Eddie Lauth

Edward J. "Eddie" Lauth III is a State College, Pennsylvania–based entrepreneur and investor best known as the founder of AquaPenn Spring Water Company, which he launched in 1988. AquaPenn grew into a publicly traded bottled-water company (NYSE: APN, IPO in 1998) before being acquired by the French food and beverage giant Group Danone in 1999. He holds an undergraduate degree from Rollins College in Florida.

Following the AquaPenn exit, Lauth continued building and investing in companies across water, energy, hospitality, and real estate. Since 2004 he has served as Managing General Partner of Governor's Harbour Resort & Marina, Ltd., which he formed to develop roughly 200 acres on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas (the French Leave / Harbour Village development). He has also developed real estate in central Pennsylvania, including Baby's Burgers and Shakes (a landmark 1950s-style diner) and high-rise residential and student condominium projects in State College.

Since 2011, Lauth has served as Chief Executive Officer of Shaner Capital L.P., the principal-investment arm founded in 2010 by entrepreneur Lance T. Shaner. Shaner Capital deploys a roughly $100 million fund and provides preferred equity, senior and subordinated debt, credit enhancement, and balance-sheet restructuring to mature companies. The Shaner Corporation umbrella also includes Shaner Hotel Group, a large hotel owner-operator and Marriott/Hilton franchisee.

Lauth is also a long-tenured public-company director: he has been an Independent Director of Weis Markets, Inc. (NYSE: WMK), the Pennsylvania-based supermarket chain, since 2012, and serves as its Presiding/Lead Director. His community involvement includes past roles as Chairperson of the Centre County United Way and Chairman of the Suzanne Pohland Paterno Student Faith Center at Penn State University.

• Invests through Shaner Capital L.P., a ~$100M fund, primarily in mature, profitable companies with strong management — not classic early-stage seed startups.
• Provides flexible capital structures: preferred equity, senior/subordinated debt, credit enhancement, and balance-sheet restructuring rather than only common-equity venture rounds.
• Core sectors: water and wastewater treatment, heavy construction, finance, real estate/property development, and hospitality (hotels and condominiums).
• Stated approach from the firm: "We will very carefully assess your financial structure to see where we can be of assistance in helping your company grow."
• Strong regional anchor in Pennsylvania and the Eastern U.S., with appetite for hospitality and resort real estate in Florida and the Caribbean.