With relatively little debt and a growing cash pile, analysts said, it has the flexibility to expand abroad.

Corporate America's cash pile has hit its highest level in half a century.

That said, not all respected value managers are letting cash pile up.

During the half-year, the company's cash pile grew £41m to £451m while capital expenditure climbed to £82m.

And most of those managers figure that it is their job to invest the money given to them, not to let cash pile up for long.

Subtracting a bit from those cash piles could add nicely to the economy.

Brasil Telecom is believed to have a cash pile of about $500 million for acquisitions.

"It's like winning the lottery and finally seeing the big cash pile and being able to take it home," Bell said.

In high technology, Microsoft has long had the biggest cash pile.

Even after his £880 million purchase of British Sugar last year, the company still has a £300 million cash pile.