Bibliographic citation:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: Measuring Globalisation Statistics (Data download: 18 November 2015). UK Data Service. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5257/oecd/glob/2015

Yearly

For further information, see: Country Notes

Australia: Foreign affiliates refers to enterprises that are majority owned by Australian resident enterprises (more than 50% of the ordinary shares or voting stock). This includes offshore subsidiaries, branches and majority-owned foreign joint ventures. There were 30 finance and insurance Australian resident parent enterprises that reported on behalf of all their finance and insurance foreign affiliates. The SOFI FATS population was obtained by using the survey population from two related ABS surveys: the Survey of International Investment and the Survey of International Trade in Services, supplemented by additional units that were identified as in scope.

Austria: The data refer to foreign affiliates of Austrian controlled domestic enterprises (participating interests of more than 50%). The multiple minority ownership is considered. Indirectly controlled foreign affiliates are included. The concept of "Ultimate controlling institutional unit of a foreign affiliate" is adopted to identify the relevant target population.
Other data characteristics:Regarding direct affiliates, only enterprises above a threshold of EUR 100 000 for equity ownership and with a balance sheet of more than EUR 10 million are included. Indirect affiliates with at least 20 persons employed or with a balance sheet of more than EUR 10 million are also included. No estimates are made for any entities not included in the survey. Consequently, the Austrian outward FATS data are subject to an unknown degree of underreporting, but underreporting probably has a material impact only on one variable, namely the number of enterprises.

Belgium: Reporting units above a threshold of EUR 15 million for equity and with a balance sheet total of more than EUR 25 million are included in the survey population. No estimates are made for any entities not included in the survey and for non-response.

Canada: The data refer to foreign affiliates majority-owned (i.e. more than 50% of the voting shares) by a business that resides in Canada. Foreign affiliates indirectly controlled by the parent company are not taken into consideration. The concept of "Ultimate controlling institutional unit of a foreign affiliate" has not been used to identify the relevant target population.
The BP-59 questionnaire (Capital invested abroad by Canadian enterprises), which contains some questions on foreign affiliates as well as other questions about Canadian investment abroad, is sent to Canadian enterprises with at least CAD 2 to 5 million in investment abroad (depending on the country/region). Roughly 1 800 firms receive the BP-59 questionnaire, about half of which are surveyed annually and the other half of which are surveyed once every 3 years. The survey is believed to cover close to 100% of the target population. For operational reasons, depository institutions and foreign branches of firms were excluded from the estimates.

Czech Republic: The data refer to foreign affiliates controlled by Czech ultimate controlling institutional units (participating interests of more than 50%). Multiple minority ownership is not considered. Data for joint ventures are not included. Indirectly controlled foreign affiliates are included up to the first level of indirect ownership (an affiliate of an affiliate of domestic direct investor company). Affiliates abroad of resident parent companies under foreign control are excluded from the population.
The data are prepared by the Czech National Bank (CNB), on the basis of a yearly statistical survey on flows and stocks of direct investment abroad. The ownership is stated at the end of the reference year and there are no thresholds considered. The register of resident direct investors is updated based on companies' reports of direct investment transactions (reporting obligation under the Foreign Exchange Law), business register, public sources and commercial sources.

Denmark: The data come from an annual survey (Danish Foreign Affiliates) with no cut-off threshold. The population of enterprises is formed from different sources notably the Foreign Direct Investment Register of the Danish Central Bank, annual company reports and commercial data sources. Information regarding the Danish parent enterprise is from the Statistics Denmark's Business Register.
Other data characteristics: The statistical results in principle cover every foreign affiliate to all relevant Danish parent enterprises. No sample survey technique or cut-off limit has been introduced. The census approach implies that around 3 500 Danish parent enterprises covering approximately 11 000 foreign affiliates are covered. The response rate is relatively high, 96% in 2010. There is no compensation for non-response in the results.
The data refer to foreign affiliates that are controlled by the parent enterprise. The parent enterprise is considered having the control if it, directly or indirectly, owns more than 50% of the capital or has a controlling influence. Foreign affiliates owned by enterprises registered in Denmark but ultimately owned from abroad have been excluded from the population.

Finland: Statistics on Finnish affiliates abroad produce annual data on the number, activities and location of Finnish enterprises' units abroad. A unit located abroad may be an affiliate (ownership over 50%), a branch, a joint venture (co-owned 50%-50% with another enterprise) or an associated company (ownership at least 10% but under 50%). The inquiry is filled in by each group head resident in Finland who controls at least 10% of the voting power directly or via other enterprises in affiliates located abroad. The data concern the group's affiliates abroad.

France: The survey is addressed to all groups whose main decision center is located in France and controlling at least one unit located abroad. A unit located abroad may be an affiliate (direct or indirect holding of over 50% of the voting rights), a branch or a joint venture (jointly controlled with another group). Associated companies (minority participation between 20 and 50%) are not covered.

Germany: The data are based on annual stock surveys of direct investment (residents' assets in foreign economic territories), which cover all enterprises abroad directly or indirectly owned by German investors through German majority-owned enterprises abroad.
The submission of reports is required for direct investment enterprises abroad with a balance sheet total exceeding EUR 3 million.No estimates are made for any entities not included in the survey.
The data refer to foreign affiliates majority-owned by German firms. Only majority investments are included if the German direct investor is not controlled by another foreign investor (German direct investor is the ultimate controlling institutional unit). Joint ventures (50/50 ownership) are considered. In the case of joint ventures between a national owner and a foreign owner, ownership is not included in the following figures (only national majority-owned affiliates by definition). In the case of joint ventures between two national owners, national ownership is included in the following figures. Multiple minority ownership is also considered.

Greece: The data are collected from the annual FDI stock survey carried out by the Balance of Payments Statistics Department of the Bank of Greece. Data from balance of payments transactions and press reports are used as a supplementary source. No thresholds are considered for the survey.
The concept of "ultimate controlling institutional unit of a foreign affiliate" is adopted to identify the relevant target population.

Hungary: The adequate information to define the target population came from FDI questionnaires. The FDI Register based on the FDI survey contains the contact information of reported units and statistical units as well. It also contains some information about the equity capital of mother company in the foreign affiliates. The concept of "ultimate controlling institutional unit of a foreign affiliate" is adopted to identify the relevant target population.
The data come from a special statistical survey of the HCSO, and also from a test questionnaire by the National Bank of Hungary (NBH). In the HCSO survey there is a threshold: reporting units with less than EUR 40 000 of direct investment from the parent company are not included in the observed population. The results are not grossed up.
The response rate is about 50%. No estimates have been made for non-response.
The data refer to foreign affiliates majority-owned by Hungarian firms, i.e. enterprises with a Hungarian participation of more than 50% in voting shares.

Ireland: About 500 Irish multinationals have been surveyed in 2010, which is very close to a full target population. The response rate was 76%. Due to the high response rate among the largest Irish multinationals, it is felt that the issue of non-response does not overly affect the final results. The data refer to foreign affiliates majority-owned by Irish firms, i.e. enterprises with an Irish participation of more than 50% in voting shares.

Israel: The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.

Italy: The main data source is the information available from the annual and consolidated account reports of incorporated companies, and more particularly the list of participations included in their Annex. It is then integrated with other information available at ISTAT: administrative data, statistical business files and structural business surveys. The target population is identified using the Business register and the EGR (EuroGroups Register).Estimates have been made for non-responders, notably using the commercial ORBIS database (from Bureau Van Dijk).

Japan: The survey covers all Japanese firms having at least one affiliate abroad. An "overseas affiliate" means either a foreign affiliate (subsidiary) in which a Japanese corporation has invested capital of 10% or more, or a foreign affiliate (sub-subsidiary) in which a "subsidiary", funded more than 50% by a Japanese corporation, has invested capital of more than 50%.
The following notes apply to all variables:
•Textiles, wearing apparel, leather and related products (13-15) includes Manufacture of man-made fibres (2030).
•Printing and reproduction of recorded media (18) excludes Reproduction of recorded media (1820).
•Chemicals and chemical products (20) excludes Manufacture of man-made fibres (2030).
•Basic metals (24) includes Manufacture of other electronic and electric wires and cables (2732)
•Computer, electronic and optical products (26) excludes Manufacture of watches and clocks (2652).
•Electrical equipment (27) includes part of Manufacture of measuring, testing, navigating and control equipment (2651); excludes Manufacture of other electronic and electric wires and cables (2732).
•Machinery and equipment n.e.c. (28) excludes Manufacture of ovens, furnaces and furnace burners (2815).
•Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (45-47) excludes Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles (4520).
•Information service activities (63) excludes News agency activities (6391) and part of Data processing, hosting and related activities (6311).
•Financial and insurance activities (64-66) excludes Activities of holding companies (6420).
•Education (85) excludes Educational support activities (8550).

Korea: The data cover both minority and majority participations (at least 10% in voting shares). Firms indirectly controlled by the parent company are not included. The concept of "ultimate controlling institutional unit of a foreign affiliate" has not been used to identify the relevant target population. Reporting units with less than USD one million of direct investment from the parent company were not included in the target population.

Luxembourg: The data are based on the annual survey on direct investments, which is a joint survey with the Central Bank regarding data collection in the banking sector. The survey is only exhaustive in the bank and insurance sectors. However, all large enterprises in the non-financial sector are included. Special purpose entities (holding companies) are not covered. A resident enterprise included in the sample is surveyed if it holds directly or indirectly one or several subsidiaries, associate companies or branches abroad. The data refer to foreign affiliates directly or indirectly majority-controlled (more than 50%) by the national parent company.

Netherlands: Data come from a survey covering large non-financial enterprises. Administrative sources have been used for smaller non-financial enterprises and largest financial companies. The information used to define the target population come from the enterprise group register and also from annual reports.
Reporting units with more than EUR 23 million total assets are surveyed. The results are grossed up to the whole population.
The target population consists of almost all companies active in the Netherlands, for which the UCI is in the Netherlands and having subsidiaries outside the EU.

Norway: The statistics are based on Statistics Norway's own collection of reports on investment abroad, which is a joint collection with direct investment abroad (outward FDI). The reports provide information about the foreign enterprises, including what the Norwegian enterprise owns, accounting information on investment and revenue, and information on turnover and employment. In addition, information is used from the annual report submitted to the Register of Company Accounts in Brønnøysund, information from the media, Internet etc. to map the changes in investment abroad. These sources are also used to map the Norwegian ultimate owner country (the country where the enterprise in the ownership chain that is not controlled by another enterprise is located).
The statistics are based on a cut-off sampling survey. The sampling survey covers the largest Norwegian enterprises with activity abroad. In addition, a sample of smaller enterprises is drawn.
The statistics cover, in principle, all Norwegian-controlled enterprises abroad, i.e. subsidiaries in foreign countries that are controlled either directly or indirectly by an enterprise in Norway through an ownership interest of more than 50%. Only economically active enterprises are included in the population.

Poland: The data come from the Enterprise Department of the Central Statistical Office of Poland (CSO). They have been collected from the annual statistical survey on entities having abroad branches, establishments or shares in other companies, covering all enterprises regardless of number of employees.
The data refer to majority controlled affiliates abroad, where more than 50% of the capital and voting shares is held by one resident, including those that are ultimately controlled by foreign investors. Indirectly controlled affiliates are included.
The concept of "ultimate controlling institutional unit of a foreign affiliate" is adopted to identify the relevant target population.

Portugal: The data refer to foreign affiliates majority-owned by Portuguese enterprises (participating interests of more than 50%). Majority investments are included if the Portuguese direct investor is not controlled by another foreign investor, i.e. Portuguese direct investor is the ultimate controlling institutional unit. All foreign affiliates directly or indirectly controlled by Portuguese parent companies are considered.

Slovak Republic: The data are compiled on the basis of statistical surveys organised by the Slovak statistical office. A special module is included into annual structural business surveys. All active enterprises with 20 and more employees are included in the survey.
The data refer to foreign affiliates majority-owned by Slovak firms. Firms indirectly controlled by the Slovak parent company are included only in respect of majority (50%) interests. Only resident owners which are not foreign-controlled themselves are considered. Joint ventures are considered. In the case of equally shared control (50/50), all values are allocated to the country of residence of the affiliate abroad.

Spain: Primary information is generated from the Register of Foreign Investments of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade (MITyC). This register is formed from the declarations forms on foreign investment compiled by the General Directorate for Trade and Investments. These data have been complemented with information from the EuroGroups Register.
Statistical units above a threshold of EUR 1.5 million for net assets are covered. The results are grossed up to the whole population using the EuroGroups Register.
The data refer to affiliates abroad of parent companies majority-owned (more than 50%) by Spaniard parent companies. The concept of "Ultimate controlling institutional unit of a foreign affiliate" is adopted to identify the relevant target population. Information is collected up to the third level in the chain of participation.

United Kingdom: The target population is identified using the EGR (EuroGroups Register).
The statistical population includes 200 enterprise groups with the largest number of affiliates having UK UCI (50% of the sample population). The results are grossed up for not-surveyed affiliates, using sample returns, the business register and the EGR.

United States: The data are based on on annual and benchmark surveys which cover all affiliates of all US parents (all non-bank affiliates of non-bank US parents up to 2008).
All foreign affiliates in which the combined direct and indirect ownership interest of all US parents exceeds 10% are covered by the survey. However, in order to reduce respondent burden, most of the detailed data are only collected on majority-owned affiliates (those affiliates in which the combined direct and indirect ownership interest of all US parents exceeds 50%).
The data in this publication relate to majority-owned affiliates.
Data for the Asia area actually correspond to those of Asia-Pacific excluding Australia.
The following notes apply to all variables:
•Other manufacturing; repair and installation of machinery and equipment (31 to 33) excludes Repair and installation of machinery and equipment (33).
•Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (36 to 39) excludes Waste management and remediation activities (38 to 39).
•Total services (45 to 96) exclude Monetary intermediation (641) up to 2008.
•Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (45) is included in Wholesale trade (46) and Retail trade (47).
•Wholesale trade (46) includes part of Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (45).
•Retail trade (47) includes part of Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (45).
•Financial and insurance activities (64-66) excludes Monetary intermediation (641) up to 2008.
•Administrative and support service activities (77 to 82) and Other administrative and support service activities (78 to 82) include Waste management and remediation activities (38 to 39).
•Total business sector (9999) excludes Monetary intermediation (641) up to 2008.

UK Data Service Guide to OECD Measuring Globalisation Statistics