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First American Financial Posts Records

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First American Financial Corp. posted record operating income and revenues for the first quarter and then dramatically increased its net earnings with a one-time, $9-million tax benefit.

The 98-year-old Santa Ana-based company, whose principal subsidiary is First American Title Insurance Co., reported first quarter net income of $11.8 million. Excluding the tax benefit, the company earned $2.8 million on operations--more than double the $1.3 million net earnings reported in the first quarter last year.

Total revenues for the quarter rose 37.4% to $89.9 million from $65.4 million in last year’s first quarter.

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Donald P. Kennedy, First American’s president, attributed the company’s performance to “low interest rates and the continuing effects of the Tax Reform Act, which combined to maintain a high level of real estate activity.”

The one-time tax benefit resulted from a different accounting treatment of reserves mandated by the new federal income tax law.

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