TEXT-NZ's Contact says BG gets takeover clearance

(The following statement was released by the company)

WELLINGTON, Aug 28 - Contact has been advised that BG Group last night announced that it has obtained consent under the New Zealand Overseas Investment Act to complete the acquisition of shares in Origin Energy.

The full text of BG Group's announcement is set out below.

Contact has received no other non-public information in relation to the BG Group proposal. Contact will inform shareholders of any further developments as appropriate.

"BG International (AUS) Investments 1 Pty Limited ("BG"), a wholly-wned subsidiary of BG Group plc (LSE:BG.L), has obtained consent under the New Zealand Overseas Investment Act 2005 and the Overseas Investment Regulations 2005 to complete the acquisition of shares in Origin Energy Limited (ASX:ORG) under the Offer made pursuant to BG's takeover bid. The consent is subject to confidential conditions, all of which are satisfactory to BG. BG has therefore waived the condition set out in paragraph 4 of Appendix 2 of the Replacement Bidder's Statement dated 30 July 2008."