InBev offers $46.3 bln for Anheuser-Busch

BRUSSELS/NEW YORK, June 12 (Reuters) - InBev NV INTB.BR has launched a $46.3 billion bid to buy Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc BUD.N as it seeks to create the world's largest brewer with the biggest ever takeover of an alcoholic drinks company.

InBev's shares rose around 4 percent to 49 euros in early trade in Brussels on Thursday after the Belgium-based company, whose brands include Stella Artois and Beck's, said on Wednesday it was offering $65 per share for Anheuser, which dominates the U.S. beer market with a 48.5 percent share.

The beer industry is undergoing a wave of consolidation, with Scottish & Newcastle agreeing to be broken up by Carlsberg A/S (CARLb.CO: Quote, Profile, Research) and Heineken NV (HEIN.AS: Quote, Profile, Research), and SABMiller Plc (SAB.L: Quote, Profile, Research) and Molson Coors Brewing Co (TAP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) agreeing to merge their U.S. operations.

InBev's offer represents a 24 percent premium to Anheuser's share price on May 22 -- the day before reports of merger talks surfaced -- and could be just an opening step in negotiations likely to drive the final deal price higher.

InBev CEO Carlos Brito said on Thursday the business rationale for the offer was "very strong".

Tom Pirko, president of beverage industry advising firm Bevmark, said he thought Anheuser could negotiate a price as high as $68 or $70.

"I think the cut-off price is $75. I don't think InBev would go beyond that. I think they'd go for SABMiller first," he said.

Anheuser, the maker of Budweiser and Michelob, which counts Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc as its second-largest shareholder with a 5 percent stake, saw its shares jump more than 7 percent to $62.73 after-hours on Wednesday.

InBev, formed by the 2004 merger of Belgium's Interbrew with Brazil's AmBev, said it would "like to engage in a dialogue with the goal of consummating a friendly combination".