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 (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): All resident SPEs are covered, both direct investors and direct investment companies.
Treatment of equally shared control: No specific and systematic treatment is currently carried out. If this situation occurs it is punctually analysed and solved according to the FATS manual.
Treatment of multiple minority ownership: No specific and systematic treatment is currently carried out. If this situation occurs it is punctually analysed and solved according to the FATS manual.
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
Portugal
3.8. Coverage - Time
Length of comparable time series: 2008-2013 / 2014-2019 / 2020-2023
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 euros.
2023
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The primary confidentiality rules used were Primary confidentiality due to small counts (A) and Primary confidentiality due to dominance by one unit (O). The software used to apply the primary confidentiality was SAS.
Regarding the secondary confidentiality, the rule used was Secondary confidentiality set by the sender, not for publication (D) and the software used was TauArgus.
Percentage of confidential cells:
T15: A 6.25%, D 8.33% e O 3.47%.
T33: A 12.14%, D 2.63% e O 1.34%.
8.1. Release calendar
Not Available
8.2. Release calendar access
Not Available
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not Available
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
No press release concerning the results of OFATS data is issued.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not Available
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not Available
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not Available
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not Available
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not Available
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not Available
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Not Available
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not Available
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not Available
11.1. Quality assurance
Firstly, the reported OFATS data is checked against the financial statements and the group’s relationships links reported by the company (in IES) and if we detect cases where the data reported seems to be inconsistent, we contact the company by e-mail or phone call in order to correct the report. If our contact is not successful, we try to guarantee the consistency using data from other data sources (i.e. annual financial reports or publicly available information).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Please refer to 11.1
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Not Available
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not Available
12.3. Completeness
Our current source (IES) is as a census. Therefore, data incompleteness is negligible.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Please refer to 12.3
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Until 2013, the basis for compiling FATS was the annual questionnaire on FDI, which was based on a sample of entities. From 2014 onwards, the basis is the Informação Empresarial Simplificada (Simplified Corporate Information, Portuguese acronym: IES). Through IES, entities are able to meet their obligation to report their annual accounts and additional information used for FDI and FATS compilation. Its reporting is mandatory, and therefore it covers nearly all corporations operating in Portuguese territory.
13.1.1. Use of residual geographic codes (Extra EU-27 not allocated, etc.)
Not Applicable
13.1.2. Use of residual activity codes (NACE activity “not allocated”)
Not Applicable
13.1.3. Comments on the Extra EU-27 not allocated and on the Activity “not allocated”
Not Applicable
13.1.4. UCI Approach applied to identify the relevant population of reporting units
Outward FATS data are compiled within Informação Empresarial Simplificada. In terms of OFATS statistical production, the information collected is then filtered in order to consider the UCI concept only.
13.1.5. Update date (or frequency of updates) of the information regarding the country of the UCI by the “source administration”
From 2011 onward, the UCI concept was directly requested on our annual survey. Firstly, it was used a specific annual questionnaire on FDI and currently IES is used (census survey). On the context of IES quality control, cross-checks are made in order to guarantee consistency with UCI report.
13.2. Sampling error
Negligible
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not Applicable (census data)
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-sampling error is not applicable.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Coverage errors can only occur from non-response error, which is considered to be for OFATS population (big companies) negligenciable.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Over-coverage is not applicable since we do not apply any grossing up methods.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Prior to 2014 the information was gathered from an annual FDI questionnaire. Afterwards, the information started to be gathered in IES (census survey).
13.3.1.3. Misclassification errors
According to our experience, the main misclassification problems are related to the economic activity codes. These are very difficult to validate given that they are not available on business registers. Country codes are easier to validate.
13.3.1.4. Under- and over-coverage problems
Over-coverage is not applicable since we do not apply any grossing up methods.
Under-coverage can always exist. However, once our current source is as a census, therefore the under-coverage would only result from non-responding rate, which is considered to be for OFATS population (big companies) negligenciable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
As companies need to report the FATS variables in IES, the measurement error is negligible.
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
Our current source (IES) is as a census, therefore the under-coverage only results from non-responding rate that rounds 5%. The entities involved are mainly small, micro-entities which do not have impact on OFATS data.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Negligible
13.3.4. Processing error
Not Applicable
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+13 months after the end of the reference period.
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at t+20 months.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not Available
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not Available
14.2. Punctuality
The punctuality of the data collection and dissemination was respected.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Zero days
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not applicable
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Some Data sharing of OFATS and IFATS is performed between the two authorities responsible for these two sets of information.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Until 2013, the basis for compiling FATS was the annual questionnaire on FDI, which was based on a sample of entities. From 2014 onwards, the basis is the Informação Empresarial Simplificada (Simplified Corporate Information, Portuguese acronym: IES). Through IES, entities are able to meet their obligation to report their annual accounts and additional information used for FDI and FATS compilation. Its reporting is mandatory, and therefore it covers nearly all corporations operating in Portuguese territory.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Length of time series: 2004-2023
Length of comparable time series: 2008-2013 / 2014-2019 / 2020-2023
15.2.2. Reasons and differences in concepts and measurement methods for breaks in time series
UCI approach first implemented for 2008 data. In 2014, the source data for OFATS compilation was changed. In 2020, some companies were added to the OFATS compilation data.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Coherence between databases is assured.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not Available
15.3.3. Coherence – Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
The same non-resident activity codes are for FDI stocks and outward FATS statistics. The same source is used for both statistics. In FDI statistics, data by Ultimate Investing Economy (UIE) is based on the proportional approach whereas OFATS data is based on UCI concept, which is more in line with winner takes all (WTA) approach.
15.3.4. Coherence – EuroGroups Register (EGR)
Not Available
15.4. Coherence - internal
Please refer to 15.3.3
Through IES, entities are able to meet their obligation to report their annual accounts and additional information used for FDI and FATS compilation. Through one report the companies can satisfy the statistical needs of different institutions and, therefore, the reporting burden is minimized.
17.1. Data revision - policy
OFATS’ compilation system relies on the annual data source ‘IES - Simplified Corporate Information’ that becomes available at T+13 months after the end of the reference year. However, IES respondents occasionally correct information for previous years which produces revisions.
17.2. Data revision - practice
See Table 17.2. in the Annex at the bottom.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
See Table 17.2. in the Annex at the bottom.
18.1. Source data
Census Survey
18.1.1. Methodological approach
Until 2013, the basis for compiling FATS was the annual questionnaire on FDI, which was based on a sample of entities. From 2014 onwards, the basis is the Informação Empresarial Simplificada (Simplified Corporate Information, Portuguese acronym: IES). Through IES, entities are able to meet their obligation to report their annual accounts and additional information used for FDI and FATS compilation. Its reporting is mandatory, and therefore it covers nearly all corporations operating in Portuguese territory.
18.1.2. Use of cut-off thresholds
No thresholds are used.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual
18.3. Data collection
Source to define your population:
100 % census survey
0 % sample survey
0 % Structural Business Statistics (SBS)
0 % Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
0 % EuroGroups Register (EGR)
0 % Statistical Business Register (SBR)
0 % Administrative sources
0 % Private data sources
0 % Publicly available sources
0 % Other data sources
Economic data obtained using:
100 % census survey
0 % sample survey
0 % Structural Business Statistics (SBS)
0 % Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
0 % EuroGroups Register (EGR)
0 % Statistical Business Register (SBR)
0 % Administrative sources
0 % Private data sources
0 % Publicly available sources
0 % Other data sources
18.4. Data validation
Firstly, the reported OFATS data is checked against the financial statements and the group’s relationships links reported by the company (in IES) and if we detect cases where the data reported seems to be inconsistent, we contact the company by e-mail or phone call in order to correct the report. If our contact is not successful, we try to guarantee the consistency using data from other data sources (i.e. annual financial reports or publicly available information).
18.5. Data compilation
The Data is compiled under the legal basis framework: Decreto-Lei n.º 8/2007 de 17 de janeiro
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Imputation is based on historical data and information obtained from annual reports and it is made on an affiliate by affiliate and variable by variable basis.
18.5.2. Use of a method to deal with non-response (both unit and item non-response)
If we detect cases where the data reported by the reporting units is incomplete, we contact the company by e-mail or phone call in order to complete the report. If our contact is not successful, we try to obtain this information by other means (i.e. balance-sheet database or publicly available information). Our last chance to correct incomplete data is to maintain the data of the previous year (residual cases).
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 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.
Coverage of Special Purpose Entities (SPE): All resident SPEs are covered, both direct investors and direct investment companies.
Treatment of equally shared control: No specific and systematic treatment is currently carried out. If this situation occurs it is punctually analysed and solved according to the FATS manual.
Treatment of multiple minority ownership: No specific and systematic treatment is currently carried out. If this situation occurs it is punctually analysed and solved according to the FATS manual.
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).
Portugal
2023
Until 2013, the basis for compiling FATS was the annual questionnaire on FDI, which was based on a sample of entities. From 2014 onwards, the basis is the Informação Empresarial Simplificada (Simplified Corporate Information, Portuguese acronym: IES). Through IES, entities are able to meet their obligation to report their annual accounts and additional information used for FDI and FATS compilation. Its reporting is mandatory, and therefore it covers nearly all corporations operating in Portuguese territory.
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in absolute figures.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands euros.
The Data is compiled under the legal basis framework: Decreto-Lei n.º 8/2007 de 17 de janeiro
Census Survey
Annual
OFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+13 months after the end of the reference period.
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at t+20 months.
Not applicable
Until 2013, the basis for compiling FATS was the annual questionnaire on FDI, which was based on a sample of entities. From 2014 onwards, the basis is the Informação Empresarial Simplificada (Simplified Corporate Information, Portuguese acronym: IES). Through IES, entities are able to meet their obligation to report their annual accounts and additional information used for FDI and FATS compilation. Its reporting is mandatory, and therefore it covers nearly all corporations operating in Portuguese territory.
