SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  -------------

                                    FORM 11-K

                                  -------------


  [X] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act

      of 1934 For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2004

                                       or

  [ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange

      Act of 1934 For the transition period from ____________ to ___________


Commission File Number: 001-10607
                        ---------


                                  -------------


                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN


                                  -------------


                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                            307 NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE
                             CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60601




















                                Total Pages: 17




                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION




                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                 ---------------


                                    FORM 11-K

                                 ---------------


                                  ANNUAL REPORT



                        Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                 For The Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003


                                 ---------------


                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN


                                 ---------------




                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                             307 NORTH MICHIGAN AVE
                             CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60601



                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN


            INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES




                                                                          Pages

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm                     1

Financial Statements:

   Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of
    December 31, 2004 and 2003                                              2

   Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the
    years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003                                  3

   Notes to Financial Statements                                           4-9

Supplemental Schedules:

    Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)                               10

    Schedule of Reportable Transactions                                    11

    Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions                       12





















Note
----
Supplemental schedules required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended, that have not been included herein are not applicable.




                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Committee  Members have duly caused this annual report to be signed on behalf of
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                                OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION EMPLOYEES
                                  SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN, Registrant




                                       By  /s/ A.C. Zucaro
                                         --------------------------------------
                                           A.C. Zucaro, Member of the
                                           Administration Committee






Dated: June 28, 2005







            Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


To the Participants and the Administration Committee
   of the Old Republic International Corporation
   Employees Savings and Stock Ownership Plan:

In our opnion, the accompanying  statements of net assets available for benefits
and the  related  statements  of changes in net assets  available  for  benefits
present fairly, in all material respects,  the net assets available for benefits
of the Old  Republic  International  Corporation  Employees  Savings  and  Stock
Ownership  Plan (the "Plan") at December  31, 2004 and 2003,  and the changes in
net assets  available for benefits for the years then ended in  confirmity  with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  These
financial  statements  are the  responsibility  of the  Plan's  management.  Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.  We conducted our audits of these  statements in accordance with the
standards of the Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board (United  States).
Those standards  require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance   about  whether  the  financial   statements  are  free  of  material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements,   assessing  the
accounting  principles  used and signficiant  estimates made by management,  and
evaluating the overall  financial  statement  presentation.  We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Our audits  were  conducted  for the  purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental  schedules listed in the
accompanying index are presented for the purpose of additional  analysis and are
not a required  part of the basic  financial  statements  but are  supplementary
information  required by the  Department  of Labor's Rules and  Regulations  for
Reporting and Disclosure  under the Employee  Reitrement  Income Security Act of
1974.  The  supplemental   schedules  are  the   responsibility  of  the  Plan's
management.  The  supplemental  schedules  have been  subjected  to the auditing
procedures  applied in the audits of the basic financial  statements and, in our
opnion,  are fairly  stated in all  material  respects  in relation to the basic
financial statements taken as a whole.


                                               /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP




Chicago, Illinois
June 20, 2005




                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                 STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

                        As of December 31, 2004 and 2003
                        --------------------------------


                                                                                 2004
                                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Participant         Non-Participant
                                                         Directed              Directed               Combined
                                                          Account               Account                Account
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                                                        
ASSETS
Investments, at fair value:
      Old Republic International Corporation
            Common shares                            $        -           $      238,024,071     $      238,024,071
      Mutual funds                                        121,310,729                -                  121,310,729

                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                          121,310,729            238,024,071            359,334,800

Contributions receivable from employers                       -                    5,758,729              5,758,729
Funds in course of settlement                                  75,116                -                       75,116

                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                     $    121,385,845     $      243,782,800     $      365,168,645
                                                     =================    ===================    ===================

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS AVAILABLE
      FOR PLAN BENEFITS
Unpaid anti-discrimination refunds                   $      1,295,189     $          -           $        1,295,189
Unpaid administrative expenses                                -                        6,788                  6,788

                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------   
       Total liabilities                                    1,295,189                  6,788              1,301,977
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

Net assets available for plan benefits:
      Allocated to participants                           120,090,656            243,776,012            363,866,668

                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
      Total net assets available for plan benefits        120,090,656            243,776,012            363,866,668
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

                                                     $    121,385,845     $      243,782,800     $      365,168,645
                                                     =================    ===================    ===================



The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


                                        2



                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                 STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

                        As of December 31, 2004 and 2003
                        --------------------------------

                                                                                 2003
                                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Participant         Non-Participant
                                                         Directed              Directed               Combined
                                                          Account               Account                Account
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                                                      
ASSETS
Investments, at fair value:
      Old Republic International Corporation
            Common shares                            $        -           $      246,287,072     $      246,287,072
      Mutual funds                                        106,730,821                -                  106,730,821

                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                          106,730,821            246,287,072            353,017,893

Contributions receivable from employers                       -                    5,531,530              5,531,530
Funds in course of settlement                                 -                      -                      -

                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                     $    106,730,821     $      251,818,602     $      358,549,423
                                                     =================    ===================    ===================

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS AVAILABLE
      FOR PLAN BENEFITS
Unpaid anti-discrimination refunds                   $      1,376,228     $          -           $        1,376,228
Unpaid administrative expenses                                -                        5,842                  5,842

                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
       Total liabilities                                    1,376,228                  5,842              1,382,070
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

Net assets available for plan benefits:
      Allocated to participants                           105,354,593            251,812,760            357,167,353

                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
      Total net assets available for plan benefits        105,354,593            251,812,760            357,167,353
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

                                                     $    106,730,821     $      251,818,602     $      358,549,423
                                                     =================    ===================    ===================



The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


                                        2



                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

           STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

                 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003
                 ----------------------------------------------

                                                                                 2004
                                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Participant         Non-Participant
                                                         Directed              Directed               Combined
                                                         Account               Account                Account
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                                                        
Additions:
      Employer contributions                         $        -           $        5,761,498     $        5,761,498
      Employee contributions                               15,971,885                -                   15,971,885
      Interfund transfers                                   3,183,955             (3,183,955)               -
      Interest income                                           1,824                 10,000                 11,824
      Dividend income                                       2,858,917              4,831,293              7,690,210
      Net appreciation (depreciation) in
            fair value of investments                       6,772,210               (976,441)             5,795,769

                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                           28,788,791              6,442,395             35,231,186
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

Deductions:
      Termination and withdrawal benefits                  12,689,396             14,360,374             27,049,770
      Anti-discrimination refunds                           1,295,189                -                    1,295,189
      Administrative expenses                                  68,143                118,769                186,912

                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                           14,052,728             14,479,143             28,531,871
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

NET ADDITIONS (DEDUCTIONS)                                 14,736,063             (8,036,748)             6,699,315

      Net assets available for plan benefits,
            beginning of year                             105,354,593            251,812,760            357,167,353
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

      NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN
            BENEFITS, END OF YEAR                    $    120,090,656     $      243,776,012     $      363,866,668
                                                     =================    ===================    ===================


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


                                        3



                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

           STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

                 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003
                 ----------------------------------------------

                                                                                 2003
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Participant         Non-Participant
                                                          Directed             Directed            Combined
                                                          Account              Account              Account
                                                     -----------------    -----------------    -----------------
                                                                                      
Additions:
      Employer contributions                         $        -           $      5,534,394     $      5,534,394
      Employee contributions                               13,525,098              -                 13,525,098
      Interfund transfers                                   2,936,763           (2,936,763)             -
      Interest income                                         -                    -                    -
      Dividend income                                       1,837,073           10,573,147           12,410,220
      Net appreciation (depreciation) in
            fair value of investments                      15,460,922           64,943,101           80,404,023

                                                     -----------------    -----------------    -----------------
                                                           33,759,856           78,113,879          111,873,735
                                                     -----------------    -----------------    -----------------

Deductions:
      Termination and withdrawal benefits                   9,314,953           12,026,742           21,341,695
      Anti-discrimination refunds                           1,376,228              -                  1,376,228
      Administrative expenses                                  54,713              114,004              168,717

                                                     -----------------    -----------------    -----------------
                                                           10,745,894           12,140,746           22,886,640
                                                     -----------------    -----------------    -----------------

NET ADDITIONS (DEDUCTIONS)                                 23,013,962           65,973,133           88,987,095

      Net assets available for plan benefits,
            beginning of year                              82,340,631          185,839,627          268,180,258
                                                     -----------------    -----------------    -----------------

      NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN
            BENEFITS, END OF YEAR                    $    105,354,593     $    251,812,760     $    357,167,353
                                                     =================    =================    =================


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


                                        3



                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
                               -------------------


1.    Description of Plan
      -------------------

      A.    Basis of Presentation
            ---------------------

            The   accompanying   financial   statements   of  the  Old  Republic
            International Corporation Employees Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
            (the  Plan)  include  plan  assets  for  employees  of Old  Republic
            International   Corporation  and  participating   subsidiaries  [the
            Corporation,  the Plan Sponsor,  the Company(ies) or the Employers].
            These financial  statements and accompanying  notes together provide
            only general  information about the Plan. The Plan Agreement must be
            referred to for a complete description of the Plan's provisions.

            Necessary  reclassifications  are  made in  prior  period  financial
            statements whenever necessary to conform to current presentation.

      B.    General
            -------

            The Plan is a defined  contribution  plan  covering  a  majority  of
            employees of the Corporation and is subject to the provisions of the
            Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended.
            Employees  become  participants  in the Plan on the first January 1,
            they are employees and they elect to make contributions to the Plan.

      C.    Contributions
            -------------

            Contributions from employees  (savings) are made on a post-tax basis
            and are recorded in the period in which the  Companies  make payroll
            deductions from Plan participants.  Participants elect the amount of
            contribution  which  ranges from a minimum of 1% to a maximum of 15%
            of recognized  compensation as defined in the Plan. Any employee who
            does not contribute to the Plan does not receive a Company  matching
            contribution.  Only  employee  contributions  up to 6% are  matched.
            However, the maximum amount of contribution which can be matched per
            employee  cannot exceed  $9,000 (6% of $150,000) per Plan year.  The
            maximum  amount  which can be  withheld  is 15%,  but is  limited to
            $30,000 (15% of $200,000).  Contributions  are also subject to other
            Internal Revenue Code  limitations  (including the limits imposed by
            Internal Revenue Code Section 415).

            Participants  direct  the  investment  of their  contributions  into
            various  mutual  funds  offered  by the  Plan,  of which  there  are
            currently twenty.

            The Company matching contribution is based on the following formula:


              Percentage of               If the percentage increase in the Corporation's
              Recognized Compen-          average operating earnings per share for the
              sation Contributed          most recent five year period is:
              ------------------          -----------------------------------------------
                                          Less Than    6.00%     9.01%    15.01%    Over
                                              6%       to 9%    to 15%    to 20%     20%
                                          ---------    -----    ------    ------    ----
                                          The Resulting Employer Matching Contribution
                                          on the First 6% of Employee Savings Will Be:
                                          -----------------------------------------------
                                                                      
              1.00%                          30%        40%       65%      100%     140%
              1.01 to 2.00%                  28%        38%       63%       98%     138%
              2.01 to 3.00%                  26%        36%       61%       96%     136%
              3.01 to 4.00%                  24%        34%       59%       94%     134%
              4.01 to 5.00%                  22%        32%       57%       92%     132%
              5.01 to 6.00%                  20%        30%       55%       90%     130%
              6.01 to 15.00%                 None       None      None      None    None
                                          -----------------------------------------------


                                       4



                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
                               -------------------


1.    Description of Plan, Continued
      ------------------------------

            *   The percentage  increase in the Corporation's  average operating
                earnings per share is obtained by comparing the average  diluted
                operating  earnings per share for the  Corporation  for the five
                years ending with the  calculation  year,  with the same average
                for the five  years  ending  the year  prior to the  calculation
                year.  Operating  earnings per share are equal to net income per
                share  exclusive  of  realized   capital  gains  or  losses  and
                extraordinary items and income taxes applicable thereto.

            Company matching  contributions  are allocated on December 31, and a
            Plan participant receives a matching contribution only if:

            *   the Companies meet certain minimum profit objectives;
            *   the participant  completes 1,000 or more hours of service during
                the year; and
            *   the  participant is employed by one of the Companies on December
                31 of that year,  died or became fully disabled during the year,
                or retired during the year after attaining age 65.

            Additional amounts from consolidated  annual net profits after taxes
            or  accumulated  earnings as the Board of Directors of the Companies
            may  determine  from time to time may be added to the  contributions
            resulting  from the above  formula.  The  amount  of the  Companies'
            contributions are subject to the following limitations:

            *   No  contribution  shall be made if the  Companies'  consolidated
                annual net profit before  extraordinary  items and taxes is less
                than $2,500,000.
            *   No  contribution  shall be made by any  Employer  for any fiscal
                year which exceeds the maximum  amount  currently  deductible by
                that Employer under section 404 of the Internal Revenue Code.
            *   No  contribution  shall be made by any  Employer  for any fiscal
                year  which  would  cause its total  contribution  to exceed the
                amount of its annual net profit before taxes and its accumulated
                earnings.

      D.    Employee Account
            ----------------

            When  a  plan   participant   makes  employee   contributions,   the
            contributions are allocated to the mutual fund(s)  designated by the
            participant.   These  funds  constitute  the  participants  Employee
            Account (Participant Directed Account).  Earnings inure to each plan
            participant's  Employee  Account  on a daily  basis,  based upon the
            performance  of  the  mutual  fund(s)  that  the  plan   participant
            selected.  Following  termination of service for any reason,  a plan
            participant receives all amounts in his/her Employee Account.

            Participants  may make  in-service  withdrawals  from their Employee
            Account no more than twice during a plan year. The minimum amount of
            an in-service  withdrawal  shall be the lower of $500 or the balance
            of the  Participant's  Employee  Account  as of the  last day of the
            prior plan year. A participant may not withdraw  contributions  made
            during the year of withdrawal as an in-service withdrawal.

      E.    Company Account
            ---------------

            Each  year,  the  matching   contributions   and  any  discretionary
            contributions are allocated to the Company Account  (Non-participant
            Directed  Account)  of  plan  participants.  If a  plan  participant
            terminates  service  with the  Companies,  the  amount  that  he/she
            receives from his/her  Company  Account  depends upon his/her vested
            interest  in such  account.  A plan  participant  vests  in  his/her
            Company Account based on his/her "Years of Service," over a six year
            period.

            A plan  participant  earns a Year of Service for each  calendar year
            during which he/she completes 1,000 or more hours of service for the
            Companies.  However,  a plan  participant will become 100% vested in
            his/her

                                       5



                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
                               -------------------


1.    Description of Plan, Continued
      ------------------------------

            Company Account prior to six years of service if:

            *   the plan participant has reached age 65, or
            *   termination is caused by death, or
            *   termination  is caused by total and permanent  disability  which
                renders  the  employee  incapable  of  performing   satisfactory
                service for the Companies.

            Upon meeting any of the above,  the participant may elect to receive
            his/her  benefits in the form of cash or Old Republic  International
            Corporation common shares (Company stock). If a participant elects a
            cash  distribution of his/her Company Account,  both his/her Company
            Account  and   Employee   Account   may,  at  the  election  of  the
            participant, be paid:

            *   in one lump sum, or
            *   in a direct rollover to an eligible retirement plan specified by
                the participant, or
            *   in substantially equal annual or more frequent installments paid
                over a  reasonable  period  of  time  not  to  exceed  the  life
                expectancy of the  participant  or the joint life  expectancy of
                the participant and his/her spouse or designated beneficiary.

            The amount a plan participant  receives from his/her Company Account
            is also affected by forfeitures and earnings.  If a plan participant
            terminates service prior to full vesting,  the non-vested portion of
            his/her  Company  Account  is  forfeited.   Forfeited   amounts  are
            re-allocated   to   remaining   participants   who   made   employee
            contributions,  completed  1,000 or more  hours of  service  for the
            Companies  during the year,  and are  employed by the  Companies  on
            December 31 or terminated  service due to retirement on or after age
            65,  death,  or total  and  permanent  disability.  Forfeitures  are
            allocated based upon the ratio of the plan participant's  recognized
            compensation  to the  recognized  compensation  of all eligible plan
            participants.  Forfeitures allocated in the 2004 and 2003 plan years
            were $116,772 and $66,409, respectively.

            Effective  January 1, 1989,  the Tax Reform Act  provided  that plan
            participants  who reach age 55 and have 10 years of participation in
            the Plan are provided with the option of  diversifying  a portion of
            their  Company  Account  balance  out  of  Company  stock  and  into
            alternative  investment  funds.   Participants  become  eligible  to
            diversify in the calendar year  following the calendar year in which
            they   attain   age  55  and  have  also   completed   10  years  of
            participation.

            The  following  table  shows  what  percentage  of  a  participant's
            cumulative Company Account can be diversified:

             For the Following Plan Year
             During the Election Period
             ---------------------------   
              First Plan Year                           25.0%
              Second Plan Year                          25.0%
              Third Plan Year                           25.0%
              Fourth Plan Year                          25.0%
              Fifth Plan Year                           50.0%
              Sixth Plan Year                           57.5%
              Seventh Plan Year                         65.0%
              Eighth Plan Year                          72.5%
              Ninth Plan Year                           80.0%
              Tenth Plan Year                           87.5%
              Eleventh Plan Year                        95.0%
              Twelfth Plan Year                        100.0%


                                       6



                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
                               -------------------


1.    Description of Plan, Continued
      ------------------------------

            The investment  options available for  diversification  are the same
            mutual funds  available for  investment  of Employee  contributions.
            Diversified  funds are included in the Participant  Directed Account
            in the financial statements.


2.    Summary of Accounting Policies
      ------------------------------

      A.    Use of Estimates
            ----------------

            The   preparation  of  financial   statements  in  conformity   with
            accounting  principles  generally  accepted in the United  States of
            America  requires the Plan's  administrator  to make  estimates  and
            assumptions   that  affect  the  reported   amounts  of  assets  and
            liabilities  and disclosure of contingent  assets and liabilities at
            the date of the  financial  statements  and the reported  amounts of
            additions and deductions during the reporting period. Actual results
            can differ from those estimates.

      B.    Risks and Uncertainties
            -----------------------

            Besides the investment of matching  contributions  into common stock
            of the  Corporation,  the Plan  provides  participants  with various
            investment  alternatives  for  their  savings  contributions  and or
            diversifications.  These  investment  alternatives  are  made  up of
            various  types of Fidelity  Investment's  mutual  funds which can be
            equity based, fixed income based or a combination thereof.

            All of the above  investment  alternatives  are  exposed  to various
            market  risks  including  the  level  of  interest  rates,  economic
            conditions and individual  credit  profiles.  Due to these risks and
            the uncertainty related to changes in the market value of underlying
            investment  securities,  it is possible that  participants'  account
            balances and the amounts  reported in the  statements  of net assets
            available  for benefits and the  statements of changes in net assets
            available for plan benefits could be materially affected.

      C.    Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
            -------------------------------------------
   
            The Plan's  investments  are stated at fair value.  Shares of mutual
            funds are valued at the net asset  value of shares  held by the Plan
            at the valuation date. Old Republic International Corporation common
            shares (Company Stock) are traded on a national  securities exchange
            and are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business
            day of the year.

            The statements of changes in net assets  available for plan benefits
            reflect  the net  appreciation  (depreciation)  in fair value of the
            Plan's  investments,  which consists of realized gains or losses and
            the unrealized  appreciation  (depreciation)  on those  investments.
            Interest  income  is  recorded  as  earned  and  dividend  income is
            recorded as earned on the ex-dividend date.

      D.    Termination and Withdrawal Benefit Payments
            -------------------------------------------

            Termination  and  withdrawal  benefit  payments  are  recorded  upon
            distribution.

                                       7



                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
                               -------------------


3.    Investments
      -----------

      The following presents investments,  the fair value of which are 5 percent
      or more of Plan assets at December 31:

                                                 2004               2003
                                            --------------     --------------
        Mutual Funds:
           Fidelity Short-term Bond Fund      $ 18,843,716       $ 20,227,405
        Old Republic International
           Corporation Common
           Stock (9,408,066 and
           9,711,635 shares,
           respectively)                       238,024,071*       246,287,072*

        *  Non-participant directed.

      Net appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of investments is broken
      down as follows for the years ended December 31:

                                                 2004               2003
                                            --------------     --------------

        Old Republic International
           Corporation Common Stock         $     (976,441)    $   64,943,101
        Mutual funds                             6,772,210         15,460,922
                                            --------------     --------------
                                            $    5,795,769     $   80,404,023
                                            ==============     ==============


4.    Parties in Interest
      -------------------

      Old Republic International Corporation and participating  subsidiaries are
      parties in interest. The Plan's Non-Participant  Directed Account (Company
      Account) is made up of the Corporation's common stock as noted in Footnote
      3. Also,  office  personnel,  space and  equipment  are  furnished  by the
      Companies at no charge to the Plan.

      Inter Capital Corporation of Chicago, an affiliate,  is the Plan's Trustee
      to whom trustee fees ($36,000 per annum) are paid.

      Fidelity  Investments   Institutional  Services  Company,  Inc.  (Fidelity
      Investments),  a subsidiary of FMR Corporation,  is the Plan's  custodian,
      record   keeper  and   provider  of   educational   information   to  plan
      participants.  All  mutual  funds  are  managed  by  subsidiaries  of  FMR
      Corporation,  which make FMR Corporation a party in interest. Fees paid to
      Fidelity  Investments for custodianship,  transaction and maintenance were
      $131,745 and $115,920 during 2004 and 2003, respectively.


5.    Termination Priorities
      ----------------------

      Although the Corporation does not have plans to terminate, the Corporation
      reserves the right, either with or without formal action, to terminate the
      Plan.  Each Employer  reserves the right to  permanently  discontinue  its
      contributions  to the Plan.  In the  event  that an  Employer  permanently
      discontinues its contributions to the Plan, or the Corporation  terminates
      the Plan, or the Plan is partially  terminated under operation of law, the
      accounts  of  the  affected   participants   shall  be  fully  vested  and
      non-forfeitable.  In addition,  because the Plan is a defined contribution
      plan and not a defined  benefit plan, no termination  priorities  apply to
      the Plan under ERISA.

                                       8



                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
                               -------------------


6.    Tax Status
      ----------

      The Internal  Revenue Service on October 21, 2002,  issued a determination
      letter  stating that the Plan, as amended  through  December 7, 2001,  was
      qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code and therefore the
      Plan was exempt under the provisions of Section 501(a). The Plan's Sponsor
      and Tax Counsel  believe that the Plan is designed and is currently  being
      operated in compliance  with the applicable  requirements  of the Internal
      Revenue Code.

7.    Anti-discrimination Refunds
      ---------------------------

      Due to limits  imposed by  Internal  Revenue  Code  Section 415 and ERISA,
      tests  are  performed   annually  to  determine  that  the  Plan  has  not
      discriminated   between  highly  compensated  employees  and  non-  highly
      compensated employees. In most years, initial tests indicate that there is
      an  excess  differential  between   contributions  by  highly  compensated
      employees and  non-highly  compensated  employees.  To bring the Plan into
      compliance,  a determination is made as to how much  contributions need to
      be  returned  to  highly  compensated  employees  so the Plan can meet the
      "Actual Contribution  Percentage Test for Non-excludable  Employees." This
      amount  represents the  anti-discrimination  refunds  payable at any given
      year-end.

8.    Subsequent Event
      ----------------

      Effective January 1, 2005, the Plan is closed to new employees hired after
      December  31, 2004,  and to former  employees  who are rehired  after that
      date. Closure of the Plan to "new entrants" does not affect  participation
      in the Plan or the eligibility to continue  accruing  retirement  benefits
      based on future earnings and credited service for participants in the Plan
      on December 31, 2004. For  participants  in the Plan on December 31, 2004,
      benefits  under the Plan remain  unchanged as will the benefits being paid
      to retirees or future retirees.  This change only affects  employees hired
      or rehired after December 31, 2004, pursuant to the terms of the Plan. For
      rehired former employees, the change will not affect their benefits earned
      through their original termination date.

                                       9























                             SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES












OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS & STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
FORM 5500-ANNUAL RETURN/REPORT OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i-SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)
DECEMBER 31, 2004

                                                                         (c)
                                                DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT INCLUDING MATURITY DATE, RATE
                                                OF INTEREST, COLLATERAL, SHARES, PAR OR MATURITY VALUE
                                                -------------------------------------------------------
                     (b)                                      RATE OF                   SHARES, PAR,                       (e)
    IDENTITY OF ISSUE, BORROWER,                MATURITY     INTEREST                   OR MATURITY         (d)          CURRENT
(a) LESSOR, OR SIMILAR PARTY                      DATE       DIVIDENDS    COLLATERAL       VALUE            COST          VALUE
    -----------------------------------------   -------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------------
                                                                                                             
MUTUAL FUNDS:
    FIDELITY FUND                                  N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         316,739 sh         **           9,464,172
    FIDELITY EQUITY-INCOME FUND                    N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         240,642 sh         **          12,701,078
    FIDELITY INVESTMENT GRADE BOND FUND            N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         339,806 sh         **           2,558,738
    FIDELITY INTERMEDIATE TERM BOND FUND           N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         313,572 sh         **           3,298,779
    FIDELITY CAPITAL & INCOME FUND                 N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         184,289 sh         **           1,560,924
    FIDELITY VALUE FUND                            N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         185,853 sh         **          13,249,468
    FIDELITY CASH RESERVES                         N/A        VARIABLE        N/A       7,392,242 sh         **           7,392,242
    SPARTAN MARKET INDEX FUND                      N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         145,591 sh         **          12,136,463
    FIDELITY AGGRESSIVE GROWTH FUND                N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         277,938 sh         **           4,613,772
    FIDELITY DIVERSIFIED INTERNATIONAL FUND        N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         274,138 sh         **           7,851,304
    FIDELITY DIVIDEND GROWTH FUND                  N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         575,599 sh         **          16,398,828
    FIDELITY SMALL CAP INDEPENDENCE FUND           N/A        VARIABLE        N/A          25,333 sh         **             499,558
    FIDELITY MID-CAP STOCK FUND                    N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         273,926 sh         **           6,423,573
    FIDELITY FREEDOM INCOME FUND                   N/A        VARIABLE        N/A          32,073 sh         **             361,468
    FIDELITY FREEDOM 2000 FUND                     N/A        VARIABLE        N/A          28,506 sh         **             344,351
    FIDELITY FREEDOM 2010 FUND                     N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         187,470 sh         **           2,553,342
    FIDELITY FREEDOM 2020 FUND                     N/A        VARIABLE        N/A          46,885 sh         **             654,514
    FIDELITY FREEDOM 2030 FUND                     N/A        VARIABLE        N/A          16,879 sh         **             237,650
    FIDELITY SHORT-TERM BOND FUND                  N/A        VARIABLE        N/A       2,098,409 sh         **          18,843,716
    FIDELITY FREEDOM 2040 FUND                     N/A        VARIABLE        N/A          20,168 sh         **             166,791
                                                                                                                       -------------
                                                                                                                        121,310,729
                                                                                                                       -------------
EMPLOYER SECURITIES:
    OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORP.:
      COMMON STOCK                                 N/A           N/A          N/A       9,408,066 sh    $69,561,020     238,024,071
                                                                                                        ===========    -------------

TOTAL INVESTMENTS HELD                                                                                                 $359,334,800
                                                                                                                       =============

Note:
----
All parties above are "Parties in Interest." 
** Participant directed funds.




                                       10





OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
FORM 5500-ANNUAL RETURN/REPORT OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
SCHEDULE H, LINE 4j-SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                              (h)     
                                                                               (f)                       Current Value
   (a)       (b)                        (c)            (d)        (e)        Expense          (g)         of Asset on       (i)
Identity of Party or                  Purchase       Selling     Lease    Incurred with     Cost of       Transaction     Net Gain
Investment Involved                    Price          Price      Rental    Transaction       Asset            Date         or Loss
-------------------                    -----          -----      ------   -------------     -------      -------------    --------
    Description of Asset
    --------------------
                                                                                                     
Purchases of Investments
------------------------
    Old Republic International
       Corporation Common Stock
       (441,916 shares)              $10,630,904       N/A         N/A         N/A        $10,630,904     $10,630,904        -

Sales of Investments
--------------------
    Old Republic International
       Corporation Common Stock
       (745,486 shares)                  N/A       $17,917,463     N/A         N/A        $ 5,293,922     $17,917,463    $12,623,541


Notes:
-----
This  schedule  lists all  non-participant  directed  transactions  or series of
transactions which aggregate in excess of 5% of the Fund assets at the beginning
of the current year, as required by the Department of Labor.
Old Republic International Corporation is a "Party in Interest."





                                       11



OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
FORM 5500-ANNUAL RETURN/REPORT OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
SCHEDULE H, PART IV-TRANSACTIONS DURING THE PLAN YEAR
            LINE 4a: SCHEDULE OF DELINQUENT PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS                                  TOTAL THAT CONSTITUTE
                      TRANSFERRED LATE TO PLAN @                           NONEXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS @
                      --------------------------                           -----------------------------------  

                                $44,388                                                  $44,388
               ==========================================        =========================================================
                                                                            


                    Employee contributions withheld 
                    from employee wages on July 30,
                    2004 but not transferred to the 
                    Plan nor allocated to partici-
                    pant's accounts until August 24, 2004.


          @   - THE ABOVE CONTRIBUTIONS WERE CORRECTED OUTSIDE THE VOLUNTARY
                FIDUCIARY CORRECTION PROGRAM (VFCP) DURING 2004.














Notes:
------
This schedule lists all nonexempt transactions subject to reporting in Schedule
H, Line 4a of Form 5500.


                                       12