As a result of its change in business strategy, Enron made significant changes to several of its accounting procedures. For example, Enron began establishing several special purpose entities in many aspects of its business. A special purpose entity (SPE) is an entity-partnership, corporation, trust, or joint venture-created for a limited purpose, with limited activities and a limited life. A company forms an SPE so outside investors are assured that they will be exposed to only the risk of the SPE and its particular purpose, such as building a gas pipeline, and not the risks associated with the entire company. In addition, the SPE also protects the investment of outside investors by giving them control over its activities. If an SPE satisfies certain conditions, it does not have to be consolidated with the sponsoring company.