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 of residents through their 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. These statistics are compiled in accordance with 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 that are ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country. These statistics are compiled in accordance with 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) is used from 2008 onwards;
Market producers classified under NACE Sections B to N and P to S.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Foreign affiliate in the framework of outward FATS is an enterprise or branch not resident in Malta over which an institutional unit resident in Malta has ultimate (direct or indirect) control.
Domestic affiliate shall mean an enterprise resident in Malta over which a UCI resident in Malta has control.
Ultimate Controlling Institutionalunit 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 unit which at any time during the reference period was an ‘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 realised 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 receive 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 to employee benefits, recognized by the statistical unit during the reference period. Those are all forms of consideration given by the statistical unit in exchange for services 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.
A non-domestic producer is a type of Special Purpose Entity (SPE) registered in a country, typically with very few or no employees, limited physical presence and negligible physical production in the host economy. SPEs are owned or controlled by non-resident entities and consequently are not included in OFATS.
If multiple shareholders, who are residents of Malta, collectively hold 50% or more of the voting rights (control), the company is incorporated into OFATS. However, if such Maltese shareholders hold less than 50% of the voting rights, the company is excluded from OFATS.
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 classified under NACE Sections B to N and P to S:
At the national level, for Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
Abroad, covering the foreign affiliates of ultimate controlling institutional units, for Table 33.
3.7. Reference area
Malta (MT)
3.8. Coverage - Time
OFATS data covers years 2007 through 2023.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in units.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands of Euro (€).
2023
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Eurostat publishes all non-confidential data provided by Malta. Internally, OFATS results are used to complement data obtained from the EGR (Euro Groups Register).
Confidentiality is one of the major principles guiding the activities of the NSO.
Article 40 of the MSA Act stipulates the restrictions on the use of information while Article 41, stipulated the prohibition of disclosure of information. Further, Section IX of the Act (Offences and Penalties) lays down the measures to be taken in case of unlawful exercise of any officer of statistics regarding confidentiality of data. No cases of breaches in the law have been recorded to date.
Since its inception, the NSO has been committed to ensure the confidentiality of all collected data, using it solely for statistical purposes in accordance with established laws. The identity of data providers is protected, and any data that could lead to the identification of individuals or entities is not shared with third parties. All NSO employees, upon joining, are made aware of confidentiality rules and requirements. As stipulated by the MSA Act, each staff member takes an oath of secrecy before starting their work.
The NSO has an internal policy concerning anonymisation and pseudo-anonymisation. This policy ensures that the data the office collects and shares is protected. It offers guidelines to NSO staff on applying appropriate data protection methods. This policy covers all data, irrespective of its format, managed by the NSO.
At European level:
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p.164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Primary confidentiality is applied to prevent the disclosure of sensitive business information. It is flagged in two main cases:
Too few enterprises - when the number of business units is less than 3.
Dominance (p% rule) – when the contribution of a single enterprise is large enough that the value of another enterprise can be estimated within 10% accuracy (p=10).
Secondary confidentiality is applied to protect data that have been flagged as primary confidential. Additional cells are suppressed to ensure that the values flagged as primary confidential cannot be derived from other published data.
Variables relating to the number of employees and number of enterprises are considered non-confidential, as these figures are already disseminated through other public sources.
The NSO publishes and disseminates news releases at 1100 hrs as scheduled in the `Upcoming News Releases` calendar. The calendar is available on the NSO website and provides a three-month outlook (covering the current month and the next two months). This calendar is sometimes subject to changes.
8.2. Release calendar access
The News release calendar can be accessed by clicking on the following: News release calendar.
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, the NSO disseminates national OFATS statistics objectively, professionally and transparently.
The NSO's primary channel for the dissemination of official statistics is the NSO website. Tailored requests for statistical information may also be submitted through the NSO website.
Data is transmitted to Eurostat for publication at T+20 months.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not available
10.6. Documentation on methodology
The work processes and procedures to compile OFATS, from the initial stages of identifying what statistics are needed, the target population and the scope of the particular survey, to the final stages of dissemination, are documented within a standardised reporting template and align to the General Statistics Business Process Model (GSBPM).
The GSBPM ensures that the compilation of OFATS is conducted in a structured and coherent manner. It supports standardised documentation, facilitates the integration of data and metadata, and provides a framework for maintaining and improving data quality throughout all stages of statistical production, including data cleaning, validation, and preparation for analysis. The GSBPM report is available and may be accessed by all NSO employees.
European business Statistics compilers manual for FATS (2023 edition) is a practical reference document and provides guidelines regarding the preparation and transmission of OFATS.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Information about all required metadata concepts (and sub-concepts thereof) are provided.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Concepts related to metadata and quality are available on NSO Metadata. For each reference year, in compliance with Eurostat's requirements, a quality report on OFATS is transmitted through the ESS Metadata Handler two months of the deadline.
In alignment with the ESS Code of Practice (ESS CoP) standards, the NSO established a comprehensive internal Quality Management Framework (QMF). This framework is supported by a document detailing general quality guidelines that apply across all statistical domains. While ensuring methodological soundness remains an integral part of the QMF, the document also addresses various institutional aspects.
11.1. Quality assurance
The data collected are compared with those of the previous years and examined for significant changes, particularly large deviations in the primary variables. For instance, the Net turnover variable is cross-checked with data from previous years to ensure values are reported in the correct currency.
Additional quality checks are performed on the aggregated data, and any substantial shifts are documented and explained. Reviews and validations are carried out by country of UCI, by reference year total, and by industry (NACE Division).
The NSO guarantees the accuracy of the data released to the public and offers comprehensive methodological notes detailing the processes used to collect and produce official statistics.
Every five to seven years, the NSO participates in a Peer Review exercise, during which an expert assesses the compliance of its operations with principles of the ESS CoP. Peer Reviews form an integral part of the strategy to implement the ESS CoP within the European Statistical System. Each NSI is expected to provide information as requested by a standard self-assessment questionnaire. Following this an expert team visits the office to meet NSI representatives and main stakeholders. Peer Reviews result in a compliance report and a list of recommended improvements and actions which need to be followed up by the NSI. The most resent Peer Reviews was carried out in 2022.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Work processes for the compilation of OFATS follow the procedures documented in the GSBPM. Data quality is assessed through year-on-year comparisons. Any anomalies identified are subject to further verification, including direct follow-up with respondents, ensuring both accuracy and reliability of the data.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
This data is of interest to users seeking to understand the extent of control Maltese resident entities have over foreign affiliates.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The last User Satisfaction Survey in Malta, held in 2022, aimed to collect information about key users' satisfaction with statistical output.
The NSO maintains records on the number of News Releases and publications disseminated through its website, the users receiving statistical products, as well as the number of requests that are processed every year.
News Releases and tailor-made statistical outputs were assessed in terms of quality, timeliness, and on their ability to meet users' needs.
12.3. Completeness
To complete the questionnaire, respondents are required to must answer all questions. Automated validation controls are embedded in the application to ensure that all mandatory fields are completed correctly. Follow-ups are carried out with the companies until the questionnaire is submitted. Once submitted, the response is considered complete, reflecting a 100% completion rate.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
As the questionnaire contains only a limited number of questions, only fully completed forms are accepted. For this reason, the data completeness rate stands at 100%.
The data are derived from questionnaire responses. In the absence of administrative data sources for this subject area, the results may be subject to response bias related to the respondent's willingness or ability to provide accurate figures on Net turnover and Persons employed.
13.1.1. Use of residual geographic codes (Extra EU-27 not allocated, etc.)
Please see Table 13.1.in the Annex at the bottom.
13.1.2. Use of residual activity codes (NACE activity “not allocated”)
Please see Table 13.1.in the Annex at the bottom.
13.1.3. Comments on the Extra EU-27 not allocated and on the Activity “not allocated”
Such cases are generally minimal, with only rare occurrences observed.
13.1.4. UCI Approach applied to identify the relevant population of reporting units
The UCI approach adopted is based on the identification of the ultimate controlling party, ideally a natural person residing in Malta.
13.1.5. Update date (or frequency of updates) of the information regarding the country of the UCI by the “source administration”
The Malta Business Registry (MBR) and the Eurogroups Register (EGR) are the primary sources of information. The EGR is updated annually, whereas the MBR is updated more frequently according to information submitted by companies. Public available sources are also used to support and validate information.
13.2. Sampling error
No elements of sampling are used for OFATS given that a census is carried out.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable
13.3. Non-sampling error
The sources that give rise to this error include: -
Different reference year than the one required;
Values not converted into Euro (€);
The respondents’ willingness to provide accurate information;
Persons employed not provided as an average for the year.
All known enterprise groups are surveyed for OFATS, with imputations typically based on observed patterns among affiliates with similar characteristics and on reported data in previous years.
13.3.1. Coverage error
The sources used to establish the population frame include the EGR selected company financial statements, and the National Groups Register. Under-coverage errors might occur due to the limited availability of information on business units abroad owned by natural persons residing in Malta
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
For the reference year 2023, 4.9% of the surveyed companies were determined to be out of scope.
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
Not applicable
13.3.3. Non response error
Unit non-response arises when not all sampled reporting units participate in the survey.
Item non-response happens when a respondent provides only partial information or when the information given is unusable. Completely unusable questionnaires are always classified as considered under unit non-response.
Data collection starts at T+17 months after the end of the reference period and is transmitted to Eurostat at T+20 months.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable
14.2. Punctuality
The transmission of OFATS 2023 was completed on time, fully meeting the T+20 months target date.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Data was delivered on time by the set legal deadline and published.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not applicable
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable
15.2. Comparability - over time
OFATS data are fully comparable from 2007 to 2023.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Length of time series: 2007 - 2023
Length of comparable time series: 2007 - 2023
15.2.2. Reasons and differences in concepts and measurement methods for breaks in time series
Not applicable
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The statistical domain most closely linked to OFATS is the EGR. The UCIs used in the OFATS population may differ from those in the EGR due to differences in conceptual frameworks and methodological definitions set out in their respective domain legislations, particularly regarding UCIs identified up to the natural person level.
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)
Not applicable
15.3.4. Coherence – EuroGroups Register (EGR)
The OFATS population might differ from the EGR population due to differences in the underlying concepts in methodologies in their respective domain legislations. The data from the EGR is cross-referenced with the Malta Business Register to ensure coherence and identify any inaccuracies. While the EGR identifies the UCI at the enterprise level stopping when the respective enterprise is no longer controlled by another institutional unit, OFATS chooses the natural person as the UCI.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not applicable
The compilation of OFATS data typically requires three months of full-time equivalent work of an officer. The questionnaire is concise and straightforward. In most cases respondents are required to answer only three questions for each business unit operating abroad.
17.1. Data revision - policy
A revision policy is in place at the NSO, to safeguard a coordinated and consistent approach to data revisions across all statistical domains.
This policy takes into account the need and causes for revisions; time and frequency of revisions; data and other statistical products affected by such revisions; and length of periods revised.
Data for OFATS are collected via a census survey. The survey's population is sourced from the Statistical Business Register (SBR), the Euro-Groups Register (EGR), the Groups Register, and annual financial statements from the MBR. There are no set thresholds.
18.1.1. Methodological approach
OFATS data are collected through a census survey.
18.1.2. Use of cut-off thresholds
Not Applicable
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annually.
18.3. Data collection
The population is identified using data from the previous year, the Eurogroups register (EGR), and local administrative records of overseas companies owned by local businesses. This information, along with other economic data, is verified and collected through a census survey.
18.4. Data validation
Any anomalies identified in the data are validated through further correspondence with the respondent.
18.5. Data compilation
The most time-consuming phase of OFATS is identifying the units which are relevant for the target population. The OFATS population is created by merging information from the EGR, Groups Register and annual financial statements. Units that might appear remotely related to the concepts targeted by the OFATS regulation are requested to complete the OFATS questionnaire. Validation identifiers are placed in the questionnaire to determine whether a particular unit belongs to the OFATS population. A census survey is carried out and the few non-response units are assumed to have retained the same structure and performance as the previous year.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
0.08% of the records were imputed.
Imputations were applied to business units that did not respond to the questionnaire, using hot deck imputation based on the performance of similar companies abroad owned by Maltese residents. For other non-respondents that appeared for the first time in the 2023 OFATS compilation, where no information was available on their foreign operations, a conservative approach was taken, and null values were imputed.
18.5.2. Use of a method to deal with non-response (both unit and item non-response)
Where possible, the imputation method is based on patterns observed within the same year in the specific country and industry of the affiliate requiring imputation. Growth rates in Persons employed and Net turnover are evaluated and subsequently applied to the latest data available. This approach ensures both accuracy and relevance of the data. When new foreign branches are identified but no response is provided and there is no clear evidence that the respective affiliate is operating, the default assumption is that the unit is not yet active until verified by a reliable source of information.
18.5.3. Share of estimated values
The estimated share of Persons employed was 0%, while the estimated share of Net turnover was 2.02%. For the variables required in selected industries not covered by the 1% exemption rule, the estimated share of Employment benefit expenses was 8%, and the estimated share of Gross investment in tangible non-current assets was 1%.
Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) measure the commercial presence of residents through their 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. These statistics are compiled in accordance with 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 that are ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country. These statistics are compiled in accordance with 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
31 October 2025
Foreign affiliate in the framework of outward FATS is an enterprise or branch not resident in Malta over which an institutional unit resident in Malta has ultimate (direct or indirect) control.
Domestic affiliate shall mean an enterprise resident in Malta over which a UCI resident in Malta has control.
Ultimate Controlling Institutionalunit 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 unit which at any time during the reference period was an ‘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 realised 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 receive 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 to employee benefits, recognized by the statistical unit during the reference period. Those are all forms of consideration given by the statistical unit in exchange for services 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.
A non-domestic producer is a type of Special Purpose Entity (SPE) registered in a country, typically with very few or no employees, limited physical presence and negligible physical production in the host economy. SPEs are owned or controlled by non-resident entities and consequently are not included in OFATS.
If multiple shareholders, who are residents of Malta, collectively hold 50% or more of the voting rights (control), the company is incorporated into OFATS. However, if such Maltese shareholders hold less than 50% of the voting rights, the company is excluded from OFATS.
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 classified under NACE Sections B to N and P to S:
At the national level, for Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
Abroad, covering the foreign affiliates of ultimate controlling institutional units, for Table 33.
Malta (MT)
2023
The data are derived from questionnaire responses. In the absence of administrative data sources for this subject area, the results may be subject to response bias related to the respondent's willingness or ability to provide accurate figures on Net turnover and Persons employed.
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in units.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands of Euro (€).
The most time-consuming phase of OFATS is identifying the units which are relevant for the target population. The OFATS population is created by merging information from the EGR, Groups Register and annual financial statements. Units that might appear remotely related to the concepts targeted by the OFATS regulation are requested to complete the OFATS questionnaire. Validation identifiers are placed in the questionnaire to determine whether a particular unit belongs to the OFATS population. A census survey is carried out and the few non-response units are assumed to have retained the same structure and performance as the previous year.
Data for OFATS are collected via a census survey. The survey's population is sourced from the Statistical Business Register (SBR), the Euro-Groups Register (EGR), the Groups Register, and annual financial statements from the MBR. There are no set thresholds.
Annually at T+20.
Data collection starts at T+17 months after the end of the reference period and is transmitted to Eurostat at T+20 months.
Not applicable
OFATS data are fully comparable from 2007 to 2023.
