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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000074260-05-000018.txt : 20050309
<SEC-HEADER>0000074260-05-000018.hdr.sgml : 20050309
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050309150702
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000074260-05-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050308
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050309
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050309

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000074260
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURETY INSURANCE [6351]
		IRS NUMBER:				362678171
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10607
		FILM NUMBER:		05669210

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		307 N MICHIGAN AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3123468100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		307 N MICHIGAN AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>f8k030805.txt
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8K FOR PRESS RELEASE DATED 030805
<TEXT>
                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       Date of Report: (Date of earliest event reported) March 8, 2005


                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
             -------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Delaware                      001-10607                  36-2678171
- ----------------------------         ------------            -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction         (Commission             (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)                    File Number)            Identification No.)


               307 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60601
               ---------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (312) 346-8100
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                       N/A
          ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 140.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


<PAGE>




Item 8.01.  Other Events
            ------------

On March 8, 2005, Old Republic International Corporation announced it will raise
the quarterly cash dividend on its common stock to 17 cents per share  beginning
with the 2005 second quarter dividend.




Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
            ---------------------------------

            (c) Exhibits

             99.1  Press Release dated March 8, 2005.



<PAGE>




                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                         OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                         Registrant




Date: March 9, 2005                         By: /s/ A.C. Zucaro
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            A.C. Zucaro
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer





<PAGE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                                -----------------


         Exhibits

99.1     Press Release dated March 8, 2005.

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex991.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE DATED 030805
<TEXT>
                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

NEWS BULLETIN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old Republic International Corporation
307 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601-5382 312/346-8100
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For Further Information:

AT OLD REPUBLIC:                        AT FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD:
A.C. Zucaro                             George Zagoudis
Chairman & CEO                          General Information
(312) 346-8100                          (312) 640-6663
                                        gzagoudis@financialrelationsboard.com

AT FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD:           AT FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD:
Leslie Loyet                            Tim Grace
Analysts/Investors                      Media Inquiries
(312) 640-6672                          (312) 640-6667
lloyet@financialrelationsboard.com      tgrace@financialrelationsboard.com
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 NYSE: ORI
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2005


                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                      RAISES CASH DIVIDEND ON COMMON STOCK


CHICAGO,  IL -  March  8,  2005  -  The  Board  of  Directors  of  Old  Republic
International  Corporation  (NYSE:  ORI)  announced  it will  raise the  regular
quarterly cash dividend on its common stock to 17 cents per share beginning with
the 2005 second quarter  dividend.  This represents a 30.8 percent increase from
the current  quarterly  dividend rate of 13 cents per share.  The second quarter
dividend is usually declared at the May board meeting.

This increase will mark the twenty-fourth consecutive year that Old Republic has
boosted its cash  dividend  rate.  The company has paid cash  dividends  without
interruption for 64 years.

"On an annualized basis, the new dividend rate falls within our policy of paying
out 20 to 30 percent of average  recurring  earnings for the latest five years,"
said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer A. C. Zucaro.  "Our ability to provide
these  recurring  increases in cash dividends to our  shareholders  reflects our
confidence in the prospects of our business as a solid, long-term investment."

About Old Republic

Chicago-based  Old Republic  International  Corporation is an insurance  holding
company  whose  subsidiaries  market,  underwrite  and provide  risk  management
services for a wide variety of coverages in the property and liability, mortgage
guaranty and title  insurance  fields.  One of the nation's 50 largest  publicly
owned insurance  organizations,  Old Republic has assets of approximately  $10.6
billion and  shareholders'  equity of $3.87  billion.  Its current  stock market
valuation is approximately $4.39 billion.

For the latest news  releases  and other  corporate  documents  on Old  Republic
                    International visit www.oldrepublic.com



                                      -30-
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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