EXHIBIT 99


                 THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION ANNOUNCES PLANS
                FOR RULE 144A OFFERING OF SENIOR CONVERTIBLE DEBT


SANTA ANA, Calif.,  April 10, 2001 - The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF),
the nation's leading,  diversified  provider of business information and related
products and  services,  today  announced  plans to launch an offering of senior
convertible  debentures.  The senior  convertible  debentures  will  mature in 7
years.  The company  expects to receive  gross  proceeds of  approximately  $175
million from the offering.  The underwriters of this offering will be granted an
option to purchase additional senior convertible debentures, which would provide
up to $35 million of additional gross proceeds to First American.

     The offering  will be made on a Rule 144A basis to qualified  institutional
buyers,  which will have certain  registration rights. First American intends to
register the senior  convertible  debentures  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission within 90 days after their original issuance.  First American expects
to price the convertible offering during the week of April 16, 2001.

     The net proceeds from this offering will be used to:  finance  acquisitions
of businesses  and assets that the company  believes will  complement  its three
primary business  segments;  repay  outstanding  indebtedness;  buy out minority
interests in existing subsidiaries; and for general corporate purposes.

     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,  sub-prime 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.