SHAW GROUP INC
S-3, 1997-07-01
MISCELLANEOUS FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS
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<PAGE>
        As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 1, 1997.
                            Registration No. 333-____
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-3
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                               THE SHAW GROUP INC.
            (Exact name of registration as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<S>                                         <C>
     Louisiana                                          72-1106167
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)              T.A. Barfield, Jr.
 11100 Mead Road                             Secretary and General Counsel
 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816                11100 Mead Road, Second Floor
 Telephone (504) 296-1140                    Baton Rouge, LA  70816
                                             (504) 296-1140

(Address,  including zip code, and (Name, address, including zip code, telephone
 number,  including area and telephone  number,  including code, of registrant's
 principal area code, of agent for service) executive offices)
</TABLE>
                                    Copy to:
                            J. Michael Robinson, Jr.
        Kantrow, Spaht, Weaver & Blitzer (A Professional Law Corporation)
                                  P.O. Box 2997
                    Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2997 (504) 383-4703

         Approximate  date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From
time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

         If the only securities  being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the following
box: |_|

         If any of the  securities  being  registered  on  this  Form  are to be
offered  on a  delayed  or  continuous  basis  pursuant  to Rule 415  under  the
Securities Act of 1933,  other than  securities  offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: |X|

         If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the  Securities  Act  registration  number  of the  earliest  effective
registration statement for the effective offering: |_| _____________________.

         If this  Form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed  pursuant  to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act registration number of the earlier effective  registration statement for the
same offering: |_| _____________.

         If delivery of the  prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box: |_|

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of each class               Proposed maximum  Proposed maximum
of securities      Amount to be   offering price    aggregate           Amount
to be registered   Registered     per share (1)     offering price        of
                                                    (1)             registration
                                                                          fee
================================================================================
 Common Stock,        432,881         16.250        7,034,316.20       2,131.61
 no par value,
================================================================================
(1)  Estimated  solely  for the  purpose of  calculating  the  registration  fee
pursuant to Rule 457(c) based on the closing price of the Common Stock  reported
in the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 1997.

         The Registrant hereby amends this  Registration  Statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its  effective  date until the  Registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically  states that this Registration
Statement shall  thereafter  become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  or until the  Registration  Statement
shall become  effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said
Section 8(a), may determine.

<PAGE>

     
********************************************************************************

Information   contained  herein  is  subject  to  completion  or  amendment.   A
registration  statement  relating  to these  securities  has been filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  These  securities may not be sole nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration  statement  becomes
effective.  This  prospectus  shall  not  constitute  an  offer  to  sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these  securities
in any State in which such offer,  solication or sale would be unlawful prior to
registration  or  qualification  under the  securities  laws of any such  State.

********************************************************************************


           [Red]->              SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED July 1, 1997
         PROSPECTUS
                                 432,881 Shares

                               The Shaw Group Inc.

                                  Common Stock


                              --------------------

         The 432,881 shares of common stock,  no par value (the "Common  Stock")
of The Shaw Group Inc. ("Shaw" or the "Company") offered hereby may be sold from
time to time by  certain  stockholders  of the  Company  described  herein  (the
"Selling  Stockholders")  in  transactions  on the New York Stock  Exchange (the
"NYSE"),  otherwise in the over-the-counter market or otherwise at prices and at
terms  prevailing  at the time of sale,  at prices  related to the then  current
market price or in negotiated transactions.  The Company will not receive any of
the  proceeds  from the  sale of the  shares  of  Common  Stock  by the  Selling
Stockholders.  All of the  shares  of the  Common  Stock  owned  by the  Selling
Stockholders have been "restricted securities" under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), prior to their registration hereunder.

         In transactions effective as of January 27, 1997, the Company issued an
aggregate of 432,881 shares of the Common Stock to the Selling  Stockholders for
all of the outstanding  capital stock of NAPTech,  Inc.  ("NAPTech") and certain
real estate and buildings of a NAPTech-related entity, Freeport Properties, L.C.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Company and the Selling  Stockholders,  the
Company  agreed to prepare and file a shelf  registration  statement on Form S-3
with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission") to register the
offering of the shares of Common Stock covered hereby.  This Prospectus has been
prepared for use in  connection  with future sales of the shares of Common Stock
by the Selling Stockholders under the shelf registration  statement on Form S-3.
For more  information  concerning the Selling  Stockholders and related matters,
see "Selling  Stockholders and Plan of Distribution." The shares of Common Stock
may be sold  from  time to time by the  Selling  Stockholders  pursuant  to this
Prospectus or in transactions  exempt from the registration  requirements of the
Securities Act. In connection with any sales,  the Selling  Stockholders and any
brokers  participating in such sales may be deemed to be  "underwriters"  within
the  meaning  of the  Securities  Act.  See  "Selling  Stockholders  and Plan of
Distribution".  Outstanding  shares of Common Stock of the Company are listed on
the NYSE under the symbol "SGR".

     See "Risk  Factors"  for a  discussion  of certain  factors  that should be
considered by prospective purchasers of the Common Stock offered hereby.

                              ---------------------

          THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
     NOR HAS THE  SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES
       COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
            ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                The date of this Prospectus is July __, 1997.


<PAGE>



     THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAS NOT PASSED ON OR ENDORSED
THE MERITS OF THIS OFFERING.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL.


                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:

     (a)      The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
              August 31, 1996;

     (b)      The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
              November 30, 1997;

     (c)      The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
              February 28, 1997;

     (d)      The Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 11, 1997,
              as amended by Amendment No.1 on Form 8-K/A-1 dated April 9, 1997;

     (e)      The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 17, 1997;

     (f)      The  Company's   Proxy   Statement  dated  December  31,  1996  in
              connection with the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders  held
              on January 29, 1997; and

     (g)      The  description  of the Company's  Common Stock  contained in the
              Company's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  8-A  (including  any
              amendments  or  reports  filed for the  purpose of  updating  such
              description).

     All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections
13(a),  13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus
and prior to the termination of the offering of the Common Stock pursuant hereto
shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by reference in this Prospectus and to be a
part  hereof  from the  date of the  filing  of such  documents.  Any  statement
contained  in this  Prospectus  or in a  document  incorporated  or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this  Prospectus  shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded  for  purposes  of this  Prospectus  to the extent  that a  statement
contained in this  Prospectus or in any other  subsequently  filed document that
also  is or is  deemed  to be  incorporated  by  reference  herein  modifies  or
supersedes  such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded  shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Prospectus.

     The Company  undertakes to provide  without charge to each person to whom a
copy of this Prospectus has been delivered,  upon the written or oral request of
any such person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference
herein,  other than the  exhibits to such  documents,  unless such  exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference into the information that this Prospectus
incorporates. Written or oral requests for such copies should be directed to the
Company's  executive  offices at 11100 Mead Road,  Second  Floor,  Baton  Rouge,
Louisiana 70816, Attention: Secretary (telephone number: (504) 296-1140).

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     The Company is subject to the informational  requirements of the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and, in  accordance
therewith,  files  reports,  proxy  statements  and other  information  with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission").  Such reports,  proxy
statements and other information filed by the Company with the Commission can be
inspected  at the  Public  Reference  Section  of the  Commission  at Room 1024,
Judiciary  Plaza,  450 Fifth  Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549,  and the
Regional Offices of the Commission at Citicorp Center,  500 West Madison Street,
Suite 1400, Chicago,  Illinois  60661-2511,  and 7 World Trade Center, New York,
New York 10048.  Copies of such  material  can also be obtained  from the Public
Reference  Section of the Commission at Room 1024,  Judiciary  Plaza,  450 Fifth
Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549,  at prescribed  rates.  The Commission
maintains  a World  Wide Web site on the  Internet  at  http://www.sec.gov  that
contains  reports,  proxy  and  information  statements  and  other  information
regarding registrants that

                                        2

<PAGE>



file  electronically  with the Commission.  Such reports,  proxy and information
statements  and other  information  concerning the Company can also be inspected
and  copied at the  offices of the NYSE,  20 Broad  Street,  New York,  New York
10005.

     The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration  Statement on Form
S-3 under the  Securities  Act with respect to the Common Stock offered  hereby.
This Prospectus,  which constitutes a part of the Registration  Statement,  does
not  contain all of the  information  set forth in the  Registration  Statement,
certain items of which are contained in exhibits to the  Registration  Statement
as  permitted  by the rules  and  regulations  of the  Commission.  For  further
information  with  respect to the Company and the Common Stock  offered  hereby,
reference is made to the Registration Statement, including the exhibits thereto.
Statements  made in this  Prospectus  concerning  the  contents of any  document
referred  to herein  are not  necessarily  complete.  With  respect to each such
document filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration  Statement,
the  material  terms of each such  document  are set  forth in this  Prospectus.
However, reference is made to the exhibit for a more complete description of the
matter  involved,  and each  such  statement  shall be deemed  qualified  in its
entirety by such reference.

                 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND ASSOCIATED RISK

     This  Prospectus,  including  the  information  incorporated  by reference,
contains  forward-looking  statements  within the  meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities  Act and  Section  21E of the  Exchange  Act.  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 the factors  described in this  Prospectus  including,
but not  limited  to,  (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.
See "Risk Factors." In light of these risks and  uncertainties,  there can be no
assurance  that  actual  results  will be as  projected  in the  forward-looking
statements.

                                   THE COMPANY

     Shaw  is  a  leading   supplier  of  industrial   piping  systems  for  new
construction  and retrofit  projects  throughout  the world,  primarily  for the
electric power, refining and chemical industries. Shaw is committed to being the
"total piping resource" for its customers by offering  comprehensive  design and
engineering  services,  piping system fabrication,  construction and maintenance
services,  manufacturing  and sale of  specialty  pipe  fittings  and design and
fabrication of pipe support systems.

     The  Company  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 fiscal 1988 to
$222.0 million in fiscal 1996,  both  increasing its domestic and  international
businesses.  Through internal expansion and a series of strategic  acquisitions,
the  Company  has  expanded  its  fabrication  capacity,  increased  its bending
capabilities and broadened its piping system products and services.

     The Company's principal executive offices are located at 11100 Mead Road,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816, telephone: (504) 296-1140.

                                  RISK FACTORS

     Prospective  purchasers of the Common Stock offered hereby should carefully
consider the following  risk factors,  together  with the  information  provided
elsewhere  in  this  Prospectus  (or  incorporated  herein  by  reference),   in
evaluating an investment in the Common Stock.

Cyclicality of Customer Projects

     The demand for the Company's products and services depends primarily on the
existence of construction  and retrofit  projects,  particularly in the electric
power,  refining and chemical  industries.  These industries  historically  have
been, and will

                                        3

<PAGE>



likely continue to be, cyclical in nature and vulnerable to general downturns in
the economy.  The  Company's  results of  operations  may vary  depending on the
availability of future projects from such industries.

Dependence on Major Customers

     Projects in the electric power, refining and chemical industries frequently
involve a lengthy and complex bidding and selection process,  and the ability of
the Company to obtain  future  contracts  is  difficult  to  predict.  Because a
significant portion of the Company's sales is generated from large projects, its
results of operations  can fluctuate  from quarter to quarter.  For fiscal 1996,
affiliates  of  Mitsubishi  Heavy  Industries  Ltd.  accounted  for 12.3% of the
Company's  sales.  While a  concentration  of  customers  has been  historically
prevalent,  because of the nature of the  Company's  business,  the  significant
customers vary between years.

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  and, that the market is extremely
competitive and its  relationship  with its suppliers is good.  Certain types of
raw  materials,  however,  are  available  from  only  one or a few  specialized
suppliers.  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.  And,  to the extent a sourcing  problem  does  occur,  the
Company's  ability to complete a project in a timely  fashion or at a profit may
be jeopardized  and  ultimately  result in a loss.  Furthermore,  because of the
volume of piping  materials  purchased,  the Company is often able to  negotiate
advantageous  purchase prices therefor. As a result, if a manufacturer is unable
to deliver the materials  pursuant to the negotiated  terms,  the Company may be
required to purchase the materials from another source at a higher price,  which
may reduce the profit to be realized  or possibly  result in a loss on a project
for which such materials were needed.

Potential for Product Liability and Warranty Claims

     Certain  of the  Company's  products  are  used  in  potentially  hazardous
environments, including without limitation, nuclear facilities. Any catastrophic
occurrences  in excess of  insurance  limits at  locations  where the  Company's
products are used could in the future result in  significant  product  liability
claims against the Company.

     In addition,  the Company  under certain  contracts  must use new metals or
processes for producing or fabricating  pipe for its customers,  and the failure
of any such metals or  processes  could  result in  significant  replacement  or
reworking costs on a project. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 1994 and the first
quarter of fiscal 1995,  the Company,  at a customer's  request,  engaged in the
significant reworking of a project. Warranty claims against the Company could in
the future result in significant reworkings.

Risks Associated with Competition

     The Company's  competition in the supply and  fabrication of piping systems
generally consists of a number of pipe fabricators domestically and divisions of
large industrial  firms in the  international  sector.  Some of the competitors,
especially  in the  international  sector,  have  greater  financial  and  other
resources than the Company.

Risks  Associated  with  Growth of Core  Business  and  Integration  of Acquired
Businesses

     In the past few years,  the  Company  has  experienced  substantial  growth
through internal  expansion and acquisitions,  and the Company plans to continue
to grow in this  manner.  This  growth,  and  the  resulting  need to  integrate
acquired companies into the Company's  operations  economically and efficiently,
has required, and will continue to require, significant management,  production,
technical,  financial  and other  resources.  Due to a  substantial  increase in
sales,  the Company has  experienced,  and is continuing to experience,  billing
delays.  There can be no assurance  that the Company will be able to manage this
growth

                                        4

<PAGE>



effectively or to integrate  fully the  operations of any acquired  company into
the Company,  and any failure to do so could have a material  adverse  effect on
the Company's results of operations or financial condition, or both.

Risks Associated with International Contracts, Operations and Expansion; Foreign
Exchange Risk

     To date, a  substantial  portion of the  Company's  sales and earnings have
been attributable to its sales to and operations in international  markets,  and
the  Company  expects   international  sales  and  operations  to  increase  and
substantially   contribute  to  the  Company's   growth  and  earnings  for  the
foreseeable  future.  The success of the Company's  sales to,  operations in and
expansion into international  markets depends on numerous factors, many of which
are beyond its control.  Such factors include,  but are not limited to, economic
conditions in the foreign  countries in which the Company  operates and to which
it sells its products and services and the lack of well-developed  legal systems
in certain of such countries. In addition,  international contracts,  operations
and expansion may increase the Company's  exposure to certain risks  inherent in
doing  business  outside the United  States,  including  currency  fluctuations,
restrictions on the repatriation of profits and assets,  compliance with foreign
laws and  standards and political  risks.  The Company  attempts to minimize its
foreign  exchange  risks,  primarily  through  denominating  contracts in United
States dollars or the inclusion of escalation provisions in contracts,  or both.
The Company  from time to time enters into  contracts  denominated  in a foreign
currency without  escalation  provisions,  thereby  subjecting itself to foreign
exchange  risks.  The Company  generally does not obtain such insurance or hedge
such risks. In addition, the Company's ability to obtain international contracts
is impacted by the  relative  strength or weakness of the United  States  dollar
relative to foreign currencies.

     During the last several years,  Venezuela has been  experiencing a monetary
and economic crisis. In response, the Venezuelan government imposed, among other
things,  foreign  exchange  controls  that  affected  the  Company's  ability to
repatriate  profits from the joint venture or otherwise  convert local  currency
into United States dollars.  Given Venezuela's lack of economic  stability,  the
Company  believes  that its  investment  in Venezuela may be at risk from future
foreign exchange and repatriation  restrictions.  There can be no assurance that
the Venezuelan operations will be profitable.

Fixed Price Contract Exposure

     Substantially all of the Company's  international  projects are quoted on a
"fixed" or "lump-sum"  price basis.  To the extent that the Company is unable to
secure fixed pricing  commitments from its suppliers at the time such a contract
is entered into and experiences cost increases for materials or labor during the
performance  of such a contract,  the  Company's  profit for such project  could
decrease,  or the Company could  experience a loss with respect to such contract
that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations
or financial condition, or both.

Control by Management

     At May  31,  1997,  the  officers  and  directors  of the  Company  and its
subsidiaries  beneficially  owned  approximately  53% of the outstanding  Common
Stock but controlled approximately 24% of the voting power. Consequently,  these
persons will be able to exercise  effective  control over corporate  actions and
the outcomes of matters requiring a shareholder vote,  including the election of
directors.

Voting Rights Tied to Duration of Stock Ownership; Anti-Takeover Effects

     The Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation provide that each share of
Common Stock that has been held by the same person for at least four consecutive
years is entitled to five votes on each matter to be voted upon at shareholders'
meetings,  and all shares held for less than four years are entitled to one vote
per share for each such matter. This charter provision could concentrate control
in existing shareholders of the Company, increase the difficulty of removing the
incumbent  Board of Directors or  management,  diminish  the  likelihood  that a
potential  buyer  would  make an  offer  for the  Common  Stock,  and  impede  a
transaction favorable to the interests of certain  shareholders.  Each purchaser
of shares of Common Stock  offered  hereby will be entitled to one vote for each
such share at all  shareholders'  meetings  until  such  shares  have  been,  in
accordance with the Company's  Restated Articles of Incorporation,  continuously
owned for a period of four years, in which case the holder

                                        5

<PAGE>



will be  entitled  to five  votes for each  share on all  matters  submitted  to
shareholders. See "Description of Capital Stock -- Common Stock".

Dependence on Key Management

     The success of the Company's business will be materially dependent upon the
continued  services of its  founder,  Chairman,  President  and Chief  Executive
Officer, J.M. Bernhard,  Jr., and other key officers and employees.  The loss of
Mr. Bernhard or such other key personnel due to death, disability or termination
of employment could have a material  adverse effect on the Company's  results of
operations or financial condition, or both.

Possible Work Stoppage

     Certain of the Company's  employees in the United States are represented by
the United  Association  of  Journeymen  and  Apprentices  of the  Plumbing  and
Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO (the "Union"). The
Company  experienced  a  Union-initiated  work  stoppage  of  five  days in 1992
relating  to  the  expiration  and  renegotiation  of  a  collective  bargaining
agreement  covering the Company's B.F. Shaw, Inc.  subsidiary in Laurens,  South
Carolina.  The collective bargaining agreement and the Union regarding the South
Carolina  facility was to have expired on November 30, 1996.  The  agreement has
been extended  indefinitely,  but either the Company or the Union may cancel the
agreement on ten business days prior written notice.

     The collective  bargaining  agreements  covering two of the Company's other
facilities located in Walker and Prairieville,  Louisiana were terminated by the
Union effective February 5, 1997, and certain members thereafter exercised their
right to strike as of that  date.  The strike  continues  as of the date of this
Prospectus.  Despite the strike,  operations at both facilities continue and the
Company  does  not  expect  any  material  impact  on  production  as a  result.
Notwithstanding  the lack of  impact  of the  present  strike  on the  Company's
operations,  a lengthy  strike or other work  stoppage  at any of the  Company's
facilities  could have a material  adverse  effect on the  Company's  results of
operations or financial condition, or both.

Risks Associated with Issuance of Preferred Stock

     The Company has available for issuance 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock,
no par value,  which the Board of  Directors  of the  Company is  authorized  to
issue,  in one or  more  series,  without  any  further  action  on the  part of
shareholders. In the event the Company issues a series of preferred stock in the
future that has preference  over the Common Stock with respect to the payment of
dividends and upon the  Company's  liquidation,  dissolution  or winding up, the
rights  of the  holders  of  Common  Stock  offered  hereby  could be  adversely
affected.  See "Description of Capital Stock -- Preferred  Stock".  In addition,
such an issuance  could  adversely  impact the market  price of the  outstanding
common stock.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Charter and Bylaw Provisions and Louisiana Law

     Certain  provisions of the Restated  Articles of Incorporation  and Amended
and Restated By-Laws of the Company and certain  provisions of Louisiana law may
tend to deter potential unsolicited offers or other efforts to obtain control of
the Company that are not approved by the Board of Directors. Such provisions may
therefore  deprive  the  shareholders  of the Company of  opportunities  to sell
shares of Common  Stock at prices  higher than  prevailing  market  prices.  See
"Description  of Capital Stock -- Louisiana  Fair Price and Control  Acquisition
Shares",  "-- Classified Board of Directors",  "-- Advance Notice Provisions for
Certain Shareholder Actions", and "-- Super Majority Provisions".

Volatility of Stock Price

     In the past, the Company has  experienced  significant  fluctuations in the
market price of its Common  Stock,  and, in the future,  the market price of the
Common Stock may  experience  fluctuations  that are  unrelated to the operating
performance of the Company, such as market conditions generally and developments
specifically related to the industrial piping industry. Additionally, the volume
of daily trading in the Common Stock to date has been limited, and, as a result,
the sale of a

                                        6

<PAGE>



significant number of shares of Common Stock by one or more shareholders  within
a relatively  short time period could adversely  affect the market price for the
Common Stock.

Absence of Dividends

     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.  In addition,  the Company is subject
to certain  prohibitions on the payment of dividends under the terms of existing
credit facilities.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

     The shares of Common Stock offered  hereby are being offered by the Selling
Stockholders.  See "Selling Stockholders and Plan of Distribution".  The Company
will not receive any of the  proceeds  from the sale of the Common  Stock by the
Selling Stockholders.

                  SELLING STOCKHOLDERS AND PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     The 432,881 shares of Common Stock (the "Shares")  being  registered  under
the shelf  registration  statement  of which this  Prospectus  forms a part were
acquired by the Selling  Stockholders  in connection with the acquisition by the
Company of all of the outstanding capital stock of NAPTech, Inc. ("NAPTech") and
certain  real  estate  and  buildings  of  a  NAPTech-related  entity,  Freeport
Properties, L.C. ("Freeport").  Of the aggregate 432,881 shares being registered
hereby,  43,288  shares  (approximately  10% of the shares issued to each of the
Selling  Stockholders)  are being held in escrow to secure  the  indemnification
obligations of the Selling Stockholders  pursuant to the acquisition  agreements
by which  the stock of  NAPTech  and the land and  buildings  of  Freeport  were
acquired.  In connection  with the  transactions  described  above,  the Company
agreed to file a  registration  statement with the Commission for the Shares and
the Company did file such  registration  statement on July 1, 1997.  The Shares
are being registered to facilitate their sale under the Securities Act. Pursuant
to such registration statement,  the Selling Stockholders may choose to sell all
or a portion of the Shares  from time to time in  transactions  reported  on the
NYSE,  in the  over-the-counter  market or otherwise at prices and at terms then
prevailing  or at  prices  related  to the  then  current  market  price,  or in
negotiated transactions. The table below reflects the number of shares of Common
Stock owned prior to the offering, the number of shares being offered hereby for
the Selling Stockholders account, and the percentage of outstanding shares to be
held by them following completion of the offering.  Although the following table
is presented on the assumption  that all of the Selling  Stockholders  will sell
all of their shares,  the Company cannot predict whether this in fact will occur
(and the Selling  Stockholders  have indicated that they do not presently intend
to sell all of their shares of Common Stock), the timing or amount of any actual
sales, or the impact thereof or the market price of the Company's  Common Stock.
In  connection  with the  transactions,  Bradford  J.  Brower and Greg R. Cowley
entered  into  employment  agreements  with  NAPTech.  As of the  date  of  this
Prospectus,  the  employment  of each of  Messrs.  Brower  and  Cowley  had been
terminated by NAPTech.

<TABLE>

<CAPTION>
                                             Beneficial Ownership Before                              Beneficial Ownership After
                                                     the Offering                                           the Offering1
       Name of Selling Stockholder
<S>                                            <C>                 <C>              <C>                  <C>              <C>

                                                                               Shares to be Sold
                                                Shares         Percent2                                Shares          Percent2
Bradford J. Brower                             112,728             *                112,728              --               --
Freeport Properties, L.C.                       83,333             *                83,333               --               --
Robertson Family Trust                          36,493             *                 36,493              --               --
Robert A. Schroeder                             37,996             *                 37,996              --               --
NUPETCO Associates, A Utah Limited              35,864             *                 35,864              --               --
Partnership



                                        7

<PAGE>




GES Investments, L.C.                           34,046             *                 34,046              --               --
SRW Investments, L.C.                           34,046             *                 34,046              --               --
Ballard Investment Company                      28,698             *                 28,698              --               --
Richard I. & Judith A. Winwood                  18,946             *                 18,946              --               --
Richard Winwood                                  4,474             *                 4,474               --               --
Prudential Securities                             734              *                  734                --               --
Greg R. Cowley                                 17,9413             *                 3,600             14,341              *
BB & GC Enterprises, L.L.C.                     1,923              *                 1,923               --               --
========================================== ================ ===============  ===================== ===============  ===============

</TABLE>

     1Assumes the Selling Stockholders sell all of their shares of Common Stock,
which  they may or may not do.  2Less  than 1%.  The  number of shares of Common
Stock  outstanding as of May 31, 1997 was 12,451,518.  Includes (i) 3,585 shares
acquired  upon the exercise of an option as of February  20, 1997,  which option
had been issued by the Company to replace an option to acquire  NAPTech  capital
stock and (ii) 10,756 shares that may be acquired upon the exercise of an option
that is presently exercisable,  which option had also been issued by the Company
to replace an option to acquire NAPTech capital stock.

     The Shares owned by the Selling  Stockholders may be sold from time to time
by the Selling Stockholders, on one or more exchanges or in the over-the-counter
market,  or otherwise at prices and on terms then  prevailing  or at prices then
related to the then current  market price,  or in negotiated  transactions.  The
Shares may be sold by or through  broker-dealers in one or more of the following
transactions:  (a) block  trades in which the broker or dealer so  engaged  will
attempt to sell the Shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the
block as principal to facilitate any  transaction,  (b) purchases by a broker or
dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its account pursuant
to the  Registration  Statement  relating  thereto,  and (c) ordinary  brokerage
transactions  and  transactions  in which the  broker  solicits  purchasers.  In
effecting  sales,  brokers and dealers engaged by the Selling  Stockholders  may
arrange for other  brokers or dealers to  participate.  Brokers or dealers  will
receive commissions or discounts from the Selling  Stockholders in amounts to be
negotiated (and, if such  broker-dealer  acts as agent for the purchaser of such
shares,  from  such  purchaser).  Broker-dealers  may  agree  with  the  Selling
Stockholders  to sell a  specified  number of Shares at a  stipulated  price per
Share,  and,  to the extent  such a  broker-dealer  is unable to do so acting as
agent for a Selling Stockholders,  to purchase as principal any unsold shares at
the price  required  to fulfill the  broker-dealer  commitment  to such  Selling
Stockholder.  Broker-dealers  who acquire  Shares as  principal  may  thereafter
resell such Shares from time to time in transactions  (which may involve crosses
and  book  transactions  and  which  may  involve  sales  to and  through  other
broker-dealers,  including  transactions,  of the nature described above) in the
over-the-counter  market,  in negotiated  transactions  or otherwise,  at market
prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices, and in connection
with such  resales  may pay to or receive  from the  purchasers  of such  Shares
commissions as described above.  Pursuant to the registration  agreement entered
into in connection with the transactions described above, the Company has agreed
to indemnify the Selling  Stockholders  against certain  liabilities,  including
liabilities under the Securities Act.

                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     The authorized  capital stock of the Company consists of 50,000,000  shares
of Common Stock, no par value;  and 5,000,000  shares of Preferred Stock, no par
value.  The following  summary of certain  provisions  of the Company's  capital
stock describes all material  provisions of, but does not purport to be complete
and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by, the Restated  Articles of
Incorporation  and the Amended  and  Restated  By-Laws of the  Company  that are
incorporated  herein by reference as exhibits to the  Registration  Statement of
which this Prospectus forms a part and by the provisions of applicable law.

Common Stock


                                        8

<PAGE>

     At May 31, 1997, there were 12,451,518 shares of Common Stock  outstanding.
In addition,  at May 31, 1997,  689,165  shares of Common Stock are reserved for
issuance  pursuant to the Company's  1993 Employee  Stock Option Plan and 50,000
shares of Common  Stock are  reserved  under  the  Company's  1996  Non-Employee
Director  Stock  Option  Plan  (the  "Director  Plan").   Cumulative  voting  is
prohibited  in the  election  of  directors.  The  holders  of Common  Stock are
entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time
to time by the Board of Directors out of funds legally  available  therefor.  In
the event of a  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up of the  Company,  the
holders of Common Stock are entitled to share  equally and ratably in the assets
available for distribution after payment of all liabilities,  and subject to any
prior  rights  of any  holders  of  preferred  stock  that  at the  time  may be
outstanding.  The Common Stock is not  redeemable,  does not have any conversion
rights  and is not  subject to call.  Holders of shares of Common  Stock have no
preemptive rights to maintain their respective percentage of ownership in future
offerings or sales of stock by the Company. The shares of Common Stock presently
outstanding are fully paid and  non-assessable.  The Company delisted the Common
Stock from the Nasdaq  National Market on October 17, 1996, and the Common Stock
commenced trading on the NYSE under the symbol "SGR" on October 18, 1996.

     Each  outstanding  share of Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to
five votes on each matter properly  submitted to the shareholders of the Company
for their  vote,  waiver,  release  or other  action;  except  that no holder of
outstanding  shares of Common  Stock will be entitled to exercise  more than one
vote on any such matter in respect of any share of Common  Stock with respect to
which  there has been a change in  beneficial  ownership  during  the four years
immediately  preceding  the  date  on  which  a  determination  is  made  of the
shareholders  of the  Company  who are  entitled  to vote or to take  any  other
action. A change in beneficial ownership of an outstanding share of Common Stock
will be deemed  to have  occurred  whenever  a change  occurs  in any  person or
persons  who,   directly  or  indirectly,   through  any  contract,   agreement,
arrangement,  understanding,  relationship or otherwise has or shares any of the
following:

     (a) voting power, which includes,  without limitation, the right to vote or
the power to direct the voting power of such share of Common Stock;

     (b) investment  power,  which includes,  without  limitation,  the power to
direct the sale or other disposition of such share of Common Stock;

     (c) the right to receive or to retain the proceeds of any sale or other
disposition of such share of Common Stock; or

     (d) the right to receive or to retain any distributions, including, without
limitation, cash dividends, in respect of such share of Common Stock.

     Without  limiting the generality of the foregoing,  the following events or
conditions will be deemed to involve a change in beneficial ownership of a share
of Common Stock:

     (a) in the absence of proof to the  contrary  provided in  accordance  with
certain  procedures  set forth below,  a change in beneficial  ownership will be
deemed to have  occurred  (i) whenever an  outstanding  share of Common Stock is
transferred  of  record  into the name of any  other  person,  and (ii) upon the
issuance of shares in a public offering;

     (b) in the case of an  outstanding  share of Common Stock held of record in
the name of a corporation,  general  partnership,  limited  partnership,  voting
trustee, bank, trust company,  broker, nominee or clearing agency, if it has not
been established  pursuant to the procedures set forth below that there has been
no change in the person or persons who or that direct the exercise of the rights
referred  to  in  (a)  through  (d),  inclusive,  above  with  respect  to  such
outstanding  share of Common Stock during the four years  immediately  preceding
the date on which a  determination  is made of the  shareholders  of the Company
entitled  to vote or to take  any  other  action,  then a change  in  beneficial
ownership of such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to have occurred  during
such period;

     (c) in the case of an  outstanding  share of Common Stock held of record in
the name of any person as a trustee,  agent,  guardian  or  custodian  under the
Uniform  Gifts to  Minors  Act as in  effect  in any  jurisdiction,  a change in
beneficial  ownership will be deemed to have occurred whenever there is a change
in the beneficiary of such trust,  the principal of such agent, the ward of such
guardian,  the  minor  for whom  such  custodian  is  acting or a change in such
trustee, agent, guardian or custodian; or

                                        9

<PAGE>

     (d) in the case of outstanding shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by
a person or group of persons, who, after acquiring,  directly or indirectly, the
beneficial  ownership of 5% of the outstanding  shares of Common Stock, fails to
notify the Company of such ownership within ten days after such  acquisition,  a
change in beneficial  ownership of such shares of Common Stock will be deemed to
occur on each day while such failure continues.

     Notwithstanding  any other provisions in the Company's Restated Articles of
Incorporation  to  the  contrary,  no  change  in  beneficial  ownership  of  an
outstanding  share of Common Stock shall be deemed to have occurred  solely as a
result of:

     (a) any  transfer of any interest in an  outstanding  share of Common Stock
pursuant to a bequest or inheritance,  by operation of law upon the death of any
individual or by any other transfer without valuable  consideration,  including,
without limitation, a gift that is made in good faith and not for the purpose of
circumventing   the   provisions   of  the   Company's   Restated   Articles  of
Incorporation;

     (b) any changes in  beneficiary  of any trust,  or any  distribution  of an
outstanding  share of Common  Stock from trust,  by reason of the birth,  death,
marriage or divorce of any natural  person;  the adoption of any natural  person
prior to age 18; or the passage of a given period of time or the  attainment  by
any natural  person of a specific  age; or the  creation or  termination  of any
guardianship or custodial arrangement;

     (c) any appointment of a successor  trustee,  agent,  guardian or custodian
with respect to an  outstanding  share of Common Stock if neither such successor
has nor its  predecessor  had the power to vote or to  dispose  of such share of
Common Stock without further instructions from others;

     (d) any change in the person to whom  dividends or other  distributions  in
respect of an  outstanding  share of Common Stock are to be paid pursuant to the
issuance or modification of a revocable dividend payment order;

     (e) any  issuance of a share of Common Stock by the Company or any transfer
by the  Company  of a share of Common  Stock  held in  treasury  other than in a
public offering thereto,  unless otherwise  determined by the Board of Directors
at the time of authorizing such issuance or transfer;

     (f) any  giving of a proxy in  connection  with a  solicitation  of proxies
subject to the provisions of Section 14 of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder promulgated;

     (g) any  transfer,  whether or not with  consideration,  among  individuals
related or formerly  related by blood,  marriage or  adoption  ("relatives")  or
between a relative and any person  controlled by one or more relatives where the
principal  purpose  for the  transfer  is to further  the  estate  tax  planning
objectives of the transferor or of relatives of the transferor;

     (h) any appointment of a successor  trustee as a result of the death of the
predecessor  trustee  (which  predecessor  trustee  shall  have  been a  natural
person);

     (i) any appointment of a successor trustee who or which was specifically
named in a trust instrument prior to the effective date of this Offering; or

     (j) any appointment of a successor  trustee as a result of the resignation,
removal  or  failure  to  qualify  of a  predecessor  trustee  or as a result of
mandatory  retirement  pursuant  to the  express  terms  of a trust  instrument;
provided, that less than 50% of the trustees administering any single trust will
have changed  (including in such  percentage  the  appointment  of the successor
trustee) during the four-year period preceding the appointment of such successor
trustee.


                                       10

<PAGE>

     All  determinations  concerning  changes in  beneficial  ownership,  or the
absence of any such  change,  are made by the Board of  Directors of the Company
or, at any time when the Company  employs a transfer  agent with  respect to the
shares of Common Stock, at the Company's request,  by such transfer agent on the
Company's   behalf.   Written   procedures   designated   to   facilitate   such
determinations  are to be established and may be amended,  from time to time, by
the Board of Directors.  Such procedures will provide,  among other things,  the
manner of proof of facts that will be accepted and the frequency with which such
proof may be required to be renewed.  The Company and any transfer agent will be
entitled to rely on any and all information  concerning  beneficial ownership of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock coming to their attention from any source
and in any manner  reasonably  deemed by them to be  reliable,  but  neither the
Company  nor any  transfer  agent  shall be  charged  with any  other  knowledge
concerning the beneficial ownership of outstanding shares of Common Stock.

     In the event of any  stock  split or stock  dividend  with  respect  to the
outstanding  shares of Common  Stock,  each share of Common  Stock  acquired  by
reason of such split or dividend will be deemed to have been beneficially  owned
by the same person from the same date as that on which  beneficial  ownership of
the  outstanding  share or shares of Common  Stock,  with  respect to which such
share of Common Stock was distributed, was acquired.

     Each outstanding share of Common Stock,  whether at any particular time the
holder  thereof  is  entitled  to  exercise  five  votes or one  vote,  shall be
identical to all other shares of Common Stock in all respects,  and together the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock will  constitute a single class of shares of
the Company.

Preferred Stock

     The Board of  Directors  is  authorized  to  provide  for the  issuance  of
5,000,000  shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and to fix the number
of  shares  constituting  any such  series,  the  voting  powers,  designations,
preferences  and relative,  participating,  optional or other special rights and
qualifications,  limitations  or  restrictions  thereof,  including the dividend
rights,  dividend  rate,  terms  of  redemption,  redemption  price  or  prices,
conversion  rights and liquidation  preferences of the shares  constituting  any
series,  without any further vote or action by the  shareholders of the Company.
The issuance of Preferred Stock by the Board of Directors could adversely affect
the rights of holders of Common Stock. For example,  issuance of Preferred Stock
could result in a series of securities  outstanding  that would have preferences
over the Common  Stock with  respect to dividends  and in  liquidation  and that
could (upon conversion or otherwise) enjoy all of the rights  appurtenant to the
Common  Stock.  The  authority  possessed  by the  Board of  Directors  to issue
Preferred  Stock could  potentially be used to discourage  attempts by others to
obtain control of the Company through merger,  tender offer,  proxy,  consent or
otherwise by making such attempts more difficult to achieve or more costly.  The
Board of Directors may issue  Preferred Stock without  shareholder  approval and
with voting and conversion  rights which could adversely affect the voting power
of holders of Common Stock.  There are no agreements or  understandings  for the
issuance of Preferred Stock, and the Board of Directors has no present intention
to issue any shares of Preferred Stock.

Louisiana Fair Price and Control Acquisition Statutes

     Under  Louisiana  law, the  acquisition  of voting power (a "control  share
acquisition") of an "issuing public  corporation"  that results in the purchaser
acquiring voting power in excess of 20%, 331/3% or 51% of the total voting power
of the issuing public corporation  requires approval of a majority of the voting
power  of the  issuing  public  corporation  and  each  class  entitled  to vote
separately on the proposal,  excluding the shares of the acquiring  person,  any
officer of the issuing public corporation and any employee of the issuing public
corporation  who is also a director of such  corporation.  Shares  acquired in a
control share  acquisition  without such approval will have no voting rights and
under certain  circumstances  may be subject to a redemption by the corporation.
The  restrictions  imposed  under  such  law  are  applicable  to all  Louisiana
corporations that fall within the definition of an "issuing public  corporation"
(as does the  Company)  unless the  issuing  public  corporation's  articles  of
incorporation  or by-laws,  as in effect  before the  acquisition  has occurred,
provide that such provisions do not apply.  The Company's  Restated  Articles of
Incorporation  and Amended and Restated By-Laws do not contain such a provision;
therefore,  the above  restrictions  contained in Louisiana  law do apply to the
Company.



                                       11

<PAGE>

     In addition, if certain elections were to be made by the Company's Board of
Directors under the Louisiana Business Corporation Law, unless certain price and
procedural  requirements are met, certain  business  combinations  involving the
Company and any holder of 20% or more of the Company's  outstanding voting stock
may be required  to be approved by at least (i) 80% of the votes  entitled to be
cast by holders of the outstanding voting stock and (ii) two-thirds of the votes
entitled to be cast by the holders of voting  stock other than the voting  stock
held by such  holder.  This  provision  could be regarded  as a  deterrent  to a
takeover  of the  Company  and  could be  applied  selectively  by the  Board of
Directors.

Limitation of Director and Officer Liability

     The Company's  Restated Articles of Incorporation  contain provisions which
eliminate  the  personal  liability of its  directors  and officers for monetary
damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty other than liability for
breaches of the duty of loyalty,  acts or  omissions  not in good faith or which
involve  intentional  misconduct or a knowing  violation of law, for  violations
under Section 92(D) of the Louisiana Business Corporation Law or any transaction
from which the director or officer  derived an improper  personal  benefit.  The
Restated   Articles  of   Incorporation   contain   provisions   requiring   the
indemnification  of the Company's  directors and officers to the fullest  extent
permitted by Section 83 of the Louisiana  Business  Corporation  Law,  including
circumstances in which indemnification is otherwise  discretionary.  The Company
agents  believe  that these  provisions  are  necessary  to  attract  and retain
qualified persons as directors and officers.

Classified Board of Directors

     The Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation provide that if the number
of directors  constituting  the entire Board of Directors is increased to twelve
or more members, then at the next meeting of shareholders at which directors are
to be elected,  the Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes,  the
members of which will serve staggered  three-year  terms.  The Company  believes
that a classified  board of directors  could help to assure the  continuity  and
stability  of the  Board's  and  Shaw's  business  strategies  and  policies  as
determined  by the  Board of  Directors.  The  classified  board  provision,  if
implemented,  could have the effect of making the removal of incumbent directors
more  time-consuming  and,  therefore,  discouraging a third party from making a
tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of Shaw, even though such
an  attempt  might  be  beneficial  to Shaw  and  its  shareholders.  Thus,  the
classified   board  provision  could  increase  the  likelihood  that  incumbent
directors would retain their positions.

Advance Notice Provisions for Certain Shareholder Actions

     The  Company's  Amended and Restated  By-Laws  establish an advance  notice
procedure  with regard to the  nomination,  other than by or at the direction of
the Board or a committee  thereof,  of candidates for election as directors (the
"Nomination  Procedure") and with regard to certain matters to be brought before
an annual meeting of shareholders of the Company (the "Business Procedure").

     Under the Business  Procedure,  a shareholder  seeking to have any business
conducted at an annual meeting must give prior written  notice,  in proper form,
to the Secretary of the Company.  The  requirements as to the form and timing of
that notice are specified in the Company's Amended and Restated By-Laws.  If the
Chairman or other officer presiding at a meeting  determines that other business
was not properly  brought  before such meeting in  accordance  with the Business
Procedure, such business will not be conducted at the meeting.

     The  Nomination  Procedure  requires that a shareholder  give prior written
notice,  in proper form,  of a planned  nomination  for the  Company's  Board of
Directors to the Secretary of the Company.  The  requirements as to the form and
timing of that notice are specified in the By-Laws.  If the election  inspectors
determine  that a person was not  nominated in  accordance  with the  Nomination
Procedure, such person will not be eligible for election as a director.

     Although  the  By-Laws  do not give the  Board of  Directors  any  power to
approve or disapprove  shareholder  nominations for the election of directors or
of any other business  desired by  shareholders  to be conducted at an annual or
any other meeting,  the Company's  Amended and Restated By-Laws (i) may have the
effect of  precluding a nomination  for the election of directors or  precluding
the conduct of business at a particular  annual meeting if the proper procedures
are not followed,  or (ii) may discourage or deter a third party from conducting
a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise

                                       12

<PAGE>

attempting  to  obtain  control  of the  Company,  even if the  conduct  of such
solicitation  or  such  attempt  might  be  beneficial  to the  Company  and its
shareholders.

Super Majority Provisions

     The  Company's  Restated  Articles  of  Incorporation   contain  provisions
requiring the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of voting power of
the  Company's  capital  stock  to amend  certain  provisions  of the  Articles,
including provisions relating to the removal of directors.

     The Company's  Restated  Articles of Incorporation  require the approval of
the holders of at least 75% of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock,
not including  shares held by a Related  Person (as defined  below),  to approve
certain Business Combinations (as defined below) and related  transactions.  The
term  "Related  Person"  is  defined to  include  any  individual,  corporation,
partnership  or other entity which owns  beneficially,  directly or  indirectly,
more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company.  The term
"Business Combination" is defined to include, among other things, (i) any merger
or consolidation of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company which constitutes
more than 50% of the assets of the Company, other than a merger or consolidation
which results in the voting  securities of the Company  outstanding  immediately
prior thereto continuing to represent more than 50% of the combined voting power
of the  voting  securities  of the  surviving  entity;  (ii)  any  sale,  lease,
exchange,  transfer or other  disposition  of more than 50% of the assets of the
Company; (iii) any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company; and (iv)
any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

     The  transfer  agent and  registrar  for the  Common  Stock is First  Union
National Bank, Charlotte, North Carolina.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     The  legality of the shares of Common Stock  offered  hereby will be passed
upon for the  Company  by the law firm of  Kantrow,  Spaht,  Weaver & Blitzer (A
Professional Law Corporation),  P.O. Box 2997, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70821. As
of March 31, 1997,  members of the firm of Kantrow,  Spaht,  Weaver & Blitzer (A
Professional Law Corporation) owned,  directly or indirectly,  approximately 100
shares of the Company's Common Stock.

                                     EXPERTS

     The consolidated  financial  statements of The Shaw Group Inc. included and
incorporated  by  reference  in this  Prospectus  have  been  audited  by Arthur
Andersen  LLP  and  Hannis  T.  Bourgeois  &  Co.,  L.L.P.,  independent  public
accountants,  as  indicated  in their  reports  with  respect  thereto,  and are
included and  incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the authority of
such firms as experts in accounting  and  auditing.  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  accepted  auditing  standards and is in a position that would justify
being the only signatory of the report.



                                       13

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

=========================================================================         =================================================


<S>                                                                                         <C>


     No dealer, salesman or any other person has been
authorized to give any information or to make any
representations in connection with this offering other than                                   432,881 Shares
those contained in this Prospectus and, if given or made, such
other information or representations must not be relied upon
as having been so authorized by the Company.  This
Prospectus does not constitute an offer of any securities other                             The Shaw Group Inc.
than those to which it relates or any offer to sell, or a
solicitation of an offer to buy, other than those to which it
relates, in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is not                                   Common Stock
lawful to make such offer in such jurisdiction.  Neither the
delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder
shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that
there has not been a change in the facts set forth in this
Prospectus or the affairs of the Company since the date
hereof or that the information herein is correct as of any time
subsequent to the date hereof.







                         -----------------



                         TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                      PROSPECTUS

                                                       Page

Incorporation of Certain Documents
  by Reference......................................    2
Available Information...............................    2
The Company.........................................    3
Risk Factors........................................    3
Use of Proceeds.....................................    7
Selling Stockholders and Plan of
  Distribution......................................    7                                     July ___, 1997
Description of Capital Stock........................    8
Legal Matters.......................................   13
Experts.............................................   13


                         -------------------




=======================================================================          ===================================================


</TABLE>












                                       

<PAGE>




                                     PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

     The  following  table  sets  forth  the  expenses  in  connection  with the
preparation  and filing of this  registration  statement  and the  issuance  and
distribution  of the  securities  being  registered  (all amounts are estimated,
except the filing fee):


                                                        Total
                                                        -----

Filing fee                                             2,131.61
Accounting fees and expenses                           2,500.00
Legal fees and expenses                               25,000.00
Cost of printing and engraving                         2,000.00
Transfer agents' fees                                  1,000.00
Miscellaneous                                          5,000.00
                                                     ----------
TOTAL                                                $37,631.61
                                                     ==========

Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     Section 83 of the Louisiana Business  Corporation Law (the "LBCL") provides
that a  corporation  may  indemnify  any  person  who  was or is a  party  or is
threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding,  whether civil,
criminal,  administrative,  or investigative  (other than an action by or in the
right of the  corporation),  by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer,  employee,  or agent of the  corporation,  or is or was  serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another
business, foreign or nonprofit corporation, partnership, joint venture, or other
enterprise.  The  indemnity  may  include  expenses,  including  attorney  fees,
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by him in  connection  with such action,  suit or proceeding if he acted in good
faith and in a manner he  reasonably  believed  to be in, or not opposed to, the
best interests of the  corporation,  and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Section
83 further  provides that a Louisiana  corporation  may  indemnify  officers and
directors  in an  action by or in the  right of the  corporation  under the same
conditions except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval
if the director or officer  shall have been adjudged to be liable for willful or
intentional misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation.  Where
an officer or director is  successful  on the merits or otherwise in any defense
of any action  referred  to above or any claim  therein,  the  corporation  must
indemnify  him against  such  expenses  that such  officer or director  actually
incurred.  Section 83 permits a  corporation  to pay  expenses  incurred  by the
officer or director in defending an action, suit or proceeding in advance of the
final disposition thereof if approved by the board of directors.

     Pursuant to Section 83 of the LBCL,  the Company has adopted  provisions in
its  Articles  of  Incorporation  which  require the  Company to  indemnify  its
directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the LBCL.

     The Company has entered into indemnification  agreements with its directors
and certain of its  officers  which  provide that the Company  will,  if certain
conditions  are met and the  director or officer  acted in  accordance  with the
applicable standards and subject to certain procedures and exceptions, indemnify
such persons for claims, judgments and related expenses resulting



                                        2

<PAGE>



from their service on behalf of the Company and its  affiliated  entities in any
pending,  threatened  or completed  action,  suit or  proceeding,  whether civil
administrative  or criminal,  except where (i) the Company is  prohibited by law
from providing such indemnification; (ii) payment of the indemnification amounts
has been made under an insurance policy; or (iii) the director or officer gained
a personal profit to which he or she was not legally entitled  including profits
arising from the violation of certain securities laws.


Item 16.  Exhibits

(a)  Exhibits


   Exhibit No.                      Description of Document
   -----------                      ----------------------

     4.1(1)       Restated Articles of Incorporation

     4.2(2)       Amended and Restated By-Laws

     4.3(3)       Form of Common Stock Certificate

     4.4(4)       Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 27, 1997
                  between The Shaw Group Inc. and the Shareholders of NAPTech,
                  Inc. named therein

     4.5(4)       Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 27, 1997
                  between the Shaw Group Inc. and Freeport Properties, L.C.

     5.1(4)       Opinion of Kantrow, Spaht, Weaver & Blitzer (A Professional
                  Law Corporation)

     23.1(4)      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

     23.2(4)      Consent of Hannis T. Bourgeois & Co., L.L.P.

     23.5(4)      Consent of Kantrow, Spaht, Weaver & Blitzer (A Professional
                  Law Corporation)(Included in Exhibit 5.1)
     24.1(4)      Power of Attorney

(1)  Incorporated  herein by  reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the  Company's  Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31,  1994,  as amended
     by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A-1.
(2)  Incorporated  herein by  reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the  Company's  Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31,  1994,  as amended
     by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A-1.
(3)  Incorporated herein by reference to the designated Exhibit of Company's
     Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on October 22, 1993, as amended
     (Registration No. 33-70722).
(4)  Filed herewith.

Item 17.  Undertakings

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1)      To file,  during  any  period  in which  offers or sales are being
              made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

              (i)     to include any Prospectus required by Section 10(a)of the
                      Act.


                                      II-3

<PAGE>



             (ii)   to reflect  in the  Prospectus  any facts or events  arising
                    after the effective date of the  registration  statement (or
                    the most recent  post-effective  amendment  thereof)  which,
                    individually  or in the  aggregate,  represent a fundamental
                    change  in the  information  set  forth in the  registration
                    statement.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  any increase or
                    decrease  in  volume  of  securities  offered  (if the total
                    dollar  value of  securities  offered  would not exceed that
                    which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high
                    end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected
                    in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant
                    to Rule 424(b) if, in the  aggregate,  the changes in volume
                    and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
                    aggregate  offering price set forth in the  "Calculation  of
                    Registration  Fee"  table  in  the  effective   registration
                    statement.

             (iii)  to include any material information with respect to the plan
                    of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
                    statement or any material change to such  information in the
                    registration statement.

              Provided however,  that paragraphs  (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do no
              apply if the  registration  statement is on Form S-3,  Form S-8 or
              Form  F-3  and  the  information  required  to  be  included  in a
              post-effective  amendment  by those  paragraphs  is  contained  in
              periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
              Section  15(d)  of the  Exchange  Act  that  are  incorporated  by
              reference in the registration statement.

     (2)      That for the purpose of determining  any liability  under the Act,
              each  post-effective  amendment  shall  be  deemed  to  be  a  new
              registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
              and the offering of such  securities  at that time shall be deemed
              to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (3)      To remove from  registration by way of a post-effective  amendment
              any of the securities  being registered which remain unsold at the
              termination of the offering.

     The  undersigned   registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes  of
determining any liability under the Act, each filing of the registrant's  annual
report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section  15(d) of the  Exchange  Act (and,
where  applicable,  each  filing of an employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference
in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising under the Act may be
permitted of  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons of the  registrant
pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the  registrant  has been
advised  that in the opinion of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  such
indemnification  is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in the  Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities  (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or controlling  person for the registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.


                                      II-4

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-3 and has  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, on July 1, 1997.

                                 THE SHAW GROUP INC.

                                 By: /s/ T. A. Barfield, Jr.
                                    ------------------------
                                    T.A. Barfield, Jr.
                                    Secretary and General Counsel

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes J.M.  Bernhard,
Jr. and Edward L. Pagano and each of them acting  individually,  with full power
of  substitution,  to file  one or  more  amendments,  including  post-effective
amendments,  to this  registration  statement,  and to file the  same,  with all
exhibits thereto,  and all documents in connection therewith with the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission,  which  amendments,  may make  such  changes  as J.M.
Bernhard,  Jr. or Edward L. Pagano  deems  appropriate;  and each  person  whose
signature appears below,  individually and in each capacity stated below, hereby
appoints  J.M.  Bernhard,  Jr. and Edward L.  Pagano,  and either of them acting
individually, with full power of substitution, as attorney-in-fact to execute in
his name and on his behalf any such amendments to this registration statement.

     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

       Signature                        Title                         Date
       ---------                        -----                         ----
/s/ J. M. Bernhard, Jr.
- -----------------------        Chairman of the Board, President   July 1, 1997
J.M. Bernhard, Jr.             and Chief Executive Officer
                               (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Edward L. Pagano
- -----------------------        Chief Financial Officer and        July 1, 1997
Edward L. Pagano               Treasurer (Principal Financial
                               Officer and Principal Accounting
                               Officer)

/S/ George R. Shepherd
- ----------------------         Chief Operations Officer and       July 1, 1997
George R. Shepherd             Director

/s/ R. Dale Brown, Sr.
- ----------------------         Chairman of Alloy Piping           July 1, 1997
R. Dale Brown, Sr.             Products, Inc. and Director

/s/ Frank Fronek
- ----------------------         President of Fronek Company,       July 1, 1997
Frank Fronek                   Inc. and F.C. I. Pipe Support
                               Sales, Inc. and Director

/s/ Albert McAlister
- ----------------------         Director                           July 1, 1997
Albert McAlister

/s/ L. Lane Grigsby
- ----------------------         Director                           July 1, 1997
L. Lane Grigsby

/s/ David W. Hoyle
- ----------------------         Director                           July 1, 1997
David W. Hoyle

/s/ John W. Sinders, Jr.
- ------------------------       Director                           July 1, 1997
John W. Sinders, Jr.

                                      II-5

<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

   Exhibit No.                          Description of Document            Page
   -----------                          -----------------------            ----
     4.1(1)       Restated Articles of Incorporation
     4.2(2)       Amended and Restated By-Laws
     4.3(3)       Form of Common Stock Certificate
     4.4(4)       Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 27, 1997
                  between The Shaw Group Inc. and the Shareholders of
                  NAPTech, Inc. named therein
     4.5(4)       Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 27, 1997
                  between The Shaw Group Inc. and Freeport Properties, L.L.C.
     5.1(4)       Opinion of Kantrow, Spaht, Weaver & Blitzer (A Professional
                  Law Corporation)
     23.1(4)      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
     23.2(4)      Consent of Hannis T. Bourgeois & Co., L.L.P.
     23.5(4)      Consent of Kantrow, Spaht, Weaver & Blitzer (A Professional
                  Law Corporation)(Included in Exhibit 5.1)
     24.1(4)      Power of Attorney

(1)  Incorporated  herein by  reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the  Company's  Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31,  1994,  as amended
     by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A-1.
(2)  Incorporated  herein by  reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the  Company's  Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31,  1994,  as amended
     by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A-1.
(3)  Incorporated herein by reference to the designated Exhibit of the Company's
     Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on October 22, 1993, as amended
     (Registration No. 33-70722)
(4)  Filed herewith.



                                      II-6




<PAGE>
                                                                  Exhibit 4.4(4)
                         
                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         THIS  REGISTRATION  RIGHTS  AGREEMENT  (the  "Agreement")  dated  as of
January 27, 1997, between The Shaw Group Inc., a Louisiana  corporation ("Shaw")
and the undersigned shareholders of Shaw (the "Shareholders").

                              Preliminary Statement

         Shaw, the  Shareholders,  NAPTech,  Inc.  ("NAPTech"),  SAON,  Inc. and
certain  other  shareholders  of NAPTech  are parties to that  certain  Plan and
Agreement  of  Merger  dated as of  August  5,  1996,  as  amended  by the First
Amendment  to the Plan and  Agreement  of Merger  dated  January  27,  1997 (the
"Merger  Agreement"),  pursuant to which,  on the date  hereof,  Shaw is issuing
shares (the "Shares") of Shaw's common stock, no par value (the "Common Stock"),
to the Shareholders.

         NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the transactions effected pursuant
to the Merger  Agreement  and the premises and the mutual  agreements  set forth
herein, Shaw and the Shareholders hereby agree as follows:

         1.       The Shares shall bear a legend substantially identical to the 
following:

                  THE  SECURITIES  EVIDENCED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  HAVE NOT BEEN
         REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR
         APPLICABLE STATE LAW, AND NO INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE SOLD, DISTRIBUTED,
         ASSIGNED, OFFERED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS (i) THERE IS
         AN EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE
         SECURITIES   LAWS  COVERING  ANY  SUCH   TRANSACTION   INVOLVING   SAID
         SECURITIES,  OR (ii) THIS CORPORATION  RECEIVES AN OPINION SATISFACTORY
         TO THIS CORPORATION OF LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE HOLDER OF THESE SECURITIES
         ACCEPTABLE TO THIS CORPORATION  STATING THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT
         FROM  REGISTRATION.  THE SECURITIES  EVIDENCED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE ARE
         SUBJECT TO (A) THE  RESTRICTION  SET FORTH IN  SECTION  5.12(i) OF THAT
         CERTAIN PLAN AND  AGREEMENT  OF MERGER  DATED AS OF AUGUST 5, 1996,  AS
         AMENDED (THE "PLAN OF MERGER") AMONG THE  SHAREHOLDERS OF NAPTech INC.,
         NAPTech,  INC., SAON, INC. AND THE SHAW GROUP INC. ("SHAW") AND (B) THE
         RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
         JANUARY 27, 1997 (THE  "REGISTRATION  AGREEMENT")  BETWEEN SHAW AND THE
         SHAREHOLDERS  OF  NAPTech,  INC.  COPIES OF THE PLAN OF MERGER  AND THE
         REGISTRATION  AGREEMENT  ARE  FILED  WITH THE  SECRETARY  OF  SHAW.  BY
         ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CERTIFICATE, THE


<PAGE>




         HOLDER HEREOF AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THE PLAN OF MERGER AND
         THE REGISTRATION AGREEMENT.

         2. Shaw represents and warrants to the Shareholders that the Shares are
(a) duly authorized,  validly issued,  fully paid and nonassessable and (b) free
and clear of all liens,  claims and encumbrances other than those created by any
action or inaction of the Shareholders.

         3. Shaw represents and warrants that (a) it has the corporate power and
authority to enter into and perform its obligations  under this  Agreement,  (b)
this  Agreement has been duly and validly  authorized  by all necessary  action,
corporate or otherwise,  (c) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by it,  and (d)  this  Agreement  constitutes  the  valid  and  legally  binding
obligation of it,  enforceable  against it in accordance with its terms,  except
that (i) the  enforceability  hereof may be limited by  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
reorganization,  fraudulent conveyance,  moratorium or other similar laws now or
hereinafter  in effect  relating to  creditors'  rights  generally  and (ii) the
remedy of  specific  performance  and other  forms of  equitable  relief  may be
subject to certain equitable  defenses and to the discretion of the court before
which proceeding therefor may be brought.

         4. Each of the  Shareholders  represents  and warrants,  as applicable,
that (a)  each has the  power  and  authority  to  enter  into and  perform  its
obligations  under this Agreement,  (b) this Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized by all  necessary  action of each,  (c) this  Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by each, and (d) this Agreement constitutes the valid and
legally binding obligation of each,  enforceable against each in accordance with
its  terms,  except  that  (i)  the  enforceability  hereof  may be  limited  by
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  fraudulent conveyance,  moratorium or
other similar laws now or  hereinafter in effect  relating to creditors'  rights
generally  and (ii) the  remedy  of  specific  performance  and  other  forms of
equitable  relief  may be  subject  to  certain  equitable  defenses  and to the
discretion of the court before which proceeding therefor may be brought.

         5. (a) Shaw shall cause to be filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission (the  "Commission") on or prior to May 1, 1997, a shelf  registration
statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Shelf Registration Statement") on Form S-1 or Form S-3, if the use of such form
is then  available  and as  determined  by Shaw,  to cover  resales of  Transfer
Restricted Securities (as hereinafter  defined).  The Shareholders shall provide
the  information  required  pursuant  to  Section  5(b)  hereof.  Shaw shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be
declared  effective by the  Commission on or prior to 30 days after the date the
Shelf Registration Statement is initially filed with the Commission.  Shaw shall
use commercially  reasonable efforts to keep such Shelf  Registration  Statement
continuously  effective for a period  ending two years from the  effective  date
thereof or such  shorter  period that will  terminate  when each of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement shall cease to
be a Transfer Restricted Security.



<PAGE>




         If there shall occur any event that would cause the Shelf  Registration
Statement  (i) to contain  any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to
state a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the
statements  therein not  misleading  or (ii) to be not  effective and usable for
resale of  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  during the  period  that such Shelf
Registration  Statement  is required to be effective  and usable,  Shaw shall as
promptly as  practicable  (but not later than 60 days) file an  amendment to the
Shelf  Registration  Statement,  in the case of clause (i),  correcting any such
misstatement  or  omission,  and in the case of either  clause (i) or (ii),  use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective
and such Shelf  Registration  Statement to become usable as soon as  practicable
thereafter.

         Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary in this  Section 5, Shaw may
prohibit  offers and sales of  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  pursuant to the
Shelf  Registration  Statement  at any time if  (A)(i)  it is in  possession  of
material non-public information,  (ii) the Board of Directors of Shaw determines
(based on advice of counsel)  that such  prohibition  is  necessary  in order to
avoid a requirement to disclose such material non-public information,  and (iii)
the Board of Directors of Shaw  determines in good faith that disclosure of such
material  non-public  information would not be in the best interests of Shaw and
its  shareholders  or (B) Shaw has made a  public  announcement  relating  to an
acquisition  or business  combination  transaction  including Shaw and/or one or
more of its subsidiaries (i) that is material to Shaw and its subsidiaries taken
as a whole and (ii) the Board of Directors of Shaw determines in good faith that
offers  and  sales of  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  pursuant  to the  Shelf
Registration  Statement prior to the  consummation of such  transaction (or such
earlier  date as the  Board of  Directors  shall  determine)  is not in the best
interests of Shaw and its  shareholders or (C)(i)  disclosure is required in the
Shelf  Registration  Statement of financial  information of any person or entity
other than Shaw or its  subsidiaries  and  affiliates  pursuant  to Article 3 or
Article 11 of Regulation  S-X under the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act") and (ii) any of such required financial information (including
related audit reports and consents of independent  accountants) is not available
to Shaw after use of  commercially  reasonable  efforts to obtain such financial
information)(the period during which any such prohibition of offers and sales of
Transfer Restricted  Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration  Statement is
in effect pursuant to clause (A) or (B) of this  subparagraph (a) is referred to
herein as a  "Suspension  Period").  A Suspension  Period shall  commence on and
include the date on which Shaw provides written notice to the Shareholders  that
offers and sales of Transfer Restricted  Securities cannot be made thereunder in
accordance  with  this  Section  5 and  shall  end  on the  date  on  which  the
Shareholders  are  advised in writing by Shaw that  offers and sales of Transfer
Restricted  Securities  pursuant to the Shelf Registration  Statement and use of
the prospectus  constituting a part of the Shelf  Registration  Statement may be
resumed; provided,  however, that the aggregate number of days in all Suspension
Periods  during any  calendar  year shall not exceed  120.  Written  notices and
advices to the  Shareholders  pursuant to this  Section 5 shall be  effective if
provided to the Shareholder Representative in accordance with Section 10.

                  (b) The  Shareholders  may not include  any of their  Transfer
Restricted  Securities  in any Shelf  Registration  Statement  pursuant  to this
Agreement  unless  the  Shareholders  furnishes  to Shaw in  writing,  within 10
business days after receipt of a request therefor, such information


<PAGE>




as Shaw may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf Registration
Statement or prospectus or preliminary prospectus included therein.

                  (c) For  purposes  of this  Section  5,  "Transfer  Restricted
Securities"  shall  mean  each  Share,  until  each  such  Share  (A)  has  been
effectively  registered  under the  Securities Act and disposed of in accordance
with the Shelf  Registration  Statement  covering it, (B) is  distributed to the
public  pursuant to Rule 144 or (C) is sold or is available to be sold  pursuant
to Rule 144(k) (or any similar  provisions  then in force) under the  Securities
Act or otherwise or (D) is sold  pursuant to Rule 904 of  Regulation S under the
Securities Act.

         6. If and whenever Shaw is required by the provisions of this Agreement
to use its best  efforts  to  effect  the  registration  of any of the  Transfer
Restricted Securities under the Securities Act, Shaw will:

                  (a)  furnish  to  each  selling  stockholder  such  number  of
prospectuses and preliminary prospectuses in conformity with the requirements of
the  Securities  Act,  and such other  documents  as such seller may  reasonably
request in order to  facilitate  the  public  sale or other  disposition  of the
Transfer Restricted Securities owned by such seller;

                  (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such registration  statement under
such  other  securities  or blue sky  laws of such  jurisdictions  as each  such
selling  stockholder shall reasonably  request and do any and all other acts and
things which may be  necessary or desirable to enable such seller to  consummate
the  public  sale or other  disposition  in such  jurisdiction  of the  Transfer
Restricted Securities owned by such seller; and

                  (c) use  commercially  reasonable  efforts  to list the Shares
with any securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is then listed.

         7. All expenses  incident to Shaw's  performance of or compliance  with
this  Agreement  will be  borne  by the  Shareholders  in  proportion  to  their
ownership  of the  Shares  (and,  if  applicable,  reimbursed  to Shaw  promptly
following receipt by the Shareholders of appropriate  documentation);  provided,
however,  that the  Shareholders'  obligation  to pay expenses  pursuant to this
Section 7 shall  not  exceed  50% of the first  $30,000  of  expenses,  with all
remaining  amounts to be borne by Shaw.  Such expenses  shall  include,  without
limitation,  (i) all  registration  and  filing  fees  (including  those  of the
Commission  and the New York Stock  Exchange,  Inc.),  (ii) fees and expenses of
compliance  with all  applicable  state  securities  or "blue sky"  laws,  (iii)
printing  and  engraving  expenses,  (a) fees and  disbursements  of counsel and
independent  accountants  for Shaw,  (iv) listing fees on any  applicable  stock
exchange or trading system, and (v) rating agency fees.

     8.  In the  event  of a  registration  of any  of the  Transfer  Restricted
Securities  under the Securities Act, Shaw will hold harmless the seller of such
Transfer Restricted Securities, and each


<PAGE>




director,  officer and partner of such seller and each other person, if any, who
controls  such seller  within the meaning of Section 15 of the  Securities  Act,
against any losses, claims,  damages or liabilities,  joint or several, to which
such seller or  controlling  persons may become subject under the Securities Act
or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect  thereof) arise out of or are based upon any violation of law by Shaw
or its  agents or any  untrue  statement  or  alleged  untrue  statement  of any
material fact  contained,  on the effective  date thereof,  in any  registration
statement under which such Transfer  Restricted  Securities was registered under
the Securities Act, any  preliminary  prospectus or final  prospectus  contained
therein,  or any amendment or supplement  thereof,  or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or alleged  omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
and will reimburse such seller and each such controlling person for any legal or
any other expenses  reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating
or  defending  any such loss,  claim,  damage,  liability  or action;  provided,
however,  that Shaw will not be liable in any such case to the  extent  that any
such loss,  claim,  damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged  untrue  statement or omission or alleged  omission made in
such registration  statement,  said preliminary prospectus or said prospectus or
said  amendment or supplement  in reliance  upon and in conformity  with written
information furnished to Shaw through an instrument duly executed by such seller
specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

         In the  event of any  registration  of any of the  Transfer  Restricted
Securities  under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement,  each seller of
such Transfer Restricted  Securities,  severally and not jointly, will indemnify
and hold  harmless  Shaw and each person,  if any, who controls  Shaw within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities  Act, each officer of Shaw who signs the
registration  statement  and each director of Shaw within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act,  against any and all such losses,  claims,  damages or
liabilities  referred  to in the  above  paragraph,  if the  statement,  alleged
statement,  omission or alleged  omission in respect of which such loss,  claim,
damage or liability is asserted was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information  furnished  in  writing  to Shaw  by or on  behalf  of  such  seller
specifically  for use in connection  with the  preparation of such  registration
statement, preliminary prospectus, prospectus, amendment or supplement.

         9. Prior to any  proposed  transfer of any of the  Transfer  Restricted
Securities  (other than under pursuant to an effective  registration as provided
herein), the Shareholder shall give written notice to Shaw of such Shareholder's
intention to effect such  transfer.  Each such notice shall  describe the manner
and  circumstances of the proposed transfer in sufficient  detail,  and shall be
accompanied  by a written  opinion (in form and content  acceptable  to Shaw) of
such  counsel  as  shall be  satisfactory  to Shaw to the  effect  that (i) such
proposed   transfer  does  not  create  a  situation  which  would  require  the
registration of any of the Transfer  Restricted  Securities under the Securities
Act; and (ii) the proposed transfer may be effected without  registration  under
the Securities Act of the Transfer Restricted  Securities to be transferred (as,
for example,  that such transfer may be made pursuant to and in compliance  with
the  conditions of Rule 144 or Rule 237 under the  Securities  Act (or any other
similar rule in effect at the time)). Shaw's acceptance of


<PAGE>




such an  opinion  as  satisfactory  shall  not be  unreasonably  withheld.  Such
proposed  transfer may be effected  only if Shaw shall have received such notice
and  opinion  of  counsel,  whereupon  the  holder of such  Transfer  Restricted
Securities shall be entitled to transfer such Transfer Restricted  Securities in
accordance  with the terms of the notice  delivered  by the holder to Shaw.  The
certificate issued upon the transfer of any such Transfer Restricted  Securities
as above provided (and the certificate  evidencing any untransferred  balance of
such Transfer Restricted Securities) shall bear the restrictive legend set forth
in Section 1 above,  except that the certificate shall not bear such restrictive
legend and the holder  thereof  shall be entitled to receive from Shaw,  without
expense,  a new certificate  not bearing such legend,  if the opinion of counsel
referred to above is to the  further  effect that such legend or legends are not
required in order to establish  compliance with any provisions of the Securities
Act. The rights of the  Shareholders  under this Agreement may be transferred or
assigned only upon the written consent of Shaw.

         10. Each of the Shareholders  hereby  constitutes and appoints Bradford
J.  Brower  as  his  or  its  true  and  lawful   attorney-in-fact,   agent  and
representative   (the   "Shareholder   Representative"),   with  full  power  of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or it and in his or its name, place and
stead, in any and all  capacities,  to negotiate and sign all amendments to this
Agreement,   and  all  other  documents  in  connection  with  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement,  including without  limitation those instruments
called  for  by  this  Agreement  and  all  waivers,   consents,   instructions,
authorizations and other actions called for,  contemplated or that may otherwise
be necessary or  appropriate  in  connection  with this  Agreement or any of the
foregoing   agreements   or   instruments,   granting   unto   the   Shareholder
Representative full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing  requisite  and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes
as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all that the
Shareholder Representative, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof,  including without limitation,  the power and
authority to deliver and convey his Shares in accordance  with the terms hereof,
to receive  and give  receipt  for all  consideration  due him  pursuant to this
Agreement  and to receive all  notices,  requests  and demands  that may be made
under and pursuant to this Agreement.  Should the Shareholder  Representative be
unable or unwilling to serve or to appoint his  successor to serve in his stead,
and unless  the  Shareholders  appoint a  successor  to serve in his stead,  the
Shareholders  shall be required to act jointly so that Shaw may always deal with
one person on their behalf.

         11. All  notices and other  communications  provided  for or  permitted
hereunder  shall  be  made  in  writing  by   hand-delivery,   first-class  mail
(registered or certified,  return receipt requested),  telex,  telecopier or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

If to the Shareholders:

Bradford J. Brower, as Shareholder Representative
851 South Freeport Industrial Parkway
Clearfield, Utah 84105
Telephone: (801) 773-7300
Telecopy: (801) 773-6185


<PAGE>





If to Shaw:

The Shaw Group, Inc.
1100 Mead Road
Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70816
Telephone:  (504) 296-1140
Telecopy:  (504) 296-1199
Attention:  Bret M. Talbot, Chief Financial Officer

     12. This Agreement  shall be governed by, an construed in accordance  with,
the laws of the State of Louisiana, without regard to principles of conflicts of
laws.






<PAGE>




         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the date first written above.

THE SHAW GROUP INC.


                                        By: /s/ Bret M. Talbot
                                            __________________________________
                                            Name:   Bret M. Talbot
                                            Title:  Vice President and Chief
                                                    Financial Officer

SHAREHOLDERS OF NAPTech, Inc.:

BRADFORD J. BROWER

_______________________________
Bradford J. Brower


ROBERTSON FAMILY TRUST

By:_____________________________
      Don L. Robertson, Trustee

By:_____________________________
      Mary L. Robertson, Trustee


ROBERT A. SCHROEDER

________________________________
Robert A. Schroeder


NUPETCO ASSOCIATES, A UTAH
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

By:___________________________________
      Neuman C. Petty, General Partner


GES INVESTMENTS, L.C.

By:___________________________________
      Gary E. Stevenson, Member



<PAGE>





SRW INVESTMENTS, L.C.

By:__________________________________
      Scott R. Waterson, Member


BALLARD INVESTMENT COMPANY

By:___________________________________________
      M. Russell Ballard, Jr., General Partner


RICHARD I. & JUDITH A. WINWOOD

______________________________________
Richard I. Winwood

______________________________________
Judith A. Winwood


RICHARD WINWOOD

______________________________________
Richard Winwood


PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES C/F DON L. ROBERTSON
IRA DTD 5/12/92 ACCT # EO-R41739

By:_______________________________________

________________________________
Donald L. Robertson, Beneficiary


GREG R. COWLEY

______________________________
Greg R. Cowley


BB & GC ENTERPRISES, L.L.C.

By:____________________________
      Greg R. Cowley, Manager



<PAGE>
                                                                  Exhibit 4.5(4)
          
                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         THIS  REGISTRATION  RIGHTS  AGREEMENT  (the  "Agreement")  dated  as of
January 27, 1997, between The Shaw Group Inc., a Louisiana  corporation ("Shaw")
and Freeport Properties, L.C. (the "Company").

                              Preliminary Statement

         The Members of the  Company,  the  Company,  Shaw and SAON  Properties,
Inc., a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Shaw,  are parties to that certain  Purchase
and Sale Agreement dated as of January 27, 1997 (the  "Agreement"),  pursuant to
which,  on the date  hereof,  Shaw is issuing  83,333  shares (the  "Shares") of
Shaw's common stock, no par value (the "Common Stock"), to the Company.

         NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the transactions effected pursuant
to the  Agreement and the premises and the mutual  agreements  set forth herein,
Shaw and the Members hereby agree as follows:

         1.       The Shares shall bear a legend substantially identical to the
following:

                  THE  SECURITIES  EVIDENCED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  HAVE NOT BEEN
         REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR
         APPLICABLE STATE LAW, AND NO INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE SOLD, DISTRIBUTED,
         ASSIGNED, OFFERED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS (i) THERE IS
         AN EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE
         SECURITIES   LAWS  COVERING  ANY  SUCH   TRANSACTION   INVOLVING   SAID
         SECURITIES,  OR (ii) THIS CORPORATION  RECEIVES AN OPINION SATISFACTORY
         TO THIS CORPORATION OF LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE HOLDER OF THESE SECURITIES
         ACCEPTABLE TO THIS CORPORATION  STATING THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT
         FROM  REGISTRATION.  THE SECURITIES  EVIDENCED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE ARE
         SUBJECT  TO THE  RESTRICTIONS  SET FORTH IN THAT  CERTAIN  REGISTRATION
         RIGHTS  AGREEMENT  DATED AS OF JANUARY  27,  1997 (THE  "REGISTRATION
         AGREEMENT")  BETWEEN SHAW AND FREEPORT  PROPERTIES,  L.C. A COPY OF THE
         REGISTRATION  AGREEMENT  IS  FILED  WITH  THE  SECRETARY  OF  SHAW.  BY
         ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CERTIFICATE, THE HOLDER HEREOF AGREES TO BE BOUND BY
         THE TERMS OF THE REGISTRATION AGREEMENT.

         2. Shaw  represents and warrants to the Company that the Shares are (a)
duly authorized,  validly issued,  fully paid and nonassessable and (b) free and
clear of all liens,  claims  and  encumbrances  other than those  created by any
action or inaction of the Company.


<PAGE>




         3. Shaw represents and warrants that (a) it has the corporate power and
authority to enter into and perform its obligations  under this  Agreement,  (b)
this  Agreement has been duly and validly  authorized  by all necessary  action,
corporate or otherwise,  (c) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by it,  and (d)  this  Agreement  constitutes  the  valid  and  legally  binding
obligation of it,  enforceable  against it in accordance with its terms,  except
that (i) the  enforceability  hereof may be limited by  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
reorganization,  fraudulent conveyance,  moratorium or other similar laws now or
hereinafter  in effect  relating to  creditors'  rights  generally  and (ii) the
remedy of  specific  performance  and other  forms of  equitable  relief  may be
subject to certain equitable  defenses and to the discretion of the court before
which proceeding therefor may be brought.

         4. The Company  represents  and warrants  that (a) it has the power and
authority to enter into and perform its obligations  under this  Agreement,  (b)
this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action, (c)
this  Agreement  has  been  duly  executed  and  delivered  by it,  and (d) this
Agreement   constitutes  the  valid  and  legally  binding   obligation  of  it,
enforceable  against  it in  accordance  with  its  terms,  except  that (i) the
enforceability hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,  reorganization,
fraudulent  conveyance,  moratorium or other similar laws now or  hereinafter in
effect relating to creditors'  rights  generally and (ii) the remedy of specific
performance  and other  forms of  equitable  relief  may be  subject  to certain
equitable  defenses and to the  discretion of the court before which  proceeding
therefor may be brought.

         5. (a) Shaw shall cause to be filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission (the  "Commission") on or prior to May 1, 1997, a shelf  registration
statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Shelf Registration Statement") on Form S-1 or Form S-3, if the use of such form
is then  available  and as  determined  by Shaw,  to cover  resales of  Transfer
Restricted  Securities (as hereinafter  defined).  The Company shall provide the
information   required   pursuant  to  Section  5(b)  hereof.   Shaw  shall  use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be
declared  effective by the  Commission on or prior to 30 days after the date the
Shelf Registration Statement is initially filed with the Commission.  Shaw shall
use commercially  reasonable efforts to keep such Shelf  Registration  Statement
continuously  effective for a period  ending two years from the  effective  date
thereof or such  shorter  period that will  terminate  when each of the Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement shall cease to
be a Transfer Restricted Security.

         If there shall occur any event that would cause the Shelf  Registration
Statement  (i) to contain  any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to
state a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the
statements  therein not  misleading  or (ii) to be not  effective and usable for
resale of  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  during the  period  that such Shelf
Registration  Statement  is required to be effective  and usable,  Shaw shall as
promptly as  practicable  (but not later than 60 days) file an  amendment to the
Shelf  Registration  Statement,  in the case of clause (i),  correcting any such
misstatement  or  omission,  and in the case of either  clause (i) or (ii),  use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective
and such Shelf  Registration  Statement to become usable as soon as  practicable
thereafter.


<PAGE>





         Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary in this  Section 5, Shaw may
prohibit  offers and sales of  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  pursuant to the
Shelf  Registration  Statement  at any time if  (A)(i)  it is in  possession  of
material non-public information,  (ii) the Board of Directors of Shaw determines
(based on advice of counsel)  that such  prohibition  is  necessary  in order to
avoid a requirement to disclose such material non-public information,  and (iii)
the Board of Directors of Shaw  determines in good faith that disclosure of such
material  non-public  information would not be in the best interests of Shaw and
its  shareholders  or (B) Shaw has made a  public  announcement  relating  to an
acquisition  or business  combination  transaction  including Shaw and/or one or
more of its subsidiaries (i) that is material to Shaw and its subsidiaries taken
as a whole and (ii) the Board of Directors of Shaw determines in good faith that
offers  and  sales of  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  pursuant  to the  Shelf
Registration  Statement prior to the  consummation of such  transaction (or such
earlier  date as the  Board of  Directors  shall  determine)  is not in the best
interests of Shaw and its  shareholders or (C)(i)  disclosure is required in the
Shelf  Registration  Statement of financial  information of any person or entity
other than Shaw or its  subsidiaries  and  affiliates  pursuant  to Article 3 or
Article 11 of Regulation  S-X under the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act") and (ii) any of such required financial information (including
related audit reports and consents of independent  accountants) is not available
to Shaw after use of  commercially  reasonable  efforts to obtain such financial
information)(the period during which any such prohibition of offers and sales of
Transfer Restricted  Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration  Statement is
in effect pursuant to clause (A) or (B) of this  subparagraph (a) is referred to
herein as a  "Suspension  Period").  A Suspension  Period shall  commence on and
include  the date on which Shaw  provides  written  notice to the  Company  that
offers and sales of Transfer Restricted  Securities cannot be made thereunder in
accordance  with this  Section 5 and shall end on the date on which the  Company
are  advised  in writing by Shaw that  offers and sales of  Transfer  Restricted
Securities  pursuant  to  the  Shelf  Registration  Statement  and  use  of  the
prospectus  constituting  a part  of the  Shelf  Registration  Statement  may be
resumed; provided,  however, that the aggregate number of days in all Suspension
Periods during any calendar year shall not exceed 120.

                  (b) Written  notices  and  advices to the Company  pursuant to
this Section 5 shall be effective if provided to the Company  Representative  in
accordance  with  Section 10. The Company may not include any of their  Transfer
Restricted  Securities  in any Shelf  Registration  Statement  pursuant  to this
Agreement  unless the Company  furnishes to Shaw in writing,  within 10 business
days  after  receipt  of a  request  therefor,  such  information  as  Shaw  may
reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf  Registration  Statement
or prospectus or preliminary prospectus included therein.

                  (c) For  purposes  of this  Section  5,  "Transfer  Restricted
Securities"  shall  mean  each  Share,  until  each  such  Share  (A)  has  been
effectively  registered  under the  Securities Act and disposed of in accordance
with the Shelf  Registration  Statement  covering it, (B) is  distributed to the
public  pursuant to Rule 144 or (C) is sold or is available to be sold  pursuant
to Rule 144(k) (or any similar  provisions  then in force) under the  Securities
Act or otherwise or (D) is sold  pursuant to Rule 904 of  Regulation S under the
Securities Act.


<PAGE>




         6. If and whenever Shaw is required by the provisions of this Agreement
to use its best  efforts  to  effect  the  registration  of any of the  Transfer
Restricted Securities under the Securities Act, Shaw will:

                  (a)  furnish  to  each  selling  stockholder  such  number  of
prospectuses and preliminary prospectuses in conformity with the requirements of
the  Securities  Act,  and such other  documents  as such seller may  reasonably
request in order to  facilitate  the  public  sale or other  disposition  of the
Transfer Restricted Securities owned by such seller;

                  (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify
the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such registration  statement under
such  other  securities  or blue sky  laws of such  jurisdictions  as each  such
selling  stockholder shall reasonably  request and do any and all other acts and
things which may be  necessary or desirable to enable such seller to  consummate
the  public  sale or other  disposition  in such  jurisdiction  of the  Transfer
Restricted Securities owned by such seller; and

                  (c) use  commercially  reasonable  efforts  to list the Shares
with any securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is then listed.

         7. All expenses  incident to Shaw's  performance of or compliance  with
this Agreement  will be borne by the Company (and, if applicable,  reimbursed to
Shaw promptly  following  receipt by the Company of appropriate  documentation);
provided, however, that the Company' obligation to pay expenses pursuant to this
Section 7 shall  not  exceed  50% of the first  $30,000  of  expenses,  with all
remaining  amounts to be borne by Shaw.  Such expenses  shall  include,  without
limitation,  (i) all  registration  and  filing  fees  (including  those  of the
Commission  and the New York Stock  Exchange,  Inc.),  (ii) fees and expenses of
compliance  with all  applicable  state  securities  or "blue sky"  laws,  (iii)
printing  and  engraving  expenses,  (a) fees and  disbursements  of counsel and
independent  accountants  for Shaw,  (iv) listing fees on any  applicable  stock
exchange or trading system, and (v) rating agency fees.

         8. In the event of a  registration  of any of the  Transfer  Restricted
Securities  under the Securities Act, Shaw will hold harmless the seller of such
Transfer Restricted Securities,  and each director,  officer and partner of such
seller and each other  person,  if any,  who  controls  such  seller  within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities,  joint or several,  to which such seller or controlling  persons
may  become  subject  under the  Securities  Act or  otherwise,  insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based  upon any  violation  of law by Shaw or its agents or any untrue
statement or alleged  untrue  statement of any material fact  contained,  on the
effective date thereof, in any registration  statement under which such Transfer
Restricted  Securities was registered  under the Securities Act, any preliminary
prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement
thereof,  or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged  omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements  therein not misleading;  and will reimburse such seller and each
such


<PAGE>




controlling  person for any legal or any other expenses  reasonably  incurred by
them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action; provided, however, that Shaw will not be liable in any such
case to the extent that any such loss, claim,  damage or liability arises out of
or is based upon an untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged  omission  made  in  such  registration   statement,   said  preliminary
prospectus or said  prospectus or said  amendment or supplement in reliance upon
and in  conformity  with  written  information  furnished  to  Shaw  through  an
instrument duly executed by such seller  specifically for use in the preparation
thereof.

         In the  event of any  registration  of any of the  Transfer  Restricted
Securities  under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement,  each seller of
such Transfer Restricted  Securities,  severally and not jointly, will indemnify
and hold  harmless  Shaw and each person,  if any, who controls  Shaw within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities  Act, each officer of Shaw who signs the
registration  statement  and each director of Shaw within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act,  against any and all such losses,  claims,  damages or
liabilities  referred  to in the  above  paragraph,  if the  statement,  alleged
statement,  omission or alleged  omission in respect of which such loss,  claim,
damage or liability is asserted was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information  furnished  in  writing  to Shaw  by or on  behalf  of  such  seller
specifically  for use in connection  with the  preparation of such  registration
statement, preliminary prospectus, prospectus, amendment or supplement.

     9.  Prior  to any  proposed  transfer  of any  of the  Transfer  Restricted
Securities  (other than under pursuant to an effective  registration as provided
herein), the Shareholder shall give written notice to Shaw of such Shareholder's
intention to effect such  transfer.  Each such notice shall  describe the manner
and  circumstances of the proposed transfer in sufficient  detail,  and shall be
accompanied  by a written  opinion (in form and content  acceptable  to Shaw) of
such  counsel  as  shall be  satisfactory  to Shaw to the  effect  that (i) such
proposed   transfer  does  not  create  a  situation  which  would  require  the
registration of any of the Transfer  Restricted  Securities under the Securities
Act; and (ii) the proposed transfer may be effected without  registration  under
the Securities Act of the Transfer Restricted  Securities to be transferred (as,
for example,  that such transfer may be made pursuant to and in compliance  with
the  conditions of Rule 144 or Rule 237 under the  Securities  Act (or any other
similar rule in effect at the time)).  Shaw's  acceptance  of such an opinion as
satisfactory shall not be unreasonably  withheld.  Such proposed transfer may be
effected  only if Shaw shall have  received  such notice and opinion of counsel,
whereupon the holder of such Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to
transfer such Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the terms of the
notice delivered by the holder to Shaw. The certificate issued upon the transfer
of  any  such  Transfer  Restricted   Securities  as  above  provided  (and  the
certificate  evidencing any  untransferred  balance of such Transfer  Restricted
Securities)  shall  bear the  restrictive  legend  set forth in Section 1 above,
except  that the  certificate  shall not bear such  restrictive  legend  and the
holder thereof shall be entitled to receive from Shaw,  without  expense,  a new
certificate not bearing such legend, if the opinion of counsel referred to above
is to the further  effect that such legend or legends are not  required in order
to establish compliance with any provisions of the Securities Act. The rights of
the Company under this  Agreement may be  transferred  or assigned only upon the
written consent of Shaw.

         10. All  notices and other  communications  provided  for or  permitted
hereunder  shall  be  made  in  writing  by   hand-delivery,   first-class  mail
(registered or certified,  return receipt requested),  telex,  telecopier or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:


<PAGE>




If to the Company:

Freeport Properties, L.C.
851 South Freeport Industrial Parkway
Clearfield, Utah  84015
Telecopy:  (801) 773-6185
Telephone: (801) 773-7300
Attention:  Bradford J. Brower, Member

If to Shaw:

The Shaw Group, Inc.
1100 Mead Road
Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70816
Telephone:  (504) 296-1140
Telecopy:  (504) 296-1199
Attention:  Bret M. Talbot, Chief Financial Officer

     11. This Agreement  shall be governed by, an construed in accordance  with,
the laws of the State of Louisiana, without regard to principles of conflicts of
laws.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed  as of the  date  first  written  above by  their  respective  officers
thereunto duly authorized.

                                            THE SHAW GROUP INC.


                                            By:  /s/ Bret M. Talbot
                                                --------------------------
                                                Name:  Bret M. Talbot
                                                Title: Vice President and Chief
                                                       Financial Officer


                                            FREEPORT PROPERTIES, L.C.


                                            By: /s/ Brad Brower
                                                -------------------------
                                                Name:  Brad Brower
                                                Title:  Manager




<PAGE>

                                                                  Exhibit 5.1(4)

              [KANTROW, SPAHT, WEAVER & BLITZER (APLC) LETTERHEAD]



                                                   July 1, 1997




The Shaw Group Inc.
11100 Mead Road
Baton Rouge, LA  70816

         Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement")

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to The Shaw  Group  Inc.  (the  "Company")  in
connection with the preparation of the  Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration  Statement")  filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission
under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  covering  432,881 shares of the
Company's no par value common stock (the "Common Stock").  The 432,881 shares of
Common Stock covered by the Registration Statement were delivered by the Company
to  the  Selling  Stockholders  identified  in  the  Registration  Statement  in
transactions described therein.

         We have  examined  the  originals,  or copies  certified  or  otherwise
identified to our satisfaction,  of the Company's Articles of Incorporation,  as
amended and restated,  its By-Laws, as amended and restated,  resolutions of its
Board of Directors,  and such other  documents and corporate  records as we have
deemed necessary as the basis for the opinion expressed  herein.  Based upon the
foregoing and in reliance thereon,  and after examination of such matters of law
as we deem applicable or relevant hereto, it is our opinion that:

         1.       The Company has been duly incorporated  under the laws of the
                  State of Louisiana and is validly existing and in good
                  standing under the laws of that State; and

         2.       The 432,881  shares of the  Company's  Common Stock covered by
                  the  Registration  Statement have been duly authorized and are
                  legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We have relied for purposes of the opinion set forth in Paragraph 1 with respect
to the good standing of the Company,  solely on a  Certificate  of Good Standing
issued by the Secretary of State of Louisiana dated June 27, 1997.

         We hereby  expressly  consent  to the  reference  to our firm under the
Prospectus  cation  "Legal  Matters",  to the  inclusion  of this  opinion as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the filing of this opinion with any
appropriate governmental agency.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   KANTROW, SPAHT, WEAVER & BLITZER
                                   (A PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION)
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                   /s/ Kantrow, Spaht, Weaver & Blitzer
                                   ------------------------------------
                                   



<PAGE>
     
                                                                 Exhibit 23.1(4)


                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
                   -----------------------------------------


     As independent public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the incorporation
by  reference  in this  registration  statement of our report dated May 16, 1997
covering the audited financial statements of The Shaw Group Inc. included in its
Form 8-K dated June 17, 1997 and to all  references to our Firm included in this
registration statement.



                                          ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

                                          /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
                                          -----------------------
                                         


New Orleans, Louisiana
July 1, 1997

















<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 23.2(4)

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
                   -----------------------------------------


     As independent public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the incorporation
by  reference  in this  registration  statement of our report dated May 16, 1997
covering the audited financial statements of The Shaw Group Inc. included in its
Form 8-K dated June 17, 1997 and to all  references to our Firm included in this
registration statement.


                                          
                                          HANNIS T. BOURGEOIS & CO., L.L.P.


                                          /s/ Hannis T. Bourgeois & Co., L.L.P.
                                          -------------------------------------


Baton Rouge, Louisiana
July 1, 1997










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