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The firm has strong links with Ford general counsel and senior vice president David Leitch, who was previously a partner at Hogan’s
The mandate marks the most significant instruction to date for Hogan’s City corporate team, which launched in earnest last summer with Coppin’s arrival.
Ford started the auction process for the two brands in early summer and a handful of bidders are now thought to remain in the running after Indian car manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra was reported to have pulled out earlier this week.
The remaining bidders are understood to be One Equity Partners, Tata Motors, TPG and Ripplewood. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer private equity head Chris Bown is thought to be advising One Equity Partners, while Herbert Smith and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton are thought to be advising Tata Motors and TPG respectively.
The auction is still ongoing, although there are doubts about whether a sale will go ahead given the difficulties in the credit markets.
One partner at a magic circle law firm commented: “It is a little bizarre that Hogan was instructed ahead of others. The interesting thing now will be whether it actually happens, although Ford does have a pain threshold beyond most sellers for price reductions.”
