<p>The Belgian-Brazilian beer maker InBev and maker of Stella Artois and Becks has filed a lawsuit in a Delaware state court against biggest brewer in the United States Anheuser-Busch Co. Inc. The beer maker InBev seeks a declaratory ruling to confirm that Anheuser-Busch Co. Inc. shareholders have the right to remove board members without cause who object to its proposed $46 billion merger with the Budweiser maker. Board-replacement lawsuits are not uncommon in takeover bids and this could be the first step toward a hostile takeover of St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch Co. InBev’s move comes after media reports Wednesday that Anheuser-Busch’s board has rejected InBev’s unsolicited offer to buy Anheuser-Busch for $65 a share, or roughly $46 billion. Anheuser-Busch’s board unanimously rejected calling the proposal “financially inadequate” and not in the best interests of Anheuser-Busch shareholders. , The Anheuser-Busch’s lead independent director, Douglas A. Warner III said the board would continue to consider “all opportunities that build shareholder value.” But Warner said that the InBev’s proposal “fails to be competitive” with Anheuser-Busch’s alternative plans to increase its revenue, profits and shareholder value. And Patrick Stokes, chairman of Anheuser-Busch, said that “InBev’s proposal significantly undervalues the unique assets and prospects of Anheuser-Busch,” and “The proposed price does not reflect the strength of Anheuser-Busch’s global, iconic brands Bud Light and Budweiser.” Anheuser-Busch told CEO Carlos Brito that Anheuser-Busch respects “your desires to grow your company. But your growth should not come at the expense of our stockholders.”</p>