GRYPHON HOLDINGS INC
10-Q, 1996-11-13
FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE
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1

             SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              
                   WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
                              
                          FORM 10-Q
                              
       QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF
            THE SECURITIES  EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                              
   For Quarter Ended   September 30, 1996  Commission file number  0-5537
                              
                             Gryphon Holdings Inc.
   (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                              

            Delaware                              13-3287060
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)           Identification No.)
                                                            
                                                            

30 Wall Street, New York, New York                10005-2201
(Address of principal executive offices)          (zip code)
                              
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:(212)   825-1200



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has  filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d)  of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding  12
months  (or for such shorter period that the registrant  was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject  to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                   Yes x     No

Indicate  the number of shares outstanding of  each  of  the
issuer's   classes  of  common  stock,  as  of  the   latest
practicable date.

              Class
Outstanding at September 30, 1996
Common stock, par value $.01
6,659,725
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                              
                    Gryphon Holdings Inc.
                      TABLE OF CONTENTS
                              
                              

Part I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION                             Page

Item 1.   Financial  Statements
            Consolidated Balance Sheets at
             September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995          3

            Consolidated  Statements of Income for the
             three and nine months ended
             September 30, 1996 and 1995                       4

            Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
             nine months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995     5

            Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements         6

Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of
            Financial Condition and Results of Operations      9

Part II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                    13
Signatures                                                    13

EXHIBIT 27    Financial Data Schedule                         14

                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              

                              
                              
                 PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
             Gryphon Holdings Inc. and Subsidiaries
                   Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                       September 30,   December 31,
                                           1996           1995
Assets                                    (Dollars in thousands)
Investments:
 Fixed maturities, available
 for sale, at fair value
 (amortized  cost:  9/30/96 - $267,127; 
  12/31/95  -  $248,324)                  $270,413      $260,728
Short-term investments, at cost, 
  which approximates market                    537           537
Total investments                          270,950       261,265
Cash and cash equivalents                   22,997        27,337
Accrued investment income                    4,169         4,080
Premiums receivable                         22,421        17,475
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses      17,084        24,489
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses   156,463       152,975
Prepaid reinsurance premiums                20,000        20,434
Deferred policy acquisition costs           13,643        12,182
Deferred income taxes                       10,201         6,582
Income taxes receivable                        116
Other assets                                 7,067         4,170
Total assets                              $545,111      $530,989

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Policy liabilities:
 Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses$322,173     $308,886
 Unearned premiums                          69,578        63,472
Total policy liabilities                   391,751       372,358
Reinsurance balances payable                20,256        29,373
Long-term debt                              25,500        25,500
Income taxes payable                                         387
Other liabilities                           14,357        10,149
Total liabilities                          451,864       437,767
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
 Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized;
  none issued or outstanding
 Common stock, $.01 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized;
  8,148,050 shares issued                       81            81
 Additional paid-in capital                 30,852        30,850
  Foreign  currency translation 
  adjustment, net of  tax                     (202)         (209)
 Net unrealized investment gains, net of tax 2,136         8,063
 Deferred compensation                        (276)         (193)
 Retained earnings                          85,936        80,108
 Treasury stock, at cost; 
  shares 1996: 1,488,325; 1995: 1,500,000  (25,280)      (25,478)
Total stockholders' equity                  93,247        93,222
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$545,111      $530,989

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
These statements are subject to year-end audit.
                                
             Gryphon Holdings Inc. and Subsidiaries
                Consolidated Statements of Income


                              Three months ended  Nine months ended
                                 September 30,      September 30,
                                 1996    1995       1996    1995
                               (Dollars and shares in thousands,
                                     except per-share data)
  
  Revenues
  Gross premiums writt       $44,807  $43,747    $118,743  $122,400
  Net  premiums  written      28,165   25,086      71,963    68,661
  
  Net premiums earned         22,292   20,324      65,423    59,040
  Net investment income        4,065    4,030      12,145    11,829
  Realized gains on investments    4      736         616     2,566
  Other income                   389   ______         944    ______
  Total revenues              26,750   25,090      79,128    73,435
  
  Expenses
  Losses and loss 
   adjustment expenses        13,958   13,318      41,913    37,080
  Underwriting, acquisition, 
   and insurance expenses     10,099    8,957      29,285    25,188
  Interest expense               444      145       1,317       145
  Tota0l expenses             24,501   22,420      72,515    62,413
  
  Income before income taxes   2,249    2,670       6,613    11,022
  
  Provision for income taxes (benefit):
    Current                      262      (42)      1,214     2,369
      Deferred                     1      357        (429)     (189)
  Total income taxes             263      315         785     2,180
                              ______   ______      ______    ______
  Net income                  $1,986   $2,355      $5,828    $8,842
  
  Net income per-share data
  Net income                   $0.30    $0.31       $0.88     $1.11
  
 Weighted average shares 
  outstanding                  6,660    7,648       6,655     7,981
  
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
These statements are subject to year-end audit.
  
             Gryphon Holdings Inc. and Subsidiaries
              Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows


                                    Nine months ended September 30,
                                          1996        1995
                                       (Dollars in thousands)
  Operating activities
  Net income                             $5,828       $8,842
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
      by operating activities:
    Deferred compensation                    48           37
    Increase in net policy liabilities   23,744        3,061
    Increase in premiums receivable      (4,946)      (3,619)
    Increase in deferred 
      policy acquisition costs           (1,461)      (2,813)
    Deferred income tax provision          (429)        (189)
    Decrease (increase) in other 
      assets and liabilities              2,313         (235)
    Amortization and depreciation           445          294
    Amortization of bond discount, net      736          258
    Realized gains on investments          (616)      (2,566)
    (Decrease) increase in 
      reinsurance balances payable       (9,117)       8,635
    Increase in accrued investment income   (89)        (173)
  Net cash provided by operating activities 16,456    11,532
  
  Investing activities
  Sales of fixed maturities             183,008      132,652
  Purchases of fixed maturities        (204,130)    (206,562)
  Maturities or calls of fixed maturities 2,200       47,678
  Capital expenditures                   (1,950)        (343)
  Net cash used by investing activities (20,872)     (26,575)
  
  Financing activities
  Issuance of common stock                   69
  Proceeds from long-term debt                        25,500
  Common stock acquired for treasury                 (25,443)
  Net cash provided by financing activities  69           57
  
  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash     7           57
  
  Decrease in cash and cash equivalents  (4,340)     (14,929)
  Cash and cash equivalents 
   at beginning of year                  27,337       28,908
  Cash and cash equivalents at end of year$22,997    $13,979
  
  Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
    Income taxes paid                    $1,701       $2,783
    Interest paid                         1,317           38
  
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
These statements are subject to year-end audit.

1.   Basis of Presentation
     Gryphon  Holdings Inc. (the "Company") operates through  its
main  subsidiary, Gryphon Insurance Group Inc.,  as  a  specialty
property  and casualty underwriting organization.  The  Company's
wholly   owned  insurance  company  subsidiaries  are  Associated
International  Insurance Company and Calvert  Insurance  Company.
The  accompanying financial statements include, for  all  periods
presented,  the accounts and operations of Gryphon Holdings  Inc.
and its subsidiaries.
2.   Principles of Consolidation
     The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been
prepared on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles
("GAAP"),  which  as  to the two wholly owned  insurance  company
subsidiaries  differ  from  the  statutory  accounting  practices
prescribed  or permitted by regulatory authorities,  and  include
the   accounts   of  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries.    All
significant  intercompany  accounts and  transactions  have  been
eliminated in consolidation.
3.   Investments
      Fair  values  are  based  on  quoted  market  prices,  when
available,  or  estimates  based on  market  prices  for  similar
securities,   when   quotes   are  not   available.    Short-term
investments  are carried at cost, which approximates  their  fair
value.   Realized gains and losses from the sales or  liquidation
of  investments  are  determined on the  basis  of  the  specific
identification method and are included in net income.  Investment
income  is  recognized when earned.  The amortization of  premium
and  accretion  of  discount for fixed  maturity  securities  are
computed utilizing the interest method.
     The major components of net investment income are summarized
as follows:
                        For the three months  For the nine months
                         ended September 30,  ended September 30,
                             1996    1995         1996   1995
                                 (Dollars in thousands)
Fixed maturities            $4,007  $4,052     $12,057   $11,310
Cash, cash equivalents 
and short-term investments     279     243         869     1,283
Total investment income      4,286   4,295      12,926    12,593
Less related expenses          221     265         781       764
Net investment income       $4,065  $4,030     $12,145   $11,829
      The  gross and net realized gains and losses from sales  of
fixed income securities are as follows:
                         For the three months  For the nine months
                          ended September 30,  ended September 30,
                             1996    1995         1996    1995
                                (Dollars in thousands)
Gross realized gains          $244    $761      $2,150    $3,203
Gross realized losses         (240)    (25)     (1,534)     (637)
Net realized gain on sales      $4    $736        $616    $2,566
      At  September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995, the amortized
cost   and   estimated  fair  values  of  investments  in   fixed
maturities,   by   categories  of  securities,   and   short-term
investments were as follows:

                                         Gross     Gross   Estimated
                            Amortized Unrealized Unrealized  Fair
                               Cost      Gains     Losses    Value
                                      (Dollars in thousands)
September 30, 1996
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
   U.S. government corporations 
        and agencies            $53,546  $554    $(147)    $53,953
Debt securities issued by 
   foreign governments           8,662    104     (116)      8,650
Tax-exempt obligations of states and
   political subdivisions      144,866   3,760    (345)    148,281
Mortgage-backed securities      45,486     205    (435)     45,256
Corporate securities            14,567     109    (403)     14,273
                               267,127   4,732  (1,446)    270,413
Short-term investments             537                         537
                              $267,664  $4,732 $(1,446)   $270,950

                                         Gross      Gross  Estimated
                            Amortized  Unrealized Unrealized  Fair
                               Cost      Gains      Losses    Value
                                      (Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 1995
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
   U.S. government corporations 
    and agencies                 $48,292  $3,101  $(8)    $51,385
Debt securities issued by 
   foreign governments             4,078     158            4,236
Tax-exempt obligations of states and
   political subdivisions        124,073   6,702  (40)    130,735
Mortgage-backed securities        36,616     976           37,592
Corporate securities              35,265   1,571  (56)     36,780
                                 248,324  12,508 (104)    260,728
Short-term investments               537                      537
                                $248,861 $12,508 $(104)  $261,265

4.   Long-Term Debt
      In September 1995, the Company purchased 1.5 million shares
of  its  Common Stock beneficially owned by Willis Corroon  Group
plc  ("Willis  Corroon") for a purchase price of  $25.5  million,
including  related expenses.  The Company financed  its  purchase
with  commercial lending institutions through an  unsecured  term
loan.   This  loan matures in varying amounts through  2002  with
interest payable at least quarterly.  The term loan interest rate
is  equivalent to either the lead bank's prime rate or the London
Interbank  Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus 1%, at the  discretion  of
the   Company.    The   term-loan  agreement   contains   certain
restrictive  covenants, including restrictions on  the  Company's
ability to declare or pay any cash dividends to its shareholders.
As  of September 30, 1996, the weighted average interest rate was
6.89%,  and the fair value of the loan approximated the  carrying
value.
     Principal payments due on the term loan are as follows:
                                          Principal Amount
Year ending December 31,               (Dollars in thousands)
     1996                                     $ 875
     1997                                     3,500
     1998                                     3,625
     1999                                     4,125
     2000                                     4,625
     Thereafter                               8,750
       Total                                $25,500

      In  October  of 1995, the Company entered into an  interest
rate  swap  agreement  with a commercial lending  institution  in
order  to reduce the impact of interest rate fluctuations on  the
Company's  term loan.  The interest rate swap was  effected  with
respect  to  the  first  $15.5  million  of  scheduled  principal
amortizations of the $25.5 million loan.  The impact of the  swap
was  to  create  an effective fixed rate of 6.97%  on  the  $15.5
million  principal amount.  As of September 30,  1996,  the  fair
value of the interest rate swap approximated the carrying value.
5.   Earnings Per Share
     Earnings per common share are based on the average number of
shares   outstanding  during  each  period;   the   exercise   of
outstanding  stock  options would have  no  significant  dilutive
effect on earnings per share.
6.   Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
      In  the  opinion of management, the accompanying  unaudited
consolidated   financial  statements  contain   all   adjustments
necessary  to  present  fairly  the  results  of  operations  and
financial position of the Company for the periods ended September
30,   1996   and  1995.   The  unaudited  consolidated  financial
statements  should be read in conjunction with  the  consolidated
financial statements and related notes to financial statements as
contained  in  the Company's 1995 Annual Report on  Form    10-K.
The  results  of  operations for the  period  presented  are  not
necessarily  indicative of the results to  be  expected  for  the
entire year.

ITEM  2.    MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION AND  ANALYSIS  OF  FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
General
       The  Company  is  a  holding  company  that,  through  its
subsidiaries,   underwrites  specialty  property   and   casualty
insurance in sectors of the insurance industry that are generally
considered difficult to insure.  Many of the coverages written by
the Company can be categorized as excess and surplus lines, which
generally  means  that  the risks are  nonstandard  or  that  the
policies in respect of the risks are written with unusual  limits
or  at  deviated  rates.   The property  and  casualty  insurance
industry  is  highly  cyclical.  The  excess  and  surplus  lines
sectors of the property and casualty insurance industry are often
subject  to greater cyclicality and volatility than the  industry
in  general.  During soft markets, large standard lines  insurers
often  utilize  excess capacity to assume  risks  in  excess  and
surplus  and specialty lines.  During hard markets, such insurers
tend to abandon the excess and surplus and specialty lines to the
carriers  that concentrate in these sectors.  Thus,  capacity  in
these lines will fluctuate substantially, often with fluctuations
in revenues or profits, or both.
Results of Operations
Third quarter of 1996 Compared with the Third quarter of 1995
      Gross Premiums Written.  Gross premiums written were  $44.8
million  for  the  third  quarter of 1996,  compared  with  $43.7
million  for  the third quarter of 1995.  The increase  in  gross
premiums  written  was  primarily attributable  to  increases  in
Casualty  premiums of $1.6 million, resulting from  new  business
written,  and a $0.6 million increase in Architects' & Engineers'
Liability  premiums,  due  to enhanced  coverages  offered.  Such
increases  were  partially offset by a $0.6 million  decrease  in
Difference  in  Conditions ("DIC") premiums, resulting  from  the
sharing  of premiums with a companion carrier and an increase  in
competition  with  respect  to  certain  types  of   DIC   risks.
Commercial Automobile premiums decreased by $0.5 million  due  to
the non-renewal of a truck leasing program, mitigated in part  by
new business written.
     Net Premiums.  Net premiums written increased 12.3% to $28.2
million for the third quarter of 1996 from $25.1 million for  the
third  quarter  of  1995.  In addition to the  factors  described
above,  net  premiums  written were also  enhanced  by  increased
retention  levels and changes in the mix of business.   Also,  in
the   third   quarter  of  1995,  ceded  catastrophe  reinsurance
reinstatement  premiums,  caused by additional  losses  from  the
January  17,  1994  Northridge earthquake, reduced  net  premiums
written by $1.5 million.
      Net premiums earned increased 9.7% to $22.3 million for the
third quarter of 1996 from $20.3 million for the third quarter of
1995.
      Net Investment Income.  Net investment income for the third
quarter  of 1996 was $4.1 million compared with $4.0 million  for
the  third  quarter  of 1995. The increase is  primarily  due  to
additional  funds  available  for  investment  in  1996  and  was
mitigated by lower average pre-tax interest rates in 1996 than in
1995, resulting from a greater component of tax-exempt securities
in 1996.
      Net Realized Gains on Investments.  In the third quarter of
1996,  the  Company realized a net gain of four thousand  dollars
compared  with  $0.7  million  in  the  third  quarter  of  1995.
Portfolio sales were effected in each period to optimize the  mix
of taxable and tax-exempt investments.
     Other Income.  For the quarter ended September 30, 1996, the
Company recorded $0.4 million of underwriting management fees for
DIC business underwritten on behalf of a companion carrier.
      Losses  and  Loss  Adjustment Expenses.   Losses  and  loss
adjustment  expenses increased by 4.8% to $14.0 million  for  the
third quarter of 1996 from $13.3 million for the third quarter of
1995, primarily due to increases in earned premium exposures  and
additional  reserves  for  Commercial  Automobile  and  Specialty
lines.   In  the  third  quarter of 1995,  the  Company  recorded
additional  net claims costs of $0.5 million from the  Northridge
earthquake.
       Underwriting,   Acquisition,   and   Insurance   Expenses.
Underwriting,  acquisition, and insurance expenses  increased  by
12.7%  to  $10.1 million for the third quarter of 1996 from  $9.0
million   for  the  third  quarter  of  1995,  due  to  increased
acquisition costs resulting from a change in the mix of  business
written and additions to staff related to new business.
     Interest Expense.  For the quarter ended September 30, 1996,
the  Company recorded $0.4 million in interest expense,  compared
with  $0.1  million  for the quarter ended  September  30,  1995.
Interest expense resulted from a term loan of $25.5 million taken
down  in  September 1995 to finance the purchase of  1.5  million
shares of the Company's common stock.
      Income  Taxes.  The Company recorded a tax expense of  $0.3
million in the third quarter of 1996, compared with an income tax
expense  of  $0.3  for  the third quarter of  1995.   Income  tax
expense  was  reduced  in both periods by  tax-exempt  investment
income.
      Net  Income.   Net income was $2.0 million  for  the  third
quarter of 1996, compared with $2.4 million for the third quarter
of 1995.
Nine  months  Ended  September 30, 1996 Compared  with  the  Nine
months Ended September 30, 1995
      Gross Premiums Written.  Gross premiums written were $118.7
million  for  the nine months ended September 30, 1996,  compared
with $122.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1995.
The decrease in gross premiums written was primarily attributable
to  a  $6.8 million decrease in Difference in Conditions  ("DIC")
premiums  resulting from the sharing of premiums with a companion
carrier, and, to a lesser extent, an increase in competition with
respect to certain types of DIC risks.  Also, there was  a   $1.6
million  decrease in Other Property due to increased competition,
mitigated  in  part  by new business from plate  glass  and  fire
policies.  Such decreases were partially offset by a $1.8 million
increase  in  Casualty  premiums,  resulting  from  new  business
written;  a  $1.5  million increase in Architects'  &  Engineers'
Liability  premiums, due to enhanced coverages  offered;  a  $1.0
million  increase in premiums from Specialty Lines,  due  to  new
business;  and  a $0.5 million increase in Commercial  Automobile
premiums.
      Net  Premiums.   Net  premiums written increased  to  $72.0
million  for the nine months ended September 30, 1996 from  $68.7
million  for  the  nine  months ended September  30,  1995.   Net
premiums   written   increased  while  gross   premiums   written
decreased,  primarily  as a result of a  change  in  the  mix  of
business  written, increased retention levels and, in  the  third
quarter  of  1995, $1.5 million of ceded catastrophe  reinsurance
reinstatement  premiums  from  the January  17,  1994  Northridge
earthquake, which had the effect of reducing net premiums written
for that period.
      Net premiums earned increased by 10.8% to $65.4 million for
the  nine months ended September 30, 1996 from $59.0 million  for
the nine months ended September 30, 1995, as a result of most  of
the factors described above.
     Net Investment Income.  Net investment income increased 2.7%
to  $12.1  million for the nine months ended September  30,  1996
from  $11.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1995.
The  increase is primarily due to additional funds available  for
investment  in  1996 and was mitigated by lower  average  pre-tax
interest  rates  in 1996 than in 1995, resulting from  a  greater
component of tax-exempt securities in 1996.
     Net Realized Gains on Investments.  In the nine months ended
September  30,  1996, the Company realized a  net  gain  of  $0.6
million,  compared with $2.6 million in the first nine months  of
1995.   Portfolio sales were effected in each period to  optimize
the mix of taxable and tax-exempt investments.
     Other Income.  For the nine months ended September 30, 1996,
the Company recorded $0.9 million of underwriting management fees
for DIC business underwritten on behalf of a companion carrier.
      Losses  and  Loss  Adjustment Expenses.   Losses  and  loss
adjustment  expenses increased by 13% to $41.9  million  for  the
nine  months ended September 30, 1996 from $37.1 million for  the
nine  months ended September 30, 1995, primarily due to increased
earned premium exposures and reserve increases in a truck leasing
program  and  a  used car dealers program, each  discontinued  in
1995,  as  well as additional reserves for Commercial  Automobile
and  Specialty lines.  In 1995, the Company recorded  catastrophe
losses  from hail storms in Texas as well as additional  reserves
for the Northridge earthquake, totaling $1.6 million.
       Underwriting,   Acquisition,   and   Insurance   Expenses.
Underwriting,  acquisition, and insurance expenses  increased  by
16.3%  to  $29.3 million for the nine months ended September  30,
1996  from $25.2 million for the nine months ended September  30,
1995, primarily due to increased acquisition costs, additions  to
staff  related  to new business and an increase in the  provision
for bad debts.
      Interest Expense.  For the nine months ended September  30,
1996,  the  Company  recorded $1.3 million in  interest  expense,
compared  with  $0.1 million for the nine months ended  September
30,  1995.  Interest expense resulted from a term loan  of  $25.5
million  taken down in September 1995 to finance the purchase  of
1.5 million shares of the Company's common stock.
      Income Taxes.  Income taxes were $0.8 million for the  nine
months  ended September 30, 1996, compared with income  taxes  of
$2.2  million for the nine months ended September 30,  1995.   In
1996,  the  decrease in income tax expense resulted  from  higher
operating  expenses  and  a  shift  from  taxable  to  tax-exempt
investment income.
     Net Income.  Net income was $5.8 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 1996, compared with $8.8 million for the nine
months ended September 30, of 1995.
     Liquidity and Capital Resources
      The  Company receives cash from premiums and, to  a  lesser
extent,  investment income.  The principal cash outflows are  for
the  payment  of claims, reinsurance premiums, policy acquisition
costs,  and  general  and  administrative  expenses.   Net   cash
provided  by  operations was $16.5 million  for  the  first  nine
months  of  1996, compared with $11.5 million for the first  nine
months of 1995.
      At September 30, 1996, the Company maintained cash and cash
equivalents of $23.0 million to meet current payment obligations.
In   addition,  the  Company's  investment  portfolio  could   be
substantially  liquidated without any material financial  impact.
Substantially all of the cash and investments of the  Company  at
September 30, 1996 were held by its subsidiaries.
      Reinsurance  recoverables on unpaid losses  increased  from
$153.0  million  at  December  31,  1995  to  $156.5  million  at
September  30, 1996.  Because of the high limits on the Company's
issued   policies   relative  to  net   retentions,   reinsurance
recoverable   on   unpaid  losses  can  fluctuate   significantly
depending  upon  the  emergence  and  severity  of  reported  and
unreported losses.
      In September 1995, the Company purchased 1.5 million shares
of  its  common  stock from Willis Corroon for a  total  purchase
price  of $25.5 million, including related expenses.  The Company
financed  its purchase of such shares with a loan from commercial
lending  institutions.   As a result  of  the  interest  on  this
indebtedness,  the  Company's  corporate  overhead  expense  will
increase by approximately $1.8 million in 1996.
      As  a  holding company, the Company depends principally  on
dividends  from  its  insurance  company  subsidiaries   to   pay
corporate overhead expenses, including principal and interest  on
its   borrowings.   These  subsidiaries  are  subject  to   state
insurance  laws  that restrict their ability  to  pay  dividends.
Under  the insurance code of Pennsylvania, dividends from Calvert
are  limited  to  the  greater  of  10%  of  surplus  as  regards
policyholders as of the preceding year end or the net income  for
the  previous  year, without prior approval from the Pennsylvania
Department of Insurance.  Under the insurance code of California,
dividends  from Associated are limited to the greater of  10%  of
policyholders' statutory surplus as of the preceding year end  or
the  Company's  statutory  net income  from  operations  for  the
previous   year,  without  prior  approval  from  the  California
Department of Insurance.
      The  National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
adopted a risk-based capital system for assessing the adequacy of
statutory  capital  and  surplus for all  property  and  casualty
insurers.    Based  on  computations  made  by  the  Company   in
conformity  with  such guidelines, Associated  and  Calvert  have
exceeded  the  required  levels of  capital.   There  can  be  no
assurance  that capital requirements applicable to the  Company's
business will not increase in the future.
      The  Company  has no present plans to make any  significant
capital expenditures in the foreseeable future.
      The  Company has no off-balance-sheet obligations that  are
not  disclosed in its financial statements.  The Company believes
that  retained earnings will be sufficient to satisfy  its  long-
term capital requirements to fund growth.
Effects of Inflation
      There was no significant impact on the Company's operations
as  a  result of inflation during the first nine months of  1996.
However, there can be no assurance that inflation will not have a
material impact on the Company's operations in the future.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6.   EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
a)  Exhibits
Exhibit No.        Description                           Page No.
27           Financial Data Schedule                        14
b)  No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the third quarter of
1996.
                           SIGNATURES
Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange  Act  of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed  on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
                                          Gryphon  Holdings  Inc.
(Registrant)
Date:      November  13,  1996            /s/Stephen A. Crane
                                             Stephen A. Crane
                                          President &
                                          Chief Executive Officer

Date:      November  13,  1996            /s/Robert P. Cuthbert
                                             Robert P. Cuthbert
                                          Senior Vice President &
                                          Chief Financial Officer
                                          (Principal Financial
                                           and Accounting Officer)



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<NAME> GRYPHON HOLDINGS INC.
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