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.
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;
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.
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
Denmark
3.8. Coverage - Time
Annual data is available from 2007 to 2023
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 in specified currency.
Data refers to the calendar year, which in some cases corresponds to the fiscal year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, Statistics Denmark disseminates national OFATS statistics on the OFATS website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably.
Annual, but only for 210101 (Number of active enterprises) and 220101 (Number of employees and self-employed persons).
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
OFATS 2023 news release was published on 24th of January 2025 in Danish on Statistics Denmark website.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
OFATS 2023 news release was published on 24th of January 2025 in Danish on Statistics Denmark website.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
OFATS 2023 aggregated data tables were published on 24th of January 2025 in Danish on Statistics Denmark website or can be found via www.statistikbanken.dk.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not available.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not available. Only aggregated numerbs per Country are available in StatBank.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
OFATS 2023 news release was published on 24th of January 2025 in Danish on Statistics Denmark website.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not available.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Documentation on Outward Foreign affiliates (OFATS) is published on Statistics Denmark website.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not available.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not available.
11.1. Quality assurance
Not available.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not available.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Among the users of OFATS aggregated data and reports are international organisations, ministries, chambers of commerce, trade unions, embassies, journalists, researchers, private businesses, etc.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
The data covers all the variables required by Eurostat regulations and guidelines (Completeness in a percentage of the number of required cells = 100%).
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Please see Table 12.3.1 in the Annex at the bottom.
A number of internal sources, notably the Business Register, and external sources, notably the Foreign Direct Investment Register of the Central Bank, Annual Company Reports and commercial data sources. The information on UCI is updated in the Inward FATS part of the FATS statistics, and this information is later used in the Outward FATS part. OFATS is collected from all resident owners (foreign as well as domestic) and published nationally accordingly. IFATS is used to determine the UCI for the EU delivery. The UCI concept in IFATS and OFATS is thus 100% aligned.
13.1.1. Use of residual geographic codes (Extra EU-27 not allocated, etc.)
13.1.3. Comments on the Extra EU-27 not allocated and on the Activity “not allocated”
Not applicable, data is provided.
13.1.4. UCI Approach applied to identify the relevant population of reporting units
Multiple sources are used: SBS, FDI.
13.1.5. Update date (or frequency of updates) of the information regarding the country of the UCI by the “source administration”
Once a year, tipically end of July.
13.2. Sampling error
OFATS uses a census collection method (i.e. no sampling).
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
OFATS uses a census collection method (i.e. no sampling)
13.3. Non-sampling error
OFATS uses a census collection method (i.e. no sampling).
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not applicable, OFATS is a census survey.
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 applicable.
13.3.1.4. Under- and over-coverage problems
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
OFATS is an online survey. In the instances where data is flagged to be inconsistent or where the contact person for the responding unit does not have access to the internet, measurement error is reserached by contacting the respondent.
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).
Reminders for the deadlines of OFATS data colection, but also information on the consequences for not reporting the data are communicated to the responding unit's digital post and in some few cases physical post is used. In very few instances, responding units do not have contact person information available or could not be reached out (non-response units).
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
OFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+10 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+14 months.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
Data have been sent to Eurostat before the deadline.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Final data are disseminated and published on time.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
OFATS data from Denmark is comparable to OFATS data from other EU countries, as the data collection is based on the same manuals and regulations. When comparing nationally published results, users should be aware that tables include both Danish and foreign controlled affiliates.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable
15.2. Comparability - over time
The length of the time series is the year 2007 to 2023 and the length of the comparable time series is the year 2008 to 2023.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
The length of the time series is the year 2007 to 2023 and the length of the comparable time series is the year 2008 to 2023.
15.2.2. Reasons and differences in concepts and measurement methods for breaks in time series
In 2007 NACE rev. 1.1 is used. From 2008 NACE rev. 2 is used.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
There is consistency between OFATS and other domains, in the sense that OFATS data is used to define the population and other sources are used in the OFATS data collection process.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
OFATS is a census survey. Other statistics, combined with other data sources, are often used to identify the population.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Other statistics are often used to identify inconsistencies, and indirectly OFATS benefits from the internal collaboration in this area.
15.3.3. Coherence – Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
Consistent. FDI is used as a data source, in addition to other data sources, to identify the population. Also, data from FDI regarding the direct and ultimate owner is obtained from FDI and compared with other sources.
15.3.4. Coherence – EuroGroups Register (EGR)
There is consistency between OFATS and EGR, to the extent that EGR is used as a data source in addition to other data sources to identify the population. Data from EGR regarding the direct and ultimate owner is obtained from EGR and compared with other sources.
15.4. Coherence - internal
OFATS benefits from the internal collaboration and knowledge exchange on the topic of globalization.
Not available.
17.1. Data revision - policy
There is no special revision policy for OFATS. No revisions foreseen. Statistics Denmark's revision policy on the website.
OFATS adopts a census survey methodological approach.
18.1.1. Methodological approach
OFATS adopts a census survey methodological approach. The survey is compulsory and the legal basis is the Legal Act on Statistics Denmark.
18.1.2. Use of cut-off thresholds
No thresholds are used.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
A number of internal sources, notably the Business Register, and external sources, notably the Foreign Direct Investment Register of the Central Bank, EuroGroup register, Annual Company Reports and commercial data sources.
The main source is the survey register from the previous year. For existing reporters the survey register from prevoius year is by far the most important one. For new entries the dependency of the sources mentioned above is very close to 100 percent. New entries come from commercial sources and the FDI register (maintained by the Central Bank).
The information on UCI is updated in the Inward FATS part of the FATS statistics, and this information is later used in the Outward FATS part. OFATS is collected from all resident owners (foreign as well as domestic) and published nationally accordingly. IFATS is used to determine the UCI for the EU delivery. The UCI concept in IFATS and OFATS is thus 100% aligned
Economic data is obtained using census-survey.
18.4. Data validation
Once the survey is sent to respondents and data starts to be reported, multiple consistency checks are automatially signaled by our system. We rely mostly on comparisons with previous years' data, but also in terms of consistency. In order to clarify incosistencies, the respondents are contacted by e-mail or phone call. For example, when reporting number of employees in foreign affiliates, there should also be reported employee costs.
18.5. Data compilation
Not applicable.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
The imputation rate is estimated to usually be less than 1% of the total amount of affiliates. These are to be considered to have little or no impact, due to expected zero reporting.
18.5.2. Use of a method to deal with non-response (both unit and item non-response)
In very few instances, where company cannot be contacted and data is available from other high quality sources (e.g. online published annual reports in other countries) data can be imputed.
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
17 September 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.
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).
Denmark
Data refers to the calendar year, which in some cases corresponds to the fiscal year.
A number of internal sources, notably the Business Register, and external sources, notably the Foreign Direct Investment Register of the Central Bank, Annual Company Reports and commercial data sources. The information on UCI is updated in the Inward FATS part of the FATS statistics, and this information is later used in the Outward FATS part. OFATS is collected from all resident owners (foreign as well as domestic) and published nationally accordingly. IFATS is used to determine the UCI for the EU delivery. The UCI concept in IFATS and OFATS is thus 100% aligned.
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in absolute figures. Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands in specified currency.
Not applicable.
OFATS adopts a census survey methodological approach.
Annual, but only for 210101 (Number of active enterprises) and 220101 (Number of employees and self-employed persons).
OFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+10 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+14 months.
OFATS data from Denmark is comparable to OFATS data from other EU countries, as the data collection is based on the same manuals and regulations. When comparing nationally published results, users should be aware that tables include both Danish and foreign controlled affiliates.
The length of the time series is the year 2007 to 2023 and the length of the comparable time series is the year 2008 to 2023.
