(Bloomberg) - Credit Suisse First Boston received a request for information from federal prosecutors investigating whether American International Group Inc. manipulated its share price to reduce the price of an acquisition.

CSFB, the securities unit of Zurich-based Credit Suisse Group, is “cooperating fully with authorities on this matter,” spokeswoman Victoria Harmon said. “CSFB simply handled a customer's trade in AIG shares.”

Harmon responded to a report yesterday in the Wall Street Journal that the US attorney in Manhattan is examining whether Greenberg, 79, sought to boost the stock price of American International, the world's largest insurer, in 2001 to save money on its $23 billion purchase of American General Corp. People familiar with the situation said last month that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also probing the matter.

The purchase would have been more expensive had American International's average stock price fallen below a certain threshold during a 10-day period just before the deal closed.

“AIG was not buying stock during the pricing period nor did anyone to our knowledge buy AIG stock on AIG's behalf,” said Joe Norton, a spokesman for the New York-based insurer. Greenberg hasn't been contacted or interviewed by the FBI or the US attorney's office and doesn't comment on subpoenas or regulatory matters, Norton said.

CSFB received a subpoena from a federal grand jury and the Securities and Exchange Commission has questioned at least two people in the matter, the Journal reported.

Megan Gaffney, a spokeswoman for US Attorney David Kelley in Manhattan, and John Heine, a spokesman for the SEC, declined to comment.

The FBI typically works in tandem with the US Attorney's office.

American International shares fell 37 cents to $64.93 at 12:15 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Credit Suisse shares rose 35 centimes to 47.85 francs in Zurich trading.

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is also investigating American International in his probe of collusion between insurers and brokers.

Two employees pleaded guilty in October to rigging bids with Marsh & McLennan Cos., the world's largest insurance broker.

Glacier Re raises $301 million from investors including Soros

(Bloomberg) - Glacier Reinsurance AG, a new Swiss reinsurer, has raised 347.5 million Swiss francs ($301 million) from investors, including the asset management business founded by billionaire financier George Soros.

Investors in the Luxembourg-based holding company that begins operating next year include Soros Fund Management LLC, Benfield Group Plc and funds advised by Dallas-based HBK Investments L.P., the company said in an e-mailed statement.

“Glacier Re has been formed in response to prevailing favourable market conditions,” the company said in the statement. Robbie Klaus, former head of GE Frankona Re's global specialty reinsurance unit, will be chief executive, Glacier Re said.

Glacier Re will focus on underwriting niche specialty reinsurance risks including catastrophe reinsurance, European property and casualty, aerospace, marine, energy and war and terrorism risks, the company said.

Reinsurers including Bermuda-based Catlin Group Ltd. have said the four hurricanes that struck the US in August and September may help keep premium rates from falling next year.

Benfield, a UK reinsurance broker, said it bought $30 million of shares in Glacier Re Holdings s.a.r.l. , the holding company of the Schwyz canton, Switzerland, reinsurer, London-based Benfield said in a separate Regulatory News Service statement.

All institutions investing in the company except Benfield will be represented on Glacier Re's board, the reinsurer said.

Jardine appoints Riley new chief financial officer

(Bloomberg) - Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. named James Riley as its new chief financial officer, replacing Norman Lyle who will retire in March, the company said in a statement to the Singapore stock exchange.

Riley, a Jardine Matheson employee since 1993, was finance director of Singapore-based car distribution unit Jardine Cycle & Carriage Ltd. before joining the Jardine Matheson board in 2001 as director responsible for trading unit Jardine Pacific Ltd.

Jardine invests in real estate, hotels, supermarkets and drugstores, insurance broking, construction, restaurants, trading and marketing.

During Lyle's tenure the company sold its stake in Robert Fleming Bank and bought back its own shares, strengthening its cross shareholding with Jardine Strategic Ltd.

“I want to do something different next year after having been in this job eight years,” Lyle said in a phone interview.

“The longest I've been in any other job is four years.” Lyle said he delayed retiring for a year after being asked to stay on.

Before joining Jardine Matheson in 1997, Lyle, 57, was general manager of finance at what was then Zeneca Group Plc and had previously been group treasurer at Imperial Chemical Industries Plc. Lyle is a chartered management accountant.

“Norman Lyle has made a significant contribution to the group, for which we are grateful, and we wish him well in his retirement” Jardine Matheson Managing Director Percy Weatherall said in a statement.