{
  "id": 1480795,
  "title": "Swansea Au Vodka reportedly in talks over £500m sale to BuzzBallz owner",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/swansea-au-vodka-reportedly-in-talks-over-500m-sale-to-buzzballz-owner",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-17T12:43:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Business",
    "slug": "bbc-business",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8e0nny6zzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Swansea-based vodka company Au Vodka is reportedly close to a £500 million sale to Sazerac, the owner of Southern Comfort and BuzzBallz. Sazerac confirmed to BBC Wales that it has agreed to purchase the start-up, with the deal expected to generate over £100 million each for the founders, Charlie Morgan and Jackson Quinn. The company was founded in 2015 by Morgan, a former Swansea City ball boy, and his childhood friend Quinn. Despite the flashiness and celebrity endorsements, the founders remain focused on expanding into new markets, particularly the United States.",
  "summary": "Au Vodka co-owner Charlie Morgan earned infamy in 2013 after being kicked by the Chelsea footballer.",
  "key_points": [
    "Swansea-based Au Vodka in talks for £500m sale",
    "Sazerac to purchase start-up, founders to profit £100m each",
    "Founded in 2015 by Morgan and Quinn, expanding into US market"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}