BG may keep Origin power assets if bid wins

LONDON (Reuters) - British gas producer BG Group (BG.L) may retain the power generation and retail units of Australia's Origin Energy (ORG.AX) if its $12 billion (6.08 billion pound) bid approach is successful, sources close to the situation said on Wednesday.

While analysts agree that Origin's gas assets would be a good fit for BG, some said BG's relative lack of experience in power and limited retail operations meant this side of the deal made less sense.

But BG sees good reasons to keep the power assets, rather than selling them off after any successful deal.

"If you look at the margins being made in power and retail (in Australia), it's a very good business," one source close to the matter said.

"They're very capable of running that business".

BG declined to comment on its plans for the power assets if it is successful. However, a spokeswoman noted BG had gas retail operations in Latin America and India.

(Reporting by Tom Bergin; editing by Rory Channing)