UPDATE 1-Reddy Ice posts wider Q4 loss on investigation costs

* Q4 loss/shr $0.44 vs $0.30 last year

* Revenue drops 10 pct

March 10 (Reuters) - Reddy Ice Holdings Inc (FRZ.N) reported a wider fourth-quarter loss on costs related to ongoing antitrust investigations and related civil litigation, and lower sales due to the economic slowdown.

The largest U.S. manufacturer of packaged ice posted a net loss of $9.8 million, or 44 cents a share, compared with a loss of $6.6 million, or 30 cents a share, a year earlier.

The latest quarter results include a charge of $3.6 million due to antitrust investigations and related civil litigation.

The company is being probed by federal officials in connection with an alleged criminal price-fixing conspiracy in the packaged-ice industry.

Revenue fell 10 percent to $57.9 million.

"The effects of the slowing national economy continued to put pressure on sales volumes and we incurred some significant one-time expenses related to the completion of our strategic review and the change in audit firms," CEO Gilbert Cassagne said in a statement.

Separately, Reddy Ice announced the retirement of Executive Chairman William Brick at the company's next annual meeting to be held in May. Brick is expected to continue to serve on the board.

The company said Cassagne is expected to be named as the board's chairman.

Shares of the company had closed at $1.35 Monday on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Bangalore; Editing by Anne Pallivathuckal)