WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Ford Motor Co. says company officials first learned billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian was interested in investing in the automaker in early April but were "completely unaware" of the investment until later in the month.

In a government filing Friday, Ford outlines an April 4 meeting with Jerry York, an adviser to Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. Ford says York "made what we thought was an off-the-cuff remark that Tracinda might be interested in investing in Ford."

Ford officials say they did not learn about Kerkorian's significant investment until the weekend of April 26 and 27.

Kerkorian launched his previously announced $170 million cash offer to buy up to 20 million additional shares of Ford Motor Co. on Friday, calling it "an attractive investment." If completed, the billionaire would own about 5.5 percent of Ford.