A large U.S.-based furniture manufacturer with significant exports to the European Union has accumulated $120 million in cash and short-term securities. As a financial manager, you have been tasked with developing a strategy to manage the funds. Considering the prevailing level of interest rates and inflation, and the need for diversification, you must decide how much of this sum the company should keep as cash on hand and how to invest the remaining amount. What are your recommended allocations?
In an Excel spreadsheet, show the amounts you recommend for cash on hand as well as each asset class the company should invest in (such as stocks, bonds, real estate, index ETFs, company acquisitions). Include a brief explanation of your allocation decision. Attach the spreadsheet to your discussion post.