The First American Corp. Hits 120 Year Mark as Split Nears

The First American Corp. reaffirmed plans for a split into two companies it noted will come relatively soon as it celebrated its 120-year anniversary. The plan to separate the Santa Ana, Calif.-based company's information solutions and financial services businesses into two new, separate publicly traded companies could come as soon as the first half of 2010. Originally an Orange County, Calif. title abstract company, The First American Corp. said it has grown to the point where 90% of all real estate transactions in the United States involve at least one of its products or services. It is one of the nation's largest title insurance companies, has trust company, tax services, home warranty and flood certification businesses and is a national data and analytics provider to the mortgage industry and the investment community. The company first went public, trading on the over-the-counter market, in 1964 and began offering its stock on the New York Stock Exchange in 1993.