SYMONS INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC
AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.23
<SEQUENCE>12
<FILENAME>gex10_23-27854.txt
<DESCRIPTION>AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
<PAGE>


ADDENDUM TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     This Addendum is entered into as of the 1st day of January, 1998 by and
between Goran Capital, Inc. ("Goran"), Symons International Group, Inc. ("SIG"),
Granite Reinsurance Company Ltd. ("Granite Re") and G. Gordon Symons (the
"Chairman") with respect to the following:

     A.   The Chairman is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Goran and
          SIG and the Chairman of the Board and President of Granite Re;

     B.   Granite Re and the Chairman have heretofore entered into that certain
          Personal Employment Agreement dated December 31, 1991 (as amended from
          time to time, the "Employment Agreement") pursuant to which an annual
          sum of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) is paid by
          Granite Re to the Chairman (the "Annual Sum");

     C.   Granite Re desires to ensure that it continues to receive the benefits
          enuring to it pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement;

     D.   Goran desires to ensure that its wholly owned subsidiary, Granite Re,
          continues to receive the benefits enuring to it pursuant to the terms
          of the Employment Agreement; and

     E.   The parties to the Employment Agreement desire to amend such
          Employment Agreement consistent with the terms contained herein
          (including, but not limited to, the provisions of this amendment
          dealing with non-competition) and otherwise ratify and affirm the
          Employment Agreement.


     NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Goran, SIG, Granite Re and the
Chairman agree as follows:


     1.   RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENT. The parties to the Employment Agreement
          hereby reaffirm and modify the Employment Agreement and hereby ratify
          all existing terms of the Employment Agreement and also amend the
          provisions of the Employment Agreement to provide that upon the
          occurrence of a Triggering Event (as defined herein), the sum of One
          Million One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($1,125,000) (the
          "Contract Payment") shall be paid to the Chairman.

     2.   TRIGGERING EVENT. A Triggering Event shall occur upon the happening of
          any of the following events:

          a.   Granite Re shall fail to pay the Granite Re Obligation; or
          b.   There shall occur a "Change of Control" with respect to Goran or
               SIG. For purposes of this Addendum, a "Change of Control" shall
               mean the inability of the Symons family to cause the election of
               a majority of the Board of Directors of Goran or SIG or their
               respective successors. In the event of a Change of Control, Goran
               shall comply with the provisions of Sections 1 and 8 hereof.

     3.   PAYMENTS TO SURVIVING SPOUSE. In the event of the death of the
          Chairman prior to the satisfaction by Granite Re of the Contract
          Payment, the Annual Sum payments and the Contract Payment shall be
          made to the Chairman's spouse if she is then surviving, in accordance
          with the terms of this Addendum.

                                       62
<PAGE>

     4.   NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT. As partial consideration of Granite Re
          entering into this Addendum, the Chairman agrees as follows:

          a.   The Chairman, from and after the date of this Addendum, shall not
               compete, in any manner, with Goran or SIG (including the
               Affiliates of Goran or SIG, as such term "Affiliates" is defined
               for purposes of the Securities laws of the United States.)

     5.   MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS. The Annual Sum shall be paid in equal monthly
          installments.

     6.   U.S. DOLLARS. The payment of all amounts hereunder shall be made in
          United State dollars.

     7.   LIABILITY. If a Triggering Event shall occur, Goran and SIG shall
          become jointly and severally liable with Granite Re for all
          obligations of Granite Re pursuant to the Employment Agreement or this
          Addendum. Neither the Employment Agreement nor this Addendum may be
          amended, canceled, terminated or otherwise revised unless same shall
          be in writing signed by the parties to the Employment Agreement.

     8.   COUNTERPARTS. This Addendum may be executed in any number of
          counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such
          counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
          instrument.

     9.   FULL FORCE AND EFFECT. Except as otherwise provided herein, the
          Employment Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Addendum as of the day
and year first set forth above.



                                                        "Chairman"



                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         G. Gordon Symons



                                          "Granite Re"
                                         Granite Reinsurance Company Ltd.



                                    By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                           Colin James


                                               "Goran"
                                         Goran Capital Inc.


                                    By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Alan G. Symons, President and Chief
                                         Executive Officer



                                       63
<PAGE>


                                               "SIG"
                                         Symons International Group, Inc.



                                    By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Alan G. Symons, Chief Executive Officer
















                                       64

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
