Based on the search results, "VIE" stands for "Variable Interest Entity". It is a legal business structure in which an investor has a controlling interest despite not having a majority of voting rights. VIEs are set up with a unique structure where investors do not have a direct ownership stake in the entity but rather have special contracts, which specify the terms and rules and pledge a percentage of profits. Therefore, in a VIE, the investor does not participate in residual profits or losses that usually come with ownership. The contracts dont provide for voting rights either. VIEs can come in many forms and will be organized depending on the needs of the beneficiary company. VIEs have faced criticism for their lack of transparency and limited rights provided to foreign investors, with some experts calling for the banning of future listings and delisting of existing Chinese companies using VIEs.