SHAW GROUP INC
10-K, 1997-12-01
MISCELLANEOUS FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

[X] Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
    of 1934
                    For the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997

                                       or

[ ] Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
    Act of 1934

                         Commission File Number 0-22992

                               THE SHAW GROUP INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          LOUISIANA                                         72-1106167
(State or other jurisdiction of                         (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)                       Identification Number)

    11100 Mead Road, Second Floor
      Baton Rouge, Louisiana                                    70816
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (zip code)



                                 (504) 296-1140
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Common stock, no par
value.

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None.

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 by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation  S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,  to the
best of registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ ]

The aggregate market value of the stock held by non-affiliates (affiliates being
directors,  officers and holders of more than 5% of the Company's  common stock)
of the Registrant at November 20, 1997 was approximately $234,220,000.

The number of shares of the Registrant's common stock, no par value, outstanding
at November 20, 1997 was 12,488,393.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the  registrant's  definitive proxy statement to be prepared for use
in connection  with the  registrant's  1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be
held in January 1998 will be  incorporated  by  reference  into Part III of this
Form 10-K.



<PAGE>



                                     PART I

ITEM 1.  Business

General

         The Shaw Group Inc.  ("Shaw" or the "Company") is a leading supplier of
integrated   piping  systems  and  provider  of  industrial   construction   and
maintenance services primarily for the electric power, chemical,  petrochemical,
gas processing and refining industries  worldwide.  Shaw is committed to being a
"total piping resource" for its customers by offering  comprehensive  design and
engineering  services,  piping  system  fabrication,  manufacturing  and sale of
specialty pipe fittings,  and design and  manufacturing of pipe support systems.
The  Company  recently  expanded  its  capabilities  to  include  final  on-site
erection, turnkey construction and project maintenance.

         Shaw  was  founded  in  1987 by  current  management  and  subsequently
purchased the assets of Benjamin F. Shaw Company, a century-old pipe fabricator.
The Company has  increased  its  revenues  from $29.3  million in the year ended
August  31,  1988 to $338.3  million  in the year  ended  August  31,  1997,  by
increasing  both its domestic and  international  businesses.  Through  internal
expansion  and a series of strategic  acquisitions,  Shaw has increased its pipe
fabrication  and bending  capacity,  expanded  its piping  system  products  and
services and broadened its overall  project  scope to include  construction  and
maintenance  services.  These initiatives have provided Shaw with the ability to
achieve  substantial  economies  of scale in  purchasing  raw  material,  and to
provide customers with a broad range of industrial products and services.

         The  Company  believes  it has  earned a  reputation  as an  efficient,
low-cost  supplier of complex piping systems as a result of several  competitive
advantages.   Specifically,  the  Company  coordinates  and  integrates  project
engineering and fabrication processes in order to maximize overall efficiency in
time, cost and performance. In addition, the Company's significant investment in
state-of-the-art  induction bending  equipment  provides it with time, labor and
raw material savings as compared to traditional  fabrication methods.  Shaw also
manufactures specialty pipe fittings, pipe hangers and other pipe products. This
manufacturing  capability  has served to reduce the  Company's  supply costs and
enhance  its  overall  piping  package.  The Company  utilizes  its  proprietary
software  technology  to enhance  the  planning  and  scheduling  efforts of its
customers,  helping to reduce total installed costs and project cycle times. The
Company also provides final on-site erection of piping systems, as well as total
project construction and maintenance services.

Forward-Looking Statements and Associated Risks

         This Annual  Report on Form 10-K  contains  forward-looking  statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended and
Section  21E of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934  as  amended,  including
statements  regarding,  among other items, (i) the Company's growth  strategies,
including its intention to make  acquisitions;  (ii)  anticipated  trends in the
Company's business; and (iii) the Company's intention to enter into satisfactory
contracts   with   its   customers,   including   Alliance   Agreements.   These
forward-looking  statements are based largely on the Company's  expectations and
are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties,  certain of which are beyond
the  Company's  control.  Actual  results  could  differ  materially  from these
forward-looking  statements  as a result of, among other  things,  the following
factors:  (i)  adverse  economic  conditions;  (ii) the  impact  of  competitive
products  and pricing;  (iii)  product  demand and  acceptance  risks;  (iv) the
presence  of  competitors  with  greater  financial  resources;  (v)  costs  and
financing  difficulties;  and (vi)  delays or  difficulties  in the  production,
delivery or installation  of products,  including a lengthy strike or other work
stoppage by the Company's union employees at any of the Company's facilities. In
light of these risks and  uncertainties,  there can be no assurance  that actual
results will be as projected in the forward-looking statements. Furthermore, the
Company   undertakes   no   obligation   to   publicly   update  or  revise  any
forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information,  future events
or otherwise.

Subsequent Events

         On October 15, 1997,  the Company  entered into a letter of intent with
Vekamaf  Holding  B.V.  ("Vekamaf")  of  Rotterdam,  Holland,  whereby Shaw will
acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of Cojafex B.V., a Vekamaf

                                        2

<PAGE>

subsidiary.  Under the terms of the letter of intent,  the  Company  will pay an
aggregate of $9.5 million,  $5 million of which will be paid over six years. The
closing of the transaction,  which is contingent upon the favorable outcome of a
due diligence review and the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements,
among other things,  is expected to take place in January of 1998.  Cojafex owns
the technology for certain  induction bending machines used for bending pipe and
other carbon steel and alloy items for industrial,  commercial and architectural
applications. Shaw currently has eight Cojafex induction bending machines and is
the  exclusive,  worldwide  distributor  of the Cojafex "PB Special 16" machine.
Shaw is presently  supplying  Cojafex bending machines packaged with fabrication
technology and technical  services on-site in India for one of the largest grass
roots refinery projects ever planned.

         On November 14, 1997, the Company purchased all of the capital stock or
substantially  all of  the  assets  of the  principal  operating  businesses  of
Prospect Industries PLC ("Prospect") of Derby, United Kingdom, for approximately
$15.8 million in cash. Prospect, a mechanical contractor and provider of turnkey
piping systems serving the power  generating and process  industries  worldwide,
operated  through  several  wholly-owned   subsidiaries  including  Connex  Pipe
Systems,  Inc.  ("Connex"),  a piping systems  fabrication  business  located in
Troutville,  Virginia;  CBP Engineering Corp. ("CBP"), an abrasion and corrosion
resistant pipe systems  specialist  based in  Pennsylvania;  Aiton Australia Pty
Limited, a piping systems,  boiler  refurbishment and project management company
based near  Sydney,  Australia;  and Prospect  Engineering  Limited  ("PEL"),  a
provider of turnkey piping systems located in Derby,  United  Kingdom.  Prospect
also  owned a 66%  interest  in  Inflo  Control  Systems  Limited  ("Inflo"),  a
manufacturer  of boiler  steam  leak  detection,  acoustic  mill and  combustion
monitoring  equipment and related  systems.  Under the terms of the  acquisition
agreement,  the  Company  acquired  all of the  outstanding  stock  of  Prospect
Industries  Overseas  Limited,  a United Kingdom  holding company that holds the
entire  ownership  interest in Connex and CBP, and Aiton  Australia  and certain
assets of PEL, as well as Prospect's  entire  ownership  interest in Inflo.  The
Company also assumed  certain  liabilities  of PEL and Prospect  relating to its
employees and pension plans.  For Prospect's  year ended September 30, 1996, its
most  recently  published  audited  consolidated  financial  statements,   sales
amounted to approximately $138 million.  For further discussions  regarding this
acquisition,  see "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial  Condition
and Results of Operations."

Fiscal 1997 Developments

         Effective  October 1, 1996, the Company acquired all of the outstanding
capital stock of Pipe Shields Incorporated ("Pipe Shields"),  an industrial pipe
insulation  company located in Vacaville,  California,  for  approximately  $2.5
million  in cash,  net of cash  received.  See  Note 3 of Notes to  Consolidated
Financial Statements.

         On December 23, 1996, the Company  closed the sale of 2,000,000  shares
of its common  stock,  no par value (the  "Common  Stock"),  in an  underwritten
public  offering  at a price of $21 per  share.  In  addition,  certain  selling
shareholders of the Company sold an aggregate of 659,118 shares of Common Stock,
and on January 10, 1997, the  underwriters of such offering  exercised an option
to  purchase  an  additional  398,000  shares of Common  Stock from the  Company
pursuant  to such  terms to cover  over-allotments.  The  closing  of such  sale
occurred on January 15, 1997.  The net proceeds to the Company from the issuance
and sale of the 2,398,000 shares of Common Stock, less  underwriting  discounts,
commissions  and  other  expenses  associated  with  the  transaction,   totaled
approximately  $47.2 million and were used to repay  outstanding  amounts on the
Company's  line of credit,  which is  generally  used by the Company for working
capital purposes, as well as to fund fixed asset and subsidiary acquisitions..

         On January 27, 1997, Shaw acquired all of the outstanding capital stock
of NAPTech,  Inc., a fabricator  of  industrial  piping  systems and  engineered
piping modules located in Clearfield,  Utah. In connection with the acquisition,
the Company issued an aggregate of 432,881 shares of the Company's  Common Stock
in exchange for NAPTech,  Inc. and the 335,000 square foot facility that NAPTech
leased from a related  entity  (collectively,  "NAPTech").  For the fiscal years
ended March 29, 1996 and March 31,  1995,  NAPTech,  Inc.  reported  revenues of
$24.9 million and $21.7  million,  respectively,  and net losses of $3.1 million
and  $.2  million,  respectively.  Though  NAPTech  had  experienced  historical
operating and liquidity difficulties,  NAPTech's operations have been profitable
since Shaw acquired the business, largely due to a large mining project that was
completed during Shaw's fiscal 1997, as well as the integration of the Company's
materials  purchasing  power and  fabrication  expertise.  The benefits from the
acquisition of NAPTech

                                        3

<PAGE>

include,  among other  things,  increased  fabrication  capacity and  additional
induction  pipe  bending  capabilities.  See  Note 3 of  Notes  to  Consolidated
Financial Statements.

         Effective February 1, 1997, the Company acquired all of the outstanding
capital stock of United Crafts,  Inc. (UCI), and on March 20, 1997, it purchased
certain assets of MERIT Industrial  Constructors,  Inc. (MERIT),  two industrial
construction and maintenance  firms based in Baton Rouge,  Louisiana.  The total
consideration  paid for these transactions was approximately $10 million in cash
and 62,500  shares of Common Stock.  These  acquisitions  have  expanded  Shaw's
overall piping package to include final on-site piping  erection,  and broadened
the  Company's   project  scope  to  include  total  project   construction  and
maintenance  services.  MERIT and UCI have an  established  customer base in the
Gulf Coast and Southeastern  regions of the United States. Their combined annual
revenues for their  fiscal  years ended in 1996 were $52 million.  See Note 3 of
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

         On August 11, 1997,  the Company  announced  that Shaw Power  Services,
Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, and China Baoyuan Industry and Trade Company,
a wholly-owned  subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation signed a letter
of intent to establish  joint-venture  ownership of a piping systems fabrication
facility in Dalian,  Peoples Republic of China (P.R.C.).  Under the terms of the
letter of intent, Shaw's ownership and income participation in the joint-venture
is  contemplated  to be at least 60%,  The  formation  of the  joint-venture  is
subject to, among other things,  the  negotiation  and execution of a definitive
agreement and regulatory approvals by the P.R.C. The establishment of a presence
in the P.R.C. is intended to strategically  position Shaw to service the planned
expansion  of nuclear  power  generation  capacity in China.  Shaw also hopes to
capture work that includes  critical plant piping  systems for  Chinese-financed
projects,  as well as  additional  work on these  projects.  This would  include
nuclear, as well as fossil fuel projects throughout the P.R.C.

Industry Overview

         The industrial pipe  fabrication  industry  provides piping systems for
new  construction  and  retrofit  projects  in  the  electric  power,  refining,
chemical, petrochemical, gas processing and other industries, including pulp and
paper, pharmaceutical and food processing industries. The Company estimates that
prefabricated piping systems account for approximately 3% of the total installed
cost of a new construction  project and are crucial  components of each project.
The Company  divides the industry into two major  segments,  the electric  power
industry segment and the process industry segment. The refining and chemical and
petrochemical  sectors  represent  the largest  portion of the process  industry
segment.

         The  domestic  pipe   fabrication   industry  depends  largely  on  new
construction and retrofit  projects in the chemical,  refining,  gas processing,
pulp and paper,  pharmaceutical,  food  processing and other  industries.  These
industries have  historically  been cyclical in nature and vulnerable to general
downturns in the economy.  The chemical  sector began to experience an upturn in
mid-1995 driven by an increase in capital  expenditures for capacity  expansions
and  retrofits.  This  resulted in a  significant  improvement  in the  domestic
pricing  environment  during fiscal 1996.  Project  activity in the chemical and
refining  sectors  continues  to be robust and the  Company  anticipates  that a
significant portion of domestic project work over the next several years will be
generated by chemical plant  expansions and refinery  retrofits  relating to the
modernization of aging facilities and compliance with environmental regulations.
Due to the  minimal  demand for new  electric  power plant  construction  in the
United States,  the electric  power piping market in the United States  consists
almost exclusively of retrofits.

         In contrast to the domestic market,  the international pipe fabrication
market  has  exhibited  significant  growth  over the last  several  years,  and
industry sources project this growth to continue.  New  construction  represents
the majority of work  performed in the electric  power sector  overseas.  Strong
demand for electricity,  particularly in underdeveloped and overpopulated  areas
of the  world,  has  resulted  in a  significant  increase  in new  power  plant
construction.

         Generally,  United States pipe fabricators can fabricate electric power
piping   systems   domestically   and  ship  the  finished   goods  to  selected
international  markets less expensively  than their major overseas  competitors,
due primarily

                                        4

<PAGE>



     to  significantly  lower labor costs than in certain  other  industrialized
countries  (principally  Germany and Japan),  and  greater  availability  of raw
materials  in  the United  States.   Typically, the  Company's  international
competitors are divisions of large industrial firms.

         Most  international  projects  require a certain  percentage  of "local
content" sourcing.  Therefore,  non-critical or low pressure piping for electric
power projects is frequently  fabricated at the project site by local welders or
in  regional  fabrication  facilities.  The  same is true for the  chemical  and
refining sectors,  which utilize less critical piping systems.  In most areas of
the Pacific Rim and South America, this work is performed at significantly lower
labor costs. In order to bid more  competitively  for work in the  international
chemical and refinery sector,  as well as for the low pressure piping portion of
overseas  power  projects,  Shaw has  established  overseas  facilities  and has
developed a portable induction bending machine that can be used on international
job  construction  sites.  The Company is currently  employing  this  technology
on-site in Jamnagar,  India to  fabricate  piping  systems for a major  refinery
project.

Products and Services

         As part of its  commitment to being a "total  piping  resource" for its
customers,  the  Company  provides  a  complete  range of  piping  products  and
services,  including pipe fabrication,  induction and cold bending,  engineering
and design,  and pipe  fittings  manufacturing.  The  Company has also  recently
broadened  its project scope to include  on-site  piping  systems  installation,
turnkey construction and maintenance services.

  Pipe Fabrication

         Shaw's core business is the  fabrication of complex piping systems from
raw material made of carbon steel,  stainless and other alloys, as well as other
materials,  including  nickel,  titanium  and  aluminum.  The  Company  produces
prefabricated piping systems by cutting pipe to length,  welding fittings on the
pipe and bending the pipe, each to precise customer specifications. As of August
31, 1997,  Shaw owned and operated  seven pipe  fabrication  facilities in South
Carolina, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah and Venezuela as well as a 49% interest in a
joint  venture pipe  fabrication  facility in Bahrain.  These eight  fabrication
facilities are capable of handling and fabricating pipe ranging in diameter from
one inch to 72 inches,  with overall wall thicknesses from 1/8 inch to 7 inches.
Prefabricated  pipe  assemblies  up to 100 feet in length and  weighing up to 45
tons can be fabricated by the Company.

         The Company's  products must meet rigid quality control  standards.  In
addition to visual inspection, the Company uses radiography,  hydro testing, dye
penetration  and  ultrasonic  flaw  detection to confirm that its products  meet
specifications.  A  significant  portion of Shaw's  work is the  fabrication  of
"critical  piping  systems"  for  use in  high  pressure,  high  temperature  or
corrosive applications,  including systems designed to withstand pressures of up
to 2,700  pounds  per  square  inch  and  temperatures  of up to  1,020  degrees
Fahrenheit.

  Bending

         Beginning in fiscal 1994, the Company began purchasing state-of-the-art
induction  bending  equipment,   which  significantly  increased  the  Company's
capacity  to  fabricate  piping  systems,  in both  volume  and  complexity.  In
addition,  on certain projects Shaw can substitute bends for the cutting of pipe
and  welding  fittings,  resulting  in  labor,  time and raw  material  savings.
Although  the  Company  has  historically  been  capable of  bending  pipe using
traditional methods, such bending capabilities were limited with respect to pipe
composition, diameter, wall thickness and bend characteristics. As a result, the
Company   generally  was  required  to  subcontract   for  more  complex  bends,
particularly for pipes with large diameters and wall thicknesses.

         The market for pipe fabrication is increasingly moving in the direction
of custom pipe  bending  according to the  specifications  of  customers,  since
bending generally allows for significant reductions in labor, time and materials
costs as compared to traditional means of fabrication.  The Company believes its
state-of-the-art  equipment gives it a  technological  advantage in this growing
segment of the market.


                                        5

<PAGE>



         Shaw currently owns eight  induction pipe bending  machines  capable of
bending  pipe up to 66  inches in  diameter  with  wall  thicknesses  of up to 5
inches.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                           Pipe Bending Capabilities
                                                                       ---------------------------------
                                                                       Maximum Pipe       Maximum Pipe
          Model                         Location                       Diameter           Wall Thickness
          -----                         --------                       --------           --------------
<S>                                <C>                                 <C>                   <C>

Cojafex PB Special 16               Walker, Louisiana                  16 inches             2.5 inches
Cojafex PB Special 16               Laurens, South Carolina            16 inches             2.5 inches
Cojafex PB Special 16               Tulsa, Oklahoma                    16 inches             2.5 inches
Cojafex PB-1200                     Walker, Louisiana                  48 inches             4.0 inches
Cojafex PB-1200                     on order (1)                       48 inches             4.0 inches
Cojafex PB-1600                     Clearfield, Utah                   66 inches             5.0 inches
Cojafex PB-850                      Clearfield, Utah                   34 inches             3.0 inches
Cojafex PB Special 12               Clearfield, Utah                   12 inches             .75 inches

(1) Presently on order, with an expected delivery in April, 1998.
</TABLE>

          The Company has also developed a portable version of the PB Special 16
induction bending machine which is capable of producing  multi-directional bends
at project  sites around the world.  This machine is  currently  being  utilized
on-site in India to fabricate  piping systems for one of the largest grass roots
refinery projects ever planned.

          Recently,  the  Company  announced  that it  entered  into a letter of
intent with Vekamaf Holding B.V.("Vekamaf") of Rotterdam,  Holland, whereby Shaw
will acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of Cojafex B.V. ("Cojafex"), a
Vekamaf  subsidiary.  Cojafex owns the technology for certain  induction bending
machines  used for  bending  pipe and other  carbon  steel  and alloy  items for
industrial,  commercial and architectural  applications.  Under the terms of the
letter of intent,  Shaw will pay an  aggregate  of $9.5  million,  $5 million of
which will be paid over six years.  The  closing  of the  transaction,  which is
contingent  upon  the  favorable  outcome  of a due  diligence  review  and  the
negotiation  and execution of  definitive  agreements,  among other  things,  is
expected to take place in January of 1998.

  Engineering and Design

            In 1994,  as an integral  part of its  strategy of becoming a "total
piping resource",  the Company  integrated  engineering and design  capabilities
into its business for complex piping systems for electric power projects, mainly
for the Company's  customers  outside the United  States.  Shaw also designs and
engineers  pipe  hanger and  support  systems  and  specializes  in  engineering
analyses  of complex  piping  systems and related  services,  primarily  for the
electric power industry. These engineering, design and pipe support capabilities
complement the Company's fabrication  business,  particularly for electric power
projects,  enabling the Company to provide more  comprehensive  piping  packages
with reduced overall lead times and lower total installed costs.

            The Company utilizes  sophisticated  plant design software to create
virtual   three-dimensional  piping  system  models.  The  result  is  a  clear,
understandable  picture of the complete  project  which allows  clients to "walk
through" the three-dimensional  model for an accurate design review. The Company
currently  operates 25  workstations  utilizing the plant design software at its
offices in Englewood, New Jersey and Toronto, Canada.

            The Company's  engineering  capabilities  are directly linked to the
Company's  fabrication shops and the Company's proprietary computer aided design
system,  SHAW-DRAW(TM).  SHAW-DRAW(TM)  converts customer design drawings to the
Company's detailed  production drawings in seconds,  significantly  reducing the
lead time required before  fabrication can begin and  substantially  eliminating
detailing  errors.  The  Company  has  also  implemented   SHAW-MAN(TM),   which
efficiently manages and controls the movement of all required materials into and
through each stage of the  fabrication  process  utilizing bar code  technology.
These  proprietary  programs  enhance the  planning and  scheduling  efforts for
Shaw's  customers,  helping to reduce total  installed  costs and project  cycle
times.

                                        6

<PAGE>



  Pipe Fittings Manufacturing

     Shaw's manufacturing  capabilities extend to specialty stainless, alloy and
carbon steel pipe fittings for the electric power, refining,  chemical and other
industries,  including the gas processing,  pulp and paper,  pharmaceutical  and
food processing  industries.  These fittings  include  stainless and other alloy
elbows,  tees,  reducers and stub ends ranging in size from 1/2 to 48 inches and
heavy  wall  carbon  and  chrome  elbows,  tees,  caps and  reducers  with  wall
thicknesses of up to 3 1/2 inches. In addition to its manufacturing  facility in
Shreveport,  Louisiana,  Shaw has  manufacturing  outlets in New  Jersey,  North
Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona, which also distribute
pipe and fittings manufactured by third parties.  Shaw's in-house  manufacturing
capabilities  for pipe fittings  further  enhance the Company's  piping package,
enable the  Company to  realize  greater  efficiencies  in the  purchase  of raw
materials,  help reduce overall lead times and lower total installed  costs, and
are  additional  steps in the  Company's  commitment  to  being a "total  piping
resource".

 Project Construction and Maintenance

     With  the  acquisitions  of two  industrial  construction  and  maintenance
businesses in fiscal 1997,  the Company  expanded its piping  package to include
on-site piping systems  installation  and broadened its overall project scope to
include  total  project  construction  and plant  maintenance  services  for the
refining, petrochemical,  chemical, pipeline and power industries. These capital
intensive  projects include grass roots facilities,  as well as plant expansions
and upgrades.  Shaw's services incorporate most of the construction disciplines,
including   civil,   structural   and   steel   erection,   mechanical/equipment
installation and assembly,  piping  erection,  skid and modular unit fabrication
and assembly,  constructability  reviews,  materials and labor  procurement  and
management,  ASME  code  work  and  plant  maintenance.  As a  result  of  these
acquisitions,  the  Company  has an  established  presence in the Gulf Coast and
Southeastern  regions of the United States and has plans to expand  domestically
and internationally.

Markets

            The Company's  principal  markets are new construction and retrofits
in the electric power, refining,  petrochemical and chemical industries, both in
the  United  States and  internationally.  The  Company  also  historically  has
supplied  piping systems to the gas processing,  pulp and paper,  pharmaceutical
and manufacturing industries.

            The  Company's  sales for its most  recent  two fiscal  years  ended
August 31 by industry were (in millions):

                                                      Year Ended August 31,
                                                      ---------------------
Industry Sector                                       1996             1997
- ---------------                                       ----             ----

Chemical                                              $62.1           $130.4
Electric Power                                         86.7            102.0
Refining                                               62.4             50.0
Mining                                                  --              33.3
Other                                                  10.8             22.7
                                                      -----            -----
                                                      222.0           $338.4
                                                                      ======
Pooled Sales*                                          27.4
                                                      -----
                                                     $249.4
                                                     ======

* Sales by industry sector for the pooled entity, NAPTech, are not available.




                                        7

<PAGE>



          The Company's  sales for its most recent two fiscal years ended August
31 by geographic region were (in millions):

                                                    Year Ended August 31,
Geographic Region                                   1996               1997
- -----------------                                   ----               ----

United States                                      $ 173.7            $235.2
Far East/Pacific Rim                                  39.6              62.6
Latin America                                          2.6              18.4
Middle East                                           21.4              12.8
Europe                                                 9.0               4.0
Other                                                  3.1               5.4
                                                    ------            ------
                                                    $249.4            $338.4
                                                    ======            ======

          Prior to February  1994,  the  Company's  international  business  was
conducted  exclusively from its plants in the United States.  Having fabrication
facilities in certain key international  markets assists the Company in securing
additional overseas work, specifically for chemical and refining projects, where
the piping is generally  fabricated at the project site or in a regional shop by
local welders. The Company currently has a wholly-owned  subsidiary operating in
Venezuela and a joint-venture  facility operating in Bahrain. In August of 1997,
the Company  announced that it signed a letter of intent with a Chinese  partner
to establish joint-venture ownership of a piping systems fabrication facility in
Dalian,  Peoples  Republic of China  (P.R.C.).  Under the terms of the letter of
intent,  Shaw's  ownership  and income  participation  in the  joint-venture  is
contemplated to be at least 60%. The  establishment  of a presence in the P.R.C.
is intended to strategically  position Shaw to service the planned  expansion of
nuclear  power  generation  capacity  in  China,  as well as  capture  work that
includes critical plant piping systems for Chinese-financed projects, as well as
additional work on these projects. This includes nuclear, as well as fossil fuel
projects  throughout  the P.R.C.  Additionally,  in November,  1997, the Company
purchased  all of the capital  stock or  substantially  all of the assets of the
principal  operating  businesses  of Prospect  Industries  PLC of Derby,  United
Kingdom.  Prospect is a mechanical  contractor  and  provider of turnkey  piping
systems  serving the power  generating and process  industries  worldwide.  This
acquisition  gives the Company a significant  presence in the United Kingdom and
Australia.

          Demand for the  Company's  products  and  services  in  Venezuela  was
reasonably  strong  during  the  fiscal  year  ended  August  31,  1997.  Future
profitability, however, cannot be assured.

          In November 1993, the Company entered into a  joint-venture  agreement
to construct and operate a fabrication  facility in Bahrain. The Company's joint
venture partner is Abdulla Ahmed Nass, a Bahrain  industrialist.  The Bahrainian
joint-venture facility is one of the first modern pipe fabrication facilities in
the Middle East and has  received  the Gulf States  Certification  from the Gulf
Cooperation Council. The Gulf States Certification enables the venture to export
products to other Arab  countries  without  payment of additional  tariffs.  For
fiscal 1997, the joint venture had sales of $6.9 million and the Company's share
of the joint venture's net earnings was approximately $437,000.

          In the future,  the Company's use of joint-venture  relationships  for
foreign  operations  will be determined  on a  case-by-case  basis  depending on
market, operational, legal and other relevant factors.

Contracts and Pricing

          The Company  obtains orders through  competitive  bidding,  negotiated
contracts  and awards under  Alliance  Agreements.  The awarding of contracts is
frequently not based  exclusively  on price but on the Company's  reputation and
ability to meet project deadlines.

          The   Company's   contracts  are  priced  on  either  a  "unit"  or  a
"fixed"/"lump-sum" price basis. A significant portion of the Company's contracts
are bid on a "unit" basis,  pursuant to which the customer  pays an  agreed-upon
rate  for  each  individual  service  provided,   such  as  a  weld,  radiograph
inspection, bend or engineering revision, or the amount of inventory items used.
Raw materials generally are billed to customers at published prices in effect at
the date of the

                                        8

<PAGE>



contract,  and the Company generally obtains fixed pricing  commitments from its
suppliers at such time for most of the items  necessary to complete the project.
The Company thereby  minimizes the risk of raw material price increases that may
occur during the fabrication process.

          Substantially all of the Company's  international  projects are quoted
on a  "fixed"/"lump-sum"  price  basis.  Increasingly,  this type of contract is
being  requested by the  Company's  customers,  particularly  for  international
electric  power  projects.  The  Company  generally  does not quote  the  actual
contract  price  until  it has  secured  a fixed  pricing  commitment  from  its
suppliers  for most of the items  necessary  to complete  the  project,  thereby
minimizing  any risk of price  increases  between the contract date and the time
the project is completed.

          The Company  also obtains work under  Alliance  Agreements,  which are
agreements  that the Company enters into with its customers in order to expedite
individual  project  contract  negotiations  through means other than the formal
bidding process.  These  agreements are typically  implemented by establishing a
joint steering  committee to provide  guidance and direction on alliance issues.
Normally this committee meets on a periodic basis to monitor  alliance  progress
and assign  resources  to effect  continuous  improvements  in the various  work
processes associated with project execution.

          Alliance  Agreements  allow  the  customer  to  achieve  greater  cost
efficiency  and  reduced  cycle times in the design and  fabrication  of complex
piping systems for electric power,  chemical and refinery projects. In addition,
the Company  believes  that these  agreements  will  provide  Shaw with a steady
source of new  projects  and help  minimize  the  impact of  short-term  pricing
volatility.

Backlog

          Shaw  generally  bids for  projects  that  require  delivery of piping
systems  over a period of three to  eighteen  months.  The  Company  defines its
backlog as a "working backlog",  whereby only projects with a written commitment
are included. Typically, electric power projects remain in the Company's backlog
for at least nine  months,  depending  on the size of the project or whether the
Company is doing the design and  engineering  as well as the  fabrication  for a
given project.  Refining and chemical  projects remain in the Company's  backlog
three to six months on average.

          On occasion,  customers  will cancel or delay projects for reasons out
of the Company's  control.  Projects  will remain in the  Company's  backlog for
longer  periods if delays occur.  Historically,  cancellations  and major delays
have  been  insignificant.  The low  cancellation  rate is due to the fact  that
piping systems are one of the final steps in the  construction  of a project and
are essential to the construction of these systems as a whole.

          The Company  estimated  its backlog at  approximately  $253 million at
August 31, 1997. This compares to the previously announced $154 million and $101
million at August 31, 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  The Company  estimates that
$206 million,  or 81.4%,  of its backlog at August 31, 1997 will be completed in
fiscal 1998.


                                        9

<PAGE>



          The following  table breaks out the  percentage of backlog by industry
sector and geographic region for the periods indicated:

                                                At August 31,
                                      ---------------------------------
                                      1995*           1996*        1997
                                      -----           -----        ----
Industry Sector:
Electric Power                         51%             57%          30%
Chemical                               20              32           22
Petrochemical                          --              --           21
Refining                               28              10           15
Oil and Gas                            --              --            7
Other                                   1               1            5
                                      ----            ----         ----
                                      100%            100%         100%
                                      ====            ====         ====
Geographic Region:
Domestic                               56%             66%          68%
International                          44              34           32
                                      ----            ----         ----
                                      100%            100%         100%
                                      ====            ====         ====

          * Excludes  backlog by industry  sector and geographic  region for the
pooled entity, NAPTech, which is not available.

Customers and Marketing

          The  Company's   customers  are   principally   major   multi-national
engineering  and  construction  firms,  equipment  manufacturers  and industrial
corporations.  For fiscal 1997, no single customer  represented more than 10% of
the Company's sales.

          As of August 31, 1997, the Company's marketing efforts are principally
conducted  through  its own  full-time  employed  sales  force  comprised  of 35
employees.  In  addition,  certain  customers  and  territories  are  covered by
independent  representatives.  The  Company's  sales force is paid a base salary
plus an annual bonus, while independent representatives receive commissions.

Raw Materials and Suppliers

          The Company's principal raw materials are carbon steel,  stainless and
other  alloy  piping,  which it obtains  from a number of  domestic  and foreign
primary steel producers. The Company believes that it is not generally dependent
upon any one of its  suppliers for raw  materials,  that the market is extremely
competitive and that its relationship with its suppliers is good.  Certain types
of raw  materials,  however,  are available  from only one or a few  specialized
suppliers, and although the Company has not experienced any significant sourcing
problems to date,  there can be no assurance  that  sourcing  problems  will not
occur in the  future.  Shaw  purchases a majority  of its piping  directly  from
manufacturers.  This  eliminates the need for a distributor and results in lower
costs to the Company.  Because of the volume of these materials  purchased,  the
Company  is often  able to  negotiate  advantageous  purchase  prices  for steel
piping.  Certain items are kept in stock at each of the Company's facilities and
are  transported  between  facilities  as  required.  The Company  obtains  more
specialized  materials from suppliers when required for a project.  To date, the
Company has not experienced any significant shortages or delays in obtaining raw
materials.

          At the time of  obtaining a contract,  the Company  generally  obtains
fixed pricing  commitments from its suppliers for most of the items necessary to
complete the project,  thereby  minimizing any risk of price  increases that may
occur during the fabrication process. See "Contracts and Pricing".

Industry Certifications

          In order to perform  fabrication  and repairs of coded piping systems,
the  Company's  domestic  fabrication  facilities  have  obtained  the  required
American Society of Mechanical  Engineers  (ASME) stamp, and its Laurens,  South
Carolina and Walker,  Louisiana  facilities  have  obtained  the National  Board
stamp. In addition, the Laurens, South

                                       10

<PAGE>



Carolina  facility is licensed to fabricate  piping for nuclear power plants and
is registered by the International  Organization of Standards (ISO 9002),  which
is required to perform  certain  international  work. The Company's  engineering
subsidiary is also  registered by the  International  Organization  of Standards
(ISO 9001), as is its pipe support fabrication facility (ISO 9002).

Patents, Trademarks and Licenses

          The Company does not own any material patents,  registered  trademarks
or  licenses.  However,  the Company  considers  its design and project  control
systems,  SHAW-DRAW(TM) and SHAW-MAN(TM),  to be proprietary  information of the
Company.

Competition

          The Company experiences  significant competition from a limited number
of competitors in both international and domestic markets. In the United States,
there are a number of smaller pipe fabricators.  Internationally,  the principal
competitors  are  divisions of large  industrial  firms.  Some of the  Company's
competitors,  especially in the international sector, have greater financial and
other resources than the Company.

          Orders  are  obtained  by the  Company  through  competitive  bidding,
negotiated contracts and awards under Alliance Agreements. In a competitive bid,
the awarding of contracts  is  frequently  not based solely on price but also on
the Company's reputation and ability to meet project deadlines.

Employees

          At November 19, 1997,  subsequent to the acquisition of Prospect,  the
Company  employed  approximately  4,600 full-time  employees,  1,850 of whom are
represented by unions.  Of these  employees,  175 worked in the Company's wholly
owned  subsidiary  in  Venezuela  and 1,400  worked in the  United  Kingdom  and
Australia.  In January 1993, the Company settled a dispute with a union pursuant
to which  Shaw  agreed to allow the union to  solicit  membership  at all of its
non-union pipe  fabricating  facilities in the United States.  To date,  certain
employees at four of the eight United States pipe fabrication  facilities of the
Company,  including  the facility of Connex Pipe  Systems,  Inc. in  Troutville,
Virginia, have approved a union contract.

Environmental

          The  Company  is  subject  to  environmental   laws  and  regulations,
including those  concerning  emissions into the air,  discharges into waterways,
generation,  storage,  handling,  treatment and disposal of waste  materials and
health and safety.  These laws and regulations  generally impose limitations and
standards  for  certain  pollutants  or waste  materials  to obtain a permit and
comply with various other  requirements.  In addition,  under the  Comprehensive
Environmental  Response,  Compensation  and  Liability  Act of 1980,  as amended
("CERCLA") and comparable state laws, the Company may be required to investigate
and  remediate  hazardous  substances.  CERCLA and these  comparable  state laws
typically impose liability without regard to whether a company knew of or caused
the release,  and liability has been  interpreted to be joint and several unless
the harm is divisible and there is a reasonable basis of allocation. The Company
has not been notified that it is a potentially responsible party under CERCLA or
any comparable state law at any site. The Company's foreign  operations are also
subject to various requirements governing environmental protection.

          The environmental, health and safety laws and regulations to which the
Company is subject are constantly changing,  and it is impossible to predict the
effect of such laws and  regulations  on the Company in the future.  The Company
believes that it is in substantial compliance with all applicable environmental,
health and safety laws and regulations.  However,  with respect to environmental
matters,  the  Company  has not  conducted  environmental  audits  of all of its
properties.   To  date,  the  Company's  costs  with  respect  to  environmental
compliance  have not been  material,  and the Company  does not  anticipate  any
material environmental liability.


                                       11

<PAGE>



ITEM 2.  Properties

          The  principal  properties  of the  Company at August 31,  1997 are as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

       Location                             Description                                            Square Feet
<S>                              <C>                                                                 <C>

Baton Rouge, LA                  Corporate Headquarters                                               20,000(1)
Laurens, SC                      Pipe Fabrication Facility                                           200,000(2)
Prairieville, LA                 Pipe Fabrication Facility                                            60,000(1)
West Monroe, LA                  Pipe Fabrication Facility                                              70,000
Walker, LA                       Pipe Fabrication Facility                                           154,000(2)
Maracaibo, Venezuela             Pipe Fabrication Facility                                              45,000
Tulsa, OK                        Pipe Fabrication Facility                                           158,600(2)
Clearfield, UT                   Pipe Fabrication Facility                                           335,000(2)
Baton Rouge, LA                  Distribution Facility                                                30,000(1)
Englewood, NJ                    Design and Engineering Headquarters                                  14,000(1)
Toronto, Canada                  Design and Engineering Office                                         5,750(1)
Longview, TX                     Pipe Supports Manufacturing and Fabrication Facility                   28,000
Shreveport, LA                   Piping Components and Manufacturing Facility                        385,000(2)
Shreveport, LA                   Pipe Storage Facility                                                40,000(2)
Houston, TX                      Pipe Fittings Distribution Facility                                 107,000(1)
Vacaville, CA                    Pipe Supports Manufacturing Facility                                 43,000(1)
Baton Rouge, LA                  Construction, Administrative, Warehouse and Fabrication Facility     32,400(2)
Baton Rouge, LA                  Divisional Offices                                                   12,000(1)

(1)  Leased facility.        (2) Encumbered with debt.
</TABLE>

          The Bahrain joint venture leases a 94,000 square foot pipe fabrication
facility in Manama, Bahrain.

          In  connection  with  a  contract  with a  customer,  the  Company  is
committed  to open a  fabrication  facility  in  Texas.  See Note 11 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.

          The Company  considers  each of its current  facilities  to be in good
operating condition and adequate for its present use.

          With acquisitions  subsequent to August 31, 1997, the Company acquired
leased and owned facilites in Troutville, Virginia and Washington, Pennsylvania,
as well as the United Kingdom and Australia. See "Business Subsequent Events."

ITEM 3.  Legal Proceedings

          The Company is involved in various  lawsuits in the ordinary course of
its  business.  Although  the  outcome  of certain  of these  matters  cannot be
predicted, management believes, based upon information currently available, that
none of such lawsuits,  if adversely  determined,  would have a material adverse
effect on its financial position or results of operations.

ITEM 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

          The Company  did not submit any matters to a vote of security  holders
during the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997.


                                       12

<PAGE>



                                     PART II

ITEM 5.  Market  for the  Registrant's  Common  Equity and  Related  Stockholder
         Matters

          The Company's  common  stock,  no par value (the "Common  Stock"),  is
traded on the New York Stock  Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "SGR".  The
Company delisted the Common Stock from the Nasdaq National Market on October 17,
1996,  and the Common Stock  commenced  trading on the NYSE on October 18, 1996.
The following table sets forth, for the quarterly  periods  indicated,  the high
and low sale  prices per share for the Common  Stock as  reported  on the Nasdaq
National  Market  through  October 17, 1996,  and  thereafter as reported by the
NYSE,  for the Company's two most recent fiscal years and for the current fiscal
year to date.

                                                       High                Low
                                                       ----                ---
Fiscal year ended August 31, 1996
  First quarter                                      $10 3/32            $8 1/4
  Second quarter                                      16  3/8             8 3/4
  Third quarter                                       20  5/8            14 1/4
  Fourth quarter                                        331/2            15 3/8

Fiscal year ended August 31, 1997
  First quarter                                      $37  --            $21 7/8
  Second quarter                                       26 3/4            18 5/8
  Third quarter                                        23 3/4            12 1/2
  Fourth quarter                                       22 1/4            15 3/4

Fiscal year ending August 31, 1998
  First quarter (through November 19, 1997)           $24 1/4           $17 3/4

          The closing sale price of the Common  Stock on November  19, 1997,  as
reported  on the NYSE,  was $22 11/16 per share.  As of  November  3, 1997,  the
Company had approximately 3,600 shareholders of record.

          The  Company  has not paid  any  dividends  on the  Common  Stock  and
currently  anticipates  that, for the foreseeable  future,  any earnings will be
retained  for  the  development  of  the  Company's  business.  Accordingly,  no
dividends  are  expected  to be  declared  or paid on the  Common  Stock for the
foreseeable  future.  The  declaration  of dividends is at the discretion of the
Company's Board of Directors.  The Company's dividend policy will be reviewed by
the Board of  Directors  at such future time as may be  appropriate  in light of
relevant  factors  at the time;  however,  the  Company  is  subject  to certain
prohibitions  on the payment of  dividends  under the terms of  existing  credit
facilities.

ITEM 6.  Selected Consolidated Financial Data

          The  following  table  presents,  for the  periods and as of the dates
indicated,  selected  statement  of income  data and  balance  sheet data of the
Company on a consolidated basis. The selected historical  consolidated financial
data for each of the three  fiscal  years in the period  ended  August 31,  1997
presented  below  have been  derived  from the  Company's  audited  consolidated
financial  statements.  Such  data  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the
Consolidated

                                       13

<PAGE>



Financial Statements of the Company and related notes thereto included elsewhere
in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations".

<TABLE>


<CAPTION>
                                                                         YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31,
                                                      -------------------------------------------------------------

                                                       1993(1)      1994(1)(4)  1995(1)(5)   1996(1)(6)    1997(7)
                                                               (in thousands, except per share amounts)
Consolidated Statements of Income
<S>                                                   <C>           <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>

Sales                                                 $130,209      $131,145    $156,922     $249,358      $338,350
                                                      ========      ========    ========     ========      ========

Income before
   extraordinary
   item                                               $  3,458      $  3,236    $  3,912     $  6,617      $ 14,048
                                                      ========      ========    ========     ========      ========

Net income (3)                                        $  3,458      $  3,606    $  4,403     $  6,617      $ 14,048
                                                      ========      ========    ========     ========      ========

Earnings per
   common share
   (2) - Income
   before extra-
   ordinary item                                      $    .49      $    .40    $    .44     $    .68      $   1.21
                                                      ========      ========    ========     ========      ========

   Net income (2)                                     $    .49      $    .45    $    .49     $    .68      $   1.21
                                                      ========      ========    ========     ========      ========

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Total assets                                          $ 76,865      $105,454    $121,084     $218,503      $262,459
                                                      ========      ========    ========     ========      ========

Long-term debt
   and lease
   obligations,
   net of current
   maturities                                         $ 13,757      $  7,906    $ 11,718     $ 36,840      $ 39,039
                                                      ========      ========    ========     ========      ========

Cash dividends declared per common share              $      0      $      0    $      0     $      0      $      0
                                                      ========     =========    ========     ========      ========
</TABLE>

(1)  Restated to account for the acquisition of NAPTech,  which was completed on
     January   27,   1997,    and   which   was    accounted   for   using   the
     pooling-of-interests method.

(2)  In connection  with the initial  public  offering of the  Company's  common
     stock,   the   Company's   shareholders   ap  proved  a  stock   split  and
     recapitalization on December 6, 1993 which caused the number of outstanding
     shares to increase  from 4,567.5 to 5,602,000.  For 1993 and 1994,  the per
     share data have been adjusted to give effect to the stock split.

(3)  Includes extraordinary gains of $370,000 in 1994 and $491,000 in 1995.

(4) Includes the  acquisition of Fronek  Company,  Inc. and F.C.I.  Pipe Support
Sales, Inc. in 1994.

(5)  Includes the  acquisition  of the 50% interest of the other  participant in
     the Company's joint venture located in Venezuela in fiscal 1995. See Note 3
     in "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements."

                                       14

<PAGE>


(6)  Includes the  acquisitions of Word Industries  Pipe  Fabricating,  Inc. and
     certain affiliates  (collectively,  "Word") and Alloy Piping Products, Inc.
     ("APP")  in  1996.  See  Note  3  in  "Notes  to   Consolidated   Financial
     Statements."

(7) Includes the acquisitions of Pipe Shields, UCI and MERIT in 1997. See Note 3
    in "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements."

ITEM 7. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
        of Operations.

          The  following  analysis  of the  financial  condition  and results of
operations  of the  Company  should be read in  conjunction  with the  Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements, including the notes thereto.

Recent Acquisitions

          On December  15,  1994,  the Company  acquired the 50% interest of the
other  participant  in the  Shaw-Formiconi  joint venture  located in Venezuela,
together with the concurrent  acquisition  of certain land,  buildings and other
assets used by the venture.  The total amount of the purchase  price  related to
this  acquisition,  including the selling  participant's  share of joint venture
profits,  was approximately $2.9 million.  The Company had previously  accounted
for its investment in the joint venture as an  unconsolidated  subsidiary  under
the equity  method.  Since  December  15, 1994,  the  Venezuelan  operation  has
operated  as a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  and  is  included  as a  consolidated
subsidiary in the Company's consolidated statements since that date. See Notes 3
and 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

          On January 16, 1996, the Company  purchased certain assets and assumed
certain  liabilities of Word, TS&M  Corporation and T.N. Word and certain of Mr.
Word's  family  members.   The  acquisition  of  Word  increased  the  Company's
production capacity and added a facility in Tulsa,  Oklahoma. The total purchase
price related to the acquisition was approximately  $4.2 million,  consisting of
the  issuance of 385,000  shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock valued at $3.4
million  and  cash  of  approximately  $750,000.  See  Note  3 of the  Notes  to
Consolidated Financial Statements.

          Effective  March 1, 1996, the Company  acquired all of the outstanding
capital  stock  of APP,  a  leading  United  States  manufacturer  of  specialty
stainless and carbon steel pipe fittings and other stainless pipe products,  and
the  assets  of  an  APP-related  entity,  Speedline.  In  connection  with  the
acquisition of APP, the Company  issued  541,177 shares of the Company's  Common
Stock valued at $6.8 million and paid cash of $11.6  million.  See Note 3 of the
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

          Effective October 1, 1996, the Company acquired all of the outstanding
capital stock of Pipe Shields Incorporated ("Pipe Shields"),  an industrial pipe
insulation  company located in Vacaville,  California,  for  approximately  $2.5
million in cash, net of cash received.  See Note 3 of the Notes to  Consolidated
Financial Statements.

          On January 27, 1997, the Company  acquired (i) all of the  outstanding
stock of NAPTech, Inc., a fabricator of industrial piping systems and engineered
piping  modules  located in  Clearfield,  Utah, and (ii) the 335,000 square foot
facility  that  NAPTech,   Inc.  leased  from  a  related  entity  (collectively
"NAPTech").  In connection  with the  acquisition,  the Company  issued  432,881
shares of the Company's  Common Stock.  The  transaction was accounted for using
the  pooling-of-interests  method, and accordingly the financial information for
all periods presented has been restated to include the financial  information of
NAPTech. See Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

          Effective   February  1,  1997,  the  Company  purchased  all  of  the
outstanding   capital  stock  of  United  Crafts,   Inc.  (UCI),  an  industrial
construction and maintenance company based in Baton Rouge,  Louisiana,  for cash
of $8,000,000.
See Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

          On March 20, 1997, the Company,  through a newly-formed,  wholly-owned
subsidiary,  completed  the  purchase of certain  assets and the  assumption  of
certain  liabilities  of  MERIT  Industrial   Constructors,   Inc.  (MERIT),  an
industrial  construction and maintenance  firm based in Baton Rouge,  Louisiana,
and  certain of its  affiliates.  Total  consideration  paid by the  Company was
approximately  $1.6 million in cash, 62,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock
valued at $1.3  million,  options to  purchase  25,000  shares of the  Company's
Common Stock at $20.25 per share,  as well as the  assumption  of  approximately
$340,000 of debt. See Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


                                       15

<PAGE>



          As discussed in "Business - Subsequent  Events", in November 1997, the
Company purchased all of the captial stock or substantially all of the assets of
the principal  operating  businesses of Prospect for cash of approximately $15.8
million . This transaction was funded by drawing on the Company's revolving line
of credit.  For  Prospect's  year ended  September  30, 1996,  its most recently
published  audited  consolidated   financial   statements,   sales  amounted  to
approximately $138 million. Management of the Company believes that the Prospect
acquisition should result in a significant increase in sales for fiscal 1998.

Results of Operations

          General

          The  following  table  sets  forth,  for the  periods  indicated,  the
percentages  of the  Company's  sales  that  certain  income and  expense  items
represent.

                                                         Year Ended August 31,
                                                      ------------------------
                                                      1995      1996      1997
                                                      ----      ----      ----
Sales                                                100.0%    100.0%     100.0%
Cost of sales                                         83.3      83.9       81.1
                                                      ----      ----       ----
Gross profit                                          16.7      16.1       18.9
General and administrative expenses                   10.5      10.7       11.2
                                                     -----     -----      -----
Operating income                                       6.2       5.4        7.7
Interest expense                                      (2.2)     (1.9)      (2.0)
Other income, net                                      0.2       0.3        0.1
                                                     -----     -----      -----
Income before income taxes                             4.2       3.8        5.8
Provision for income taxes                             1.3       1.2        1.7
                                                     -----     -----      -----
Income before earnings (losses) from
  unconsolidated entities                              2.9       2.6        4.1
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated entities        (0.4)      0.1        0.1
                                                     ------    -----      -----
Income before extraordinary item                       2.5       2.7        4.2
Extraordinary item, less applicable income taxes       0.3      --           --
                                                     -----    ------      -----
Net income                                             2.8%      2.7%       4.2%
                                                     =====     =====       ====

          Fiscal 1997 Compared to Fiscal 1996

          Sales  increased  35.7% for fiscal 1997 to $338.4  million from $249.4
million for fiscal  1996.  Gross  profit  increased  59.7% to $64.1  million for
fiscal 1997 from $40.1 million for fiscal 1996. Approximately $68 million of the
increase relates to sales of newly-acquired subsidiaries,  including those owned
for only part of fiscal  1996.  The  remaining  increase  was due  primarily  to
increased sales for projects in the domestic  chemical and mining  sectors,  and
the foreign power sector, offset by a decrease in the domestic refining sector.

            The Company's sales by geographic region were as follows:

                                   Fiscal 1996                     Fiscal 1997
                        ---------------------------       ----------------------
                            (in millions)      %          (in millions)      %
                            -------------      -          -------------     ---
Geographic Region:
  U.S.A.                   $ 173.7            69.7%        $235.2          69.5%
  Far East/Pacific Rim        39.6            15.9           62.6          18.5
  Middle East                 21.4             8.6           12.8           3.8
  Latin America                2.6             1.0           18.4           5.4
  Europe                       9.0             3.6            4.1           1.2
  Other                        3.1             1.2            5.3           1.6
                            ------           ------        ------         ------
                            $249.4           100.0%        $338.4         100.0%
                            ======           ======        ======         ======


                                       16

<PAGE>



          The Company's sales by industry sector were as follows:

                                Fiscal 1996                   Fiscal 1997
                      -----------------------------   ------------------------
                        (in millions)      %          (in millions)         %
                        -------------     ---          -------------       ---
Industry Sector:
  Power                $  86.7            39.0%       $ 102.0            30.2%
  Refining                62.4            28.1           50.0            14.8
  Chemical                62.1            28.0          130.4            38.5
  Mining                   --              --            33.3             9.8
  Other                   10.8             4.9           22.7             6.7
                        ------           ------       --------          ------
                         222.0           100.0%       $ 338.4           100.0%
                                         ======       =======           ======
   Pooled Sales *         27.4
                        ------
                        $249.4
                        ======

     *  Sales  by  industry  sector  for the  pooled  entity,  NAPTech,  are not
available.

          Gross margins for fiscal 1997 increased to 18.9% from 16.1% for fiscal
1996.  This  increase was due  primarily to improved  profitability  on domestic
process projects, an increase in revenues from the power segment and an increase
in the sale of value-added services, such as engineering and design.

          General and  administrative  expenses for fiscal 1997 increased  $11.2
million  to  $37.9  million,  as  compared  to $26.7  million  in  fiscal  1996.
Approximately,   $5.6   million  of  the   increase   relates  to  general   and
administrative  expenses of newly-acquired  subsidiaries,  including those owned
for only part of fiscal  1996.  Additionally,  the Company  incurred  merger and
business  combination  costs of  approximately  $700,000  related to the NAPTech
acquisition,  which was  accounted  for using the  pooling-of-interests  method.
These  acquisition-related  costs are  included  in general  and  administrative
expenses for the year ended August 31, 1997. See Note 3 to Notes to Consolidated
Financial  Statements.  The  remaining  increase  in these  expenses  relate  to
variable costs associated with increased sales.

          Interest  expense for fiscal 1997 was $6.8 million,  up 40.5% from the
$4.8 million  incurred in fiscal  1996,  primarily  due to  increased  borrowing
resulting from the expansion of business and the  acquisitions  of Pipe Shields,
UCI and MERIT in 1997.

          The Company's effective tax rates for fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1996 were
30.6% and 31.9%, respectively. The decrease in the fiscal 1997 rates from fiscal
1996 was primarily due to state income tax incentives and refunds.  The majority
of these incentives and refunds will not be recurring;  however, the increase in
state income taxes should be  partially  offset by  additional  tax savings from
foreign sales.

          Fiscal 1996 Compared to Fiscal 1995

          Sales  increased  $92.5 million,  or 58.9%,  for fiscal 1996 to $249.4
million from $156.9 million for fiscal 1995.  This increase was due primarily to
increased sales for projects in the domestic  chemical and refinery  sectors and
the international  power sector, as well as to the acquisitions of Word and APP,
which contributed  approximately $15.6 million and $24.9 million,  respectively,
in sales from their respective dates of acquisition.



                                       17

<PAGE>



          The Company's sales by geographic region were as follows:

                                   Fiscal 1995                  Fiscal 1996
                           -----------------------      ------------------------
                           (in millions)      %         (in millions)        %
                           -------------     ---         -------------      ---
Geographic Region:
  U.S.A.                  $ 107.8            68.7%        $173.7           69.7%
  Far East/Pacific Rim       24.3            15.5           39.6           15.9
  Middle East                 4.2             2.7           21.4            8.6
  Latin America              20.5            13.1            2.6            1.0
  Europe                       --              --            9.0            3.6
  Other                       0.1             0.0            3.1            1.2
                           ------           -----         ------          -----
                           $156.9           100.0%        $249.4          100.0%
                           ======           =====         ======          =====

          The Company's sales by industry sector were as follows:

                                  Fiscal 1995                  Fiscal 1996
                      ---------------------------      -------------------------
                      (in millions)          %         (in millions)         %
                      -------------         ---         -------------       ---
Industry Sector:
  Power                  $  59.2            43.8%       $  86.7            39.0%
  Refining                  39.2            29.0           62.4            28.1
  Chemical                  33.5            24.7           62.1            28.0
  Other                      3.4             2.5           10.8             4.9
                        ---------         -------       --------         -------
                           135.3           100.0%         222.0           100.0%
                                          =======                        =======
   Pooled Sales *           21.6                           27.4
                        --------                       --------
                          $156.9                         $249.4
                        ========                       ========

     *  Sales  by  industry  sector  for the  pooled  entity,  NAPTech,  are not
available.

          The gross  margin for fiscal  1996  decreased  to 16.1% from 16.7% for
fiscal 1995.  The decrease is  attributable  primarily to the decreased  margins
generated  by NAPTech for fiscal  1996  compared to fiscal  1995.  In  addition,
during fiscal 1996,  the Company had a  substantial  decrease in sales and gross
profits from the Company's Venezuelan facility,  which historically had achieved
higher gross margin percentages than the Company's domestic subsidiaries.  These
factors contributing to the decline in gross margins were partially offset by an
increase in  international  projects with their generally higher profit margins,
improvement in pricing in the domestic market and contributions from the APP and
Word subsidiaries.

          General  and  administrative  expenses  were $26.7  million for fiscal
1996,  compared to $16.5 million for the prior year. The $10.2 million  increase
was due primarily to the integration of Word and APP into Shaw's business and to
the variable costs associated with the increased sales.

          Interest  expense for fiscal 1996 was $4.8 million,  up 39.2% from the
$3.5 million  incurred in fiscal  1995,  primarily  due to  increased  borrowing
resulting from the expansion of business,  billing delays,  and the acquisitions
of APP and Word in 1996.  Beginning in the fourth  quarter of fiscal  1995,  the
Company has benefitted  from new loan and security  agreements  with  commercial
lenders  and  insurance  companies,  as  well  as  an  industrial  revenue  bond
financing,  that reduced  overall  interest rates  applicable to the Company and
helped reduce the impact of the aforementioned increased borrowings.

          The Company's  effective tax rates for fiscal 1996 and 1995 were 31.9%
and 31.1%, respectively.  The increase in the fiscal 1996 tax rates, as compared
to the same period the prior year, was primarily due to an increased  proportion
of the  Company's  net  profit  in  the  domestic  market  due  in  part  to the
integration of APP and Word into the Company's operations.


                                       18

<PAGE>



Liquidity and Capital Resources

          Net cash  provided by  operations  was $7.6  million for fiscal  1997,
compared to net cash used in operations  of $22.0  million for fiscal 1996.  For
fiscal 1997, net cash was favorably  impacted by net income of $14.0 million and
additional   non-cash  activity  of  $9.3  million,   consisting   primarily  of
depreciation of $7.4 million.  Offsetting  these positive factors were increases
of $4.7 million in receivables  and $6.8 million in inventories and decreases of
$3.5 million in accrued liabilities and $3.4 million in advanced billings.

          The increase in  receivables  was primarily  attributable  to a higher
volume of sales  activity  for fiscal  1997.  Inventories  increased  due to the
procurement  of  material  for current and future  sales  activities,  which are
expected to exceed  historical levels based upon the Company's backlog at August
31, 1997 of  approximately  $253.0  million.  Accrued  liabilities  and advanced
billings  decreased  due to normal  operating  activities  and contract  billing
provisions.

          Net cash used in  investing  activities  was $28.4  million for fiscal
1997, compared to $26.0 million for fiscal 1997. During fiscal 1997, the Company
invested net cash of $2.5 million in  connection  with the  acquisition  of Pipe
Shields and net cash of $9.1 million in connection with the  acquisitions of UCI
and  MERIT.  See  Note 3 to  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.  In
addition,  the Company  purchased  $15.8  million of property  and  equipment in
fiscal 1997. Major property and equipment purchases include $4.3 million for two
pipe bending  machines,  $6.0 million of property and  equipment  purchases  and
improvements at APP, and $5.5 million of other property and equipment purchases.
In  addition,  the  Company  increased  its  investment  in  its  unconsolidated
subsidiary,  Shaw-Nass Middle East,  W.L.L.,  by $1.6 million in connection with
the joint venture's purchase of the building it had previously been leasing.

          Net cash provided by financing activities was $22.2 million for fiscal
1997,  compared to $51.1 million  provided in fiscal 1996.  For fiscal 1997, the
primary  source of cash was from the Company's  sale of 2,398,000  shares of its
Common Stock, which netted  approximately $47.4 million.  See Note 2 to Notes to
Consolidated  Financial  Statements.  The proceeds were used to pay down amounts
outstanding under the Company's revolving line of credit, which has been used to
provide  working  capital,  as  well  as to  fund  fixed  asset  and  subsidiary
acquisitions.  For  additional  information  on the Company's  revolving line of
credit, see Note 7 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  Additionally,
the Company borrowed $15.0 million in term loans,  approximately $6.0 million of
which  refinanced old debt. The principal new term loans are from two commercial
lenders and an insurance  company,  are secured by property and equipment,  have
maturity dates ranging from 2001 to 2007, and variable interest rates,  which at
August 31, 1997 ranged from 6.88% to 7.94%.

          The Company  believes  that its  current  financing  arrangements  are
sufficient to support its operations for the next twelve months.

Material Changes in Financial Condition

          The Company's  current  assets  increased by $21.4 million from $151.9
million at August 31, 1996 to $173.3  million at August 31,  1997.  The increase
resulted  primarily from  increases in accounts  receivable of $11.5 million and
increases in inventories of $7.4 million. Receivables increased primarily due to
increased sales levels and acquisitions, and inventories increased primarily due
to current and future production requirements. At August 31, 1997, approximately
$6.9 million of the receivables  were  attributable to the  acquisitions of Pipe
Shields and UCI.

          Property and equipment  increased by $19.1 million to $88.6 million at
August 31, 1997 from $69.5 million at August 31, 1996.  This  increase  resulted
primarily  from the $.3  million  of  property  and  equipment  acquired  in the
acquisition of Pipe Shields, the $3.8 million of property and equipment acquired
in the  acquisition  of UCI and MERIT,  the  purchase of two  induction  bending
machines  aggregating  $4.3 million,  $6.0 million in fixed asset  additions for
APP, and 4.7 million of other property and equipment purchases.

          Other assets  increased  from $6.7 million at August 31, 1996 to $14.8
million at August 31, 1997.  The increase was primarily  attributable  to fiscal
1997 acquisitions, which resulted in goodwill of approximately $8.2 million. See
Note 3 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


                                       19

<PAGE>



          The Company's current liabilities  decreased $23.6 million from $104.0
million at August 31, 1996 to $80.4  million at August 31, 1997.  This  decrease
was  primarily  due to the  reduction in the  revolving  line of credit of $23.6
million, which was paid down with the proceeds from the sale of 2,398,000 shares
of Common Stock. See Note 2 to Notes to Consolidated  Financial Statements.  The
revolving line of credit has been used to provide working capital, as well as to
fund fixed asset and subsidiary acquisitions.

Financial Accounting Standards Board Statements

          In December 1990, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106,
"Employer's Accounting for Post-Retirement  Benefits Other Than Pensions" ("SFAS
106"), was issued and required to be adopted by the Company no later than fiscal
1994. The Company  presently offers no  post-retirement  benefits which would be
required to be reflected in its financial statements by SFAS 106.

          In November 1992, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 112,
"Employer's  Accounting for  Post-Employment  Benefits" ("SFAS 112"), was issued
and required to be adopted by the Company no later than fiscal 1995. The Company
presently  offers no  post-employment  benefits  which  would be  required to be
reflected in its financial statements by SFAS 112.

          In   1995,   Statement   of   Financial   Accounting   Standards   No.
121--"Accounting  for Impairment of Long-Lived  Assets and for Long-Lived Assets
to be Disposed of" was issued and required to be adopted by the Company no later
than the fiscal year ending August 31, 1997.  The effect of adopting SFAS 121 on
the Company's financial statements taken as a whole was not material.

          Also  in  1995,   Statement  of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.
123--"Accounting  for Stock-Based  Compensation"  (the  "Statement")  was issued
which  establishes,  among other  things,  financial  accounting  and  reporting
standards for stock-based employee compensation plans. Entities may either adopt
a "fair value  based  method" of  accounting  for an  employee  stock  option as
defined by the Statement or may continue to use accounting methods as prescribed
by APB Opinion No.  25--"Accounting  for Stock  issued to  Employees."  Entities
electing to remain  with the  accounting  in APB Opinion No. 25 are  required to
make pro forma  disclosures  of net income and earnings per share as if the fair
value based method of accounting defined in the Statement had been applied.  The
Company  will  continue  to  follow  APB  Opinion  No.  25 and make  appropriate
disclosures  in  accordance  with  the  Statement.  See  Note  14  to  Notes  to
Consolidated Financial Statements.

          In February 1997,  Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128
- -- "Earnings Per Share" ("SFAS 128") was issued which establishes  standards for
computing and presenting earnings per share ("eps"). Under SFAS 128, primary eps
is replaced with basic eps. Basic eps is computed by dividing income  applicable
to common shares by the weighted average shares outstanding; no dilution for any
potentially  convertible  shares is included in the  calculation.  Fully diluted
eps,  now called  diluted eps, is still  required;  however,  when  applying the
treasury  stock method,  the average stock price is used rather than the greater
of the average or closing stock price for the period.  Under SFAS 128, basic eps
and diluted eps for the years ended August 31, 1995 and 1997 were not materially
different  from the eps reported by the  Company.  For the year ended August 31,
1996,  basic eps and  diluted eps was $.70 and $.68,  respectively.  SFAS 128 is
effective for financial  statements issued for periods ending after December 15,
1997.



                                       20

<PAGE>



ITEM 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


                                                                       Page
                                                                       ----


Report of Independent Public Accountants................................22

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 31, 1996 and 1997............. 23 - 24

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended
  August 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997........................................25

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years
  ended August 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997..................................26

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years
  ended August 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997..................................27 - 28

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..............................29 - 45





                                       21

<PAGE>



                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
  of The Shaw Group Inc.:

                  We have audited the accompanying  consolidated  balance sheets
of The Shaw Group Inc. (a Louisiana  corporation)  and subsidiaries as of August
31,  1996  and  1997,  and  the  related  consolidated   statements  of  income,
shareholders'  equity and cash  flows for each of the three  years in the period
ended August 31, 1997. These financial  statements are the responsibility of the
Company's  management.  Our  responsibility  is to  express  an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.

                  We conducted our audits in accordance with generally  accepted
auditing  standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable  assurance about whether the financial  statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting  the amounts and  disclosures in the financial  statements.  An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by  management,  as well as  evaluating  the  overall  financial  statement
presentation.  We believe  that our audits  provide a  reasonable  basis for our
opinion.

                  In our opinion,  the  financial  statements  referred to above
present fairly,  in all material  respects,  the financial  position of The Shaw
Group Inc. and  subsidiaries  as of August 31, 1996 and 1997, and the results of
their  operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended  August  31,  1997,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.

/s/  Arthur Andersen LLP                       /s/  Hannis T. Bourgeois, L.L.P.
- ------------------------                       --------------------------------
Arthur Andersen LLP                            Hannis T. Bourgeois, L.L.P.
New Orleans, Louisiana                         Baton Rouge, Louisiana

October 15, 1997
(Except  with  respect to matters  discussed in Note 17, as to which the date is
November 14, 1997)


                                       22

<PAGE>

<TABLE>


                                        THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                             CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                           As of August 31, 1996 and 1997
<CAPTION>

                                                                             1996                1997
                                                                             ----                ----

                                                       ASSETS
<S>                                                                     <C>                   <C>

Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                                             $  2,967,342          $ 4,357,494
  Accounts receivable, net--Notes 6 and 7                                 75,241,111           85,979,939
  Receivables from unconsolidated entities--Note 5                           700,479            1,453,098
  Inventories--Notes 4, 6  and 7                                          68,878,231           76,304,426
  Prepaid expenses                                                         2,440,503            2,351,897
  Deferred income taxes--Note 8                                            1,634,817            2,855,038
                                                                       -------------        -------------
         Total current assets                                            151,862,483          173,301,892

Investment in unconsolidated entities--Note 5                              1,920,880            4,004,736

Property and equipment--Notes 6 and 10:
  Transportation equipment                                                 4,685,200            4,984,130
  Furniture and fixtures                                                   6,155,724            8,455,791
  Machinery and equipment                                                 36,299,786           48,039,977
  Buildings and improvements                                              18,268,904           22,792,452
  Assets acquired under capital leases                                       896,677              317,512
  Land                                                                     3,201,626            3,973,118
                                                                        ------------         ------------
                                                                          69,507,917           88,562,980
Less: Accumulated depreciation (including amortization
  of assets acquired under capital leases)                               (12,065,574)         (18,235,529)
                                                                          ----------          ----------
                                                                          57,442,343           70,327,451

Note receivable from related party--Notes 3 and 15                           625,000               --

Other assets, net--Notes 3 and 15                                          6,652,738           14,825,212
                                                                        -------------        ------------
                                                                        $218,503,444         $262,459,291
                                                                        ============         ============

</TABLE>

                                   (Continued)



        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


                                       23

<PAGE>

<TABLE>


                                        THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                             CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                           As of August 31, 1996 and 1997

<CAPTION>

                                                                                 1996                1997
                                                                                 ----                ----

                                       LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
<S>                                                                      <C>                    <C>

Current liabilities:
  Outstanding checks in excess of bank balance                           $      3,104,746       $     691,111
  Accounts payable                                                             28,905,023          31,154,748
  Accrued liabilities                                                           9,412,963           8,544,778
  Current maturities of long-term debt--Note 6                                  4,865,038           6,366,407
  Revolving line of credit--Note 7                                             52,796,148          29,146,150
  Current portion of obligations under capital
    leases--Note 10                                                                68,143              26,448
  Deferred revenue--prebilled                                                   1,839,689           3,582,054
  Advanced billings                                                             2,990,631             833,817
                                                                            -------------        ------------
         Total current liabilities                                            103,982,381          80,345,513

Long-term debt, less current maturities--Note 6                                36,795,386          38,933,370

Obligations under capital leases, less current
  portion--Note 10                                                                 44,696             105,681

Deferred income taxes--Note 8                                                   1,635,702           5,260,056

Shareholders' equity--Notes 9 and 12:
  Preferred stock, no par value, 5,000,000 shares
    authorized, no shares issued and outstanding                                --                     --
  Common stock, no par value, 50,000,000 shares
    authorized; 16,619,099 and 19,151,309 shares
    issued in 1996 and 1997; 9,956,183 and 12,488,393
    shares outstanding in 1996 and 1997                                       56,849,127          104,869,788
  Retained earnings                                                           26,023,987           39,772,718
  Treasury stock, 6,662,916 shares                                            (6,827,835)          (6,827,835)
                                                                           --------------      ---------------
         Total shareholders' equity                                           76,045,279          137,814,671
                                                                            ------------         ------------
                                                                            $218,503,444         $262,459,291
                                                                            ============         ============

</TABLE>

        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


                                       24

<PAGE>


<TABLE>

                                        THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                 For the Years Ended August 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997
<CAPTION>

                                                        1995               1996                1997
                                                        ----               ----                ----
<S>                                                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>

Income:
  Sales                                             $156,921,769        $249,358,437        $338,350,179
  Cost of sales                                      130,714,344         209,210,668         274,234,257
                                                    ------------         -----------         -----------
Gross profit                                          26,207,425          40,147,769          64,115,922

General and administrative expenses                   16,459,916          26,679,302          37,881,198
                                                     -----------          ----------          ----------
         Operating income                              9,747,509          13,468,467          26,234,724

Interest expense                                      (3,465,454)         (4,823,336)         (6,777,544)
Other income, net                                        244,315             922,839             155,493
                                                     ------------          -----------        ----------
                                                      (3,221,139)         (3,900,497)         (6,622,051)
                                                     ------------         -----------         ----------

Income before income taxes                             6,526,370           9,567,970          19,612,673

Provision for income taxes--Note 8                     2,026,552           3,053,703           6,001,380
                                                     ------------        -----------          ----------

Income before earnings (losses) from
  unconsolidated entities                              4,499,818           6,514,267          13,611,293

Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated
  entities--Note 5                                      (587,569)            102,931             436,855
                                                     ------------        -----------        ------------

Income before extraordinary item                       3,912,249           6,617,198          14,048,148

Extraordinary item, less applicable
  income taxes of  $-0- in 1995--Note 6                  490,625              --                  --
                                                     -----------         ------------       ------------

  Net income                                         $ 4,402,874         $ 6,617,198        $ 14,048,148
                                                     ===========         ===========        ============

Earnings per common share--Note 12:
  Income before extraordinary item                   $       .44        $        .68        $       1.21
  Extraordinary item                                         .05            --                 --
                                                     -----------        ------------        ------------
  Net income                                         $       .49        $        .68        $       1.21
                                                     ===========        ============        ============

</TABLE>

        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.



                                       25

<PAGE>


<TABLE>

                                        THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                 For the Years Ended August 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997



                                              Common Stock                   Treasury Stock                             Total
                                              ------------                   --------------             Retained     Shareholders'
                                        Shares           Amount          Shares          Amount         Earnings        Equity
                                        ------           ------          ------          ------         --------        ------
<S>                                   <C>            <C>               <C>           <C>              <C>               <C>

Balance, September 1, 1994            15,319,577     $41,863,719       6,662,916     $(6,827,835)     $16,034,854      $51,070,738
  Net income                              --              --               --              --           4,402,874        4,402,874
  Pooled entity:
    Share sale                           193,555       2,699,283           --              --               --           2,699,283
    Dividend                              --              --               --              --            (125,000)        (125,000)
    Conversion of note payable,
    redeemable preferred stock 
    and cumulative redeemable
    preferred stock dividends to
    common stock                          93,792       1,307,999           --              --               --           1,307,999
                                      ----------      ----------       ---------      ----------       ----------       ----------
Balance, August 31, 1995              15,606,924      45,871,001       6,662,916      (6,827,835)      20,312,728       59,355,894
  Net income                              --              --               --              --           6,617,198        6,617,198
  Shares issued to acquire
  Word-- Note 3                          385,000       3,401,900           --              --               --           3,401,900
  Shares issued to acquire
  APP--Note 3                            541,177       6,724,712           --              --               --           6,724,712
  Exercise of options                     45,125         281,514           --              --               --             281,514
  Pooled entity:
      Net loss not included in
      reporting period--Note 3            --              --               --              --            (905,939)        (905,939)
      Share sale                          40,873         570,000           --              --               --             570,000
                                      ----------      ----------       ---------      ----------       ----------       ---------- 
Balance, August 31, 1996              16,619,099      56,849,127       6,662,916      (6,827,835)      26,023,987       76,045,279
  Net Income                            --                --               --              --          14,048,148       14,048,148
  Shares issued in public offering
     --Note                            2,398,000      46,985,442           --              --               --          46,985,442
  Shares issued to acquire certain 
     assets of MERIT Industrial
     Constructors, Inc. and certain
     of its affiliates--Note 3            62,500       1,265,625           --              --               --           1,265,625
  Exercise of options                     71,710         433,400           --              --               --             433,400
  Pooled entity:
   Purchase of treasury stock             --            (663,806)          --              --               --            (663,806)
   Distributions to members of     
     Freeport Properties, L.C.            --              --               --              --            (167,804)        (167,804)
   Net loss not included in 
     reporting period--Note 3             --              --               --              --            (131,613)        (131,613)
                                      ----------    ------------       ---------     ------------     -----------     ------------ 
                                      19,151,309    $104,869,788       6,662,916     $(6,827,835)     $39,772,718     $137,814,671
                                      ==========    ============       =========     ============     ===========     ============

</TABLE>









        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.




                                       26

<PAGE>

<TABLE>


                                              THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                             CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                       For the Years Ended August 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997
<CAPTION>

                                                                 1995                 1996               1997
                                                                 ----                 ----               ----
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>                 <C>

Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                                  $ 4,402,874         $ 6,617,198        $14,048,148
  Net loss not included in reporting period - Note 3           --                   ( 905,939)         ( 131,613)
  Adjustments to reconcile net income
    to net cash provided by (used in)
    operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                               2,982,056           4,992,087          7,358,013
    Provision (benefit) for deferred
      income taxes                                                871,559          (2,802,430)         2,230,551
    (Earnings) losses from unconsolidated
      entities                                                    663,569            (102,931)          (436,855)
    Translation loss                                             --                   863,822              6,449
    Gain on sale of marketable securities                        --                  (855,047)           --
    Other                                                        (301,781)           (251,170)           289,903
 Changes in assets and liabilities,
    net of effects of acquisitions:
    (Increase) in receivables                                  (9,016,718)        (16,658,477)        (4,665,546)
    (Increase) in inventories                                  (4,206,489)        (19,337,381)        (6,779,214)
    (Increase) decrease in other current
      assets                                                      (76,666)         (1,479,433)           257,249
    (Increase) decrease in other assets                        (1,004,108)           (851,173)           311,851
    Increase in accounts payable                                6,597,886           9,305,533            274,046
    Increase in deferred
      revenue--prebilled                                          156,014             937,685          1,742,365
    Increase (decrease) in accrued
      liabilities                                                 663,406          (2,295,054)        (3,467,096)
    Increase (decrease) in advanced billings                    2,135,820             854,811         (3,433,726)
                                                         ----------------      --------------       -------------
Net cash provided by (used in)
    operating activities                                        3,867,422         (21,967,899)         7,604,525

Cash flows from investing activities:
  Investment in unconsolidated entities                          (381,678)             95,513         (1,647,001)
  Investment in subsidiaries, net of
    cash received                                                (482,243)         (9,516,276)       (11,651,076)
  Proceeds from sale of property and
    equipment                                                      70,285           1,702,573            621,786
  Purchase of property and equipment                           (5,810,465)        (18,478,171)       (15,831,691)
  Purchase of marketable securities                              (269,351)         (1,433,143)           --
  Cash transferred from escrow fund                             1,295,000            --                  --
  Purchase of other assets                                         (7,596)           --                  --
  Proceeds from sale of marketable
    securities                                                  1,694,070           2,288,190             --
  Payment (issuance) of note receivable to a
    related party                                               --                   (625,000)            86,770
                                                        -----------------     ----------------    --------------
Net cash used in investing activities                          (3,891,978)        (25,966,314)       (28,421,212)


                                   (Continued)

        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       27

<PAGE>



                                                                  1995                1996              1997
                                                                  ----                ----              ----
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Net proceeds (repayments) from
    revolving credit agreement                                 (9,534,617)         31,440,326        (23,889,998)
  Proceeds from issuance of debt                               13,786,912          22,244,181         15,030,863
  Repayment of debt and leases                                 (5,779,974)         (5,787,667)       (13,107,381)
  Dividend from pooled entity                                    (105,000)          --                 --
  Increase (decrease) in outstanding
    checks in excess of bank balance                              380,734           2,323,561         (2,413,635)
  Distributions to members of Freeport Properties, L.C.           --                --                  (167,804)
  Purchase of treasury stock                                      --                --                  (663,806)
  Issue common stock                                            1,330,883             851,514         47,418,842
                                                                ---------         -----------        -----------
 Net cash provided by financing activities                         78,938          51,071,915         22,207,081
  Effects of exchange rate changes
    on cash                                                       --                 (954,143)              (242)
                                                              -----------         ------------       ------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash                                    54,382           2,183,559          1,390,152

Cash and cash equivalents--beginning
  of year                                                         729,401             783,783          2,967,342
                                                              -----------         -----------       ------------
Cash and cash equivalents--end of year                        $   783,783         $ 2,967,342        $ 4,357,494
                                                              ===========         ===========        ===========

Supplemental disclosures:

Cash payments for:
  Interest                                                    $ 3,467,508         $ 4,865,283        $ 6,662,860
                                                              ===========         ===========        ===========
  Income taxes (refund)                                       $(2,370,260)        $ 7,712,620        $ 5,784,084
                                                              ============        ===========        ===========

Noncash investing and financing activities:
  Property and equipment acquired through
    issuance of debt                                          $   104,963        $     15,300      $      83,481
                                                              ===========        ============      =============
  Investment in subsidiaries acquired
    through issuance of common stock                          $    --            $ 10,126,612      $   1,265,625
                                                              ===========        ============      =============
  Investment in unconsolidated entities
    through reduction in receivables                          $ 1,015,000        $     89,014      $     --
                                                              ===========        ============      =============
  Property and equipment acquired through
    recovery of investment in
    unconsolidated subsidiary                                 $ 1,075,300        $     -           $      --
                                                              ===========        ============      =============
  Other current assets acquired through issuance
    of debt                                                   $    --            $  2,131,515      $     134,327
                                                              ===========        ============      =============
  Conversion of note payable, contract payable, redeemable
   preferred stock and cumulative preferred stock dividends
   to common stock                                            $ 2,676,399        $     --          $     --
                                                              ===========        ============      =============
  Purchase of inventory and payment of liabilities through
   cancellation of notes receivable to a related party        $   --             $     --          $     538,230
                                                              ===========        ============      =============
</TABLE>

        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       28

<PAGE>



                      THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1--Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 Principles of Consolidation

         The consolidated  financial statements include the accounts of The Shaw
Group Inc. (a Louisiana  corporation)  and its  wholly-owned  subsidiaries  (the
Company).   All  material  intercompany  accounts  and  transactions  have  been
eliminated in these  financial  statements.  The financial  statements have been
restated to include the  accounts of the  acquisition  of an entity (See Note 3)
which was accounted for using the pooling-of-interests method.

         The  preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions  that  affect the  reported  amounts of assets and  liabilities  and
disclosure of  contingent  assets and  liabilities  at the date of the financial
statements  and the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 Nature of Operations

         The  Company  is a  supplier  of  industrial  piping  systems  for  new
construction and retrofit projects throughout the world, primarily for customers
in the electric  power,  refining and chemical  industries.  The Company  offers
comprehensive  design  and  engineering  services,  piping  system  fabrication,
industrial  construction  and maintenance  services,  manufacturing  and sale of
speciality pipe fittings and design and fabrication of pipe support systems. The
Company's  operations are conducted  through nine  fabrication  facilities,  two
engineering offices, one manufacturing facility, one pipe insulation company and
one industrial construction and maintenance company.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

         For purposes of reporting  cash flows,  all highly  liquid  investments
with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are cash equivalents.  At
August 31,  1996 and 1997,  the Company  included  in cash and cash  equivalents
approximately $1,100,000, the proceeds of which came from industrial development
bond financing. These funds are required to be invested in short-term marketable
securities until used for other capital improvements.

Accounts Receivable and Credit Risk

         The Company's customers include major  multi-national  construction and
engineering firms and industrial corporations.  Work is performed under contract
and the Company  believes  that its credit risk is minimal.  The Company  grants
short-term credit to its customers.

         The Company has  established  an allowance  for  doubtful  accounts and
contract  adjustments.  The reserve  balances as of August 31, 1996 and 1997 are
approximately $2,500,000 and $2,800,000, respectively. Charges to this allowance
were not material during fiscal 1996 and 1997.

Inventories

         Inventories  are  stated  at the  lower  of  cost  or  market.  Cost is
determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost method in 1996 and 1997 and
the average cost method in 1995.  The effect of changing from the average to the
FIFO cost method during 1996 was not material.


                                       29

<PAGE>



 Work in Process

         Work  in  process  includes  primarily  the  costs  accumulated  in the
fabrication process for units only partially completed.

  Property and Equipment

         Property and equipment is recorded at cost.  Additions and improvements
are  capitalized.  Maintenance  and  repair  expenses  are  charged to income as
incurred. The cost of property sold or otherwise disposed of and the accumulated
depreciation  thereon are eliminated  from the property and related  accumulated
depreciation accounts, and any gain or loss is credited or charged to income.

         For financial reporting purposes, depreciation is provided by utilizing
the straight-line method over the following estimated useful service lives:

         Transportation Equipment                         5-15 Years
         Furniture and Fixtures                           3-7   Years
         Machinery and Equipment                          3-18 Years
         Buildings and Improvements                       8-40 Years

  Income Taxes

         The  Company  provides  for  deferred  taxes in  accordance  with  FASB
Statement  109,  which  requires an asset and  liability  approach for measuring
deferred tax assets and  liabilities  due to temporary  differences  existing at
year end using currently enacted tax rates.

  Revenues

         Revenue on  fabrication  contracts  is  generally  recognized  upon the
completion  of an individual  spool of  production.  A spool  consists of piping
materials and associated shop labor to form a  pre-fabricated  unit according to
contract specifications. During the fabrication process, all direct and indirect
costs  related to the  fabrication  process are  capitalized  as work in process
inventory.  Capitalized  costs are charged to earnings  upon  completion  of the
fabrication  process for each spool.  Spools are  generally  shipped to job site
locations when complete.

         The Company  also  contracts  with  certain  customers on a fixed price
basis.  Revenue is  recognized  as spools  are  completed.  Costs and  estimated
earnings  in  excess  of  billings  included  in  accounts   receivable  totaled
$14,126,120  and  $14,425,846  for the years  ended  August  31,  1996 and 1997,
respectively.  Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings for both years
are recorded as advance billings.

         Profit related to prebilled materials is deferred until the fabrication
of the spools is completed.

  Intangible Assets

         Intangible  assets  represent  the  excess  of the  purchase  price  of
acquisitions  over the fair value of the net assets acquired.  Such excess costs
are being  amortized on a  straight-line  basis over a twenty year  period.  The
Company  periodically  assesses the  recoverability  of the unamortized  balance
based on expected future profitability and undiscounted future cash flows of the
acquisitions and their contribution to the overall operation of the Company.

  Financial Instruments, Forward Contracts - Non-Trading Activities

         The Company utilizes  forward foreign  exchange  contracts to hedge the
anticipated  purchases  and sales of certain  pipe bending  machines.  Financial
instruments  are  designated  as a hedge at  inception  where  there is a direct
relationship to

                                       30

<PAGE>



the price risk associated with the Company's future sales and purchases.  Hedges
of  anticipated  transactions  are accounted for under the deferral  method with
gains and losses on these  transactions  recognized  in revenues when the hedged
transaction  occurs.  Gains and losses on the early  termination  or maturity of
forward contracts  designated as hedges are deferred and included in revenues in
the period the hedged  transaction is recorded.  If the direct  relationship  to
price risk ceases to exist,  the difference in the carrying value and fair value
of a forward  contract is recognized as a gain or loss in revenues in the period
the direct  relationship  ceases to exist.  Future  changes in fair value of the
forward  contract are recognized as gains or losses in revenues in the period of
change.

 Reclassifications

         Certain  reclassifications have been made to the prior year's financial
statements in order to conform to current reporting practices.

  New Accounting Standards

         In   1995,    Statement   of   Financial   Accounting   Standards   No.
121--"Accounting  for Impairment of Long-Lived  Assets and for Long-Lived Assets
to be  Disposed  of" ("SFAS  121") was issued and  required to be adopted by the
Company no later than the fiscal  year  ending  August 31,  1997.  The effect of
adopting SFAS 121 on the Company's financial statements taken as a whole was not
material.

         Also  in  1995,   Statement  of  Financial   Accounting  Standards  No.
123--"Accounting  for Stock-Based  Compensation"  (the  "Statement")  was issued
which  establishes,  among other  things,  financial  accounting  and  reporting
standards for stock-based employee compensation plans. Entities may either adopt
a "fair value  based  method" of  accounting  for an  employee  stock  option as
defined by the Statement or may continue to use accounting methods as prescribed
by APB Opinion No.  25--"Accounting  for Stock  issued to  Employees."  Entities
electing to remain  with the  accounting  in APB Opinion No. 25 are  required to
make pro forma  disclosures  of net income and earnings per share as if the fair
value based method of accounting defined in the Statement had been applied.  The
Company  will  continue  to  follow  APB  Opinion  No.  25 and make  appropriate
disclosures  in  accordance  with  the  Statement.  See  Note  14  to  Notes  to
Consolidated Financial Statements.

         In February 1997,  Statement of Financial  Accounting Standards No. 128
- -- "Earnings Per Share" ("SFAS 128") was issued which establishes  standards for
computing and presenting earnings per share ("eps"). Under SFAS 128, primary eps
is replaced with basic eps. Basic eps is computed by dividing income  applicable
to common shares by the weighted average shares outstanding; no dilution for any
potentially  convertible  shares is included in the  calculation.  Fully diluted
eps,  now called  diluted eps, is still  required;  however,  when  applying the
treasury  stock method,  the average stock price is used rather than the greater
of the average or closing stock price for the period.  Under SFAS 128, basic eps
and diluted eps for the years ended August 31, 1995 and 1997 were not materially
different  from the eps reported by the  Company.  For the year ended August 31,
1996,  basic eps and  diluted eps was $.70 and $.68,  respectively.  SFAS 128 is
effective for financial  statements issued for periods ending after December 15,
1997.

Note 2--Public Offering of Common Stock

         On December 23, 1996, the Company  closed the sale of 2,000,000  shares
of its common  stock,  no par value (the  "Common  Stock"),  in an  underwritten
public offering at a price of $21.00 per share less  underwriting  discounts and
commissions.  On January 10, 1997, the underwriters for such offering  exercised
an option to  purchase an  additional  398,000  shares of Common  Stock from the
Company pursuant to such terms to cover over-allotments. The net proceeds to the
Company, less underwriting discounts and other expenses of the offering, totaled
approximately  $47 million and were used to pay down amounts  outstanding  under
the Company's  revolving line of credit. The Company's  revolving line of credit
has been used to provide  working  capital,  as well as to fund fixed  asset and
subsidiary acquisitions.


                                       31

<PAGE>



Note 3--Acquisitions

         On December  15,  1994,  the Company  acquired  the 50% interest of the
other  participant  in the  Shaw-Formiconi  joint venture  located in Venezuela,
together with the concurrent  acquisition  of certain land,  buildings and other
assets used by the venture.  The total amount of the purchase  price  related to
this  acquisition,  including the selling  participant's  share of joint venture
profits, was approximately  $2,900,000.  The purchase method was used to account
for the  acquisition.  The $926,825 of excess cost over the estimated fair value
of the assets  acquired,  which is included in other assets,  is being amortized
over twenty years using the straight-line  method.  The name of the wholly-owned
continuing entity is Manufacturas Shaw South America, C.A.

         On  January  16,  1996,  the  Company's   newly  formed,   wholly-owned
subsidiary,  Word Industries  Fabricators,  Inc.,  purchased  certain assets and
assumed certain liabilities from Word Industries Pipe Fabricating,  Inc. (WIPF),
TS&M Corporation and T.N. Word and certain of his family members  (collectively,
"Word"). The acquisition was completed through the issuance of 385,000 shares of
the  Company's   common  stock  valued  at  $3,442,000  and  cash  of  $503,000.
Acquisition costs of $246,000 were incurred by the Company.  The purchase method
was used to account for the  acquisition.  The purchase price has been allocated
to the estimated fair value of assets  acquired and  liabilities  assumed at the
date of acquisition as follows:

         Property and Equipment                                     $5,405,000
         Notes Payable                                                (294,000)
         Accrued Liabilities                                          (306,000)
         Deferred Income Taxes                                        (614,000)
                                                                      ---------
         Purchase Price                                             $4,191,000
                                                                    ==========

         The operating  results of Word have been  included in the  consolidated
statements of income from the date of acquisition.

         In addition to the transactions  described above, the Company agreed to
loan WIPF an aggregate of $1,725,000  pursuant to two separate loan  agreements,
each dated as of January 15,  1996,  one in the amount of $625,000 and the other
in the amount of $1,100,000.  The $625,000 loan was funded, but has been paid by
WIPF. As of August 31, 1997, the $1,100,000 loan is no longer available to WIPF.

         Effective  March 1, 1996, the Company  purchased all of the outstanding
capital stock of Alloy Piping Products,  Inc. (APP), a leading U.S. manufacturer
of specialty  stainless and carbon steel pipe fittings and other  stainless pipe
products,  and the  assets of an  APP-related  entity,  Speedline,  a  Louisiana
partnership  (Speedline).  The acquisition was completed through the issuance of
541,177  shares of the Company's  common stock valued at $6,765,000  and cash of
$11,280,000.  Acquisition  costs of $366,000 were  incurred by the Company.  The
purchase method was used to account for the acquisitions. The purchase price has
been allocated to the estimated fair value of assets  purchased and  liabilities
assumed at the date of acquisition as follows:

         Accounts Receivable                                       $ 6,751,000
         Inventory                                                  16,175,000
         Other Current Assets                                          268,000
         Property and Equipment                                     13,001,000
         Other Assets                                                  222,000
         Revolving Line of Credit                                   (4,855,000)
         Notes Payable                                              (5,789,000)
         Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities                   (8,117,000)
         Deferred Income Taxes                                      (2,205,000)
                                                                   -----------
         Purchase price (net of cash received of $2,960,000)       $15,451,000
                                                                   ===========

         The  operating  results of APP have been  included in the  consolidated
statements of income from the effective date of acquisition.

                                       32

<PAGE>

         In addition,  in connection  with the Company's  acquisition of APP and
Speedline,  options to acquire an  aggregate of 85,000  shares of the  Company's
Common Stock at an exercise  price of $19.50 per share were issued.  The options
are  exercisable  in 25% increments on each April 5, 1997,  1998,  1999 and 2000
based upon continued  employment of the recipients by the Company. At August 31,
1997, options to acquire 35,000 of these shares remain outstanding.

         Effective  October 1, 1996, the Company acquired all of the outstanding
capital stock of Pipe Shields  Incorporated  (Pipe Shields),  an industrial pipe
insulation  company located in Vacaville,  California,  for  approximately  $2.5
million in cash, net of cash received.  The purchase  method was used to account
for the  acquisition.  The excess of cost over the  estimated  fair value of the
assets  acquired  was  approximately  $2.1  million,  which is included in other
assets  and is being  amortized  on a  straight-line  basis  over 20 years.  The
operating  results  of Pipe  Shields  have  been  included  in the  consolidated
statements of income of the Company from the effective date of the  acquisition.
The pro-forma  effect of the  acquisition  of Pipe  Shields,  had it occurred on
September 1, 1994, is not material to the operations of the Company.

         On January 27, 1997, the Company  completed the acquisition of NAPTech,
Inc., a fabricator of industrial  piping systems and  engineered  piping modules
located in  Clearfield,  Utah.  The Company  issued 432,881 shares of its Common
Stock in exchange for NAPTech,  Inc. and the 335,000  square foot  facility that
NAPTech,  Inc.  had leased  from a related  entity,  Freeport  Properties,  L.C.
(Freeport).  The  acquisition  was accounted for using the  pooling-of-interests
method;  accordingly,  the Company's financial information for all prior periods
presented herein has been restated to include financial  information of NAPTech,
Inc. and Freeport,  (collectively,  "NAPTech"). Summarized results of operations
of the separate  companies for the period from September 1, 1996 through January
27, 1997, the date of acquisition, are as follows:

                                              Shaw                 NAPTech
                                              ----                 -------
         Sales                             $106,555,000         $24,482,000
                                           ============         ===========
         Net Income                        $  2,505,000         $   584,000
                                           ============         ===========

         Net income of the combined  companies  for the fiscal year ended August
31,  1997 has been  reduced by  approximately  $700,000  of merger and  business
combination costs of the NAPTech acquisition.

         Because the fiscal  periods of the  Company  and  NAPTech  were not the
same,  NAPTech  financial  statements  for the 1995 fiscal year consisted of the
twelve months ended March 31, 1995. The 1996 fiscal year financial statements of
NAPTech  were recast from the twelve  months  ended March 31, 1996 to the twelve
months ended June 30,  1996.  The 1997 fiscal year of NAPTech is the same as the
Company's.  As a result,  the  following  sales and losses of NAPTech  have been
excluded from the respective statements of income:

        Fiscal Period           Months excluded            Sales      Net Losses
        --------------    -------------------------      ----------   ----------
          1996            April, May and June, 1995      $3,811,000   $906,000
          1997            July and August, 1996          $5,194,000   $132,000

   The  following  is a  reconciliation  of the  amounts  of sales and net
income previously  reported (in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended August 31, 1996) to the restated financial  information for all prior
periods presented herein:

                                             Year Ended          Year Ended
                                            August 31, 1995     August 31, 1996
                                            ---------------     ---------------
Sales
As previously reported                       $135,264,643        $222,017,437
NAPTech                                        21,657,126          27,341,000
                                             ------------        ------------
As restated                                  $156,921,769        $249,358,437
                                             ============        ============

Net Income
As previously reported                       $  4,266,045        $  8,776,498
NAPTech                                           136,829         ( 2,159,300)
                                             ------------        ------------
As restated                                  $  4,402,874        $  6,617,198
                                             ============        ============

                                       33

<PAGE>



           Effective  February  1,  1997,  the  Company  purchased  all  of  the
outstanding   capital  stock  of  United  Crafts,   Inc.  (UCI),  an  industrial
construction and maintenance company based in Baton Rouge,  Louisiana,  for cash
of $8,000,000.  Acquisition costs of approximately $192,000 were incurred by the
Company. The purchase method was used to account for the acquisition. The excess
of cost over the  estimated  fair value of the assets  acquired was  $4,770,000,
which is  included in other  assets and is being  amortized  on a  straight-line
basis over 20 years.  The estimated fair value of the assets and  liabilities of
UCI as of February 1, 1997 are as follows:

               Accounts Receivable                                   $6,040,000
               Property and Equipment                                 2,992,000
               Other Assets                                           4,832,000
               Accounts Payable & Accrued Liabilities                (3,502,000)
               Advance Billings                                      (1,277,000)
               Notes Payable                                         (1,101,000)
               Deferred Income Taxes                                   (146,000)
                                                                     ----------
               Purchase Price (net of cash received of $354,000)     $7,838,000
                                                                     ==========

       The  operating  results  of UCI have been  included  in the  consolidated
statements of income from the effective date of the acquisition.

       On March 20, 1997,  the  Company,  through a  newly-formed,  wholly-owned
subsidiary,  completed  the  purchase of certain  assets and the  assumption  of
certain  liabilities  of  MERIT  Industrial   Constructors,   Inc.  (MERIT),  an
industrial  construction and maintenance  firm based in Baton Rouge,  Louisiana,
and  certain of its  affiliates.  Total  consideration  paid by the  Company was
approximately $1.3 million in cash (including  acquisition costs), 62,500 shares
of the Company's Common Stock valued at $1.3 million, options to purchase 25,000
shares  of the  Company's  Common  Stock at  $20.25  per  share,  as well as the
assumption of  approximately  $340,000 of debt. The purchase  method was used to
account for the acquisition. The excess of cost over the estimated fair value of
the assets  acquired  was  $1,290,000,  which is included in other assets and is
being amortized on a straight-line  basis over 20 years.  The operating  results
related to the  acquired  MERIT  assets have been  included in the  consolidated
statements of income from the date of the  acquisition.  The pro-forma effect of
the  acquisition  of the MERIT assets,  had it occurred on September 1, 1994, is
not material to the operations of the Company.

       The following  summarized  unaudited  income  statement data reflects the
impact the above acquisitions  accounted for as a purchase would have had on the
Company's  results of operations if the Word, APP and UCI acquisitions had taken
place on September 1, 1994:

                       Unaudited Pro-forma Results for the Year Ended August 31,
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
                                   1995              1996                1997
                                   ----              ----                ----

 Gross revenue                 $258,508,000      $322,379,000       $353,385,000
                               ============      ============       ============
 Net income                    $  7,830,000      $  6,964,000       $ 14,238,000
                               ============      ============       ============
 Earnings per common share     $      0 .79      $       0.68       $       1.22
                               ============      ============       ============

Note 4--Inventories

         The major components of inventories consist of the following:

                                                        August 31,
                                             --------------------------------
                                                  1996                1997
                                                  ----                ----

         Finished Goods                      $ 23,138,238         $29,027,556
         Raw Materials                         34,241,467          35,256,732
         Work In Process                       11,498,526          12,020,138
                                              -----------         -----------
                                              $68,878,231         $76,304,426
                                              ===========         ===========  

                                       34

<PAGE>




Note 5--Investment in Unconsolidated Entities

         During the years ended August 31, 1995 and 1997,  the Company  invested
$1,880,000 and $1,647,000,  respectively in Shaw-Nass Middle East,  W.L.L.,  the
Company's Bahrain joint venture ("Shaw-Nass"). There was no investment in fiscal
1996. The Company owns 49% of Shaw-Nass and accounts for this  investment on the
equity basis.  As such,  during the years ended August 31, 1995,  1996, and 1997
the Company  recognized  earnings (losses) of ($205,968),  $102,931 and $436,855
respectively from Shaw-Nass.  No distributions have been received through August
31,  1997 from  Shaw-Nass.  In  addition,  as of August 31,  1996 and 1997,  the
Company  had  outstanding  receivables  from  Shaw-Nass  totaling  $700,479  and
$1,453,098  respectively.  These  receivables  relate primarily to inventory and
equipment  sold to  Shaw-Nass.  At August 31,  1997  undistributed  earnings  of
Shaw-Nass included in the consolidated retained earnings of the Company amounted
to approximately $334,000.

         As discussed in Note 3, the Company  purchased  the 50% interest of the
other participant in its Venezuelan joint venture,  together with the concurrent
acqusition of certain land,  buildings and other assets used by the venture. The
Company had  previously  accounted for its investment in the joint venture as an
unconsolidated  subsidiary under the equity method and had recognized net income
of  approximately  $29,000  during the period from  September 1 to December  15,
1994.

         In February  1994, the Company  entered into a joint venture  agreement
with Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. and PAE (Thailand) Company
Limited for the  formation of Shaw Asia Company,  Ltd.  (Shaw Asia) to construct
and  operate a pipe  fabrication  facility  in  Thailand.  During the year ended
August  31,  1994,  the  Company  recognized  no  income  from  Shaw Asia as its
operations  were not  significant.  During the year ended August 31,  1995,  the
venture did not achieve the desired level of activity,  and the Company withdrew
from the  joint  venture.  In  conjunction  with  the  withdrawal,  the  Company
recovered  approximately  $1.1 million in equipment from the joint venture which
reduced its net investment to approximately  $400,000. The remaining balance was
charged off.
<TABLE>


Note 6--Long-Term Debt
<CAPTION>

         Long-term debt consisted of:                                                       August 31,
         ----------------------------                                               ------------------------
                                                                                    1996                1997
                                                                                    ----                ----
<S>                                                                              <C>                 <C>

Notes payable to insurance  companies;  variable  interest rates based on 30-day
  commercial  paper  rates plus 190 to 235 basis  points  ranging  from 7.26% to
  7.88%  as of  August  31,  1997;  payable  in  monthly  installments  based on
  amortization  over the  respective  note  lives;  maturing  from 2001 to 2006;
  secured  by  property  and  equipment  with an  approximate  net book value of
  $23,950,000 as of August 31, 1997 and guaranties by the Company and
  certain subsidiaries of the Company                                            $15,971,239        $17,714,208

Note payable to a bank; interest payable annually at LIBOR plus 1.6%; payable in
  28 annual installments of $264,286 with remaining balance due in 2003; secured
  by equipment with an approximate net
  book value of $9,571,000 as of August 31, 1997                                   7,400,000          6,342,857

South Carolina  Revenue  Bonds  payable;  principal  due in 2005;  interest paid
  monthly accruing at a variable rate of 3.8% as of August 31, 1997;
  secured by $4,000,000 letter of credit                                           4,000,000          4,000,000

Mortgages  payable to a bank;  interest  payable  monthly at 8.375%;  95 monthly
  payments of $9,850 and  $26,935  with  remaining  balance due on June 1, 2002;
  secured by real property with an approximate  net book value of $2,980,000 and
  deposits at financial institutions
  with an approximate value of $362,000 as of August 31, 1997                      3,432,531          3,276,450

                                       35

<PAGE>



                                                                                           August 31,
                                                                                    ------------------------
                                                                                    1996                1997
                                                                                    ----                ----

Note payable to a bank,  interest at 9.36%,  payable in monthly  installments of
  $39,559 through May 10, 2001,
  collateralized by accounts receivable and equipment                             2,853,078            --

Notes payable to a bank;  variable  interest  rate based upon  London  Interbank
  Offering  Rate  (LIBOR)  plus 85 to 200 basis  points  depending  upon certain
  financial  ratios.  Interest rate as of August 31, 1997 was 6.89%;  60 monthly
  principal  payments of $50,000 and $36,233  through May 31, 2000 and  November
  15, 2001; secured by property and equipment with an approximate net book value
  of $3,076,000,
  accounts receivable and inventory as of August 31, 1997                          2,300,000          3,584,133

Notes payable to  employees  relating to  non-competition  agreements;  interest
  payable  monthly at 7%;  monthly  payments of $42,000,  and $5,000 until April
  2001
  and August 2000 respectively; unsecured--see Note 15                             2,131,515          1,739,765

Note with interest at 8.5%,  payable in monthly  installments of $17,183 through
  1999 with the remaining principal balance due
  on January 1, 2000, secured by land and a building                               1,856,680           --

Note payable to an individual who is related to the Company,
  interest at 10%, payable on demand, uncollateralized.                            1,075,000           --

Note  payable  to a leasing  company,  interest  at 8.59%,  payable  in  monthly
  installments of $7,606 through September 1999,
  collateralized by equipment.                                                       258,058           --

Note payable to a bank; variable interest rate based on LIBOR plus 1.4%; payable
  in 28 quarterly  principal  payments of $142,857  through  March 25, 2004 plus
  interest; secured by equipment with
  a book value of approximately $4,229,000 as of August 31, 1997                   --                 3,857,143

Mortgage  payable  to an  insurance  company;  variable  interest  rate based on
   average  weekly yield of 30 day commercial  paper plus 2.35%;  payable in 120
   monthly  installments of $39,934  through June 30, 2007,  secured by land and
   buildings with a book value of
   approximately $1,914,000 as of August 31, 1997                                   --                3,263,683

Mortgage  payable  to a bank;  interest  payable  monthly  at 8.63%;  59 monthly
  installments of $7,520 with remaining balance due on November 7, 2001; secured
  by real property with a book value of
  approximately $694,000 as of August 31, 1997                                       --                 571,963

Other mortgages payable;  interest rates at 8%; payable in monthly  installments
  through February and July, 1998; secured by real property
  with a book value of approximately $1,502,000 as of August 31, 1997               142,896             566,816

Other notes  payable;  interest  rates  ranging  from 4.65% to 9.0%;  payable in
  monthly installments based on amortization
  over the respective note lives; maturing from 1997 through 1999                   239,427             382,759
                                                                              -------------       -------------

Total debt                                                                       41,660,424          45,299,777
Less: current maturities                                                         (4,865,038)         (6,366,407)
                                                                              -------------         -----------
Total long-term debt                                                           $ 36,795,386         $38,933,370
                                                                               ============         ===========
</TABLE>


                                       36

<PAGE>



         Annual  maturities of long-term debt during each year ending August 31,
are as follows:

         1998                                                    $ 6,366,407
         1999                                                      5,834,181
         2000                                                      8,396,166
         2001                                                      9,952,547
         2002 and thereafter                                      14,750,476
                                                                 -----------
                                                                 $45,299,777
                                                                 ===========

         In connection with the acquisition of certain assets and the assumption
of certain  liabilities  of Vinson Supply  Company  ("Vinson") in 1992,  NAPTech
delivered a note payable of $3,800,000 to Vinson,  redeemable preferred stock of
$1,062,690  and  $200,000  cash.  NAPTech  thereafter  entered into a settlement
agreement with Vinson dated June 13, 1994, in which NAPTech agreed to pay Vinson
$3,000,000 cash plus $55,000 for accounts  payable to Vinson,  and Vinson agreed
to cancel the note  payable to Vinson of  approximately  $3,539,000,  cancel the
106,269 shares of redeemable  preferred stock, and cancel the deferred  dividend
liability.  NAPTech  entered into a note payable to a bank in order to fund this
settlement with Vinson.

         Based upon the consummation of the  aforementioned  agreement,  in 1995
the  Company  recognized  an  extraordinary  gain  of  $490,625  for  the  early
retirement  of debt  ($3,539,000  note  payable)  and  wrote-off  the book value
relating  to  106,269  shares  of  NAPTech's   redeemable  preferred  stock  and
redeemable  cumulative  preferred  stock  dividend of  $1,062,690  and $245,309,
respectively, as a credit to the NAPTech's common stock.

         Certain of the debt agreements contain restrictive  covenants which the
Company is  required to meet  including  financial  ratios and  minimum  capital
levels.  As of August 31, 1997, the Company was in compliance with the covenants
or had obtained the required waivers.

         The estimated  fair value of long-term debt  approximated  its carrying
value,  based on borrowing  rates  currently  available to the Company for notes
with similar terms and average maturities, as of August 31, 1996 and 1997.

Note 7--Revolving Line Of Credit

         In 1996,  the Company  entered into a new loan and  security  agreement
with  its  commercial   lenders  which  allows  the  Company  to  borrow  up  to
$70,000,000,  depending  upon the  Company's  collateral  base  (which  consists
primarily of certain  eligible  amounts of receivables and  inventory),  under a
revolving  line of credit at an  interest  rate not to exceed 2% over the London
Interbank  Offering Rate (LIBOR) or .75% over the Prime rate.  The index used to
determine  the interest  rate is selected by the Company and the spread over the
index is dependent upon certain  financial ratios of the Company.  This replaced
the prior year  revolving  line of credit which allowed the Company to borrow up
to  $30,000,000  at an  interest  rate based upon the LIBOR plus 85 to 200 basis
points  depending upon certain  financial  ratios of the Company.  During fiscal
1996 and 1997, the maximum amount outstanding was approximately  $55,512,000 and
$66,198,000,  respectively,  and the average amount  outstanding was $31,752,000
and $44,462,000,  respectively,  at weighted average interest rates of 7.04% and
7.27%,  respectively.  The new  agreement  expires  March 31, 1999.  The line of
credit is secured by the Company's accounts receivable and inventories. The line
of credit is also subject to certain  restrictive  covenants similar to those of
the long-term  debt. As of August 31, 1997,  the Company was in compliance  with
these covenants or had obtained the required waivers.

         In 1996, a subsidiary of the Company had an  additional  line of credit
with a bank for $3,400,000.  The line of credit was  collateralized  by accounts
receivable, inventory, and equipment and accrued interest at 2% above the bank's
prime  rate and  expired  July 31,  1997.  This line of credit was  renewed  for
$3,000,000  at an interest  rate of 1.25% over the 30-day LIBOR rate and expires
on February 7, 1998. The new line of credit is guaranteed by the Company.




                                       37

<PAGE>




Note 8--Income Taxes
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

         A summary of net deferred taxes is as follows:

                                                                                            August 31,
                                                                                ------------------------------
                                                                                    1996                1997
                                                                                    ----                ----
         <S>                                                                     <C>                <C>
         Deferred tax assets                                                     $4,156,255         $4,164,948
         Deferred tax liabilities (Net of deferred tax
           liabilities assumed in UCI and Pipe Shields
           acquisitions totaling -0- in 1996 and
           $173,582 in 1997)                                                     (4,157,140)        (6,396,384)
                                                                                 ----------         ----------
         Net deferred taxes                                                      $     (885)       $(2,231,436)
                                                                                 ===========        ===========

         The significant components of net deferred taxes are as follows:
                                                                                         August 31,
                                                                                 -------------------------------
                                                                                    1996               1997
                                                                                    ----               ----
         Assets:
            Tax basis of inventory in excess of book basis                       $   244,800        $   926,331
            Receivable reserves not currently deductible                             719,909          1,007,719
            Self Insurance reserves not currently deductible                         246,153            439,344
            Net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards                       2,148,382          1,258,476
            Other expenses not currently deductible                                  797,011            533,078
                                                                                 -----------        -----------
                                                                                 $ 4,156,255        $ 4,164,948
                                                                                 ===========        ===========
         Liabilities:
           Excess of financial reporting over tax basis of assets                $ 3,596,438        $ 6,569,966
           Income not currently taxable                                              560,702             --
                                                                                 -----------        -----------
                                                                                   4,157,140          6,569,966
           Less: Deferred tax liabilities assumed in UCI and
                    Pipe Shields acquisitions                                         --               (173,582)
                                                                                 -----------        -----------
                                                                                 $ 4,157,140        $ 6,396,384
                                                                                 ===========        ===========
</TABLE>

         Income before  provision for income taxes for the years ended August 31
was as follows:

                                  1995             1996               1997
                                  ----             ----               ----

         Domestic             $1,259,124         $9,526,236       $17,181,177
         Foreign               5,267,246             41,734         2,431,496
                             -----------       ------------      ------------
         Total                $6,526,370         $9,567,970       $19,612,673
                              ==========         ==========       ===========


         The  provision  for income  taxes for the years ended  August 31 was as
follows:

                                           1995           1996           1997
                                           ----           ----           ----

         Current                        $1,170,993     $5,736,133    $4,231,206
         Net operating loss utilized        --             --          (889,906)
         Deferred                          871,559     (2,802,430)    2,230,551
         State                             (16,000)       120,000       429,529
                                        ----------     ----------    -----------
         Total                          $2,026,552     $3,053,703    $6,001,380
                                        ==========     ==========     =========


                                       38

<PAGE>



         A  reconciliation  of Federal  statutory and effective income tax rates
for the years ended August 31 was as follows:

                                                     1995      1996       1997
                                                     ----      ----       ----

         Statutory rate                               34%       34%         35%
         State taxes provided                         --         1          (2)
         Foreign income taxed at different rates      (4)       (4)         (4)
         Other                                         1         1           2
                                                     ---       ---         ---
                                                      31%       32%         31%
                                                      ==        ==          ==

         As of August 31,  1997,  for Federal  income tax return  purposes,  the
Company  had  approximately  $3,500,000  of  net  operating  loss  carryforwards
available to offset future taxable income of its NAPTech subsidiary,  subject to
an  annual  limitation  of  approximately  $500,000.  The  carryforwards  expire
beginning in 2008 through 2010.

Note 9--Common Stock

         The Company previously had two classes of common stock. The classes had
identical  rights,  preferences  and powers except that Class A common stock had
certain  voting  preferences.  In connection  with the Company's  initial public
offering  in 1993,  the  Company's  charter  was amended to provide for only one
class of common  stock;  however,  holders for at least four  consecutive  years
generally  have voting  preferences.  Also, the amended  charter  authorizes the
Board of Directors to approve the issuance of preferred stock.

Note 10--Leases

         Capital  leases -- The Company  leases  office  equipment and machinery
under various  non-cancelable lease agreements.  Minimum lease rentals have been
capitalized and the related assets and obligations  recorded  utilizing  various
interest rates.  The assets are amortized on the  straight-line  method over the
lease  terms and  interest  expense is  accrued on the basis of the  outstanding
lease obligations.

         Assets acquired under capital leases -- net of accumulated amortization
are as follows:

                                                           August 31,
                                                ------------------------------
                                                    1996                1997
                                                    ----                ----
         Furniture and fixtures                   $878,236            $250,681
         Machinery and equipment                    18,441              66,831
                                                 ---------           ---------
                                                   896,677             317,512
         Less: accumulated amortization           (245,385)           (178,895)
                                                 ---------           ---------
                                                  $651,292            $138,617
                                                  ========            ========

         The following is a summary of future  obligations  under capital leases
(present value of future minimum rentals):

         Minimum lease payments:
           1998                                                      $ 29,890
           1999                                                        57,447
           2000                                                        49,851
                                                                     --------
         Total minimum lease payments                                 137,188
         Less: amount representing interest                            (5,059)
                                                                     --------
                                                                      132,129
         Less: current portion                                        (26,448)
                                                                     --------
         Long-term obligations under capital leases                  $105,681
                                                                     ========


                                       39

<PAGE>



         Operating  leases -- The Company  leases certain  offices,  fabrication
shops, warehouse facilities,  office equipment and machinery under noncancelable
operating  lease  agreements  which  expire at various  times and which  require
various  minimum  rentals.  The  non-cancelable  operating  leases which were in
effect as of August 31, 1997  require the Company to make the  following  future
minimum lease payments:

         For the year ending August 31:
           1998                                                 $1,964,411
           1999                                                  1,193,592
           2000                                                    893,102
           2001                                                    496,964
           2002 and thereafter                                   1,142,807
                                                                 ---------
         Total minimum lease payments                           $5,690,876
                                                                ==========

         Rent expense for the fiscal years ended August 31, 1995,  1996 and 1997
was $1,189,857, $1,117,755 and $1,804,897, respectively.

Note 11--Commitments and Contingencies

         The Company has posted letters of credit aggregating  approximately $12
million as of August 31, 1997 to secure its performance  under certain contracts
and insurance arrangements, as well as its purchase of a pipe bending machine.

         For the year ended August 31, 1997,  22% of the  Company's  labor force
was covered by collective bargaining agreements, all of which will expire during
the Company's  next fiscal year. The Company does not expect that the renewal of
the  agreements  will  have  an  adverse  impact  on the  Company's  results  of
operations or financial position.

         On August 11, 1997,  the Company  announced  that Shaw Power  Services,
Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, and China Baoyuan Industry and Trade Company,
a wholly-owned  subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation,  have signed a
letter  of intent  to  establish  joint-venture  ownership  of a piping  systems
fabrication  facility  located in Dalian,  Peoples  Republic of China  (P.R.C.).
Under the terms of the letter of intent,  which is expected to be  consumated in
April,   1998,  the  Company's   ownership  and  income   participation  in  the
joint-venture  is  contemplated  to  be at  least  60%.  The  formation  of  the
joint-venture  is subject to, among other things,  the negotiation and execution
of a  definitive  agreement  and  regulatory  approvals  by  the  P.R.C.  It  is
anticipated  that the Company will invest  approximately  $7 million of cash and
equipment,  as well as its technology in the joint venture.  It is the intention
of the Company for the  joint-venture  facility to be  operational by the end of
calendar 1988.

         On October 15, 1997,  the Company  entered into a letter of intent with
Vekamaf Holding B.V. of Rotterdam, Holland, whereby Shaw will acquire all of the
outstanding  capital stock of Cojafex B.V., a Vekamaf  subsidiary.  Cojafex owns
the technology for the design and manufacture of certain  induction pipe bending
machines  used for  bending  pipe and other  carbon  steel  and alloy  items for
industrial,  commercial and architectural applications.  Under the terms of this
letter of intent,  Shaw will pay an  aggregate  of $9.5  million,  $5 million of
which will be paid at the closing of the  transaction and the remainder of which
will be paid over six years.  The closing of the  transaction is contingent upon
the  favorable  outcome  of a due  diligence  review  and  the  negotiation  and
execution of definitive agreements,  among other things, and is expected to take
place in January of 1998.

         In connection with a contract with a certain  customer,  the Company is
commited to open a fabrication  facility in Texas.  The Company expects to spend
approximately $1.8 million to open this facility.

Note 12--Earnings Per Common Share

          Earnings per common share is calculated  based on the weighted average
number of shares  outstanding,  including dilutive common stock equivalents when
material.  The weighted average number of shares outstanding for 1995, 1996, and
1997 were 8,915,977, 9,757,610, and 11,632,068 respectively.

                                       40

<PAGE>






Note 13--Major Customers and Export Sales

         For the year ended August 31, 1995, sales to a customer  accounting for
more than 10% of sales totaled  $19,100,000 and comprised 12% of sales.  For the
year ended August 31, 1996, sales to a customer  accounting for more than 10% of
sales totaled  $27,200,000 and comprised 11% of sales. For the year ended August
31, 1997, no one customer had sales to them  exceeding 10% of sales.  Because of
the nature of the Company's  business,  the  significant  customers vary between
years.

         For the years ended  August 31,  1995,  1996 and 1997,  the Company has
included  as  part  of  its  international  sales   approximately   $40,000,000,
$74,000,000  , and  $89,000,000  respectively,  of  exports  from  its  domestic
facilities.

Note 14--Employee Benefit Plans

         The  Company  has a Stock  Option  Plan (the  Plan)  under  which  both
qualified and non-qualified options may be granted. In addition,  733,165 shares
of  common  stock  are  reserved  for  issuance  under  the  Plan.  The  Plan is
administered  by a committee of the Board,  which  selects  persons  eligible to
receive options and determines the number of shares subject to each option,  the
vesting schedule, the option price, and the duration of the option. The exercise
price of any option  granted under the Plan cannot be less than 100% of the fair
market  value on date of grant and its  duration  cannot  exceed 10 years.  Only
qualified options have been granted under the Plan.

         In  connection  with the Company's  acquisition  of FCI and PSSI during
1994,  5,000 options with an exercise  price of $18.00 were issued.  The options
expire in 2004 and are  currently  exercisable.  In January  1995,  the exercise
price of these  options  was  amended to $5.875  per  share,  which was the fair
market value of the common stock at the date of such amendment.  In addition, in
1994 the Company  granted  options  contingent upon the ability of FCI, PSSI and
certain  other  subsidiaries  to generate  consolidated  net income in excess of
certain  thresholds  during the fiscal  years ending  August 31, 1995,  1996 and
1997. The maximum number of options  issuable under this plan is 19,000 per year
or 57,000.  These options expire in 2004 and have an exercise price equal to the
closing  price  quoted on the last  business  day of the  immediately  preceding
fiscal year to which the grant of options relate.  The minimum threshold for the
year ended  August 31, 1995 was not met, and  therefore,  no options were issued
for that  year.  For the year ended  August 31,  1996,  12,000  options  with an
exercise price of $9.59 per share were earned and subsequently  issued.  For the
year ended August 31, 1997, an additional  12,000 options with an exercise price
of $32.875 were earned and will be issued in fiscal 1998.

         In fiscal  1997,  the Company  adopted a  Non-Employee  Director  Stock
Option Plan.  Each member of the Board of Directors  who is not, and who has not
been during the one year period  immediately  preceding the date the director is
first elected to the Board,  an officer or employee of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates,  is eligible to participate in the plan. A committee
of two or more members of the Board who are not eligible to receive grants under
the Option  Plan  administers  the Plan.  Upon  adoption,  options to acquire an
aggregate  of 20,000  shares of Common  Stock were  issued.  Additionally,  each
eligible  director  will be granted an option to acquire  1,500 shares of Common
Stock on an  annual  basis  upon his  election  or  re-election  to the Board of
Directors.  An aggregate of 50,000 shares of Common Stock have been reserved for
issuance under the Option Plan.

         In  October  1995,  the FASB  issued  SFAS  No.  123,  "Accounting  for
Stock-Based  Compensation,"  which is effective  for the  Company's  fiscal year
beginning  September 1, 1996.  Under SFAS No. 123,  companies  can either record
expense  based on the fair value of  stock-based  compensation  upon issuance or
elect  to  remain  under  the APB 25  method  whereby  no  compensation  cost is
recognized upon grant if certain  requirements  are met. The Company has elected
to continue to account for its stock-based  compensation  under APB 25. However,
pro-forma   disclosues,   as  if  the  Company  adopted  the  cost   recognition
requirements under SFAS No. 123, are presented below.


                                       41

<PAGE>



         Had  compensation  cost been determined  based on the fair value at the
grant date  consistent  with the  provisions  of SFAS No. 123, the Company's net
income and  earnings  per common  share would have  approximated  the  pro-forma
amounts below:
                                                       1996               1997
                                                      ------            -------
               Net Income (in thousands):
                   As reported                        $6,617            $14,048
                                                      ======            =======
                   Pro forma                          $6,544            $13,834
                                                      =======           =======

               Earnings per share:
                   As reported                        $  .68            $  1.21
                                                      ======            =======
                   Pro forma                          $  .67            $  1.19
                                                      ======            =======

         The  pro-forma  effect  on  net  earnings  for  1996  and  1997  is not
representative  of the pro-forma  effect on net earnings in future years because
it does not take into consideration  pro-forma  compensation  expense related to
grants prior to September 1, 1995.

         The following table  summarizes the activity in the  outstanding  stock
options of the Company:

                                           Shares               Weighted Average
                                    ----------------------
                                     Plan     Acquisitions        Option Price
                                     ----     ------------         -----------

Outstanding at September 1, 1994    217,312         5,000            $5.900
Granted                             245,635        --                $7.923
Exercised                           --             --                --
                                    -------       -------
Outstanding at August 31, 1995      462,947         5,000            $6.962
Granted                              21,793        85,000            $19.243
Exercised                           (45,125)       --                $6.239
                                    --------      -------
Outstanding at August 31, 1996      439,615        90,000            $9.500
Granted                              41,189        42,500            $19.623
Exercised                           (71,710)       --                $5.984
Canceled                            (36,250)      (50,000)           $15.755
                                    --------      -------
Outstanding at August 31, 1997      372,844        82,500            $10.729
                                    =======        ======
Exercisable at August 31, 1997      146,594        13,750            $10.023
                                    =======        ======

          As  of  August  31,  1995,  1996  and  1997,  the  number  of  options
exercisable  under  the  stock  option  plan was  37,447;  97,365  and  160,344,
respectively;  and the  weighted  average  exercise  price of those  options was
$14.548, $9.745 and $10.023, respectively.

          The weighted  average fair value at date of grant for options  granted
during  1996 and 1997 was $14.10 and $12.72 per option,  respectively.  The fair
value  of  options  granted  is  estimated  on  the  date  of  grant  using  the
Black-Scholes   option-pricing   model  with  the  following   weighted  average
assumptions  in 1996 and 1997,  respectively:  (a)  dividend  yield of 0.00% and
0.00%;  (b) expected  volatility of 89% and 54%; (c) risk-free  interest rate of
6.4% and 6.7%; and (d) expected life of 5 years and 5 years.


                                       42

<PAGE>

          The  following  table  summarizes   information  about  stock  options
outstanding as of August 31, 1997:

                                   Options Outstanding      Options Exercisable
                               -------------------------   ---------------------
                                 Weighted       Weighted                Weighted
                                 Average        Average                  Average
Range of            Number       Remaining      Exercise   Number       Exercise
Exercise Prices   Outstanding  Contract Life      Price    Exercisable    Price
- ---------------   -----------  -------------   ---------   ----------   --------
$5.875-$9.594      308,000      7.4 Yrs        $  6.407    117,750      $ 6.653
$13.940-$19.500     65,756      7.5 Yrs        $ 17.944     24,506      $16.626
$20.250-$21.750     76,747      8.6 Yrs        $ 20.810     13,247      $21.229
$27.880-$27.890      4,841      1.9 Yrs          27.883      4,841      $27.883
                  --------                                 -------
                   455,344      7.6 Yrs        $ 10.729    160,344      $10.023
                  ========                                 =======

         During 1994, the Company, excluding NAPTech, adopted a voluntary 401(k)
profit  sharing  plan for  substantially  all  employees  who are not subject to
collective bargaining agreements. The plan provides for the eligible employee to
contribute  from 1% to 10% of annual  compensation,  subject to an annual limit,
with the Company matching 50% of the employee's eligible  contribution up to 6%.
The Company's expense for this plan during 1995, 1996 and 1997 was approximately
$220,000, $285,000, and $380,000 respectively.

         The Company has a qualified,  contributory 401(k) savings plan covering
all  employees of NAPTech who belong to the  Certified  Metal Trades  Journeymen
collective bargaining unit. The Company is required to make a contribution of 3%
of participants' compensation on an annual basis. The Company's expense for this
plan was approximately  $9,000,  $23,900, and $51,600 for the years ended August
31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively.

         The Company had a separate qualified,  contributory 401(k) savings plan
covering all non-union employees of NAPTech. The Company may, at its discretion,
make  a  matching  contribution  in an  amount  determinable  by  the  Board  of
Directors.  The Company did not make a contribution  to the plan in fiscal 1995;
in fiscal 1996 and 1997 the  Company's  expense for this plan was  approximately
$6,600 and  $12,900,  respectively.  As of August 31,  1997,  this plan has been
terminated.

         The  Company  had a profit  sharing  plan  covering  substantially  all
employees of APP. For the period from the effective date of acquisition  through
August 31, 1996,  the Company  expensed  $175,000 for this plan.  No expense was
incurred  for  fiscal  1997,  and as of  August  31,  1997,  this  plan has been
terminated.

         The Company had a 401(k) profit sharing plan covering substantially all
employees of Pipe Shields,  Inc. with more than one year of service. The Company
matched  50% of  the  employee's  eligible  contribution,  up to 3% of  eligible
compensation.  For the period from the date of  acquisition  through  August 31,
1997 the Company's expense for this plan amounted to approximately  $9,000. This
plan has been terminated as of August 31, 1997.

         The  Company  has a 401(k)  savings  plan  covering  substantially  all
employees of UCI with more than one year of service.  The Company matches 50% of
the first $1,000 of employees' contributions.  Additionally, the Company may, at
its  discretion,  make an additional  contribution  determinable by the Board of
Directors.  The  Company's  expense  for this plan from the date of  acquisition
through August 31, 1997 was approximately $87,000.

Note 15--Related Party Transactions

         During 1994, the Company entered into an employment  agreement with the
President and Chief Executive  Officer (CEO) of the Company.  Under terms of the
agreement,  the President and CEO will  receive,  among other things,  an annual
base salary of $500,000,  participation  in the  Company's  annual bonus plan as
determined by the  Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors,  and other
benefits such as health and life insurance. In the event the President and CEO's
employment  is  terminated  due to  events  as  defined  in the  agreement,  the
President  and CEO will  receive a  lump-sum  payment  equal to the full  amount
payable under the agreement.  The employment agreement was amended on August 25,
1997 to extend the  expiration  date to  December  31,  2007.  The term shall be
automatically  extended for an additional one-year period upon each December 31,
unless a party electing not to extend the agreement  provides  written notice to
the other party at least three months prior to such December 31.

                                       43

<PAGE>


         The  Company  has  entered  into  several  loan   agreements  with  key
management,  some of which were non-interest  bearing. The impact of discounting
such loans to record interest income was not  significant.  The balance of these
employee loan  receivables  as of August 31, 1995,  1996, and 1997 was $231,900,
$220,191,  and  $415,791,  respectively.  These  balances  are included in other
assets.

         As discussed in Note 3, in connection  with the Word  acquisition,  the
Company  entered  into a  $625,000  interest-bearing  loan  agreement  with Word
Industries Pipe Fabricating,  Inc. ("WIPF").  WIPF is owned primarily by certain
stockholders of the Company. The loan was paid by WIPF in fiscal 1997.

         During 1996 and 1997, in connection with certain acquisitions discussed
in Note 3, the Company has entered into non-competition  agreements with several
key employees.  Related assets totaling approximately $2.3 million,  included in
other  assets,  are being  amortized  over five  years  using the  straight-line
method. Any corresponding  liabilities are included in long-term debt as further
discussed in Note 6.

         In  connection  with an  acquisition  discussed  in Note 3, the Company
entered into an office building lease with an affiliate of a Company  executive,
which lease calls for the payment of rentals in the amount of $5,400 a month.

Note 16--Foreign Currency Transactions

         The  Company's  wholly-owned  subsidiary in Venezuela has net assets of
approximately $7,100,000 and $8,700,000 denominated in Venezuelan Bolivars as of
August 31, 1996 and 1997,  respectively.  In  accordance  with SFAS 52, the U.S.
dollar is used as the functional reporting currency since the Venezuelan economy
is defined as highly inflationary. Therefore, the assets and liabilities must be
translated  into U.S.  dollars  using a  combination  of current and  historical
exchange rates.

         During 1995,  the  Venezuelan  government  fixed the exchange  rate for
Bolivars,  thus there was no change in the exchange rate used to translate these
assets and  liabilities,  and accordingly no gain or loss was recognized in 1995
by this  translation.  During  the year  ended  August  31,  1995,  the  Company
recognized as part of its sales aggregate  exchange gains of  approximately  $.9
million relating to collections on contracts in progress during the year.

         During 1996,  the  Venezuelan  government  lifted all foreign  exchange
controls. Subsequent to this action, the Bolivar devalued from 170 to 475 to the
U.S.  dollar.  As  a  result,   the  Company  recorded  a  translation  loss  of
approximately  $864,000  in  translating  the assets and  liabilities  into U.S.
dollars.  The Company also  recognized a gain of  approximately  $818,000 during
1996 related to a Venezuelan  Government bond purchased at a fixed exchange rate
which was subsequently sold.

         During  1997,  the Company  recorded a $6,449 loss in  translating  the
assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars.  There were no material exchange gains
or losses incurred during fiscal 1997.

         In connection  with the  Company's  hedging of certain  commitments  to
acquire  pipe  bending  machines  from a foreign  manufacturer,  the Company had
outstanding  commitments totaling approximately $4.3 million to purchase foreign
currency at a fixed price.  These  commitments had a fair value of approximately
$4.5 million at August 31, 1997.

Note 17--Subsequent Event

         On November 14, 1997, the Company purchased all of the capital stock or
substantially  all of  the  assets  of the  principal  operating  businesses  of
Prospect Industries PLC ("Prospect") of Derby, United Kingdom, for approximately
$15.8 million.  Prospect, a mechanical contractor and provider of turnkey piping
systems serving the power generating and process industries worldwide,  operated
through several wholly-owned  subsidiaries  including Connex Pipe Systems,  Inc.
("Connex"),  a  piping  systems  fabrication  business  located  in  Troutville,
Virginia;  CBP Engineering Corp.  ("CBP"),  an abrasion and corrosion  resistant
pipe systems  specialist based in Pennsylvania;  Aiton Australia Pty Limited,  a
piping systems,  boiler  refurhishment and project management company based near
Sydney,  Australia;  and  Prospect  Engineering  Limited  ("PEL"),  a mechanical
contractor  and a provider of turnkey piping  systems  located in Derby,  United
Kingdom.  Prospect  also owned a 66% interest in Inflo Control  Systems  Limited
("Inflo"),  a  manufacturer  of boiler steam leak  detection,  acoustic mill and
combustion monitoring equipment

                                       44

<PAGE>



and related systems. Under the terms of the acquisition  agreement,  the Company
acquired all of the outstanding  stock of Prospect  Overseas  Limited,  a United
Kingdom holding company that holds the entire  ownership  interest in Connex and
CBP,  Aiton  Australia and certain  assets of PEL, as well as Prospect's  entire
ownership interest in Inflo. The Company also assumed certain liabilities of PEL
and Prospect relating to its employees and pension plans.

Note 18--Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
                                           First            Second               Third                Fourth
                                          Quarter           Quarter             Quarter              Quarter
                                          -------           -------             -------              -------
<CAPTION>
<S>                                     <C>               <C>                 <C>                  <C>    
1996
Sales
As previously reported                  $38,784,247       $49,591,001         $63,780,409          $69,861,780
NAPTech                                   4,555,723         6,783,712           9,702,887            6,298,678
                                        -----------       -----------         -----------          -----------
As restated                             $43,339,970       $56,374,713         $73,483,296          $76,160,458
                                        ===========       ===========         ===========          ===========
Gross Profit
As previously reported                  $ 7,185,486       $ 8,721,495         $12,837,160          $12,438,628
NAPTech                                    (530,428)          492,922            (256,322)            (741,172)
                                        ------------      ------------        -----------          -----------
As restated                             $ 6,655,058       $ 9,214,417         $12,580,838          $11,697,456
                                        ============      ============        ===========          ===========
Net Income
As previously reported                  $ 1,682,694       $ 1,825,651         $ 2,445,369          $ 2,822,784
NAPTech                                    (669,569)          (24,278)           (563,643)            (901,810)
                                        ------------      ------------        -----------          -----------
As restated                             $ 1,013,125       $ 1,801,373         $ 1,881,726          $ 1,920,974
                                        ============      ============        ===========          ===========
Net Income per Share
As previously reported                  $       .20      $        .21        $        .26          $       .29
NAPTech                                        (.09)             (.01)               (.07)                (.10)
                                        -----------      ------------        ------------          -----------
As restated                             $       .11      $        .20        $        .19          $       .19
                                        ===========      ============        ============          ===========
1997
Sales
As previously reported                  $67,603,615       $85,515,993         $88,883,982          $88,231,202
NAPTech                                   8,115,387           --                  --                   --
                                        -----------      ------------         -----------          -----------
As restated                             $75,719,002       $85,515,993         $88,883,982          $88,231,202
                                        ===========      ============         ===========          ===========
Gross Profit
As previously reported                  $13,900,085       $15,137,450         $17,342,672          $17,065,466
NAPTech                                     670,249           --                  --                   --
                                        -----------       -----------         -----------          -----------
As restated                             $14,570,334       $15,137,450         $17,342,672          $17,065,466
                                        ===========       ===========         ===========          ===========
Net Income
As previously reported                  $ 3,037,150       $ 3,588,407         $ 3,554,513          $ 3,759,785
NAPTech                                     108,293            --                  --                   --
                                        -----------       -----------         -----------          -----------
As restated                             $ 3,145,443       $ 3,588,407         $ 3,554,513          $ 3,759,785
                                        ===========       ===========         ===========          ===========
Net Income per Share
As previously reported                  $       .31       $       .31         $       .29          $       .30
NAPTech                                        (.01)           --                 --                     --
                                        -----------       -----------         -----------          -----------              
As restated                             $       .30       $       .31         $       .29          $       .30
                                        ===========       ===========         ===========          ===========
</TABLE>

        The unaudited quarterly financial data above have been restated from the
Company's  previously  filed Forms 10-K and 10-Q to reflect the  acquisition  of
NAPTech in the second quarter of fiscal 1997,  which was accounted for using the
pooling-of -interests method.


                                       45

<PAGE>

ITEM 9.  Changes in and Disagreements on Accounting and Financial Disclosures.

        There  have been no  changes  in  accountants  and no  disagreements  on
accounting  principles or practices,  financial statement disclosure or auditing
scope or  procedure  between the Company and its  independent  certified  public
accountants during the period beginning September 1, 1994 and ending on the date
hereof.

        The single  jointly  signed  auditor's  report is  considered  to be the
equivalent  of  two  separately  signed  auditor's  reports.   Thus,  each  firm
represents that it has complied with generally  accepting auditing standards and
is in a position that would justify being the only signatory of the report.

                                    PART III

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

     Information regarding directors and executive officers of the Company is to
be included in the Company's  definitive proxy statement  prepared in connection
with the 1998 Annual Meeting of the  Shareholders to be held in January 1998 and
is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 11.  Executive Compensation.

     Information  regarding  executive  compensation  is to be  included  in the
Company's definitive proxy statement prepared in connection with the 1998 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held in January 1998 and is incorporated herein by
reference.

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

     Information  regarding  security ownership of certain beneficial owners and
management  is to be  included  in  the  Company's  definitive  proxy  statement
prepared in connection  with the 1998 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders to be held
in January 1998 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

     Information  regarding certain relationships and related transactions is to
be included in the Company's  definitive proxy statement  prepared in connection
with the 1998 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  to be held in January 1998 and is
incorporated herein by reference.

                                     PART IV

Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)  1.   Financial Statements.

          See Item 8 of Part II of this report.

     2.   Financial Statement Schedules.

     3.   Exhibits.

          *3.1  Restatement  of the Articles of  Incorporation  of the Company
                dated December  10,  1993. 
          *3.2  Amended and  Restated  By-Laws of the Company  dated December 9,
                1993. 
         **4.1  Specimen  Common  Stock  Certificate. 
       ***10.1  Second Amended  Loan and  Security  Agreement  dated as of March
                29, 1996 among the Company,  the Borrowing  Subsidiaries listed 
                on Exhibit 1.1 thereto, Mercantile Business Credit, Inc., City 
                National Bank of Baton Rouge, Hibernia National Bank and Union
                Planters Bank of Louisiana.

                                       46

<PAGE>

        **10.2  Settlement Agreement dated January 20, 1993, by and among B. F.
                Shaw, Inc., National Fabricators, Inc., Lone Star Fabricators, 
                Inc. and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of
                the Plumbing Pipefitting Industry of the United States and
                Canada, AFL-CIO.
      ****10.3  1993 Employee Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated
        **10.4  Employment Agreement by and between the Company and James M.
                Bernhard, Jr.
        **10.5  Joint Venture Agreement of Shaw-Nass Middle East, W.L.L. dated
                November 18, 1993, by and among Shaw Overseas (Cayman), Ltd., 
                Abdulla Ahmed Nass and the Company.
         *10.6  Personal Service and Employment Agreement entered into as of 
                April 29, 1994 among Fronek Engineering & Consulting, Inc.,
                Shaw-Fronek Fabrication, Inc. and Frank Fronek.
         +10.7  Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 1, 1996, between 
                R. Dale Brown, Sr. and Mildred Gayle O'Pry Brown and The Shaw 
                Group Inc.
         +10.8  Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 1, 1996, between
                Ronald D. Brown,  Jr.,  Susan Nance Brown and  Speedline,  a
                Louisiana partnership, and The Shaw Group Inc.
         +10.9  Employment Agreement, dated as of April 5, 1996, between Alloy
                Piping Products, Inc. and Ronald D. Brown, Jr.
        +10.10  Consulting and Non-Competition Agreement, dated as of April 5,
                1996, between The Shaw Group Inc. and Ronald D. Brown, Jr.
       ++10.11  Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement between The Shaw Group Inc. 
                and Word Industries Fabricators, Inc. and Word Industries Pipe
                Fabricating, Inc., Word Industries, Inc. and T. N. Word, dated
                as of January 15, 1996.
       ++10.12  Real Property Purchase and Sale Agreement and Plan of 
                Reorganization between Word Industries Fabricators, Inc. and
                T. S. & M. Corporation dated as of January 15, 1996.
       ++10.13  Agreement dated as of January 15, 1996 between Word Industries 
                Fabricators, Inc. and T. N. Word.
      +++10.14  Plan and Agreement of Merger, dated as of August 5, 1996, among
                the shareholders of NAPTech, Inc. (NAPTech"), NAPTech, The Shaw 
                Group Inc. and SAON, Inc., as amended by the First mendment to
                Plan and Agreement of Merger dated as of January 27, 1997.
      +++10.15  Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of January 27, 1997, among
                the members of Freeport Properties, L.C(Freeport"), Freeport, 
                The Shaw Group Inc. and SAON Properties, Inc.
     ++++10.16  1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan.
     ****21.1   Subsidiaries of the Company.
     -------------
       *       Incorporated  by reference from the Company's Form 10-K for the
                 fiscal year ended August 31, 1994, as amended.
       **      Incorporated  by  reference  from  the  Company's  Registration
                 Statement  on Form S-1  filed  October  22,  1993,  as  amended
                 (Registration Number 33-70722).
       ***     Incorporated by reference from the Company's Form 10-Q for the 
                  quarterly period ended May 31, 1996.
       ****    Filed herewith.
       +       Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on 
                  Form 8-K dated April 17, 1996, as amended by Amendment No. 1
                  to Current Report on Form 8-K/A-1 filed on June 19, 1996.
       ++      Incorporated by reference from the Company's  Current Report on
                 Form 8-K dated  January 30, 1996, as amended by Amendment No. 1
                 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A-1 filed on March 29, 1996.
       +++     Incorporated by reference from the Company's  Current Report on
                 Form 8-K dated  February 11, 1997, as amended by Amendment No.1
                 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A-1 dated April 9, 1997.)
       ++++    Incorported  by  reference  from  the  Company's   Registration
                 Statement on Form S-8 filed on September 24, 1997 (Registration
                 Number 333-36315).

(b)     Reports on Form 8-K

     During  the fourth  quarter of fiscal  1997,  the  Company  filed a Current
Report  on Form 8-K  dated  June 17,  1997 (the  "Form  8-K"),  to file with the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  certain  financial  statements  and other
related  information  that reflects the acquisition by the Company of NAPTech on
January 27, 1997, as a pooling-of-interests. Such financial statements and other
information,  attached to the Form 8-K as  Attachment  A, are restated  "Item 7.
Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations" and restated "Item 8. Financial  Statements and Supplementary  Data"
from the  Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August
31, 1996.

                                       47

<PAGE>



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.


                                           THE SHAW GROUP INC.


                                           /s/ J. M. BERNHARD, JR.
                                           -----------------------
                                           By: J. M. Bernhard, Jr.
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer
                                           Date: December 1, 1997

          Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

          Signature                    Title                      Date
          ---------                    -----                      ----

/s/ J. M. BERNHARD, JR.           Chairman of the Board,        December 1, 1997
- -----------------------              President and Chief
(J. M. Bernhard, Jr.)                Executive Officer


/s/ EDWARD L. PAGANO              Chief Financial Officer and   December 1, 1997
- ------------------------             Chief Accounting Officer
(Edward L. Pagano)

/s/ GEORGE R. SHEPHERD            Director                      December 1, 1997
- -----------------------
(George R. Shepherd)

/s/ FRANK FRONEK                  Director                      December 1, 1997
- -----------------------------
(Frank Fronek)

/s/ ALBERT MCALISTER              Director                      December 1, 1997
- ------------------------
(Albert McAlister)

/s/ L. LANE GRIGSBY               Director                      December 1, 1997
- -----------------------------
(L. Lane Grigsby)

/s/ DAVID W. HOYLE                Director                      December 1, 1997
- ----------------------------
(David W. Hoyle)

/s/ JOHN W. SINDERS, JR           Director                      December 1, 1997
- --------------------------
(John W. Sinders, Jr.)












                                       48



<PAGE>


                                  Exhibit 10.3
                                  ------------

                               THE SHAW GROUP INC.
                         1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                   (as amended and restated on July 21, 1997)


          1.  Purpose.  This 1993  Employee  Stock Option Plan (the Plan) of The
Shaw Group Inc.  (the  Company) for certain  employees,  including  officers and
directors, is intended to advance the best interests of the Company by providing
such  personnel,  who have  substantial  responsibility  for its  management and
growth, with additional  incentive and by increasing their proprietary  interest
in the success of the Company, thereby encouraging them to remain in its employ.

          2. Administration.  The Plan shall be administered by a committee (the
Committee)  consisting  of two or more  members of the Board of Directors of the
Company, all of whom shall be (a) Non-Employee Director as defined in Rule 16b-3
of the Rules and Regulations  promulgated  under the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the Exchange  Act) or any similar or successor  rule,  and (b)
outside  directors as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal  Revenue Code of
1986,  as amended  (the Code).  For the  purposes of the Plan, a majority of the
members  of the  Committee  shall  constitute  a quorum for the  transaction  of
business,  and the vote of a majority  of those  members  present at any meeting
shall  decide any  question  brought  before  that  meeting.  In  addition,  the
Committee may take any action otherwise proper under the Plan by the affirmative
vote, taken without a meeting, of a majority of its members. The Committee shall
have  the  authority  to take  any and all  actions  as it  deems  necessary  or
appropriate,  in its sole discretion, to administer the Plan or to carry out the
Committee  activities  contemplated by the Plan. All questions of interpretation
and  application  of the Plan, or as to Awards (as defined in Paragraph 5 below)
made hereunder, shall be subject to the determination,  which shall be final and
binding, of a majority of the whole Committee. When appropriate,  the Plan shall
be  administered  in order to qualify  certain of the Awards made  hereunder  as
incentive stock options described in Section 422 of the Code.

          3.  Eligibility.  The individuals who shall be eligible to participate
in the Plan shall be such key  employees,  including  officers and  directors if
they are employees,  of the Company, or of any parent or subsidiary corporation,
as the  Committee  shall  determine  from  time to  time.  Except  as  otherwise
provided,  for all purposes of the Plan, the term parent  corporation shall mean
any  corporation  (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of  corporations
ending with the Company if, on the date of grant of the Option in question, each
of the  corporations  other than the Company owns stock possessing fifty percent
(50%) or more of the total combined  voting power of all classes of stock in one
of the other  corporations in such chain;  and the term  subsidiary  corporation
shall mean any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations,  beginning with
the  Company  if, on the date of grant of the  Option in  question,  each of the
corporations,  other  than  the  last  corporation  in  the  chain,  owns  stock
possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

          4.  Shares  Subject to the Plan.  The stock  subject to the Awards and
other  provisions of the Plan shall be shares of the  Company's  common sock, no
par value per share (the Common Stock). The total number of shares of the Common
Stock  with  respect  to which  Awards  may be  granted  shall not exceed in the
aggregate  850,000  shares;  provided,  that the class and  aggregate  number of
shares  which may be subject  to Awards  granted  hereunder  shall be subject to
adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 17 hereof. Such shares
may be treasury shares or authorized but unissued shares.  The maximum number of
shares subject to Awards that can be made to any executive or employee under the
Plan is 405,000 shares.



                                        1

<PAGE>



          In the event that any outstanding Award for any reason shall expire or
terminate by reason of the death or severance of employment of the  participant,
the  surrender of any such Award or any other cause,  the shares of Common Stock
allocable to such Award may again be subject to an Award under the Plan.

          5.  Types  of  Awards  Under  the  Plan.  The  Committee  may make the
following  types of  awards  (an  "Award")  from  time to time to such  eligible
employees of the Company as it shall from time to time determine:

(a)       Incentive  Stock  Options.  The  Committee  may  grant to an  eligible
          employee an option (an "Option"),  or Options,  to buy a stated number
          of shares of Common Stock under the terms and  conditions of the Plan,
          so that the  Option  will be an  incentive  stock  option  within  the
          meaning of Section 422 of the Code (an Incentive Stock Option).

(b)       Non-statutory  Stock  Options.  The Committee may grant to an eligible
          employee an Option,  or Options,  to buy a stated  number of shares of
          Common Stock under the terms and conditions of the Plan,  which do not
          constitute an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422
          of the Code (a Non-statutory Stock Option).

(c)       Restricted  Stock.  The  Committee  may award to an eligible  employee
          restricted  shares of Common  Stock  (the  "Restricted  Stock") as set
          forth in Paragraph 13 of the Plan.

          Each Award  shall be approved by the  Committee,  and with  respect to
Options,  the  Committee  shall  specify  whether  each  Option  constitutes  an
Incentive Stock Option or Non-statutory Stock Option.

          6.  Option  Price.  The price at which  the  shares  may be  purchased
pursuant to an Option  shall be no less than the fair market value of the shares
of Common Stock on the date such Option is granted,  and the  Committee,  in its
discretion, may provide that the price at which shares may be purchased shall be
more than such fair market  value.  For  purposes  of the Plan,  the fair market
value of a share  of  Common  Stock as of any  particular  date  shall  mean the
closing  sale price of a share of Common  Stock on that date as  reported by the
principal national  securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed
if the Common  Stock is then listed on a national  securities  exchange,  or the
average  of the bid and asked  price of a share of Common  Stock on that date as
reported  in the  NASDAQ  listing if the  Common  Stock is not then  listed on a
national securities  exchange,  provided that if no such closing price or quotes
are so  reported on that date or if, in the  discretion  of the  Committee,  any
means of  determining  the fair market  value of a share of Common Stock at such
date shall be  necessary or  advisable,  the  Committee  may provide for another
means for  determining  such fair market  value.  The option price as determined
pursuant to this Paragraph 6 shall be referred to herein as the Option Price.

          7. Duration of Options.  No Option which is an Incentive  Stock Option
shall be  exercisable  after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date such
Option is granted; and the Committee,  in its discretion,  may provide that such
Option shall be exercisable throughout such ten-year period or during any lesser
period  of time  commencing  on or after  the date of grant of such  Option  and
ending upon or before the expiration of such ten-year period. No Option which is
a  Non-statutory  Stock Option shall be exercisable  after the expiration of ten
(10) years  from the date such  Option is  granted;  and the  Committee,  in its
discretion,  may provide that such Option shall be exercisable  throughout  such
ten-year  period or during any lesser period of time  commencing on or after the
date of grant of such  Option and ending upon or before the  expiration  of such
ten-year period.

          8. Amount Exercisable. The agreement with respect to each Option shall
set forth such terms and  conditions,  including  vesting,  with  respect to the
exercise of such Option  that are not  inconsistent  with the Plan and as may be
approved by the Committee.  The  Committee,  in its  discretion,  may change the
terms of exercise so that any Option may be exercised so long as it is valid and
outstanding from time to time in part


                                        2

<PAGE>



or as a whole in such  manner and subject to such  conditions  as it may set. In
addition, the Committee, in its discretion, may accelerate the time in which any
outstanding  Option  may be  exercised.  But in no event  shall  any  Option  be
exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the date of the grant.

          9. Exercise of Options.  A participant may exercise such participant's
Option by  delivering  to the  Company a written  notice  stating  (i) that such
participant  wishes  to  exercise  such  Option  on the date  such  notice is so
delivered,  (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which such
Option  is  to  be  exercised,  (iii)  the  address  to  which  the  certificate
representing  such shares of Common Stock should be mailed,  and (iv) the social
security  number of such  participant.  In order to be  effective,  such written
notice shall be accompanied by (a) payment of the Option Price of such shares of
Common  Stock and (b)  payment of an amount of money  necessary  to satisfy  any
withholding tax liability that may result from the exercise of such Option. Each
such payment shall be made by check drawn on a national banking  association and
payable to the order of the Company in United States dollars.

          As  promptly  as  practicable  after the receipt by the Company of (i)
such written notice from the participant,  (ii) payment, in the form required by
the foregoing  provisions of this Paragraph 9, of the Option Price of the shares
of Common Stock with respect to which such Option is to be exercised,  and (iii)
payment,  in the form required by the foregoing  provisions of this Paragraph 9,
of an amount of money  necessary to satisfy any  withholding  tax liability that
may result from the exercise of such Option,  the Company  shall deliver to such
participant a certificate representing the number of shares of Common Stock with
respect  to which such  Option has been so  exercised,  such  certificate  to be
registered in the name of such participant, provided that such delivery shall be
considered  to have  been made when such  certificate  shall  have been  mailed,
postage prepaid,  to such participant at the address  specified for such purpose
in such written notice from the participant to the Company.

          10. Special  Provisions for Incentive  Stock Options.  Notwithstanding
any other  provisions  of the Plan to the contrary,  the  aggregate  fair market
value (determined as of the date the Option is granted) of the Common Stock with
respect to which  Incentive  Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by
any  participant  in any calendar year (under this Plan and any other  incentive
stock option plan(s) of the Company and any parent or subsidiary  corporation(s)
thereof) shall not exceed $100,000. In making this determination,  Options shall
be taken into account in the order in which they were granted.

          No participant  who owns stock  possessing more than ten percent (10%)
of the total  combined  voting power of all classes of stock of the  corporation
employing the  participant or of its parent or subsidiary  corporation  shall be
eligible to receive an Option which is an Incentive  Stock Option  unless at the
time that such  Option is granted  the Option  Price is at least one hundred ten
percent  (110%) of the fair  market  value of the Common  Stock at the time such
Option is granted and such Option by its own terms is not exercisable  after the
expiration of five years from the date such Option is granted.

          For the  purposes of the  preceding  paragraph,  an  employee  will be
considered  as owning the stock  owned,  directly or  indirectly,  by or for his
brothers and sisters  (whether by the whole or half blood),  spouse,  ancestors,
and lineal  descendants;  and stock owned,  directly or indirectly,  by or for a
corporation,  partnership,  estate,  or trust will be  considered as being owned
proportionately by or for its shareholders, partners, or beneficiaries.

          11.  Transferability of Options.  Options shall not be transferable by
the  optionee  otherwise  than  by  will  or  under  the  laws  of  descent  and
distribution, and shall be exercisable,  during the participant's lifetime, only
by the participant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have the
authority,  in  its  absolute  discretion,  to  add  (originally  or by  way  of
amendment) as a term of any Non-statutory  Stock Option awarded hereunder,  that
such Non-statutory Stock Option may be transferred,  no less than six (6) months
after it is


                                        3

<PAGE>



granted,  to members of a participant's  immediate family,  including trusts for
the benefit of such family members and partnerships in which such family members
are the only partners as well as to charitable  organizations  that are approved
in advance by the Committee.  A transfer  pursuant to this Paragraph 11 may only
be effected by the Company at the  written  request of a  participant  and shall
become  effective  only when  recorded in the  Company's  record of  outstanding
Non-statutory  Stock  Options.  In the  event a  Non-statutory  Stock  Option is
transferred pursuant to this Paragraph, such may not be subsequently transferred
by the transferee except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. In the
event of a transfer  pursuant to this  Paragraph  11, such  Non-statutory  Stock
Option shall  continue to be governed by and subject to the terms and conditions
of the Plan and the relevant grant.

          12. Exercise of Options;  Termination of Employment.  Except as may be
otherwise  expressly  provided herein,  each Option,  to the extent it shall not
previously  have been  exercised,  shall terminate on the earlier of the date of
the expiration of the Option or one day less than three months after the date of
the severance, upon severance of the employment relationship between the Company
and the  participant,  whether with or without cause,  for any reason other than
the death, disability, or retirement of the participant, during which period the
participant shall be entitled to exercise the Option in respect of the number of
shares  that the  participant  would  have been  entitled  to  purchase  had the
participant  exercised the Option on the date of such  severance of  employment.
Whether  authorized  leave of  absence,  or absence on  military  or  government
service,  shall continue  severance of the employment  relationship  between the
Company and the  participant  shall be  determined  by the Committee at the time
thereof.

          In the event of severance  because of the  disability of the holder of
any Option while in the employ of the Company and before the date of  expiration
of such  Option,  such  Option  shall  terminate  on the earlier of such date of
expiration  or one  year  following  the  date  of  such  severance  because  of
disability,  during which period the  participant  shall be entitled to exercise
the Option in respect of the number of shares  that the  participant  would have
been entitled to purchase had the  participant  exercised the Option on the date
of such severance because of disability.

          In the event of the death of the  holder  of any  Option  while in the
employ of the Company and before the date of  expiration  of such  Option,  such
Option  shall  terminate on the earlier of such date of  expiration  or one year
following the date of death. After the death of the participant,  his executors,
administrators,  or any person or persons to whom his Option may be  transferred
by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, shall have the right, at any
time prior to the expiration of an Option, to exercise the Option, in respect of
the number of shares that the  participant  would have been entitled to purchase
if he had exercised the Option on the date of his death while in employment.

          In  addition,  in the  event of the  retirement  of the  holder of any
Non-statutory  Stock Option,  in accordance with the provisions of the Company's
then existing policies regarding retirement as applied by the Committee,  before
the date of  expiration  of such  Option,  such Option  shall  terminate  on the
earlier  of such  date of  expiration  or one  year  following  the date of such
retirement and, if such participant  should die within the one-year period,  any
rights he may have to exercise the Option shall be  exercisable  by his executor
or  administrator  or the person or  persons to whom the Option  shall have been
transferred  by  his  will  or by  the  laws  of  descent  or  distribution,  as
appropriate, for the remainder of the one-year period.

          For purposes of Incentive  Stock  Options  issued under this Plan,  an
employment  relationship between the Company and the participant shall be deemed
to exist during any period in which the  participant is employed by the Company,
by any parent or subsidiary corporation, by a corporation issuing or assuming an
option in a  transaction  to which Section  424(a) of the Code applies,  or by a
parent or  subsidiary  corporation  of such  corporation  issuing or assuming an
option  (and for this  purpose,  the phrase  corporation  issuing or assuming an
option shall be  substituted  for the word Company in the  definitions of parent
and subsidiary


                                        4

<PAGE>



corporations  specified in Paragraph 3 of this Plan,  and the  parent-subsidiary
relationship shall be determined at the time of the corporation action described
in Section  424(a) of the Code).  For purposes of  Non-statutory  Stock  Options
issued under this Plan, an employment  relationship  between the Company and the
participant  will exist under the  circumstances  described  above for Incentive
Stock  Options  and will also  exist if the  participant  is  transferred  to an
affiliate corporation approved by the Committee.

          13.      Restricted Stock.

          (a) Restricted  Stock Awards.  The Committee  may, in its  discretion,
grant one or more Awards of Restricted Stock to any  participant.  Each Award of
Restricted  Stock shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock agreement which shall
specify  the  number  of  shares  of  Restricted  Stock  to  be  issued  to  the
participant,  the date of such issuance,  the price (the "Purchase  Price"),  if
any,  to be paid in cash for such  shares by the  participant,  the time  period
during which the  Restricted  Stock must be held before it becomes  fully vested
(the "Restriction  Period"),  and any other conditions imposed on such shares as
the  Committee,  in  its  discretion,   shall  determine.   Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  the Committee shall impose upon each Award of Restricted  Stock made
to a participant who is an executive officer of the Company a Restriction Period
expiring no earlier  than six months  after the date of grant of the  Restricted
Stock.  Shares of  Restricted  Stock shall be evidenced  by a stock  certificate
registered only in the name of the participant, which stock certificate shall be
held by the Company until the  restrictions on such shares shall have lapsed and
those shares shall have thereby vested in full.

          (b) Maximum Award of Restricted Stock. The maximum number of shares of
Common  Stock may be allotted by the  Committee  pursuant  to  Restricted  Stock
awarded to any individual  participant  shall not exceed,  in any calendar year,
50,000 shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to Paragraph 17 of the Plan).

          (c)      Restrictions and Forfeitures.

                   (i) Shares  included in  Restricted  Stock  Awards may not be
sold,  assigned,  transferred,  pledged or otherwise  disposed of or encumbered,
either voluntarily or involuntarily, until such share have fully vested.

                   (ii)  Participants   receiving   Restricted  Stock  shall  be
entitled to dividend  and voting  rights for the shares  issued even though they
are not vested,  provided that such rights shall terminate immediately as to any
forfeited Restricted Stock.

                   (iii) In the event that the  participant  shall have paid any
cash for the Restricted  Stock,  the agreement shall specify whether and to what
extent  such cash  shall be  returned  upon a  forfeiture  (with or  without  an
earnings factor).

                   (iv)  The  Restricted  Stock  shall be  evidenced  by a stock
certificate  registered  only  in the  name  of  the  participant,  which  stock
certificate  shall be held by the Company until the  Restricted  Stock has fully
vested.

                   (v) The occurrence of any of the following events shall cause
the immediate vesting of the Restricted Stock:

A.        the death of the participant;

B.        the retirement of the participant in accordance with the then existing
          policies of the Company as applied by the Committee;


                                        5

<PAGE>




C.        the disability of the participant.

Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  to the  extent  a  condition(s)  other  than a
Restriction  Period has been imposed by the Committee upon the Restricted Stock,
the  occurrence of the foregoing  shall not cause  immediate  vesting unless and
until such condition(s) has been met.

                   (vi) A Restricted Stock Award shall be entirely  forfeited by
the participant in the event that prior to vesting, the participant breaches any
terms or conditions of the Plan, the  participant  resigns from or is terminated
(with or without cause) by the Company, or any condition(s) imposed upon vesting
are not met.

          (d)  Performance  or  Other  Conditions.  The  Committee  may,  in its
absolute  discretion,  make the vesting of any Restricted Stock Award subject to
the  fulfillment of a performance or other  condition.  The Committee shall have
the absolute discretion in determining the terms of any such condition.

          (e) Legend on Certificates.  Each certificate  evidencing a Restricted
Stock Award under the Plan shall be  registered  in the name of the  participant
and deposited by the participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank,
with the Company and shall bear the following (or a similar) legend:

          "The  transferability  of this  certificate  and the  shares  of stock
          represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions  (including
          forfeiture)  contained  in The Shaw Group  Inc.  1993  Employee  Stock
          Option Plan and a Restricted Stock Agreement  entered into between the
          registered  owner  and The Shaw  Group  Inc.  Copies  of such Plan and
          Agreement  are on file in the  offices  of the  Secretary  of The Shaw
          Group Inc., 11100 Mead Road, 2nd Floor, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816."

          (f)  Section  83(b)  Elections.  Within 30 days after the  issuance of
shares of Restricted  Stock to a  participant  under the Plan,  the  participant
shall decide whether or not to file an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the
Code and Treasury  Regulation  Section 1.83-2 (and state law counterparts)  with
respect to such Restricted Stock. If the participant does file such an election,
the participant shall promptly furnish the Company with a copy of such election.

          (g) Agreements to Award  Restricted  Stock.  In  amplification  of the
Committee's authority under the Plan, but in no way limiting such authority, the
Committee, pursuant to this Paragraph 13, shall have the authority to enter into
agreements  with  participants  to make, in the future,  and subject to whatever
terms and  conditions  the Committee  deems  appropriate,  an award of shares of
Restricted  Stock.  If an  Award of  Restricted  Stock  is made  pursuant  to an
agreement to make same, the Restricted  Stock Award shall at the time granted be
subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

          14.  Requirements of Law. The Company shall not be required to sell or
issue any shares under any Award if the issuance of such shares shall constitute
a violation by the  participant  or the Company of any  provisions of any law or
regulation  of any  governmental  authority.  Each Award  granted under the Plan
shall be subject to the requirements that, if at any time the Board of Directors
of the Company or the Committee shall determine that the listing,  registration,
or qualification  of the shares subject thereto upon any securities  exchange or
under any state or federal law of the United  States or of any other  country or
governmental subdivision thereof, or the consent or approval of any governmental
regulatory  body,  or  investment  or other  representations,  are  necessary or
desirable in connection with the issue or purchase of shares subject thereto, no
Option may be exercised in whole or in part nor may  Restricted  Stock be issued
unless such listing,


                                        6

<PAGE>



registration,  qualification,  consent,  approval,  or representation shall have
been effected or obtained free of any  conditions not acceptable to the Board of
Directors.  If required at any time by the Board of Directors or the  Committee,
an Option may not be exercised and Restricted  Stock may not be issued until the
participant  has  delivered an  investment  letter to the Company.  In addition,
specifically  in connection  with the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  upon
exercise  of any  Option,  the  Company  shall  not be  required  to  issue  the
underlying shares unless the Committee has received evidence  satisfactory to it
to the effect  that the holder of such  Option  will not  transfer  such  shares
except pursuant to registration  statement in effect under such Act or unless an
opinion  of counsel  satisfactory  to the  Committee  has been  received  by the
Company to the effect that such registration is not required.  Any determination
in this connection by the Committee shall be final, binding, and conclusive.  In
the event the shares issuable on exercise of an Option are not registered  under
the  Securities  Act of  1933,  as  amended,  the  Company  may  imprint  on the
certificate  for such  shares the  following  legend or any other  legend  which
counsel for the Company  considers  necessary  or  advisable  to comply with the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended:

The shares of stock  represented by this  certificate  have not been  registered
under the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  or under the securities  laws of
any state and may not be sold or transferred  except upon such  registration  or
upon receipt by the  Corporation  of an opinion of counsel  satisfactory  to the
Corporation,  in  form  and  substance  satisfactory  to the  Corporation,  that
registration is not required for such sale or transfer.

The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to,  register any securities
covered hereby  pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and, in the
event any  shares  are so  registered,  the  Company  may  remove  any legend on
certificates  representing  such shares.  The Company  shall not be obligated to
take any other  affirmative  action in order to cause the exercise of an Option,
the issuance of shares pursuant  thereto or the issuance of shares of Restricted
Stock to comply with any law or regulation of any governmental authority.

          15. No Rights of Option Holder as  Shareholder.  No participant  shall
have rights as a shareholder  with respect to shares covered by his Option until
the date of issuance of a stock  certificate  for such  shares;  and,  except as
otherwise  provided in Paragraph 17 hereof,  no  adjustment  for  dividends,  or
otherwise,  shall be made if the record  date  therefor  is prior to the date of
issuance of such certificate.

          16. Employment Obligation.  The granting of any Award shall not impose
upon the Company any obligation to employ or continue to employ any participant;
and the right of the Company to terminate the employment of any officer or other
employee at will, with or without cause,  shall not be diminished or affected by
reason of the fact that an Award has been granted to him.

          17.  Changes in the  Company's  Capital  Structure.  The  existence of
outstanding  Options or unvested shares of Restricted  Stock shall not affect in
any way the  right  or  power  of the  Company  or its  shareholders  to make or
authorize any or all adjustments,  recapitalizations,  reorganizations, or other
changes in the Company's  capital  structure or its  business,  or any merger or
consolidation of the Company,  or any issue of bonds,  debentures,  preferred or
prior  preference  stock ahead of or  affecting  the Common  Stock or the rights
thereof,  or the  dissolution  or  liquidation  of the  Company,  or any sale or
transfer of all or any part of its assets or  business,  or any other  corporate
act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

          If the Company shall effect a subdivision or  consolidation  of shares
or other capital adjustment of, or the payment of a dividend in capital stock or
other equity  securities of the Company on, its Common Stock,  or other increase
or  reduction  of the number of shares of the  Common  Stock  without  receiving
consideration  therefor in money, services, or property, or the reclassification
of its Common Stock, in


                                        7

<PAGE>



whole or in part,  into other equity  securities  of the  Company,  then (a) the
number,  class,  and  per-share  price of  shares  of Common  Stock  subject  to
outstanding  Options or unvested  shares of Restricted  Stock hereunder shall be
appropriately  adjusted  (or,  in the  case  of the  issuance  of  other  equity
securities as a dividend on, or in a reclassification  of, the Common Stock, the
Awards shall extend to such other  securities) in such a manner as to entitle an
participant to receive (except to vesting and the conditions of the Award),  for
the same  aggregate  cash  consideration,  the same  total  number  and class or
classes of shares (or, in the case of a dividend  of or  reclassification  into,
other equity  securities,  such other  securities) he would have held after such
adjustment  if he had  exercised  his  Option  in  full  (or if  the  shares  of
Restricted Stock had fully vested)  immediately prior to the event requiring the
adjustment,  or, if applicable,  the record date for determining shareholders to
be  affected  by such  adjustment;  and (b) the number and class of shares  then
reserved  for  issuance  under the Plan (or,  in the case of a  dividend  of, or
reclassification into, other equity securities,  such other securities) shall be
adjusted  by classes of shares of stock  (or,  in the case of a dividend  of, or
reclassification  into,  other equity  securities,  such other  securities) that
would have been received by the owner of an equal number of  outstanding  shares
of Common Stock as a result of the event  requiring the  adjustment.  Comparable
rights shall accrue to each participant in the event of successive subdivisions,
consolidations,  capital  adjustments,  dividends,  or  reclassifications of the
character described above.

          If the Company shall distribute to all holders of its shares of Common
Stock (including any such distribution  made to  non-dissenting  shareholders in
connection with a consolidation  or merger in which the Company is the surviving
corporation  and in which  holders of shares of Common  Stock  continue  to hold
shares  of  Common  Stock  after  such  merger or  consolidation)  evidences  of
indebtedness  or cash or other assets (other than cash dividends  payable out of
consolidated  retained  earnings not in excess of, in any one-year  period,  the
greater of (i) an amount per share of Common Stock equal to ten percent (10%) of
the then  Current  Market  Price  and (ii) two  times  the  aggregate  amount of
dividends  per share paid during the  preceding  calendar  year and dividends or
distributions  payable in shares of Common Stock or other equity  securities  of
the Company  described in the  immediately  preceding  paragraph,  but including
stock or other  securities  of any  corporation  or  other  entity  owned by the
Company),  then  in each  case  the  Option  Price  or the  Purchase  Price,  as
applicable,  shall be  adjusted  by reducing  the Option  Price or the  Purchase
Price,  as applicable,  in effect  immediately  prior to the record date for the
determination of shareholders  entitled to receive such distribution by the fair
market  value,  as  determined  in good faith by the Board of  Directors  of the
Company  (whose  determination  shall be described  in a statement  filed in the
Company's  corporate records and be available for inspection by any participant)
of the portion of the evidence of  indebtedness or cash or other assets so to be
distributed  applicable to one share of Common Stock;  provided that in no event
shall the Option Price or the Purchase  Price,  as applicable,  be less than the
par value of a share of Common Stock. Such adjustment shall be made whenever any
such  distribution  is  made  and  shall  become  effective  on the  date of the
distribution  retroactive  to the  record  date  for  the  determination  of the
shareholders entitled to receive such distribution. Comparable adjustments shall
be made in the event of  successive  distributions  of the  character  described
above.

          After the merger of one or more corporations  into the Company,  after
any consolidation of the Company and any one or more corporations,  or after any
other corporate transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code in which the
Company shall be the surviving corporation,  each participant,  at no additional
cost,  shall be  entitled to receive in lieu of the number of shares as to which
the Award shall then be  applicable,  the number and class of shares of stock or
other  equity  securities  to which the  participant  would  have been  entitled
pursuant to the terms of the agreement of merger or consolidation if at the time
of such merger or  consolidation  such participant had been a holder of a number
of shares of Common  Stock  equal to the  number of shares as to which the Award
shall then be applicable and, if as a result of such merger,  consolidation,  or
other  transaction,  the holders of Common Stock are not entitled to receive any
shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms thereof,  each  participant,  at no
additional cost, shall


                                        8

<PAGE>



be entitled  to receive,  upon  exercise  of his option,  such other  assets and
property, including cash, to which he would have been entitled if at the time of
such merger,  consolidation,  or other transaction he had been the holder of the
number of shares of Common  Stock  equal to the number of shares as to which the
Award  shall  then  be  applicable.  Comparable  rights  shall  accrue  to  each
participant  in  the  event  of  successive  mergers  or  consolidations  of the
character described above.

          After a merger of the Company into one or more corporations, after any
consolidation of the Company and any one or more corporation, or after any other
corporate  transaction  described  in  Section  424(a)  of the Code in which the
Company  is  not  the  surviving  corporation,  each  participant  shall,  at no
additional cost, be entitled, at the option of the surviving corporation, (i) to
have his then existing Award assumed or to have a new award  substituted for the
existing  Award by the surviving  corporation to the  transaction  which is then
employing him, or a parent or subsidiary of such  corporation,  on a basis where
the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the shares subject to the award
immediately  after the  substitution or assumption over the aggregate  option or
purchase price of such award is equal to the excess of the aggregate fair market
value of all shares subject to the Award immediately before such substitution or
assumption over the aggregate Option Price or Purchase Price, as applicable,  of
such shares, provided that the shares subject to the new award must be traded on
the New York or American Stock Exchange or quoted on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System, or (ii) to receive in lieu of the
number of shares as to which the Award shall then be applicable, the securities,
property, and other assets,  including cash, to which the participant would have
been entitled  pursuant to the terms of the agreement of merger or consolidation
or the agreement  giving rise to the other corporate  transaction if at the time
of such merger,  consolidation,  or other  transaction such participant had been
the holder of the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares
as to which the Award shall then be applicable.

          For  purposes of the Plan,  Current  Market  Price per share of Common
Stock shall mean the closing price of a share of Common Stock as reported by the
principal national  securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed
if the Common  Stock is then listed on a national  securities  exchange,  or the
average  bid and  asked  prices of a share of Common  Stock as  reported  in the
NASDAQ  listing if the Common Stock is not then listed on a national  securities
exchange,  on the trading day  immediately  preceding  the first  trading day on
which,  as a result of the  establishment  of a record  date or  otherwise,  the
trading  price  reflects  that an acquiror of Common Stock in the public  market
will not  participate  in or receive the payment of any  applicable  dividend or
distribution.

          Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, the issuance by the Company
of shares of stock of any class, or securities  convertible into shares of stock
of any class, for cash or property,  or for labor or services either upon direct
sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe  therefor,  or upon
conversion of shares or obligations of the Company  convertible into such shares
or other securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall
be made with  respect  to,  the  number or price of shares of Common  Stock then
subject to outstanding Awards.

          18.  Substitute  Options.  Options may be granted  under the Plan from
time to time in  substitution  for  stock  options  held by  employees  of other
corporations who are about to become employees of the Company, or whose employer
is  about  to  become  a  parent  or  subsidiary  corporation  of  the  Company,
conditioned in the case of an incentive stock option upon the employee  becoming
an employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company,
as a  result  of the  merger  or  consolidation  of  the  Company  with  another
corporation,  or the  acquisition  by the Company of the issued and  outstanding
stock of another  corporation  as the result of which it becomes a subsidiary of
the Company.  The terms and conditions of the substitute  Options so granted may
vary from the terms and  conditions  set forth in the Plan to such extent as the
Board of Directors of the Company at the time of grant


                                        9

<PAGE>


may deem  appropriate to conform,  in whole or in part, to the provisions of the
stock options in  substitution  for which they are granted,  but with respect to
stock options which are incentive stock options, no such variation shall be such
as to affect  the status of any such  substitute  option as an  incentive  stock
option under Section 422 of the Code.

          19.  Amendment or  Termination  of Plan.  The Board of  Directors  may
modify,  revise,  or  terminate  the Plan at any  time  and  from  time to time;
provided,  however,  that without the further  approval of the holders of shares
representing a majority of the total voting power of the Company at a meeting of
shareholders  or by  written  consent,  or if the  provisions  of the  corporate
charter,  by-laws,  or  applicable  state law  prescribes  a  greater  degree of
shareholder approval for this action, without the degree of shareholder approval
thus required, the Board of Directors may not (a) change the aggregate number of
shares which may be issued  pursuant to Awards under the provisions of the Plan,
(b) extend the term during which an Option may be  exercised or the  termination
date of the Plan, or (c)  materially  change the class of employees  eligible to
receive Awards under the Plan; unless, in each such case, the Board of Directors
of the  Company  shall  obtain an  opinion of legal  counsel to the effect  that
shareholder  approval of the  amendment is not required (i) by law,  (ii) by the
applicable  rules  and  regulations  of, or any  agreement  with,  any  national
securities  exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed,  or if the Common
Stock is not so listed,  the rules and  regulations,  or any agreement with, the
National  Association  of Securities  Dealers,  Inc., and (iii) in order to make
available to the  participant  with respect to any award granted under the Plan,
the benefits of rule 16b-3 of the Rules and Regulations  under the Exchange Act,
or any similar or successor rule. In addition, the Board shall have the power to
make  such  changes  in  the  Plan  and in the  regulations  and  administrative
provisions  hereunder or in any outstanding  Option as in the opinion of counsel
for the Company may be necessary or appropriate  from time to time to enable any
Option granted  pursuant to the Plan to qualify as incentive stock options under
Section 422 of the Code, and the regulations  which may be issued  thereunder as
in existence from time to time.

          20. Written Agreement.  Each Award granted hereunder shall be embodied
in a written  agreement,  which  shall be  subject  to the terms and  conditions
prescribed  above and shall be signed by the  participant and by the appropriate
officer of the Company for and in the name and on behalf of the Company. Such an
agreement  shall  contain  such  other  provisions  as  the  Committee,  in  its
discretion, shall deem advisable.

          21.  Indemnification  of Committee.  The Company shall, to the fullest
extent  provided  by law,  indemnify  each  present  and  future  member  of the
Committee  against,  and each member of the Committee shall be entitled  without
further  act on his  part  to  indemnity  from  the  Company  for  all  expenses
(including,  without  limitation,  reasonable  attorneys'  fees,  the  amount of
judgments,  and the  amount  of  approved  settlements  made  with a view to the
curtailment  of costs of  litigation,  other than  amounts  paid to the  Company
itself)  reasonably  incurred  by him in  connection  with or arising out of any
action,  suit,  or proceeding in which he may be involved by reason of his being
or having been a member of the Committee, whether or not he continues to be such
member of the Committee at the time of incurring  such  expenses.  The foregoing
right of indemnification shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,  executors, or
administrators  of each such member of the Committee and shall be in addition to
all other  rights to which such  member of the  Committee  may be  entitled as a
matter of law,  contract,  or otherwise.  Nothing in this Paragraph 21, shall be
construed to limit or otherwise affect any right to  indemnification  or payment
of expense,  or any provisions limiting the liability of any officer or director
of the Company or any member of the Committee,  provided by law, the Articles of
Incorporation of the Company, or otherwise.

          22.  Effective Date of Plan. The Plan shall become effective and shall
be deemed to have been adopted on December 1, 1993.





B.F. Shaw, Inc.
Sunland Fabricatiors, Inc.
National Fabricators, Inc.
Lone Star Fabricators, Inc.
FVF, Incorporated
Associated Valve, Inc.
Shaw Industrial Supply Co., Inc.
Fronek Engineering & Consulting, Inc.
Fronek A/DE, Inc.
Fronek Power Services, Inc.
Shaw/Fronek Fabricators, Inc.
Secorp, Inc.
Shaw International, Inc.
Shaw Overseas (Cayman) Ltd.
Shaw-Nass Middle East, W.L.L.
World Industrial Constructors, Inc.
Shaw Overseas (Far East) Ltd.
Shaw Asia Company Limited
Manufacturas Shaw South America, C.A.
Shaw Heat Treating, C.A.
Shaw Holding South America, C.A.
Shaw Trading FSC, Ltd.
Shaw Group UK, Limited
Shaw Group International, Inc.
Alloy Piping Products, Inc.
Word Industries Fabricators, Inc.
Welding Technologies of America, Inc.
Shaw Managed Services, Inc.
Shaw Power Services, Inc.
NAPTech, Inc.
NAPTech Pressure Systems Corporation
IRM/NAPTech Joint Venture, L.L.C.
Pipe Shields, Inc.
United Crafts, Inc.
UCI Holding, Inc.
ACL Piping
SAON Properties, Inc.
Shaw Maintenance, Inc.
Worldwide Industrial Constructors, Inc. 

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