It did so not with insurance policies but by creating three special-purpose entities in 2001.

The transactions resembled in some ways the special-purpose entities Enron used to move debt off its books.

It is a matter of dispute among bond rating agencies, the university and the special-purpose entity.

If not, the special-purpose entity would still own the planes.

When you talk about special-purpose entities, that's difficult to avoid.

At that point, another special-purpose entity came into play.

Black & Decker sold its stock in the special-purpose entity for $1 million.

It is, of course, those same auditors whose judgment will be required to apply the new rule on special-purpose entities.

At the moment, the special-purpose entity set up by Dell does not have to make any public filings.

"But everything else that uses a special-purpose entity is up for reconsideration," he said.