EXPLANATION CARD

            Old Republic International Corporation Employees Savings
                            and Stock Ownership Plan
                          Bituminous 401K Savings Plan
                     Great West Casualty Profit Sharing Plan
             Republic Mortgage Insurance Company Profit Sharing Plan


     You are a participant in one or more of the above Plans, which holds shares
of Old Republic International  Corporation ("ORI") Common Stock. Each share held
by these Plans is entitled to one (1) vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of the Company to be held May 27, 2005

     Under the terms of each of these Plans,  you as a participant  are entitled
to vote the  number of shares of ORI Common  Stock  allocated  to your  account.
Please  return the proxy card you receive as soon as possible.  By returning the
proxy card you will assure that your  shares  will be voted in  accordance  with
your instructions.  If you fail to exercise these voting rights, the shares that
are unvoted may be voted by the  Administration  Committee or the Trustee of the
Plan as provided for under the provisions of the Plan or Plans involved.