Australia's Origin shares soar after BG approach

PERTH (Reuters) - Shares in Origin Energy Ltd (ORG.AX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Australia's second-largest power retailer, jumped nearly 40 percent on Wednesday after it said it had received a A$13 billion ($12.1 billion) takeover proposal from British utility BG Group Plc (BG.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

At 0101 GMT (9:01 p.m. EDT), Origin was up 39 percent at A$14.55. BG's proposed offer is at A$14.70 a share.

($1=A$1.07)

(Reporting by Fayen Wong)