<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex991.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EX 99.1 PRESS RELEASE DATED DECEMBER 8, 2005
<TEXT>
                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

NEWS BULLETIN
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Old Republic International Corporation
307 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60601-5382, 312/346-8100
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For Further Information:

AT OLD REPUBLIC:
A.C. Zucaro
Chairman & CEO
(312) 346-8100

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
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2005


OLD REPUBLIC  DECLARES  SPECIAL CASH  DIVIDEND OF $1.00 PER SHARE;  COMPANY ALSO
ANNOUNCES 25% STOCK DIVIDEND

CHICAGO-December  8, 2005-Old  Republic  International  Corporation  (NYSE: ORI)
announced  today that its Board of Directors  declared a special  year-end  cash
dividend of $1.00 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on December
30, 2005 to  shareholders  of record on December  20,  2005.  Together  with the
previously  declared regular  quarterly cash dividends  aggregating 64 cents per
share for the year,  this special  dividend  will bring the total 2005 payout to
$1.64 per existing common share.

At the same time, the directors also declared a 25 percent stock dividend on the
Company's  outstanding  common stock. The additional shares will be issued on or
about  December  30,  2005 to  shareholders  of record  on  December  20,  2005.
Currently the Company has  approximately  183.5 million common shares issued and
outstanding,  and the additional  shares will bring this total to  approximately
229.4 million shares.

Al Zucaro,  chairman and chief executive  officer  commented,  "The special cash
dividend  reflects  the  Company's  strong  long-term  results.  It rewards  all
shareholders  through  a  distribution  of  capital  funds  in  excess  of those
currently needed to achieve Old Republic's  intermediate term growth objectives,
and  is  consistent  with  our   expectations   for  continued   growth  of  the
shareholders' equity account. Our insurance company subsidiaries  continue to be
well capitalized, highly rated by independent rating agencies, and fully capable
of  contributing  to that growth  through  focused  underwriting  of existing or
additional business lines we may select. As with past stock dividends or splits,
this latest distribution is intended to increase the liquidity and marketability
of Old Republic's common shares, and makes the purchase of round lots accessible
to a greater number of individual shareholders."



                                     -more-

<PAGE>
Old Republic International Corporation
Add -1-

Old  Republic  has paid regular  cash  dividends  on its common  shares  without
interruption  for each of the past 64 years.  The regular  annual cash  dividend
rate,  which is usually reviewed at the March meeting of the Board of Directors,
has been  increased  in each of the past 24 years.  With this  latest  issuance,
stock dividends or splits will have been effected in 23 of the past 39 years.


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  primarily  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  $11.3 billion and shareholders'  equity of $4.1 billion or $22.53
per share. Its current stock market valuation is approximately $4.9 billion,  or
$26.90 per share.




                                      -30-



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