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What Is the IVSC?

The International Valuation Standards Committee is an association comprising professional valuation associations from some 50 countries. It has published International Valuation Standards (IVS) since 1985.

The IVSC is an NGO (Non Government Organisation) member of the United Nations. IVSC maintains liaison with international agencies, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organisation, the European Commission, and the Bank for International Settlements. IVSC also maintains a close relationship with standard-setting bodies such as the International Accounting Standards Board, the International Federation of Accountants, and the International Organisation of Securities Commissions.

The IVSC's Newsletter and IVSC eNews

The IVSC periodically publishes a newsletter (Global Valuation Issues) and Alerts. These often address international financial reporting issues. Click here for:

  • Global Valuation Issues June 2001 (PDF 244k), which includes five pages on IASB.
  • Global Valuation Issues January 2002 (PDF 301k), which includes a five-page update on the valuation implications of International Financial Reporting Standards and a discussion of the impact of fair-value accounting on valuation practice.
  • IVSC Alert March 2002 (PDF 29k), which addresses valuation issues in Europe in transition from national GAAP to IAS.
  • Global Valuation Issues August 2002 (PDF 266k), which includes a six-page update on the valuation implications of International Financial Reporting Standards, as well as a discussion of valuation issues in public sector accounting.
  • Global Valuation Issues February 2003 (PDF 144k), which includes a seven-page update on the valuation implications of International Financial Reporting Standards, as well as a discussion of valuation issues in public sector accounting.
  • Global Valuation Issues Alert September 2003 (PDF 257k), which includes a seven-page update on the valuation implications of International Financial Reporting Standards and a discussion of investment performance standards.

Starting in 2005 the IVSC replaced its newsletter with IVSC eNews:

July 2005 IVSC eNews Issue 1 (PDF 183k) Various matters
September 2005 IVSC eNews Issue 2 (PDF 137k)IVSC 'Business Valuation' project
January 2006 IVSC eNews Issue 3 (PDF 220k)Various matters
April 2006 IVSC eNews Issue 4 (PDF 130k)IVSC meets with FASB
June 2006 IVSC eNews Issue 5 (PDF 147k)New EDs on Bases other than Market Value and Valuation for Lending Purposes
September 2006 IVSC eNews Issue 6 (PDF 126k)Intangible Asset Valuation Guidance
October 2006 IVSC eNews Issue 7 (PDF 126k)Restructuring the IVSC
November 2006 IVSC eNews Issue 8 (PDF 152k) Proposed revisions to GN8 and other matters
January 2007 IVSC eNews Issue 9 (PDF 172k)FASB consults on valuation standard setting
January 2007 IVSC eNews Issue 10 (PDF 172k)Proposals to restructure IVSC
March 2007 IVSC eNews Issue 11 (PDF 172k)IVSC responds to FASB invitation to comment
March 2007 IVSC eNews Issue 12 (PDF 116k)New INREV standard for private property funds
March 2007 IVSC eNews Issue 13 (PDF 50k)Valuation under International Financial Reporting Standards
March 2007 IVSC eNews Issue 14 (PDF 140k)Unanimous vote to progress the restructuring of the IVSC
July 2007 IVSC eNews Issue 15 (PDF 113k)IVSC invites debate on ideal structure and format for future editions of the IVS
August 2007 IVSC eNews Issue 16 (PDF 151k)IVSC releases discussion paper on 'Determination of fair value of intangible assets for IFRS reporting purposes'
August 2007 IVSC eNews Issue 17 (PDF 175k)FASB invites IVSC to join its valuation resource group
August 2007 IVSC eNews Issue 18 (PDF 132k)IVSC releases 2007 edition of International Valuation Standards
November 2007 IVSC eNews Issue 19 (PDF 113k)IVSC moves forward with restructuring
January 2008 IVSC eNews Issue 20 (PDF 98k)Securities and Exchange Board of India promotes use of the International Valuation Standards
April 2008 IVSC eNews Issue 21 (PDF 148k)Call for applications for IVSC boards

Valuations Under International Financial Reporting Standards

Click here to download the March 2007 IVSC Position Paper Valuation Under IFRS (PDF 74k).

International Valuation Standards 2007

In August 2007, the IVSC published the 2007 edition of International Valuation Standards, a comprehensive volume of all of its standards. IVS 2007 may be purchased for US$75 inclusive of all postage and handling charges. To order go to the IVSC Website.

Contents of the eighth edition, IVS 2007:

  • Introduction
    • Background to the International Valuation Standards Committee and the Standards
    • Concepts Fundamental to Generally Accepted Valuation Principles (GAVP)
    • Code of Conduct
    • Property Types
  • International Valuation Standards
    • IVS 1 Market Value Basis of Valuation
    • IVS 2 Bases Other Than Market Value
    • IVS 3 Valuation Reporting
  • International Valuation Applications
    • IVA 1 Valuation for Financial Reporting
    • IVA 2 Valuation for Secured Lending Purposes
    • IVA 3 Valuation of Public Sector Assets for Financial Reporting
  • Guidance Notes
    • GN 1 Valuation of Real Property
    • GN 2 Valuation of Lease Interests
    • GN 3 Valuation of Plant and Equipment
    • GN 4 Valuation of Intangible Assets
    • GN 5 Valuation of Personal Property
    • GN 6 Business Valuation
    • GN 7 Consideration of Hazardous and Toxic Substances in Valuation
    • GN 8 The Cost Approach for Financial Reporting-(DRC)
    • GN 9 Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis for Market Valuations and Investment Analyses
    • GN 10 Valuation of Agricultural Properties
    • GN 11 Reviewing Valuations
    • GN 12 Valuation of Specialised Trading Property
    • GN 13 Mass Appraisal for Property Taxation
    • GN 14 Valuation of Properties in the Extractive Industries
    • GN 15 Valuation of Historic Property
  • Glossary
  • Index

There is more information in August 2007 IVSC eNews Issue 18 (PDF 132k) – IVSC releases 2007 edition of International Valuation Standards.

Restructuring of IVSC

January 2007: Restructuring of the IVSC is proposed

The IVSC has embarked on a proposed major restructuring process not unlike that undertaken by the International Accounting Standards Committee in the late 1990s that led to the creation of the International Accounting Standards Board. The restructuring proposals have been developed by a Governance Group established by the IVSC Management Board. The key recommendations of the Group are:

  • That a new International Valuation Standards Board (IVSB) be created as an independent and autonomous decision making body with up to nine compensated (full-time or part-time) members. Concurrently, an International Valuation Standards Interpretations Committee would be created as an arm of the IVSB;
  • That the IVSC be renamed the International Valuation Standards Council. It would remain a membership based organisation but the criteria for membership would be broadened beyond national professional valuation institutes to include valuation companies, national standard setters, users of valuations, academics and others. IVSC members would provide input to the IVSB.
  • That an elected Board of Trustees would have responsibility for oversight of the work of the IVSC and IVSB. Responsibility would include appointment members of the IVSB and Interpretations Committee, ensuring adequate funding and resources, and protecting the Board's independence and integrity.
  • That a new International Valuation Professional Board (IVPB) be created to develop criteria for the education of and professional practices of valuation practitioners.

The IVSC has invited comments on the proposals by 9 March 2007. A special meeting of the IVSC will be held in San Francisco on 12 April 2007 when member bodies of the IVSC will be asked to approve the restructuring proposals. If accepted, the proposed structure would come into effect on 1 January 2008. Click to download the Proposal for the Restructuring of the IVSC (PDF 579k).

April 2007: Restructuring of IVSC is approved

Members of the IVSC have voted unanimously to proceed with the restructuring of the organisation, as proposed in January 2007. The restructuring includes creation of a global valuation standards board. The new IVSC structure will be "similar to the IASB model where the Standards Board is the focal point or the heart and soul of the organisation rather than an organisation of valuation organisations". There will also be an interpretations committee and a management board of trustees entrusted strictly with the management and financial health of the organisation.

July 2007: Views sought on format of International Valuation Standards

The IVSC has issued for comment the report of a group brought together to undertake a critical review of the structure and format of International Valuation Standards (IVS). Concurrently the IVSC is engaged in a project to modernise its own organisational structure (see above). The report on IVSs, titled Review of the International Valuation Standards (PDF 128k), sets out the review group's views on the format of an 'ideal' set of international valuation standards. The report raises a number of specific questions on which views are sought (see below). The comment deadline is 31 October 2007.

Issues on which IVSC is seeking comment:
Question 1
The Group recommends that the IVS be principles-based and interprets this as meaning that the standards should contain the requirements to be complied with together with essential explanatory material to make the requirements understandable by an experienced professional valuer. Do you agree with this recommendation?
Question 2
Valuations are performed in a variety of contexts – from financial reporting, lending purposes, business acquisitions to tax and litigation services. The Group believes that the same concepts, definitions and principles apply to all valuations whatever their purpose although there may be differences in their application and reporting. Do you agree with the Group?
Question 3
The Group believes that the primary role of the IVS is as a body of international standards in their own right to meet the needs of the global market place and to provide a basis for the convergence of national standards to international valuation standards. It therefore recommends that the IVS should not cover areas that are still subject to significant national regulation, for example valuation for taxation purposes.... Do you agree with the Group?
Question 4
The Group acknowledges that different jurisdictions will take different routes to the same destination of a single set of global valuation standards. While this is understandable, the Group recommends that the IVSC should seek to introduce a similar requirement to that of the International Financial Reporting Standards; i.e. that valuation reports should not be said to comply with IVS unless they comply with all the requirements of IVS. Do you agree that the IVSC should introduce such a requirement?
Question 5
Do you agree that the proposed structure for the IVS will provide for clear navigation through the standards to determine the valuation and reporting bases for a particular asset/liability and purpose?
Question 6
A number of specific questions have been raised by the Group on the proposed structure for the IVS on which comment is sought:
  • 6(a) The forthcoming eighth edition of IVS will define 'fair value' in International Valuation Standard 2 Valuation Bases other than Market Value. Do you consider that this is sufficient or should the IVSC develop a Standard on Fair Value as a separate basis of valuation?
  • 6(b) The proposed structure for the IVS discusses the application of GAVP and the basis of valuation to specific asset and liability types before considering their application to the specific purposes of valuation. Some members of the Group believed that this order should be reversed. What are your views?
  • 6(c) A number of topics have been proposed to be covered by additional more detailed guidance notes. Do you agree with the list? Are there other issues that should be considered?
Questions 7 and 8
[These relate to the format of IVSs and recommendations for clarity of the standards.]

November 2007: IVSC moves forward with restructuring

In November 2007, the IVSC board and membership approved a comprehensive restructuring that will enable it to become an independent standard setting organisation that can develop International Valuation Standards for assets and liabilities. The IVSC had proposed the restructuring in January 2007 (see above).

Key features of the IVSC restructuring plan are as follows:
  • IVSC remains a non-profit organisation incorporated in United States.
  • IVSC acronym is retained but the name changed to the International Valuation Standards Council.
  • The organisation will have three main bodies:
    • A Board of Trustees responsible for the strategic direction and funding of the IVSC.
    • A Standards Board appointed by the Trustees, but with autonomy over its agenda and the creation and revision of standards.
    • A Professional Board appointed by the Trustees to assist in the development of high quality practices by the world's valuers and development of the profession in developing countries.
  • Membership of the IVSC will be broadened beyond national professional valuation institutes to include valuation companies, government, valuation end-users, and academia.
  • Current IVSC directors remain in post for the transitional period November 2007 to May 2008, with responsibility for day to day management of the IVSC.
  • During the November to May period, an advisory board, to be known as an interim Board of Trustees, will be established to oversee the IVSC restructuring process and business plan. Funds raised will be independently controlled by the group and released in accordance with the IVSC restructuring proposal. Michael Sharpe, former Chairman of the International Accounting Standards Committee, will be a Trustee. Mr Sharpe was also a member of IASC's Strategy Working Party that developed proposals leading to the creation of the IASB.
Click for IVSC Announcement (46k).

February 2008: IVSC announces interim board of trustees

On 14 February 2008, the International Valuation Standards Committee announced its interim board of trustees that will oversee the restructuring of the IVSC. The restructuring was announced in November 2007 (see above). The restructuring will transform IVSC into an independent standard setting organisation that will develop International Valuation Standards acceptable to the international capital markets. Here is the Press Release on Interim Trustees (PDF 82k).

International Valuation Standards Committee Contact Details

International Valuation Standards Committee
12 Great George Street
London SW1P 3AD, UK
Phone and Fax: +44 1442 879 306
Executive Director Marianne Tissier
Email: mtissier @ ivsc.org
Website: www.ivsc.org

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