[gracer]

Clearly never a problem I'm likely to face in my life time. BUT – an interesting quandary nonetheless. What do you do with US$100 billion of the cold, hard stuff?

Mattress stuffing is out as you'd likely need a bed big enough to house China to attempt this.

Instead, Apple announced a share buyback scheme at midnight tonight, in a bid to offload some of its loose change. It plans to pay US$$2.65 per share to shareholders as well as repurchasing US$10 billion in shares, set to begin later this year.

What do you guys think about this?

More importantly – and 'pretendingly' – let's say you were shouldering a similar responsibility. How would you spend the money?

I'd probably start with an iMac – or 100,000 of them. Maybe I'd even line a room (wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling) with them. iPad tiles in the bathroom? Apple TV coasters in the living room. A Mac Pro postbox.

Not really.

I'm interested to know what you would do though.

Do share!

G

[Some Random Bloke]

As a public company a dividend is probably the most responsible place to start.

[Dylstra]

It's an obscene figure.

[Some Random Bloke]

Here's an idea. Develop an iPad with the iPad 2 screen and the new iPad battery (long battery life), marry it to some kind of solar recharging system and donate about 50 million of them to the one laptop per child program.

[Islandhead]

Genius X

[Dave Bullard]

Hmmm ... I don't think we'll ever see much philanthropy from Apple (publicly, that is). It seems Jobs never thought much of the concept.

Me? I'd make sure all my workers and their families were looked after.

Cheers
Dave

[gracer]

Actually that's a good point - out of the goodness of their hearts, or for the goodness of publicity, you would think there would be more of a focus on giving back? They could make an enormous impact on numerous charities without even denting that cash pile. Lord, they could get their entire country out of debt and have a bit left over. Might have been the one flaw in Jobs' grand plan?

[Dylstra]

I remember reading an article about a guy who worked in aid. Sorry, that's all the details I have.

However, the bit I remember was that he said if he needed anything, there was a bunch of people at Microsoft to whom he could talk. But every time he approached Apple all he got was a line about education pricing.

[Some Random Bloke]

Fortunately it seems to be changing under Tim. I like that guy. I really hope he can succeed in the long term.

[Ken Gracey]

Well I guess before you ultimately spend, your share holders profits, you need to buy your shares back, and once you do that, then you can do what you like with your cash, without putting it to a share holders vote.

[BrianB]

I agree Grace.. I think this was a flaw in Jobs master plan. Surely they can donate something to charity.

I agree with you Alex, I like Tim Cook... He seems to be changing things at Apple charity wise for the better.

[Ken Gracey]

I agree with all of you, but Tim still needs to put a plan in place to convince the share holders, that donating money to charity is a good idea, while the USA is still in the worst recessions since the 1940s, until things improve, (especially even more so now) that apple is paying dividends for the first time is 15 years, most share holders will want apple to keep as much cash in the bank they can, to keep filling the share holder pockets.

[Some Random Bloke]

I presume that their is a marketing benefit in corporate charitable giving?

[Ken Gracey]

Well I am not trying to be smart here (shock horror) but how do you advertise that you have given away a billion dollars ? Most companies that donate money don't like to make a song and dance about it, simply because it's tax deductible, and it sort of looks like publicity stunt.

I donate money as often as I can, and yes I am not ashamed to admite, I claim it as a tax deduction, simply because I can.

[JZ]

maybe Apple could divide some that billion dollars up to give to the good admin folk here at AMW forums

[Dave Bullard]

Ken Gracey, on 20 March 2012 - 07:41 PM, said:

Well I am not trying to be smart here (shock horror) but how do you advertise that you have given away a billion dollars ? Most companies that donate money don't like to make a song and dance about it, simply because it's tax deductible, and it sort of looks like publicity stunt.

I suppose you could point to something like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is a pretty overt way of saying "Look at me!" while actually doing some good.

Cheers
Dave

[Ken Gracey]

Damn JZ if that's the case I want my admin privileges back

[Dave Bullard]

Just call me the Fairy Godfather, Ken ...

[Dylstra]

Dave Bullard, on 21 March 2012 - 08:05 AM, said:

I suppose you could point to something like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is a pretty overt way of saying "Look at me!" while actually doing some good.

Cheers
Dave

A big part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is pushing GMOs into unsuspecting third-world countries under the guise of "charity." Hmmm, not really sure how humanitarian that is for a Monsanto stockholder...

[Ken Gracey]

Lol I think you were counting the hours down for me to say that Dave

O and where is the billion dollars, JZ tempted me with ????