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, 2005

                                       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, 2005 and 2004


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


                     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, 2005 and 2004                                              2

   Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the
    years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004                                  3

   Notes to Financial Statements                                           4-9

Supplemental Schedules:

    Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) at December 31, 2005          10

    Schedule of Reportable Transactions
        for the Year Ended December 31, 2005                               11

    Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions
        for the Year Ended December 31, 2005                               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, 2006






             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 opinion, 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, 2005 and 2004,  and the changes in
net assets  available for benefits for the years then ended in  conformity  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 significant  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 as of and for
the year ended December 31, 2005 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 Retirement 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  opinion,  are fairly  stated in all material
respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.


                                        /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP


Chicago, Illinois
June 26, 2006




                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                 STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

                        As of December 31, 2005 and 2004
                        --------------------------------


                                                                                 2005
                                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Participant         Non-Participant
                                                         Directed              Directed               Combined
                                                          Account               Account                Account
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                                                        
ASSETS
Investments, at fair value:
      Old Republic International Corporation
            Common shares                            $        -           $      239,044,705     $      239,044,705
      Mutual funds                                        134,403,728                -                  134,403,728
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                          134,403,728            239,044,705            373,448,433

Contributions receivable from employers                       -                    6,451,155              6,451,155

Accrued dividends receivable                                  -                    5,971,633              5,971,633

Interfund receivable                                          -                      -                      -
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
       Total assets                                  $    134,403,728     $      251,467,493     $      385,871,221
                                                     =================    ===================    ===================

LIABILITIES
Unpaid anti-discrimination refunds                   $        174,917     $          -           $          174,917
Unpaid administrative expenses                                -                       34,137                 34,137
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
       Total liabilities                                      174,917                 34,137                209,054
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS                         134,228,811            251,433,356            385,662,167
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

       Total liabilities and net assets
          available for benefits                     $    134,403,728     $      251,467,493     $      385,871,221
                                                     =================    ===================    ===================



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, 2005 and 2004
                        --------------------------------


                                                                                 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

Accrued dividends receivable                                  -                      -                      -

Interfund receivable                                           75,116                -                       75,116
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
       Total assets                                  $    121,385,845     $      243,782,800     $      365,168,645
                                                     =================    ===================    ===================

LIABILITIES
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 BENEFITS                         120,090,656            243,776,012            363,866,668
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

       Total liabilities and net assets
         available for benefits                      $    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 CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

                 for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004
                 ----------------------------------------------

                                                                                 2005
                                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Participant         Non-Participant
                                                         Directed              Directed               Combined
                                                         Account               Account                Account
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                                                        
Additions:
      Employer contributions                         $        -           $        6,452,506     $        6,452,506
      Employee contributions                               17,825,540                -                   17,825,540
      Interfund transfers                                   3,594,654             (3,594,654)               -
      Interest income                                           2,006                 13,600                 15,606
      Dividend income                                       4,476,441             14,867,916             19,344,357
      Net appreciation (depreciation) in
            fair value of investments                       4,355,983              8,530,770             12,886,753
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                           30,254,624             26,270,138             56,524,762
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

Deductions:
      Termination and withdrawal benefits                  15,866,521             18,474,381             34,340,902
      Anti-discrimination refunds                             174,916                -                      174,916
      Administrative expenses                                  75,032                138,413                213,445
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                                           16,116,469             18,612,794             34,729,263
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

NET ADDITIONS (DEDUCTIONS)                                 14,138,155              7,657,344             21,795,499

      Net assets available for plan benefits,
            beginning of year                             120,090,656            243,776,012            363,866,668
                                                     -----------------    -------------------    -------------------

      NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN
            BENEFITS, END OF YEAR                    $    134,228,811     $      251,433,356     $      385,662,167
                                                     =================    ===================    ===================


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, 2005 and 2004
                 ----------------------------------------------

                                                                                 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

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               -------------------


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.


    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, as amended  (ERISA).
         Effective January 1, 2005, the Plan was amended to become a 401-K plan.
         All  aspects  of the  Plan  remained  unchanged  except  that  employee
         contributions  are now made on a pre-tax basis up to the first $14,000.
         For 2005 and prior,  employees  became  participants in the Plan on the
         first January 1, they were employees and elected to make  contributions
         to the Plan.  Beginning January 1, 2006,  employees become participants
         as soon as they elect to make contributions to the Plan.

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

         Contributions  from employees  (savings) are made on a pre-tax basis up
         to a limit of $14,000.  Participants  may elect to  contribute  up to a
         maximum of 100% of recognized  compensation  as defined in the Plan not
         to exceed the limits set by Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code as
         stated below. All contributions are recorded in the period in which the
         Companies make payroll deductions from Plan participants.  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 limited to $31,500  (15% of
         $210,000).  Contributions  are also subject to other  Internal  Revenue
         Code limitations (including the limits imposed by Internal Revenue Code
         Section 415).

         Employees may also roll over into the Plan qualified distributions from
         their previous employer(s)'  qualified plan(s). In addition,  employees
         who are 50 years of age or older at any time during the Plan year,  may
         make   catch-up   contributions   subject  to  Internal   Revenue  Code
         limitations.  Rollovers and catch-up contributions are not eligible for
         company matching.

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






                                       4


                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

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

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

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


          *   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.


                                       5


                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

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

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

    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.

         For contributions made to the Plan prior to 2005, participants may make
         in-service  withdrawals  from their Employee Account no more than twice
         during a plan year.  The minimum amount of such  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.  For contributions made to the Plan during 2005
         and after,  participants  may make in-service  withdrawals only if they
         meet the hardship  provisions  outlined in the Internal Revenue Service
         Regulations.

     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 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

                                       6


                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

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

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

         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 2005 and 2004 plan years were $99,317 and
         $116,772, 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%

         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.


                                       7

                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

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

2.  Summary of Accounting Policies, Continued
    -----------------------------------------

    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  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 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.  Purchases  and  sales  are  recorded  on a
         trade-date basis.

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

         Termination   and  withdrawal   benefit   payments  are  recorded  upon
         distribution.


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

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

                                                2005                   2004
                                           ---------------       --------------
       Mutual Funds:
         Fidelity Short-term Bond Fund      $  16,903,884 **      $ 18,843,716
       Old Republic International
         Corporation Common
         Stock (9,102,997 and
         9,408,066 shares,
         respectively)                        239,044,705 *        238,024,071 *

       *  Non-participant directed.
       ** Less than 5%. Presented for comparative purposes only.



                                       8

                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

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

3.  Investments, Continued
    ----------------------

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

                                                      2005              2004
                                                 -------------     -------------
      Old Republic International
          Corporation Common Stock                $ 8,530,770       $  (976,441)
      Mutual funds                                  4,355,983         6,772,210
                                                 -------------     -------------
                                                  $12,886,753       $ 5,795,769
                                                 =============     =============

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 Note 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 by the Plan.

    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 by the Plan to  Fidelity
    Investments for custodianship, transaction and maintenance were $127,178 and
    $131,745 during 2005 and 2004, 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.

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

    The Plan has filed an  application  with the  Internal  Revenue  Service  to
    obtain a determination  letter reflecting changes to the Plan principally to
    become a 401-K plan. Prior to these changes, 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 believes that the Plan is designed and
    is currently being operated in compliance  with the applicable  requirements
    of the Internal Revenue Code and that a favorable  determination letter will
    be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service.

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.


                                       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, 2005

                                                                         (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         311,896 sh          #           9,924,545
    FIDELITY EQUITY-INCOME FUND                    N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         258,123 sh          #          13,623,747
    FIDELITY INVESTMENT GRADE BOND FUND            N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         342,651 sh          #           2,525,336
    FIDELITY INTERMEDIATE TERM BOND FUND           N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         328,402 sh          #           3,379,255
    FIDELITY CAPITAL & INCOME FUND                 N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         264,872 sh          #           2,216,979
    FIDELITY VALUE FUND                            N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         221,167 sh          #          16,782,185
    FIDELITY CASH RESERVES                         N/A        VARIABLE        N/A       8,299,559 sh          #           8,299,559
    SPARTAN MARKET INDEX FUND                      N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         156,580 sh          #          13,468,980
    FIDELITY AGGRESSIVE GROWTH FUND                N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         278,493 sh          #           4,927,170
    FIDELITY DIVERSIFIED INTERNATIONAL FUND        N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         347,231 sh          #          11,298,881
    FIDELITY DIVIDEND GROWTH FUND                  N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         565,812 sh          #          16,289,731
    FIDELITY SMALL CAP INDEPENDENCE FUND           N/A        VARIABLE        N/A          49,134 sh          #           1,006,268
    FIDELITY MID-CAP STOCK FUND                    N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         305,432 sh          #           8,115,340
    FIDELITY SHORT-TERM BOND FUND                  N/A        VARIABLE        N/A       1,907,888 sh          #          16,903,884
    FIDELITY FREEDOM INCOME FUND                   N/A        VARIABLE        N/A          20,672 sh          #             235,038
    FIDELITY FREEDOM 2000 FUND                     N/A        VARIABLE        N/A          29,523 sh          #             360,478
    FIDELITY FREEDOM 2010 FUND                     N/A        VARIABLE        N/A         214,607 sh          #           3,015,232
    FIDELITY FREEDOM 2020 FUND                     N/A        VARIABLE        N/A          92,744 sh          #           1,364,259
    FIDELITY FREEDOM 2030 FUND                     N/A        VARIABLE        N/A          26,203 sh          #             393,575
    FIDELITY FREEDOM 2040 FUND                     N/A        VARIABLE        N/A          27,552 sh          #             243,286
                                                                                                                       -------------
                                                                                                                        134,403,728
                                                                                                                       -------------
EMPLOYER SECURITIES:
    OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORP.:
      COMMON STOCK                                 N/A           N/A          N/A       9,102,997 sh    $77,321,074     239,044,705
                                                                                                        ===========    -------------

TOTAL INVESTMENTS HELD                                                                                                 $373,448,433
                                                                                                                       =============

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, 2005
------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                                                              (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
       (586,435 shares)              $14,782,886       N/A         N/A         N/A        $14,782,886     $14,782,886         -


Sales of Investments
--------------------
    Old Republic International
       Corporation Common Stock
       (891,504 shares)                  N/A       $22,293,022     N/A         N/A        $ 7,022,776     $22,293,022    $15,270,246



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, 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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

                               $121,581                                                  $121,581
               ==========================================        =========================================================
                                                           


                    Employee contributions withheld
                    from employee wages between
                    March 15, 2005 and September 15,
                    2005 but not transferred to the
                    Plan nor allocated to partici-
                    pant's accounts until September 28, 2005.

          @     - THE ABOVE CONTRIBUTIONS WERE CORRECTED OUTSIDE THE VOLUNTARY
                  FIDUCIARY CORRECTION PROGRAM (VFCP) DURING 2005.














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


                                       12