EXHIBIT 99
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                     THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION TO SELL
                $175 MILLION OF ITS SENIOR CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

SANTA ANA, Calif.,  April 19, 2001 - The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF),
the nation's leading,  diversified  provider of business information and related
products and services,  today  announced that it has agreed to sell $175 million
aggregate principal amount, with an over-allotment option of $35 million, of its
4.5  percent  senior  convertible  debentures  due  2008.  The  transaction  was
structured as a private  placement  pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under
the Securities Act of 1933.

     The senior convertible  debentures will be convertible into common stock of
The First American  Corporation  at a conversion  price of $28 per share and are
noncallable  for three  years.  The  offering  is expected to close on April 24,
2001.

     This press release shall not  constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation
of an offer to buy the senior  convertible  debentures,  nor shall  there be any
sale of these senior  convertible  debentures  in any state in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to  registration  or  qualification
under the securities  laws of any such state.  Any offer, if any at all, will be
made only by means of an offering circular.

     The  senior  convertible  debentures  have not been  registered  under  the
Securities  Act and may not be  offered  or  sold in the  United  States  absent
registration or an applicable exemption from registration.

     The First American Corporation, based in Santa Ana, Calif., is the nation's
leading,  diversified  provider of business information and related products and
services.  The  corporation's  three primary business  segments  include:  title
information and services;  real estate information and services,  which includes
mortgage  information  services  and  database  information  and  services;  and
consumer  information  and services,  which  provides  automotive,  subprime and
direct-to-consumer   credit   reporting;   direct-to-consumer   public   records
reporting; resident screening; pre-employment screening; property and automotive
insurance tracking services;  property and casualty insurance;  home warranties;
investment  advisory;  and trust and  banking  services.  Information  about the
company  and an archive of its press  releases  can be found on the  Internet at
www.firstam.com.

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