InBev CEO says $65 a share for Busch is top offer

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of Belgian brewer InBev NV (INTB.BR: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday to promote his company's takeover of Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc (BUD.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) to skeptical lawmakers and told reporters the $65 per share offer is the highest it would bid.

"No, $65 is a great price, full price, that's it," InBev chief executive Carlos Brito said in response to a reporter's question on whether the price might have to go higher.

Brito spoke with journalists after meeting with a Missouri lawmaker who has expressed concern about the deal to acquire the St. Louis-based brewer, which makes Budweiser and Bud Light.

At that price per share, the deal would be worth about $46.3 billion. The shares closed up 1.1 percent at $61.20 in regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

But some analysts think InBev will go higher.

Tom Pirko, president of Bevmark, a Santa Barbara, California-based advisory firm, speculated last week that Anheuser would push for $68 or $70 per share and could ask as much as $75 before InBev would walk away.

When asked if InBev had reached out to one of Anheuser- Busch's largest shareholders, legendary billionaire investor Warren Buffett, or to Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo, Brito responded: "Right now we're trying to engage with their (Anheuser-Busch) board; that's the top of the agenda."

Some reports have suggested Anheuser-Busch is looking at a possible link with Modelo (GMODELOC.MX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) in which it owns a 50.2 percent stake, to help thwart the InBev bid.