This article sourced from Mergermarket.
Scottsdale-based Garzella Group, a provider of insurance brokerage solutions, is preparing to enter the market for buying insurance agencies for the first time, according to CEO Dan Garzella. Founded in 2014, the company operates Darkhorse Insurance Brokers, a turnkey “brokerage-in-a-box” platform that offers agents software, marketing, contracts, and proprietary training tools.
Under the Darkhorse umbrella, Garzella is targeting independent insurance agencies with USD 2–5 million in premium, ideally those whose owners are ready to exit. The group plans to hire a chief acquisition officer in 2026 and may bring in a buyside advisor to assist with deal execution. The initiative also reflects the company’s growing focus on insurance M&A as part of its long-term growth strategy.
Garzella said the company intends to self-fund expansion for the next three to five years before considering a minority stake sale to finance larger insurance company mergers. The group is also exploring opportunities in insurance agency acquisitions as part of its broader growth strategy.
The group currently manages around USD 100 million in premium through its divisions Avalon Risk Management, Arcstone Insurance Advisors, Insurance Accountants, and LowerMyDTI.com, with a goal of achieving 30 percent annual growth.
Launched three years ago, Darkhorse now supports 15 partner agencies and adds roughly three new agencies each month. Garzella pointed to growing insurance industry consolidation, emphasizing that the market continues to evolve as more firms explore growth through mergers and acquisitions. The company is also monitoring insurance brokerages for sale as part of its ongoing expansion strategy.
