:

Download Guidelines Governing Analyst/Corporate Issuer Relationship