First American Buys Employment Service

First American Corp. in Santa Ana, one of the nation’s largest title insurance firms, said Thursday that a subsidiary has acquired a New Jersey firm that provides background checks on job applicants and current employees.

First American said in a press release that its HireCheck Inc. unit acquired Pretiem Corp. Financial terms were not released.

Pretiem expands HireCheck’s employment-screening services in the mid-Atlantic region and among the maritime and energy industries. It also serves to strengthen First American’s growing consumer information and services segment.

The title insurer said the acquisition of Pretiem is one of several acquisitions, including Factual Business Information in September, that complement its existing employment screening services.