The June 24 issue of BVWire reported that the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC) and The Appraisal Foundation (TAF) are working together to bridge any remaining gaps between the IVSC's International Valuation Standards (IVSs) and TAF's Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) issued a statement applauding the effort and stating that it could help “drive investor confidence” in international markets. “As a sponsor of the Appraisal Foundation and the International Valuation Standards Council, RICS supports consistent international standards across the valuation profession,” says Neil Shah, managing director, RICS Americas.