Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
DS 50 data compilation and dissemination of external statistics
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Wilhelm-Epstein-Str. 14
60431 Frankfurt
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
22 October 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
22 October 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
22 October 2025
3.1. Data description
Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) measure the commercial presence through affiliates in foreign markets.
In country-level business statisticsoutward foreign affiliates statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of domestic affiliates of every resident ultimate controlling institutional unit which has at least one foreign affiliate and the activity of foreign-controlling enterprises resident in the compiling country (Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
In statistics on international activities outward foreign affiliates statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of foreign affiliates abroad ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country (Table 33 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Variables on country-level business activities in the OFATS data category:
Number of foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Number of employees and self-employed persons in foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Net turnover of foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Variables on the international activities in the OFATS data category:
Number of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Number of employees and self-employed persons in enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Employee benefits expense in enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Net turnover of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
3.2. Classification system
Classification systems used in the FATS are as follows:
Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (NACE Rev. 2);
List of 2-digit country codes (ISO 3166-1);
Currency codes (ISO 4217).
3.3. Coverage - sector
Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
In country-level business statisticsOutward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of domestic affiliates of every resident ultimate controlling institutional unit which has at least one foreign affiliate and the activity of foreign-controlling enterprises resident in the compiling country (Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
In statistics on international activities Outward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of foreign affiliates abroad ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country (Table 33 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Foreign affiliate in the framework of outward FATS is an enterprise or branch not resident in the compiling country over which an institutional unit resident in the compiling country has ultimate (direct or indirect) control.
Domestic affiliate shall mean an enterprise resident in the compiling country over which a UCI resident in the same compiling country has control.
Ultimate Controlling Institutional of a foreign affiliate (UCI) shall mean the institutional unit, proceeding up a foreign affiliate’s chain of control, which is not controlled by another institutional unit.
Control is the ability to determine the general policy of the affiliate by choosing appropriate directors, if necessary. In this context, enterprise A is deemed to be controlled by an institutional unit B when B controls, whether directly or indirectly, more than half of the shareholders' voting power or more than half of the shares.
Indirect control means that an institutional unit may have control through another affiliate which has control over enterprise A.
Active enterprise is a statistical units which at any time during the reference period was ‘enterprise’, as defined in Regulation (EEC) No 696/93, and also active during the same reference period. A statistical unit is considered to have been active during the reference period if, in said period, it either realized positive net turnover or produced outputs or had employees or performed investments.
Employees and self-employed persons are persons who work for an observation unit on the basis of a contract of employment and receives compensation in the form of wages, salaries, fees, gratuities, piecework pay or remuneration in kind; and persons who are the sole owners or joint owners of the statistical unit in which they work. Family workers and outworkers, whose income is a function of the value of the outputs of the statistical unit, are also included.
Employee benefits expense contains all expenses arising in relation with employee benefits, recognized by the statistical unit during the reference period. Those are are all forms of consideration given by the statistical unit in exchange for service rendered by employees or for the termination of employment.
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets includes all additions to tangible non-current assets, recognized as such by the statistical unit during the reference period, except any increases from revaluations or reversals of previously recognized impairment losses and from reclassifications (transfers) of other tangible non-current assets.
Net turnover consists of all income arising during the reference period in the course of ordinary activities of the statistical unit, and is presented net of all price reductions, discounts and rebates granted by it.
Coverage of Special Purpose Entities (SPE): 100%
Treatment of equally shared control: no such unit exists
Treatment of multiple minority ownership: all minority ownerships are added up
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit of FATS is the enterprise as defined in line with the Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community.
3.6. Statistical population
Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S (for the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 table 15) and market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S abroad (should cover the foreign affiliates of all ultimate controlling institutional units of the reporting country) (for the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 table 33).
3.7. Reference area
Germany
3.8. Coverage - Time
Time series starts 2004. Comparable since 2007 for country breakdown. For Activity break in time series 2020/21 due to change in definition of statistical unit.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in absolute figures.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands euros.
2022 and 2023
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, Bundesbank disseminates national OFATS statistics on www.bundesbank.de website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably.
For research purpose an access to microdata is available
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are not published in an online database.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Data are not published in an online database.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Eurostat methodology followed.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Complete
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not available
11.1. Quality assurance
The importance of the quality of statistical data is emphasised and promoted throughout the Bundesbank. A commitment to compiling and disseminating high-quality statistics, considered fundamental to well-founded economic decision-making as sound forecasting, is communicated to the public through relevant publications, the Bundesbank’s website, as well as in public speeches or statements.
As a member of the ESCB, the Bundesbank shares the mission, strategic intent, and organisational principles of the ESCB, which are laid down in the public commitment statements on European statistics. In short, and in line with the Eurosystem Mission Statement, ESCB Statistics are governed by a set of principles referring to the ESCB´s institutional environment, statistical processes and statistical output. Amongst other things, these principles highlight the importance that the ESCB attaches to credibility, trust, transparency, and accountability in fulfilling its tasks. The mission statement, strategic intent, and organisational principles of the Eurosystem are distributed to all staff and are published by all ESCB members.
Staff training in statistics, both through formal courses and on-the-job training, highlights the importance of data quality.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Data quality is explicitly reflected in the strategic goals of the Statistics Department, and measures for maintaining or improving data quality are regularly addressed in the annual work programmes. Management is aware of trade-offs between various dimensions of quality, such as between consistency with other data sets and maintaining a regular and transparent revision schedule or between timeliness and accuracy. These trade-offs are taken into account when decisions are made.
Trade-offs are also discussed at the level of the ECB’s Statistics Committee, which advises the ECB Council on guidelines for statistical production, and the Committee on Monetary, Financial, and Balance of Payments Statistics (CMFB), which assists the European Commission in developing and implementing statistical work programmes.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Data are not published in an online database.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Data are not published in an online database.
12.3. Completeness
Data are complete.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Mode 1,2 and 4: Data are complete.
Mode 3 currently only contents information for construction
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Data is accurate
13.1.1. Use of residual geographic codes (Extra EU-27 not allocated, etc.)
No residual codes are used.
13.1.2. Use of residual activity codes (NACE activity “not allocated”)
No residual codes are used.
13.1.3. Comments on the Extra EU-27 not allocated and on the Activity “not allocated”
No residual codes are used.
13.1.4. UCI Approach applied to identify the relevant population of reporting units
Conept UCI is used.
13.1.5. Update date (or frequency of updates) of the information regarding the country of the UCI by the “source administration”
UCI information is updated annually.
13.2. Sampling error
Collection system is not a sample therefore no sampling error
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Collection system is not a sample therefore no sampling error
13.3. Non-sampling error
Collection system covers all companies with a balance sheet over 3 million Euro.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Only companies with a balance sheet below 3 million Euro are missing in the basic data collection. In the FATS-context these companies are neglectable.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable
13.3.1.3. Misclassification errors
Not available
13.3.1.4. Under- and over-coverage problems
Mode 3 currently only covers construction
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not available
13.3.3. Non response error
Unit non-response occurs when not all the reporting units in the sample participate in the survey.
Item non-response occurs when a respondent provides some, but not all, of the information requested or if the information reported is unusable (note that entirely unusable questionnaires are already counted in the unit non-response).
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Unit non-response occurs when not all the reporting units in the sample participate in the survey
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Item non-response occurs when a respondent provides some, but not all, of the information requested or if the information reported is unusable (note that entirely unusable questionnaires are already counted in the unit non-response).
13.3.4. Processing error
Not available
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not available
14.1. Timeliness
OFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+6 months after the end of the reference period.
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at t+20 months.
Data dissemination at national level takes place at t+21 months.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
T+20 months
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
T+32 months
14.2. Punctuality
Data were on time
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Data were on time
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not applicable
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable
15.2. Comparability - over time
Time series of information on activity change for 2021 as the concept of statistical unit changed.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Length of time series: 2004-current period
Length of comparable time series: 2021-current period
15.2.2. Reasons and differences in concepts and measurement methods for breaks in time series
Change of concept of statistical unit changed therefore activity changed
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
There is no incoherence with the FDI statistics.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable
15.3.3. Coherence – Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
There is no incoherence with the FDI statistics.
15.3.4. Coherence – EuroGroups Register (EGR)
Not applicable
15.4. Coherence - internal
data are internally fully coherent
Not applicable
17.1. Data revision - policy
With the publication of the latest period one previous period is revised. Due to the new regulation 2020 was not revised
17.2. Data revision - practice
Only one reference year was revised so far.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
N/A
only one reference year was revised so far, therefore average is irrelevant.
18.1. Source data
Foreign Direct Investment data
Private database Bisnode, BvD
publicly available sources,
Direct contact
18.1.1. Methodological approach
For OUTWARD direct investment, all asset and liability positions are recorded according to the extended directional principle (xDP).
The population frame is based on the source described in 18.1.2. All reporting agents have to report six months after their balance sheet date. There is no snapshot but ongoing revisions according to new information from different sources (news from media, etc.).
18.1.2. Use of cut-off thresholds
The base for outward FATS is our yearly FDI stock survey, where we collect data on all direct investment enterprises with cross-border participating interests of 10 % or more and indirectly-owned direct investment enterprises in which majority-owned direct investment enterprises hold participating interests of more than 50 %. For the direct investment enterprises there exists a cut-off threshold: Only direct investment enterprises with a balance sheet total of more than €3 mio are to be reported. As the value is so small no additional estimations for completeness are made.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
annual
18.3. Data collection
Source to define your population:
… % census survey
… % sample survey
… % Structural Business Statistics (SBS)
100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
… % EuroGroups Register (EGR)
% Statistical Business Register (SBR)
… % Administrative sources
… % Private data sources
… % Publicly available sources
… % Other data sources (indication of the sources: ...)
Economic data obtained using:
… % census survey
… % sample survey
… % Structural Business Statistics (SBS)
100 % Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
… % EuroGroups Register (EGR)
… % Statistical Business Register (SBR)
… % Administrative sources
… % Private data sources
… % Publicly available sources
… % Other data sources (indication of the sources: ...)
18.4. Data validation
External sector reporting data are assessed by the Primary Datacollection Division in the Central Office (for large reporting subjects) and by the Service Center for External Statistics (for small and medium-sized reporting subjects). Several validation procedures and plausibility checks are in place both at the individual data level and at the aggregated level.
lnitially, all incoming electronic reports are checked for comprehensiveness and formal consistency. Non response is assessed by comparing expectation value derived from the reporting history of single respondents. Reporting gaps are traced by monitoring available information about large direct investments and checking for corresponding reports. There are procedures installed to identify double reports and systematic errors as well as to verify cancellation-reports. Consistency checks with corresponding flow statistics are made.
For each reporting subject an identification code is assigned
The reports are then stored on an individual respondent basis in the primary database
18.5. Data compilation
no imputation
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
0
18.5.2. Use of a method to deal with non-response (both unit and item non-response)
Companies that are obliged to report and do not report are contacted. Fines are possible.
Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) measure the commercial presence through affiliates in foreign markets.
In country-level business statisticsoutward foreign affiliates statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of domestic affiliates of every resident ultimate controlling institutional unit which has at least one foreign affiliate and the activity of foreign-controlling enterprises resident in the compiling country (Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
In statistics on international activities outward foreign affiliates statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of foreign affiliates abroad ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country (Table 33 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Variables on country-level business activities in the OFATS data category:
Number of foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Number of employees and self-employed persons in foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Net turnover of foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Variables on the international activities in the OFATS data category:
Number of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Number of employees and self-employed persons in enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Employee benefits expense in enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Net turnover of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
22 October 2025
In country-level business statisticsOutward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of domestic affiliates of every resident ultimate controlling institutional unit which has at least one foreign affiliate and the activity of foreign-controlling enterprises resident in the compiling country (Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
In statistics on international activities Outward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of foreign affiliates abroad ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country (Table 33 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Foreign affiliate in the framework of outward FATS is an enterprise or branch not resident in the compiling country over which an institutional unit resident in the compiling country has ultimate (direct or indirect) control.
Domestic affiliate shall mean an enterprise resident in the compiling country over which a UCI resident in the same compiling country has control.
Ultimate Controlling Institutional of a foreign affiliate (UCI) shall mean the institutional unit, proceeding up a foreign affiliate’s chain of control, which is not controlled by another institutional unit.
Control is the ability to determine the general policy of the affiliate by choosing appropriate directors, if necessary. In this context, enterprise A is deemed to be controlled by an institutional unit B when B controls, whether directly or indirectly, more than half of the shareholders' voting power or more than half of the shares.
Indirect control means that an institutional unit may have control through another affiliate which has control over enterprise A.
Active enterprise is a statistical units which at any time during the reference period was ‘enterprise’, as defined in Regulation (EEC) No 696/93, and also active during the same reference period. A statistical unit is considered to have been active during the reference period if, in said period, it either realized positive net turnover or produced outputs or had employees or performed investments.
Employees and self-employed persons are persons who work for an observation unit on the basis of a contract of employment and receives compensation in the form of wages, salaries, fees, gratuities, piecework pay or remuneration in kind; and persons who are the sole owners or joint owners of the statistical unit in which they work. Family workers and outworkers, whose income is a function of the value of the outputs of the statistical unit, are also included.
Employee benefits expense contains all expenses arising in relation with employee benefits, recognized by the statistical unit during the reference period. Those are are all forms of consideration given by the statistical unit in exchange for service rendered by employees or for the termination of employment.
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets includes all additions to tangible non-current assets, recognized as such by the statistical unit during the reference period, except any increases from revaluations or reversals of previously recognized impairment losses and from reclassifications (transfers) of other tangible non-current assets.
Net turnover consists of all income arising during the reference period in the course of ordinary activities of the statistical unit, and is presented net of all price reductions, discounts and rebates granted by it.
Coverage of Special Purpose Entities (SPE): 100%
Treatment of equally shared control: no such unit exists
Treatment of multiple minority ownership: all minority ownerships are added up
The statistical unit of FATS is the enterprise as defined in line with the Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community.
Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S (for the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 table 15) and market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S abroad (should cover the foreign affiliates of all ultimate controlling institutional units of the reporting country) (for the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 table 33).
Germany
2022 and 2023
Data is accurate
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in absolute figures.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands euros.
no imputation
Foreign Direct Investment data
Private database Bisnode, BvD
publicly available sources,
Direct contact
Annual
OFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+6 months after the end of the reference period.
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at t+20 months.
Data dissemination at national level takes place at t+21 months.
Not applicable
Time series of information on activity change for 2021 as the concept of statistical unit changed.
