Anheuser-Busch’s advisers, who are now considering rival brewer InBev’s $46bn takeover proposal, will spend the weekend evaluating the offer’s merits before presenting their opinions to Anheuser’s board of directors, according to people close to the situation.

The US brewer, which has maintained a relatively modest pace – at least, publicly – in addressing InBev’s unsolicited attentions, says it will make a decision on the bid “in due course”.