First American Buys Title Insurer

SANTA ANA — First American Financial Corp., the nation’s second-largest title insurer, said Wednesday that it has purchased Eureka Title Co. in Humboldt County from the family of the late founder, E.G. Wilkenloh.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Eureka Title had been First American’s exclusive agent in its area since the start of the year. Current management and employees will continue with the operation under First American, said Parker S. Kennedy, First American’s president.

The transaction is the sixth acquisition for the Santa Ana company this year and continues its long pursuit of title insurers and agencies as part of its growth strategy. In separate deals, it previously acquired firms in Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Wyoming and Washington, D.C.