f11kessop.htm




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, 2012
   
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: 18
 
 
 
 

 





SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Administration Committee has 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




Date: June 27, 2013



 
 

 



















OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

REPORT ON AUDITS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011




















 
 

 


OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN


INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE


 
 
 
Pages
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
1
   
Financial Statements:
 
   
 
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of
 
 
  December 31, 2012 and 2011
2
   
 
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the
 
 
  years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011
3
   
 
Notes to Financial Statements
4 - 12
   
Supplemental Schedules:
 
     
 
Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) at December 31, 2012
13




    





















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

 
 

 


 








Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 

To the Participants and Administrator of the
Old Republic International Corporation Employees Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
 
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Old Republic International Corporation Employees Savings and Stock Ownership Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years the ended.  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 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. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, 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.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2012, is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is 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.  This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.




/s/ Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.
 
Minneapolis, Minnesota
June 27, 2013



 

 
 

 
 

OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
                                                         
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                                                         
As of December 31, 2012 and 2011
                                                         
           
2012
 
2011
           
Participant
 
Non-Participant
             
Participant
 
Non-Participant
           
           
Directed
 
Directed
 
Unallocated
Combined
 
Directed
 
Directed
 
Unallocated
Combined
           
Account
 
Account
 
    Account
 
Account
 
Account
 
Account
 
    Account
 
Account
                                                         
ASSETS
                                                   
Investments, at fair value:
                                             
 
Old Republic International Corporation:
                                         
   
Common shares
 
$
4,052,060
 
$
118,657,855
 
$
32,989,738
 
$
155,699,653
 
$
3,154,344  
$
101,755,306  
$
33,804,001  
$
138,713,651
 
Mutual funds
   
222,946,497
   
42,903
   
-
   
222,989,400
    199,997,792     68,613    
-
   
200,066,405
  Short-term investments    
-
   
-
   
1,305,782
   
1,305,782
   
-
   
-
    1,484,704    
1,404,784
 
   Total investments
   
226,998,557
   
118,700,758
   
34,295,520
   
379,994,835
    203,152,136     101,823,919     35,288,705    
340,264,760
                                                         
Receivables:                                            
    Contributions from employers
-
   
-
   
3,344,591
   
3,344,591
   
-
   
-
    2,817,058    
2,817,058
    Contributions from employees
33
   
-
   
-
   
33
    577,077    
-
   
-
   
577,077
            Funds in course of settlement  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
675
   
-
   
-
   
675
            Accrued interest and dividends   -     -     18     18     -     -     62     62
 
   Total receivables
   33     -     3,344,609     3,344,642     577,752      -     2,817,120      3,394,872
                                                         
 
   TOTAL ASSETS
 
 
226,998,590
 
 
118,700,758
 
 
37,640,129  
 
383,339,477
 
 
203,729,888  
 
101,823,919  
 
38,105,825  
 
343,659,632
                                                         
LIABILITIES
                                                 
Notes payable
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
34,800,000
 
 
34,800,000
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
39,100,000  
 
39,100,000
Unpaid anti-discrimination refunds
 
54,658
   
-
   
-
   
54,658
   
25,385
   
-
   
-
   
25,385
Unpaid administrative expenses
 
-
   
24,217
   
-
   
24,217
   
-
    27,253    
-
   
27,253
     TOTAL LIABILITIES    
54,658
   
24,217
   
34,800,000
   
34,878,875
   
25,385
    27,253     39,100,000    
39,152,638
                                                         
                                                         
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS $   226,943,932   $     118,676,541     2,840,129   348,460,602   203,704,503   101,796,666   (994,175)   304,506,994
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
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, 2012 and 2011
                                                           
             
2012
 
2011
             
Participant
 
Non-Participant
             
Participant
 
Non-Participant
           
             
Directed
 
Directed
 
Unallocated
Combined
 
Directed
 
Directed
 
Unallocated
 
Combined
             
Account
 
Account
 
Account
 
Account
 
Account
 
Account
 
Account
 
Account
                                                           
 
Additions (Reductions):
                                                 
   
Employer contributions
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
3,344,591
 
$
3,344,591
 
$
-
 
$
1,909
 
$
2,817,059
 
$
2,818,968
   
Common shares committed for
                                             
     
release to participants
                                             
     
(548,974 shares at
                                             
     
$10.65 per share and
                                             
     
530,634 shares at $9.27
                                             
     
per share, respectively)
 
-
   
5,846,573
   
-
   
5,846,573
   
-
   
4,918,977
   
-
   
4,918,977
   
Employee contributions
 
21,004,102
   
-
   
-
   
21,004,102
   
20,569,861
   
-
   
-
   
20,569,861
   
Interfund transfers
   
1,531,466
   
(1,531,466)
   
-
   
-
   
3,427,448
   
(3,427,448)
   
-
   
-
   
Interest income
   
2,217
   
-
   
136
    2,353    
12,100
   
5,106
   
363
   
17,569
   
Dividend income
   
5,041,528
   
7,412,735
    2,683,275     15,137,538    
4,520,329
   
7,255,364
   
3,013,901
   
14,789,594
   
Net appreciation (depreciation) in
           
 
                     
 
     
     
fair value of investments
 
21,187,563
   
14,226,126
   
5,032,311
    40,446,000    
(12,276,983)
   
(46,323,826)
   
(18,212,699)
   
(76,813,508)
      Total additions (reductions)   
48,766,876
   
25,953,968
   
11,060,313
    85,781,157    
16,252,755
   
(37,569,918)
   
(12,381,376)
   
(33,698,539)
                                                           
 
Deductions:
                                                 
   
Termination and withdrawal
                                             
     
benefits
    25,419,182     9,014,200    
-
    34,433,382     19,708,206     7,927,545    
-
   
27,635,751
   
Common shares committed for
                                             
     
release to participants
                                             
     
(548,974 shares at
                                             
     
$10.65 per share and
                                             
     
530,634 shares at $9.27
                                             
     
per share, respectively)
 
-
   
-
    5,846,573     5,846,573    
-
   
-
    4,918,977    
4,918,977
   
Interest expense
   
-
   
-
    1,378,719     1,378,719    
-
   
-
    1,529,497    
1,529,497
   
Anti-discrimination refunds
  54,658    
-
   
-
   
54,658
    25,385    
-
   
-
   
25,385
   
Administrative expenses
  53,607     59,893     717     114,217     101,518     121,337     543    
223,398
      Total deductions      25,527,447     9,074,093     7,226,009     41,827,549     19,835,109     8,048,882     6,449,017    
34,333,008
                                                 
     
Net additions (deductions)
23,239,429     16,879,875     3,834,304     43,953,608     (3,582,354)     (45,618,800)     (18,830,393)    
(68,031,547)
                                                 
  NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS:                                        
      Beginning of year   203,704,503     101,796,666     (994,175)      304,506,994     207,286,857     147,415,466      17,836,218     372,538,541
     
End of year
$
226,943,932  
$
118,676,541  
$
2,840,129  
$
348,460,602  
$
203,704,503  
$
101,796,666  
$
(994,175)  
$
304,506,994
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
 
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 Employer(s)]. These financial statements and accompanying notes together provide only general information about the Plan. The Plan Document must be referred to for a complete description of the Plan's provisions.

B.     General

The Plan is a defined contribution plan, under the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, covering a majority of employees of the Corporation and certain of its subsidiary companies and is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). Employees become participants in the Plan on their employment date and as soon as they elect to make contributions to the Plan. Effective as of January 1, 2008, the Plan was amended and operates, in relevant part, as a leveraged employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), and is designed to comply with Section 4975(e)(7) and the regulations there under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Code) and is subject to the applicable provisions of ERISA.

The Plan purchased Corporation common shares (ESSOP shares) using the proceeds of loans from the Corporation and participating subsidiary companies (see Note 4). Unallocated ESSOP shares purchased with the Corporation loan proceeds are pledged as collateral on the Corporation loan. The participating subsidiary company loans are guaranteed by the Corporation. ESSOP shares are held in a trust established under the Plan. The borrowings and interest costs are to be repaid over a ten year period by fully deductible Corporation contributions to the Plan, dividends from unallocated Corporation stock, and any earnings the net funds may earn.

The Corporation borrowed funds from a third-party lending institution to fund a portion of the loan proceeds. The Corporation borrowings are collateralized by the associated unallocated ESSOP shares of stock. The lender has no rights against shares once they are allocated under the Plan. Accordingly, the financial statements of the Plan as herein included, present separately the assets and liabilities and changes therein pertaining to the stock not yet allocated to participants under the column entitled “Unallocated Account.” Shares allocated are included in the financial statements herein under the columns entitled “Non-participant Directed Account” and are entitled to diversification as afforded within the Plan document.

On an annual basis, the Plan makes a calculation of the number of shares to be allocated (released) to the account of eligible participants. The calculation of allocated shares is made in accordance with applicable regulations under the Code and the Plan document. Shares allocated to participants will vest in accordance with the stated vesting provisions in the Plan document (see Note 1E).

C.     Contributions

Deferral elected contributions from employees are made on a pretax basis up to a limit of $17,000 in 2012. Participants may elect to make additional contributions, on a post-tax basis, up to a maximum of 100% of eligible compensation, as defined in the Plan, not to exceed the limits set by Section 415 of the Code. 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. Contributions are also subject to other Code limitations (including the limits imposed by 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 at any time during the Plan year, may make additional, pretax, catch-up contributions up to $5,500 in 2012. Rollovers and catch-up contributions are not eligible for company matching.
 
 
 
  
 
4

 

OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
_________________
 
 
Participants direct the investment of their contributions into various Fidelity Investment mutual funds offered by the Plan, of which there are currently twenty three. In addition, participants may also direct their contributions to buy Old Republic common stock. Participants may change the investment allocation of their contributions and earnings thereon daily.

A Plan participant is eligible to receive an allocation of ESSOP shares if the following criteria are met:

·  
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.

The Company contributions, when aggregated with the Plan’s dividends and other earnings on the unallocated ESSOP shares, are used to fund the Plan’s debt service. The debt service funding triggers the release of shares to be allocated to participants’ accounts, in accordance with regulations under ERISA, the Code and the Plan Document.

The Company matching contribution is based on the following formula:
  
 
 
If the percentage increase in the Corporation’s average operating
 
 
operating earnings per share for the most recent five year period is
   
Less Than
6.00%
9.01%
15.01%
Over
     
6%
to 9%
to 15%
to 20%
20%
Percentage of Recognized  
The Resulting Employer Matching Contribution
Compensation Contributed
 
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, to 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.

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:

·  
Prior to December 31, 2008, no contribution could be made if the Corporation’s consolidated annual net profit before extraordinary items and taxes was less than $2,500,000. Effective as of December 31, 2008, the Plan was amended to allow the Corporation’s Board of Directors to waive such minimum profit requirement. For plan years 2012 and 2011, the Corporation’s Board of Directors elected to waive the Plan’s minimum profit requirements and declared contributions of $3,344,591 and $2,817,059, respectively, of which $826,889 in 2012 and $333,602 in 2011 were deemed discretionary contributions. The approval of these amounts was necessary to enable the Plan to meet its debt service requirements for 2012 and 2011. For financial statement purposes, the discretionary contribution is included with the employer matching contribution.
·  
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 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
_________________
 
D.     Employee Account

When a Plan participant makes employee contributions, the contributions are allocated to the mutual fund(s) or Old Republic common stock fund as designated by the participant. These funds constitute the participant’s Employee Account which, for financial statement purposes, is included under the column entitled “Participant Directed Account.” Earnings or losses inure to each Plan participant's Employee Account on a daily basis, based upon the performance of the mutual fund(s) and Old Republic common stock fund that the Plan participant selected. Participants are fully vested in their contribution funds and earnings/losses thereon. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested 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. For contributions made to the Plan after 2004, participants may make in-service withdrawals, including contributions made during the year of the in-service withdrawal, only if they meet the hardship provisions outlined in the Internal Revenue Service Regulations.

E.     Company Account

Each year, the released shares triggered by the debt service funding and the earnings/losses thereon are allocated to the participant’s Company Account which, for financial statement purposes, is included under the column entitled i “Non-Participant Directed Account.” 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, with 20% vesting after two years of service plus an additional 20% per additional vesting year.

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 both his/her Company Account and Employee Account, he/she may elect to 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/losses. If a Plan participant terminates service prior to full vesting, the non-vested portion of his/her Company Account is forfeited. Forfeited matching amounts are re-allocated to remaining participants who made employee contributions, completed 1,000 or more hours of service for the Company during the year, and are employed by the Company on December 31 or terminated service due to retirement on or after age 65, death, or total and permanent disability. Forfeited amounts from other employer discretionary contributions not included in matching contributions are reallocated to all remaining eligible Plan participants who are employed by the Companies on the last day of the year. Forfeitures are allocated based upon the ratio of the Plan participant's eligible compensation to the eligible compensation of all eligible Plan participants (eligible compensation is limited to a maximum of $150,000). Forfeitures allocated in the 2012 and 2011 plan years were $234,000 and $300,000, respectively.
 
 
 

 

 
 
OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
_________________
 

Each participant’s account is credited with an allocation of ESSOP shares released by the Trustee from the unallocated account and forfeitures of terminated participants’ non-vested accounts. Only those participants who are eligible participants, as described above, will receive an allocation in accordance with the Plan document.

Participants are able to divest Company Stock acquired with employer matching and profit sharing contributions after completing three years of service. The investment options available for diversification are the same mutual funds available for investment of Employee contributions. Previously diversified funds may be re-diversified into Old Republic common stock. For financial statement purposes, diversified funds are transferred from the Non-Participant Directed Account to the Participant Directed Account, but are still considered part of the Company Account.

F.     Unallocated Account

The unallocated account represents all assets and liabilities of the Plan relating to the leveraging of the Plan and not yet allocated or committed to be allocated to participants.

G.     Common Shares Committed to be Allocated to Participants

The Common Shares Committed to be Allocated to Participants represents the fair market value of the ESSOP shares to be allocated to participants’ accounts after December 31. It represents the number of shares calculated in accordance with applicable regulations under the Code. It takes into account the debt service provided by the company matching and other discretionary contributions, and dividends received on the unallocated ESSOP shares during the year. The release fraction applied to the number of unreleased shares at December 31 is the principal paid that coincides with the timing of the company matching contribution, discretionary contributions, and the interest paid during the plan year (numerator) divided by the numerator plus an estimate of the remaining future principal and interest (assuming most recent interest rate at December 31) to be paid.

At December 31, 2012 and 2011, 548,974 and 530,634 ESSOP shares, respectively, were committed to be released and 3,097,628 and 3,646,602 respectively, remained as unallocated. It should be noted that there is no connection as to the number of shares being allocated and the market value of the Corporation’s common shares at any given time. Hence, the market value of the stock on the actual day of allocation (release) to participants’ accounts may vary from the fair market value at December 31, 2012 and 2011, as presented in the financial statements.

H.    Voting Rights

Each participant is entitled to exercise voting rights attributable to the shares allocated to his or her account and is notified by the Trustee prior to the time that such voting rights are to be exercised. The Trustee is not permitted to vote any allocated share for which instructions have not been given by a participant. The Trustee is required, however, to vote any unallocated shares on behalf of the collective best interest of Plan participants and beneficiaries.
 
 2.        Summary of Accounting Policies

 
A.    Basis of Accounting

The Plan’s financial statements are prepared on an accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).

B.     Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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
_________________


C.     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 mutual funds which can be equity based, fixed income based or a combination thereof. In addition, participants may also direct their contributions to buy Old Republic common stock.

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.

D.     Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

The Plan’s investments are reported 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 are traded on a national securities exchange and are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the year. Short-term investments are valued at cost plus accrued interest which approximates fair value.

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.

E.     Termination and Withdrawal Benefit Payments

Termination and withdrawal benefit payments are recorded upon distribution payment.

F.     Plan Expenses

Plan expenses including fees for trustee, legal, accounting, auditing, investment, custodial and other services are paid by the Plan and included in administrative expenses. Certain other expenses are paid or provided by the Plan Sponsor. Investment management fees paid by the Plan are included in the net fund investment appreciation (depreciation) for the year.

G.     New Accounting Pronouncements

The following new accounting pronouncement was adopted during year ended December 31, 2012:

Fair value measurements – In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance requiring the categorization by level of items that are disclosed at fair value and information about transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. The new guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Net assets available for benefits and changes in net assets available for benefits of the Plan were not affected by the adoption of the new guidance.

H.    Subsequent Events

Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued.
 
 
 
 
 
8

 
 
OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
_________________

3.          Investments

A.    Investments Greater Than 5% of Plan Net Assets

The following presents investments, the fair value of which are 5% or more of Plan net assets available for benefits at December 31:
 
 
2012
 
2011
       Old Republic International Corporation Common Stock:
     
       Allocated and participant directed accounts
           (380,475 and 340,274 shares, respectively)
$         4,052,060
 
$       3,154,343
       Allocated and non-participant directed accounts
           (10,592,609 and 10,446,206 shares, respectively)
112,811,282
 
96,836,330
       Committed to be allocated to participant accounts
        (548,974 and 530,634 shares, respectively)
5,846,573
 
4,918,977
       Not allocated to participant accounts
        (3,097,628 and 3,646,602 shares, respectively)
32,989,738
 
33,804,001
       Total held by the Plan
      (14,619,686 and 14,963,716 shares, respectively)
$     155,699,653
 
$   138,713,651
       
       Fidelity Cash Reserves Fund
$       17,665,837
 
$     20,428,984
       
       Fidelity Dividend Growth Fund
$       18,725,881
 
$     16,974,266
       
       Spartan 500 Index Institutional Fund
$       19,235,158
 
$     16,855,705
       
       Fidelity Freedom 2020 Fund
$       18,978,548
 
                        *

* Investment balance was less than 5% of net assets available for benefits at December 31, 2011.

Net appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of investments is broken down as follows for the years ended December 31:
 
 
2012
 
2011
       
       Old Republic International Corporation Common Stock
$      19,737,560
 
$   (65,872,915)
       Mutual funds
20,708,440
 
(10,940,593)
 
$      40,446,000
 
$   (76,813,508)

B.     Fair Value Measurements

The Plan investments are reported at fair value in the accompanying statements of net assets available for plan benefits. Fair value is defined as the estimated price that is likely to be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants (an exit price) at the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy is established that prioritizes the sources (“inputs”) used to measure fair value into three broad levels: inputs based on quoted market prices in active markets (Level 1); observable inputs based on corroboration with available market data (Level 2); and unobservable inputs based on uncorroborated market data or a reporting entity’s own assumptions (Level 3).

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value are discussed further in Note 2(D). There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2012 from prior years.

 
 
 
9

 
 
OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
_________________

 
The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s assets at fair value as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 
Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2012:
   
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Mutual funds:
                       
Balanced funds
 
$
57,649,052
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
57,649,052
Equity funds
   
79,139,119
   
-
   
-
   
79,139,119
Fixed Income funds
   
54,979,767
   
-
   
-
   
54,979,767
Growth fund
   
5,716,807
   
-
   
-
   
5,716,807
Index funds
   
25,504,655
   
-
   
-
   
25,504,655
Total mutual funds
   
222,989,400
   
-
   
-
   
222,989,400
Company Common stocks
   
155,699,653
   
-
   
-
   
155,699,653
Other short-term
   
1,305,782
   
-
   
-
   
1,305,782
Total investments at fair value
 
$
379,994,835
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
379,994,835

 
Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2011:
   
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Mutual funds:
                       
Balanced funds
 
$
46,447,359
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
46,447,359
Equity funds
   
71,793,960
   
-
   
-
   
71,793,960
Fixed Income funds
   
54,537,129
   
-
   
-
   
54,537,129
Growth fund
   
5,680,616
   
-
   
-
   
5,680,616
Index funds
   
21,607,341
   
-
   
-
   
21,607,341
Total mutual funds
   
200,066,405
   
-
   
-
   
200,066,405
Company Common stocks
   
138,713,651
   
-
   
-
   
138,713,651
Other short-term
   
1,484,704
   
-
   
-
   
1,484,704
Total investments at fair value
 
$
340,264,760
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
340,264,760

 
4.         Notes Payable
 
In December 2008, the Plan entered into term loan agreements with the Corporation and participating subsidiary companies for aggregate borrowings of $50,000,000 ($30,000,000 from the Corporation and $20,000,000 from the participating subsidiary companies). The proceeds of the loans were used to purchase 5,488,475 shares of the Corporation’s common stock. Unallocated shares associated with the Corporation’s loan are collateral on the loans. The Corporation pledged its rights associated with the collateral shares as collateral on the Corporation’s loan with a financial institution. The participating subsidiary company loans are guaranteed by the Corporation. The loans all bear interest at a variable interest rate indexed to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 350 basis points. The interest rate was 3.71% and 3.76% at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
Interest is payable quarterly with any remaining accrued interest due and payable on maturity of the loan. Principal on the Corporation’s loan is payable in accordance with the following maturity schedule through March 2018 when any remaining principal and accrued interest are due and payable. Principal amounts on the participating subsidiary company loans are due on March 31, 2013, subject to annual loan renewal under the ESSOP loan agreements dated December 8, 2008. In 2013, the Plan repaid $1,860,000 principal to the subsidiary companies. The repayment of the remaining principal balance of $12,060,000 was extended through March 31, 2014.
 
At December 31, 2012, loans due to the Corporation and participating subsidiary companies aggregated $34,800,000.
 
 
 
10

 
 
OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
_________________
 
 
Maturities of the Plan’s ESSOP loans are as follows:

   
Total
 
Corporation
 
Participating
Subsidiary
Companies
                   
       2013
 
$
4,650,000
 
$
2,790,000
 
$
1,860,000
       2014
   
15,120,000
   
3,060,000
   
12,060,000
       2015
   
3,300,000
   
3,300,000
     
       2016
   
3,570,000
   
3,570,000
     
       2017
   
3,960,000
   
3,960,000
     
       Thereafter
   
4,200,000
   
4,200,000
     
       Total
 
$
34,800,000
 
$
20,880,000
 
$
13,920,000

The fair value of the Plan’s notes payable are equal to their carrying value. The estimated fair value is based on an internally generated interest yield market matrix table, which incorporates maturity, coupon rate, credit quality, structure and current market conditions. All notes payable are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as described in Note 3(B).
 
5.         Parties in Interest

Old Republic International Corporation and participating subsidiaries are parties in interest. The Plan’s Non-Participant Directed Account (Company Account) and Unallocated Account are 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.

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 $64,848 and $136,507 during 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
6.         Termination Priorities

Although it has no plans to do so, 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. Upon termination of the Plan, the Plan shall direct the trustee to pay all liabilities and expenses of the Trust Fund and sell shares of financed ESSOP shares held in the loan suspense account to the extent it determines such sale to be necessary in order to repay the loans.

7.         Tax Status

The Internal Revenue Service issued a favorable determination letter, dated August 2, 2011, stating that the Plan is designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, 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, therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.

8.         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
 

 

 
11

 
 

OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
_________________
 
 
how many 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. Anti-discrimination refunds payable to participants were $54,658 and $25,385 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
 
 

 
12 

 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
           
   EMPLOYEES SAVINGS AND 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, 2012
               
EIN: 36-2678171  PLAN NUMBER-003
               
                     
         
(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:
               
 
BALANCED FUNDS:
               
   
FIDELITY FUND
 
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
348,218
  sh
#
$12,469,679
   
FIDELITY FREEDOM INCOME FUND
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
150,712
  sh
#
1,764,834
   
FIDELITY FREEDOM 2000 FUND
 
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
135,382
  sh
#
1,674,676
   
FIDELITY FREEDOM 2010 FUND
 
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
617,108
  sh
#
8,713,560
   
FIDELITY FREEDOM 2020 FUND
 
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
1,326,244
  sh
#
18,978,548
   
FIDELITY FREEDOM 2030 FUND
 
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
582,080
  sh
#
8,282,994
   
FIDELITY FREEDOM 2040 FUND
 
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
600,798
  sh
#
4,962,595
   
FIDELITY FREEDOM 2050 FUND
 
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
83,212
  sh
#
802,166
 
EQUITY FUNDS:
               
   
FIDELITY EQUITY-INCOME FUND
 
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
315,856
  sh
#
14,864,200
   
FIDELITY VALUE FUND
 
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
190,643
  sh
#
14,553,654
   
FIDELITY DIVERSIFIED INTERNATIONAL FUND
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
501,688
  sh
#
15,020,535
   
FIDELITY DIVIDEND GROWTH FUND
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
626,284
  sh
#
18,725,881
   
FIDELITY SMALL CAP INDEPENDENCE FUND
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
186,024
  sh
#
3,739,079
   
FIDELITY MID-CAP STOCK FUND
 
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
416,466
  sh
#
12,235,770
 
FIXED INCOME FUNDS:
               
   
FIDELITY INVESTMENT GRADE BOND FUND
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
916,468
  sh
#
7,331,748
   
FIDELITY INTERMEDIATE TERM BOND FUND
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
605,352
  sh
#
6,743,625
   
FIDELITY CAPITAL & INCOME FUND
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
1,127,519
  sh
#
10,711,431
   
FIDELITY CASH RESERVES
 
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
17,665,837
  sh
A
17,665,837
   
FIDELITY SHORT-TERM BOND FUND
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
1,456,643
  sh
#
12,527,126
 
GROWTH FUND:
               
   
FIDELITY AGGRESSIVE GROWTH FUND
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
276,041
  sh
#
5,716,807
 
INDEX FUNDS:
               
   
SPARTAN 500 INDEX INSTITUTIONAL
 
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
380,970
  sh
#
19,235,158
   
SPARTAN EXTENDED MARKET INDEX FUND
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
100,825
  sh
#
4,023,939
   
SPARTAN INTERNATIONAL INDEX FUND
N/A
VARIABLE
N/A
65,506
  sh
#
2,245,558
   
TOTAL
             
222,986,400
                     
EMPLOYER SECURITIES:
               
 
OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL
               
 
 CORPORATION COMMON STOCK:
               
   
PARTICIPANT DIRECTED
 
N/A
N/A
N/A
380,475
  sh
$4,452,645
4,052,060
   
NON-PARTICIPANT DIRECTED
 
N/A
N/A
N/A
11,141,583
  sh
98,288,757
118,657,855
   
UNALLOCATED
 
N/A
N/A
N/A
3,097,628
  sh
33,220,537
32,989,738
   
TOTAL
       
14,619,686
  sh
$135,961,939
155,699,653
                     
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
N/A
N/A
N/A
1,305,782
  sh
$1,305,782
1,305,782
                     
   
TOTAL INVESTMENTS HELD
             
$379,994,835
                     
Notes:
               
*
All parties above are "Parties in Interest."
           
#
Participant directed funds.
               
A
Includes Non-Participant directed funds (42,903 shares with a cost and current value of $42,903).
 

 
 
 
13