According to this article, Microsoft are sitting on a $50bn (!) pile of cash, $42bn of which is located ouside the US: http://blogs.forbes.com/ericsavitz/2011/

According to this article, Microsoft are sitting on a $50bn (!) pile of cash, $42bn of which is located ouside the US: http://blogs.forbes.com/ericsavitz/2011/05/10/microsoft-with-skype-a-good-use-for-the-giant-overseas-cash-pile/ http://blogs.forbes.com/ericsavitz/2011/05/10/microsoft-with... They could do nearly six Skype-sized deals, just using cash (without issuing bonds or using stock!) Incredible. They could probably buy SAP, but their cash pile would be gone, plus they would have to give up a significant amount of stock as well. Doubt Ballmer would be willing to risk this. I've heard elsewhere that Apple is sitting on a ~$35bn cash pile. One wonders when the US Government will declare some sort of 'tax holiday' or window during which these companies can repatriate all this cash.