Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc is suing InBev NV in an attempt to slow its suitor's efforts to replace the US brewer's board of directors, which rejected InBev's $46.3 billion takeover offer.

In the lawsuit, the maker of Budweiser cited "an illegal plan and scheme by InBev, through a course of deceptive conduct, to acquire control of Anheuser-Busch at a bargain price."

The lawsuit accused InBev of making "false and misleading statements" regarding financing of its $65-per-share offer for Anheuser and InBev's plans for the combined company, which would be the world's largest brewer, making a quarter of the world's beer.