In recent years, FASB and the IASB have made substantial progress
in converging U.S. GAAP and IFRS. As a result of the recent
issuance of IFRS 11, Joint Arrangements, the accounting for
joint ventures—where significant differences persisted between
the two sets of standards—is now an area of “closer convergence,”
according to the IASB (IFRS 11, BC3). Under U.S. GAAP, joint
ventures are generally accounted for using the equity method; under
IFRS, in contrast, joint ventures may be accounted for under either
the equity method or proportionate consolidation. With the passage
of IFRS 11, however, the IASB now requires the use of the equity
method for joint ventures. The accounting policy choice of proportionate
consolidation has been eliminated