In his recent “message from the chair” column, John Barton, vice chair of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) Business Valuation Committee, offered an update to members on the “conversations and activities” between the ASA and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators (CICBV) and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). According to Barton, the “ASA is weighing the advantages of two different opportunities—1) joining an “umbrella” international “organization of BV organizations” co-founded by ASA-BV and the CICBV; or 2) merging ASA into RICS.” (The chair’s message offers details on a proposed collaboration, pros and cons associated with each option, and insights on how such an arrangement would work.)

ASA president, Ron Seaman, has named committees to consider each of these options. According to Seaman, “the committees will be reporting to our Board of Governors at our International Conference in Orlando on July 12, but, at this point, neither opportunity (CICBV or RICS) appears to me to be close to a decision or to fruition.”