Exhibit 99.1
NEWS BULLETIN
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Old Republic International Corporation
307 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601-5382 312/346-8100
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For Further Information:
AT OLD REPUBLIC: AT FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD:
A.C. Zucaro George Zagoudis
Chairman & CEO General Information
(312) 346-8100 (312) 640-6663
gzagoudis@financialrelationsboard.com
AT FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD: AT FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD:
Leslie Loyet Tim Grace
Analysts/Investors Media Inquiries
(312) 640-6672 (312) 640-6667
lloyet@financialrelationsboard.com tgrace@financialrelationsboard.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ORI: NYSE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2004
OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
APPOINTS CHARLES F. TITTERTON AND DENNIS P. VAN MIEGHEM
TO EXPANDED BOARD
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CHICAGO, August 12, 2004 - Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE: ORI)
today announced the expansion of its board of directors from thirteen to fifteen
members. While Old Republic's long term objective is to reduce gradually the
board size, this expansion is now being effected in anticipation that several
existing directors will be retiring or not stand for reelection within the next
several years. In this light, the addition of two independent board members at
this time provides for a beneficial transition period.
Messrs. Charles F. Titterton (62) and Dennis P. Van Mieghem (64) have been
appointed to Old Republic's board during a regularly scheduled meeting of its
Board of Directors. Charles Titterton, a graduate of Harvard College, holds an
MBA degree from New York University. His professional career has encompassed a
tour of duty as a U.S. Navy officer, a twenty-five year career with a major
banking institution where he ultimately became a senior lending officer
specializing in the insurance industry, and a twelve year career with the
Standard & Poor's Corporation from which he retired in 2003 as an Insurance
Group Director.
Dennis P. Van Mieghem, a graduate of the University of Illinois and a CPA,
retired in 1998 as a Partner and Director of the National Insurance Tax Practice
of the international accounting firm of KPMG, LLP. During his forty year
professional career with that firm, Dennis Van Mieghem served a large number of
insurance clients in matters of taxation, acquisitions, and corporate
reorganizations. He co-authored the highly regarded book Federal Taxation of
Insurance Companies.
In announcing these appointments, Al Zucaro, Old Republic's chairman and chief
executive officer, noted that "Both gentlemen bring significant talents and a
wealth of long-term experience in the insurance, and financial and professional
services fields that should be of great benefit to the governance of the company
in the years ahead."
About Old Republic
Chicago-based Old Republic International Corporation is an insurance holding
company whose subsidiaries market, underwrite and provide risk management
services for a wide variety of coverages in the property and liability, mortgage
guaranty, title and life and health insurance fields. One of the nation's 50
largest publicly owned insurance organizations, Old Republic has assets of
approximately $10.03 billion and capitalization of $3.79 billion. Its current
stock market valuation is approximately $4.14 billion.
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