** Shares of insurance firm Old Republic International
rise 1.1% to $36.60 in premarket trading
** ORI announces special cash dividend of $2/shr, payable on Jan. 15 to shareholders
** Special dividend will return roughly $500 mln to shareholders - ORI
** As of last close, ORI shares up 23.2% YTD
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))