SHAW GROUP INC
10-K, 1998-11-30
MISCELLANEOUS FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

[X]  Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
     Act of 1934

                    For the fiscal year ended August 31, 1998

                                       or

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

                               Commission File Number 0-22992

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



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

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

                                 (225) 296-1140
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No

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

The aggregate market value of the stock held by non-affiliates (affiliates being
directors,  officers and holders of more than 5% of the Company's  common stock)
of the Registrant at October 30, 1998 was approximately $84 million.

The number of shares of the Registrant's common stock, no par value, outstanding
at November 24, 1998 was 11,808,016.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the  registrant's  definitive proxy statement to be prepared for use
in connection  with the  registrant's  1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be
held in January 1999 will be  incorporated  by  reference  into Part III of this
Form 10-K.


<PAGE>

                                     PART I

ITEM 1.  Business

General

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

         Shaw  was  founded  in  1987 by  current  management  and  subsequently
purchased the assets of Benjamin F. Shaw Company, a century-old pipe fabricator.
The Company has  increased  its  revenues  from $29.3  million in the year ended
August  31,  1988 to  $501.6  million  in the  year  ended  August  31,  1998 by
increasing  both its domestic and  international  businesses.  Through  internal
expansion  and a series of strategic  acquisitions,  Shaw has increased its pipe
fabrication  and bending  capacity,  expanded  its piping  system  products  and
services and broadened its overall  project  scope to include  construction  and
maintenance  services.  These initiatives have provided Shaw with the ability to
achieve substantial economies of scale in purchasing raw material and to provide
customers with a broad range of industrial products and services.

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

Forward-Looking Statements and Associated Risks

         The Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe
harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. The statements contained in this
Annual  Report on Form 10-K that are not  historical  facts are  forward-looking
statements based on the Company's  current  expectations and beliefs  concerning
future developments and their potential effects on the Company.  There can be no
assurance  that  future  developments   affecting  the  Company  will  be  those
anticipated by the Company.  Actual  results may differ from those  projected in
the  forward-looking   statements.   These  forward-looking  statements  involve
significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the
Company) and are subject to change based upon various factors, including but not
limited to the following risks and uncertainties:  changes in the demand for and
market acceptance of the Company's  products and in general economic  conditions
and,  specifically,  in economic conditions prevailing in international markets;
the presence of competitors with greater  financial  resources and the impact of
competitive  products  and  pricing;  the  effect  of  the  Company's  policies,
including  the  amount  and rate of growth of Company  expenses;  the  continued
availability to the Company of adequate  funding sources and changes in interest
rates;  delays or difficulties  in the  production,  delivery or installation of
products;  Y2K risks;  and various legal,  regulatory and litigation  risks. The
Company   undertakes   no   obligation   to   publicly   update  or  revise  any
forward-looking  statements,  whether  as a result  of new  information,  future
events or  otherwise.  For a more  detailed  discussion of some of the foregoing
risks and  uncertainties,  see the  Company's  filings with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission.



<PAGE>


Subsequent Events

     Subsequent  to August 31, 1998,  in  accordance  with a plan adopted by its
Board of  Directors,  the Company  began  repurchasing  shares of the  Company's
common stock, no par value (the "Common  Stock"),  through open market and block
transactions.  The Board has approved  acquisition  of up to  2,700,000  shares,
which amounts to approximately 20% of the shares outstanding at August 31, 1998.
As of November 24, 1998,  1,473,100  shares of stock had been  repurchased  at a
total price, including brokerage commissions, of $12,704,300. The repurchases of
stock have been financed by the  Company's  principal  revolving  line of credit
facility.

Fiscal 1998 Developments

     On November 14, 1997,  the Company  purchased  all of the capital  stock or
substantially  all of  the  assets  of the  principal  operating  businesses  of
Prospect Industries plc ("Prospect") of Derby, United Kingdom, for approximately
$16.6 million in cash and acquisition costs. Excluded from the purchase price is
$1,438,000,  which  represents the fair value of the assets and liabilities of a
discontinued  operation,  CBP  Engineering  Corp.  ("CBP").  The sale of CBP was
consummated in 1998 at no gain or loss.  Prospect,  a mechanical  contractor and
provider of turnkey  piping  systems  serving the power  generating  and process
industries  worldwide,   operated  through  several  wholly-owned   subsidiaries
including Connex Pipe Systems,  Inc.  ("Connex"),  a piping systems  fabrication
business  located in Troutville,  Virginia;  Aiton Australia Pty Limited ("Aiton
Australia"),  a piping  systems,  boiler  refurbishment  and project  management
company based near Sydney,  Australia; and Prospect Engineering Limited ("PEL"),
a provider of turnkey piping systems located in Derby, United Kingdom.  Prospect
also  owned a 66%  interest  in  Inflo  Control  Systems  Limited  ("Inflo"),  a
manufacturer  of boiler  steam  leak  detection,  acoustic  mill and  combustion
monitoring  equipment and related  systems.  Under the terms of the  acquisition
agreement,  the  Company  acquired  all of the  outstanding  stock  of  Prospect
Industries  Overseas  Limited,  a United Kingdom  holding  company that held the
entire  ownership  interest in Connex and CBP, and Aiton  Australia  and certain
assets of PEL, as well as Prospect's  entire  ownership  interest in Inflo.  The
Company also assumed  certain  liabilities  of PEL and Prospect  relating to its
employees and pension plans.  For Prospect's  year ended September 30, 1996, its
most  recently  published  audited  consolidated  financial  statements,   sales
amounted to approximately $138 million.

         On January 15,  1998,  the  Company  purchased  all of the  outstanding
capital stock of Lancas, C.A. ("Lancas"),  a construction company in Punto Fijo,
Venezuela for $2.7 million in cash and acquisition costs, net of cash received.

     On January 19, 1998, the Company  acquired all of the  outstanding  capital
stock of Cojafex B.V. of Rotterdam  Holland  ("Cojafex") for $8.5 million,  $4.6
million in cash and  acquisition  costs (net of cash received) of which was paid
at closing. Cojafex owns the technology for certain  induction-bending  machines
used for bending  pipe and other  carbon  steel and alloy items for  industrial,
commercial  and  architectural  applications.  Shaw  currently has seven Cojafex
induction bending machines in operation.  Shaw supplied Cojafex bending machines
packaged with fabrication technology and technical services on-site in India for
one of the largest grass roots refinery projects ever planned.

     On July 29, 1998 the Company completed the acquisition of Bagwell Brothers,
Inc. and a related  entity  (collectively,  "Bagwell") of Delcambre,  Louisiana.
Shaw's total  consideration paid for the acquisition  amounted to 645,000 shares
of its  Common  Stock  valued  at $13.0  million  and $1.8  million  in cash and
acquisition  costs.  Bagwell  specializes in the fabrication and construction of
offshore modules, topsides,  heliports,  vessels and offshore platforms, as well
as management of offshore construction and maintenance work. Bagwell had revenue
of approximately  $30 million for its most recent fiscal year ended February 28,
1998.

         In June 1998, the Company  adopted a plan to discontinue its operations
of the following subsidiaries:  Weldtech, a seller of welding supplies; Inflo, a
manufacturer  of boiler  steam  leak  detection,  acoustic  mill and  combustion
monitoring  equipment  and related  systems;  Greenbank (a division of PEL),  an
abrasive and corrosion resistant pipe systems  specialist;  and NAPTech Pressure
Systems Corporation, a manufacturer of pressure vessels. The Company sold and/or
discontinued  its  investment  in each of these  operations  prior to August 31,
1998.

         For further discussions regarding these acquisitions, see "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

<PAGE>

Industry Overview

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

         The domestic pipe fabrication and construction industry depends largely
on new construction  and retrofit  projects in the chemical,  refining,  oil and
gas, pulp and paper, pharmaceutical, food processing and other industries. These
industries have  historically  been cyclical in nature and vulnerable to general
downturns in the economy.  The chemical  sector began to experience an upturn in
mid-1995 driven by an increase in capital  expenditures for capacity  expansions
and  retrofits.  This  resulted in a  significant  improvement  in the  domestic
pricing  environment  during fiscal 1996,  which continued  through fiscal 1998.
Project  activity in the chemical and refining  sectors  continues to be robust,
and the Company  anticipates that a significant portion of domestic project work
over the next several years will be generated by chemical  plant  expansions and
refinery  retrofits  relating  to the  modernization  of  aging  facilities  and
compliance with environmental regulations. Historically, the Company experienced
minimal demand for new electric power plant  construction  in the United States;
thus, the domestic electric power piping market consisted almost  exclusively of
retrofits. In fiscal 1998, however, the Company experienced increased demand for
new construction in the domestic power market as a result of the decommissioning
of nuclear plants,  deregulation of the power industry and the  proliferation of
new gas power plants.

         The  international  pipe fabrication  market has exhibited  significant
growth over the last several years. New construction  represents the majority of
work  performed  in the  electric  power  sector  overseas.  Strong  demand  for
electricity,  particularly  in  underdeveloped  and  overpopulated  areas of the
world, has resulted in a significant  increase in new power plant  construction.
With respect to the Far East/Pacific Rim region,  the Company expects that sales
in the foreseeable  future will be negatively  impacted by the economic problems
in the region.

         Generally,  United States pipe  fabricators  can fabricate  critical or
high pressure piping systems  domestically  for electric power projects and ship
the finished goods to selected international markets less expensively than their
major overseas  competitors,  due primarily to  significantly  lower labor costs
than in certain other industrialized  countries  (principally Germany and Japan)
and greater availability of raw materials in the United States.  Typically,  the
Company's international competitors are divisions of large industrial firms.

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

         The Company's  long-term  outlook for the chemical and refining sectors
remains  positive for the South  American  region based on the current  economic
forecast,  the prospective  projects identified by the Company and the Company's
existing presence and contacts in the region,  particularly Venezuela. There are
short-term  economic  and  political  uncertainties,  however,  that will likely
negatively impact growth in the region in fiscal 1999.

         The Company  entered the domestic  offshore oil and gas market with the
acquisition  of Bagwell in fiscal  1998.  Demand in this  industry  is  directly
related to commodity  prices,  and the Company  believes that the low oil prices
currently being realized could have a negative effect on overall spending in the
industry and could impact the results of its operations in this market in fiscal
1999. In an improved  pricing  environment,  however,  the Company  believes its
position in this market will  provide  significant  opportunity  for growth both
domestically and internationally.

Products and Services

         As part of its  commitment to being a "Total  Piping  Resource" for its
customers,  the  Company  provides  a  complete  range of  piping  products  and
services, including comprehensive design and engineering services, piping system
fabrication,  manufacturing  and sale of  specialty  pipe  fittings,  design and
manufacturing  of  pipe  support  systems,   final  on-site  erection,   turnkey
construction and project maintenance.

Pipe Fabrication

         Shaw's core business is the  fabrication of complex piping systems from
raw material made of carbon steel,  stainless and other alloys, as well as other
materials,  including  nickel,  titanium  and  aluminum.  The  Company  produces
prefabricated piping systems by cutting pipe to length,  welding fittings on the
pipe and bending the pipe, each to precise customer specifications. As of August
31,  1998,  Shaw  operated  pipe  fabrication   facilities  in  South  Carolina,
Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, the United Kingdom (the "UK") and Venezuela
as well as a 49%  interest  in a joint  venture  pipe  fabrication  facility  in
Bahrain.  These  fabrication  facilities are capable of handling and fabricating
pipe  ranging  in  diameter  from  one  inch to 72  inches,  with  overall  wall
thicknesses from 1/8 inch to 7 inches.  The Company can fabricate  prefabricated
pipe assemblies up to 100 feet in length and weighing up to 45 tons.

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

Bending

          Beginning   in   fiscal   1994,    the   Company   began    purchasing
state-of-the-art  induction-bending equipment, which significantly increased the
Company's capacity to fabricate piping systems in both volume and complexity. In
addition,  on certain projects Shaw can substitute bends for the cutting of pipe
and welding  fittings,  resulting in labor,  time and raw material  savings.  In
January  1998,  the Company  announced  that it acquired all of the  outstanding
capital stock of Cojafex B.V.  ("Cojafex") of Rotterdam,  Holland.  Cojafex owns
the technology for certain induction-bending  machines used for bending pipe and
other carbon steel and alloy items for industrial,  commercial and architectural
applications.

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

         Shaw currently has seven induction  pipe-bending  machines in operation
capable of bending pipe up to 66 inches in diameter with wall  thicknesses of up
to 5 inches.



                                                       Pipe Bending Capabilities
                                                      --------------------------
                                                        Maximum PipeMaximum Pipe
          Model                  Location             Diameter    Wall Thickness
          -----                  --------             ---------   --------------


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

An  additional  induction  pipe  bending  machine is expected to be delivered to
Manana, Bahrain in December, 1998.

          The Company has also developed  portable versions of the PB Special 16
and PB Special 8  induction  bending  machines  that are  capable  of  producing
multi-directional  bends at project sites around the world. The Company has sold
several of these machines that are currently being utilized  on-site in India to
fabricate  piping systems for one of the largest grass roots  refinery  projects
ever planned.



Engineering and Design

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

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

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

Pipe Fittings Manufacturing

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

Project Construction and Maintenance

            With the acquisitions of two industrial construction and maintenance
businesses  in fiscal 1997 and three in fiscal  1998,  the Company  expanded its
piping package to include on-site piping systems  installation and broadened its
overall  project  scope  to  include  total  project   construction   and  plant
maintenance services for the refining, petrochemical,  chemical, oil and gas and
power  industries.   These   capital-intensive   projects  include  grass  roots
facilities,   as  well  as  plant  expansions  and  upgrades.   Shaw's  services
incorporate most of the construction  disciplines,  including civil,  structural
and steel  erection,  mechanical/equipment  installation  and  assembly,  piping
erection,  skid and modular  unit  fabrication  and  assembly,  constructability
reviews,  materials and labor  procurement  and  management,  ASME code work and
plant  maintenance.  As a  result  of these  acquisitions,  the  Company  has an
established regional presence,  in Gulf Coast region of the United States and in
the UK,  Australia  and  Venezuela  and has  plans to  expand  domestically  and
internationally.

Markets

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

<PAGE>

             The Company's  sales were to customers in the following  industries
(in millions):

                                        Year Ended August 31,
Industry Sector                          1997             1998
- ---------------                          ----             ----

Power                                   $101.8           $193.5
Chemical                                 130.4            141.4
Refining                                  50.0             83.9
Petrochemical                              *               33.6
Oil and Gas                                *               23.1
Other                                     53.5             26.1
                                        ------           ------
                                        $335.7           $501.6
                                        ======           ======

          * Sales for  Petrochemical  and Oil and Gas sectors are not segregated
and are included elsewhere in the above chart.

          The  Company's  sales were to  customers in the  following  geographic
regions (in millions):

                                           Year Ended August 31,
Geographic Region                           1997             1998
- -----------------                           ----             ----

United States                              $232.5           $286.5
Far East/Pacific Rim                         62.6            100.6
Europe                                        4.0             55.8
South America                                18.4             31.9
Middle East                                  12.8             18.4
Other                                         5.4              8.4
                                           ------           ------
                                           $335.7           $501.6
                                           ======           ======

          Prior to February  1994,  the  Company's  international  business  was
conducted exclusively from its plants in the United States. The Company believes
that having facilities in certain key international  markets assists in securing
additional overseas work, specifically for chemical and refining projects, where
the piping is generally  fabricated at the project site or in a regional shop by
local welders. The Company currently has wholly-owned  subsidiaries operating in
Venezuela,  the U.K. and Australia  and a  joint-venture  facility  operating in
Bahrain.

          In November 1993, the Company entered into a  joint-venture  agreement
to construct and operate a fabrication  facility in Bahrain. The Company's joint
venture partner is Abdulla Ahmed Nass, a Bahrain  industrialist.  The Bahrainian
joint-venture facility is one of the first modern pipe fabrication facilities in
the Middle East and has  received  the Gulf States  Certification  from the Gulf
Cooperation Council. The Gulf States Certification enables the venture to export
products to other Arab  countries  without  payment of additional  tariffs.  For
fiscal 1998,  the joint venture had sales of  approximately  $6,600,000  and the
Company's share of the joint venture's net losses were approximately $40,000.

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

Contracts and Pricing

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

          The Company's contracts are generally priced on either a "unit" price,
"fixed/lump-sum",  or "cost-plus" basis. A significant  portion of the Company's
contracts  (particularly  domestic  piping  fabrication  contracts) are bid on a
"unit" price basis,  pursuant to which the customer pays an agreed-upon rate for
each individual service provided, such as a weld, radiograph inspection, bend or
engineering  revision,  or the amount of  inventory  items used.  Raw  materials
generally  are billed to customers at published  prices in effect at the date of
the contract,  and the Company generally obtains fixed pricing  commitments from
its  suppliers  at such time for most of the items  necessary  to  complete  the
project.  The Company thereby minimizes the risk of raw material price increases
that may occur during the fabrication process.

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

          A significant portion of the Company's  construction contracts are bid
on a "cost-plus"  basis.  Revenues are recognized on the basis of costs incurred
plus the fee earned, measured by the cost-to-cost method.

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

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

Backlog

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

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

          The Company  estimated  its backlog at  approximately  $254 million at
August 31, 1998. This compares to the previously announced $154 million and $253
million at August 31, 1996 and 1997,  respectively.  The Company  estimates that
$209  million,  or 82%, of its backlog at August 31, 1998 will be  completed  in
fiscal 1999.

          The  following  table  breaks  out the  percentage  of  backlog in the
following industry sectors and geographic regions for the periods indicated:

                                                 At August 31,
                                       1996*           1997*        1998
                                       -----           -----        ----
Industry Sector:
Electric Power                           57%             30%          30%
Chemical                                 32              22           39
Petrochemical                            --              21           11
Refining                                 10              15            8
Oil and Gas                              --               7            9
Other                                     1               5            3
                                        ---             ---          ---
                                        100%            100%         100%
                                        ===             ===          ===
Geographic Region:
Domestic                                 66%             68%          65%
International                            34              32           35
                                        ---             ---          ---
                                        100%            100%         100%
                                        ===             ===          ===

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

Customers and Marketing

          The  Company's   customers  are   principally   major   multi-national
engineering  and  construction  firms,  equipment  manufacturers  and industrial
corporations.  For fiscal 1998, no single customer  represented more than 10% of
the Company's sales.

          As of August 31, 1998, the Company's marketing efforts are principally
conducted  through  its own  full-time  employed  sales  force  comprised  of 64
employees.  In  addition,  certain  customers  and  territories  are  covered by
independent  representatives.  The  Company's  sales force is paid a base salary
plus,  when  applicable,  an annual  bonus,  while  independent  representatives
receive commissions.



Raw Materials and Suppliers

          The Company's principal raw materials are carbon steel,  stainless and
other  alloy  piping,  which it obtains  from a number of  domestic  and foreign
primary steel producers. The Company believes that it is not generally dependent
upon any one of its  suppliers for raw  materials,  that the market is extremely
competitive and that its relationship with its suppliers is good.  Certain types
of raw  materials,  however,  are available  from only one or a few  specialized
suppliers,  and the Company has experienced sourcing problems in the past; there
can be no assurance that sourcing problems will not occur in the future.

          Shaw purchases a majority of its piping  directly from  manufacturers.
This  eliminates  the need for a  distributor  and results in lower costs to the
Company.  Because of the volume of these  materials  purchased,  the  Company is
often able to negotiate  advantageous purchase prices for piping.  Certain items
are  kept in  stock  at each of the  Company's  facilities  and are  transported
between facilities as required.  The Company obtains more specialized  materials
from suppliers when required for a project.

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

Industry Certifications

          In order to perform  fabrication  and repairs of coded piping systems,
the Company's domestic construction  operations and fabrication  facilities,  as
well as its  subsidiaries in Derby, UK and Maracaibo,  Venezuela,  have obtained
the required American Society of Mechanical  Engineers (ASME) certification (S,U
& PP stamps), and its facilities in Laurens, South Carolina;  Walker, Louisiana;
Derby,   UK;  and   Maracaibo,   Venezuela  have  obtained  the  National  Board
certification  (R stamp).  In  addition,  the  Laurens,  South  Carolina and the
Troutville,  Virginia  facilities  are licensed to fabricate  piping for nuclear
power plants and are registered by the  International  Organization of Standards
(ISO 9002). The Company's engineering  subsidiary and its UK operations are also
registered by the International  Organization of Standards (ISO 9001), as is its
pipe support fabrication facility (ISO 9002).

Patents, Trademarks and Licenses

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

Competition

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

          In the  construction  segments,  the  Company has  numerous  regional,
national and international competitors, many of which have greater financial and
other resources than the Company.

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

Employees

          At August 31, 1998, the Company employed approximately 4,500 full-time
employees,  786 of whom are represented by unions.  Of the total employees,  189
worked in the Company's  wholly owned  subsidiary in Venezuela and 446 worked in
the United  Kingdom and  Australia.  In 1998, a five-year  agreement was reached
between the Company and a union whereby several of the Company's subsidiaries in
the United States are represented by local affiliates of the union.

Environmental

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

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

ITEM 2.  Properties

          The  principal  properties  of the  Company at August 31,  1998 are as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

       Location                             Description                                                 Square Feet
<S>                              <C>                                                                   <C>
Baton Rouge, LA                  Corporate Headquarters                                                 20,000(1)
Laurens, SC                      Pipe Fabrication Facility                                             200,000(2)
Prairieville, LA                 Pipe Fabrication Facility                                              60,000(1)
West Monroe, LA                  Pipe Fabrication Facility                                              70,000
Walker, LA                       Pipe Fabrication Facility                                             154,000(2)
Maracaibo, Venezuela             Pipe Fabrication Facility                                              45,000
Tulsa, OK                        Pipe Fabrication Facility                                             158,600(2)
Clearfield, UT                   Pipe Fabrication Facility                                             335,000(2)
Houston, TX                      Pipe Fabrication Facility                                              12,000
Troutville, VA                   Pipe Fabrication Facility                                             150,000(1)
Derby, U.K.                      Pipe Fabrication Facility                                             200,000(1)
Wolverhampton, U.K.              Pipe Fabrication Facility                                              43,000(1)
Baton Rouge, LA                  Distribution Facility                                                  30,000(1)
Englewood, NJ                    Design and Engineering Headquarters                                    14,000(1)
Longview, TX                     Pipe Supports Manufacturing and Fabrication Facility                   28,000
Shreveport, LA                   Piping Components and Manufacturing Facility                          385,000(2)
Shreveport, LA                   Pipe Storage Facility                                                  40,000(2)
Houston, TX                      Pipe Fittings Distribution Facility                                   107,000(1)
Vacaville, CA                    Pipe Supports Manufacturing Facility                                   43,000(1)
Baton Rouge, LA                  Construction, Administrative, Warehouse and Fabrication Facility       32,400(2)
Baton Rouge, LA                  Divisional Offices                                                     12,000
Delcambre, LA                    Offshore Construction and Fabrication Facility                         80,000
</TABLE>

(1)  Leased facility.        (2) Encumbered with debt.

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

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

ITEM 3.  Legal Proceedings

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

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

          The company  did not submit any matters to a vote of security  holders
during the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998.


                                     PART II

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

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

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

Fiscal year ended August 31, 1998
  First quarter                                       $24 3/8           $17 3/4
  Second quarter                                       26 3/8            18 1/2
  Third quarter                                        25 5/8            22 1/8
  Fourth quarter                                     27 15/16            8 1/16

Fiscal year ending August 31, 1999
  First quarter (through November 16, 1998)         $10 15/16           $ 6 3/8

          The closing sale price of the Common  Stock on November  16, 1998,  as
reported on the NYSE, was $8 7/8 per share. As of November 20, 1998, the Company
had approximately 3,750 total shareholders.

          The  Company  has not paid  any  dividends  on the  Common  Stock  and
currently  anticipates  that, for the foreseeable  future,  any earnings will be
retained  for  the  development  of  the  Company's  business.  Accordingly,  no
dividends  are  expected  to be  declared  or paid on the  Common  Stock for the
foreseeable  future.  While the declaration of dividends is at the discretion of
the Company's Board of Directors, the Company is subject to certain prohibitions
on the payment of dividends under the terms of existing credit facilities.

          On July 29, 1998 the Company  issued an aggregate of 645,000 shares of
its Common Stock in exchange for all of the remaining  capital stock of Bagwell.
The Common Stock was issued to the former  shareholders  of Bagwell  pursuant to
Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and was valued at an
aggregate of $13.0 million as of the date of exchange.

ITEM 6.  Selected Consolidated Financial Data

          The  following  table  presents,  for the  periods and as of the dates
indicated,  selected  statement  of income  data and  balance  sheet data of the
Company on a consolidated basis. The selected historical  consolidated financial
data for each of the three  fiscal  years in the period  ended  August 31,  1998
presented  below  have been  derived  from the  Company's  audited  consolidated
financial  statements.  Such  data  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the
Consolidated  Financial  Statements  of the Company and  related  notes  thereto
included  elsewhere  in this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  and  "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial  Condition and Results of Operations."  The
information has been restated to exclude discontinued operations.


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                                                           YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31,

                                                      1994           1995         1996         1997          1998
                                                      ----           ----         ----         ----          ----
                                                    (1)(2)(4)(9)   (1)(5)(9)    (1)(6)(9)     (7) (9)         (8)
                                                                 (in thousands, except per share amounts)
<S>                                                  <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>

Consolidated Statements of Income
Sales                                                $131,145     $156,922     $248,969     $335,734      $501,638
                                                      =======     ========     ========     ========      ========

Income from continuing operations                    $  3,236     $  3,912     $  6,915     $ 14,300      $ 16,232
                                                     ========     ========     ========     ========      ========

Basic income per common share from
   continuing operations (3)                         $    .40     $    .44     $    .71     $   1.23      $   1.29
                                                     ========     ========     ========     ========      ========

Diluted income per common share from
   continuing operations (3)                         $    .39     $    .43     $    .69     $   1.20      $   1.26
                                                     ========     ========     ========     ========      ========


Consolidated Balance Sheets
Total assets                                         $105,454     $121,084     $218,503     $262,459      $389,844
                                                     ========     ========     ========     ========      ========

Long-term debt obligations,
   net of current maturities                         $  7,906     $ 11,718     $ 36,840     $ 39,039      $ 91,715
                                                     ========     ========     ========     ========      ========

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


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

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

(3)  Earnings per share amounts for fiscal 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 have
     been restated for the adoption of Statement of Financial Standards No. 128,
     "Earnings Per Share."

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

(5)  Includes the  acquisition  of the 50% interest of the other  participant in
     the Company's joint venture located in Venezuela in fiscal 1995.

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

(7)  Includes the  acquisitions of Pipe Shields  Incorporated and United Crafts,
     Inc. and certain assets of MERIT  Industrial  Constructors,  Inc. in fiscal
     1997. See Note 3 of "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements."

(8)  Includes the acquisitions of certain assets of Prospect and Lancas, Cojafex
     and Bagwell in fiscal 1998. See Note 3 of "Notes to Consolidated  Financial
     Statements."

(9)  Fiscal 1996 and 1997 were restated to exclude the  discontinued  operations
     disposed  of in  fiscal  1998.  The  effect  in  fiscal  1994  and  1995 is
     immaterial. See Note 17 of "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements."


<PAGE>

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

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

Recent Acquisitions and Disposals

          On January 16, 1996, the Company  purchased certain assets and assumed
certain  liabilities of Word Industries Pipe Fabricating,  Inc, TS&M Corporation
and T.N. Word and certain of Mr. Word's family members  (collectively,  "Word").
The acquisition of Word increased the Company's  production capacity and added a
facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The total purchase price related to the acquisition
was approximately $4.2 million,  consisting of the issuance of 385,000 shares of
the Company's Common Stock valued at $3.4 million and cash and acquisition costs
of approximately $750,000.

          Effective  March 1, 1996, the Company  acquired all of the outstanding
capital stock of Alloy Piping Products,  Inc.  ("APP"),  a leading United States
manufacturer  of specialty  stainless  and carbon steel pipe  fittings and other
stainless pipe products, and the assets of an APP-related entity,  Speedline. In
connection with the acquisition of APP, the Company issued 541,177 shares of the
Company's  Common  Stock  valued at $6.8  million and paid cash and  acquisition
costs of $11.6 million.

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

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

          Effective   February  1,  1997,  the  Company  purchased  all  of  the
outstanding  capital  stock of United  Crafts,  Inc.  ("UCI"),  now  named  Shaw
Constructors,  Inc., an industrial construction and maintenance company based in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for cash and acquisition costs of $8.2 million.

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

          On  October  8, 1997,  the  Company  purchased  the  capital  stock of
Pipework  Engineering  and  Developments  Limited  ("PED"),  a pipe  fabrication
company in Wolverhampton,  United Kingdom,  for $699,000 in cash and acquisition
costs,  net of cash  received,  and  notes  payable  to former  stockholders  of
$1,078,000.

         On November 14, 1997, the Company purchased all of the capital stock or
substantially  all of  the  assets  of the  principal  operating  businesses  of
Prospect of Derby,  United Kingdom,  for approximately $16.6 million in cash and
acquisition costs, net of cash received.  Prospect, a mechanical  contractor and
provider of turnkey  piping  systems  serving the power  generating  and process
industries  worldwide,   operated  through  several  wholly-owned   subsidiaries
including Connex, a piping systems  fabrication  business located in Troutville,
Virginia;  Aiton Australia,  a piping systems,  boiler refurbishment and project
management  company  based  near  Sydney,   Australia;  and  PEL,  a  mechanical
contractor  and a provider of turnkey piping  systems  located in Derby,  United
Kingdom.  Prospect also owned a 66% interest in Inflo, a manufacturer  of boiler
steam leak  detection,  acoustic mill and  combustion  monitoring  equipment and
related  systems.  Under the terms of the  acquisition  agreement,  the  Company
acquired all of the outstanding  capital stock of Prospect  Industries  Overseas
Limited,  a United  Kingdom  holding  company  that  held the  entire  ownership
interest in Connex and CBP,  all of the  capital  stock of Aiton  Australia  and
certain assets of PEL, as well as Prospect's entire ownership interest in Inflo.
The Company also assumed certain liabilities of PEL and Prospect relating to its
employees and pension  plans.  Excluded from the purchase price is $1.4 million,
which  represents the fair value of the assets and liabilities of a discontinued
operation, CBP. The sale of the assets of CBP was consummated in 1998 at no gain
or loss.

          On January 15,  1998,  the Company  purchased  all of the  outstanding
capital stock of Lancas,  a  construction  company in Punto Fijo,  Venezuela for
approximately $2.7 million in cash and acquisition costs, net of cash received.

          On January 19, 1998, the Company  completed the  acquisition of all of
the outstanding capital stock of Cojafex of Rotterdam, Holland for $8.5 million;
$4.6 million of cash and acquisition  costs of which was paid at closing (net of
cash received).  The balance of the purchase price will be paid through December
31,  2003.  Cojafex  owns the  technology  for certain  induction  pipe  bending
machines  used for  bending  pipe and other  carbon  steel  and alloy  items for
industrial, commercial and agricultural applications, and using such technology,
Cojafex  designs,  engineers,  manufactures,  markets  and sells such  induction
bending machines.

          On July 28, 1998, the Company  completed the acquisition of all of the
outstanding capital stock of Bagwell.  Total consideration paid was $1.8 million
of cash and acquisition  costs and 645,000 shares of the Company's  Common Stock
valued at $13.0 million. Bagwell specializes in the fabrication and construction
of offshore modules,  topsides,  heliports,  vessels and offshore platforms,  as
well as management of offshore  construction and maintenance  work.  Bagwell had
revenues of  approximately  $30  million  for its most recent  fiscal year ended
February 28, 1998.

          See  Note 3 of the  Notes to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for
discussions regarding these acquisitions.

         In June 1998, the Company  adopted a plan to discontinue its operations
of the following subsidiaries:  Weldtech, a seller of welding supplies; Inflo, a
manufacturer  of boiler  steam  leak  detection,  acoustic  mill and  combustion
monitoring  equipment  and related  systems;  Greenbank (a division of PEL),  an
abrasive and corrosion resistant pipe systems  specialist;  and NAPTech Pressure
Systems Corporation, a manufacturer of pressure vessels. The Company sold and/or
discontinued  its  investment  in each of these  operations  prior to August 31,
1998.  Proceeds from the sale of these  operations  totaled  approximately  $1.2
million in net cash and notes  receivable of approximately  $7.4 million,  which
resulted in a net gain on the disposal of $2.6 million,  net of tax. The results
of these  operations  have been  classified  as  discontinued  operations in the
consolidated financial statements of the Company. Revenues of these discontinued
operations totaled approximately $0.4 million, $2.6 million, and $7.7 million in
1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.



<PAGE>


Results of Operations

          General

          The  following  table  sets  forth,  for the  periods  indicated,  the
percentages  of the  Company's  sales  that  certain  income and  expense  items
represent: <TABLE> <CAPTION>

                                                                           Year Ended August 31,
                                                                  1996             1997             1998
                                                                  ----             ----             ----
<S>                                                               <C>               <C>             <C>

Sales                                                             100.0%            100.0%          100.0%
Cost of sales                                                      83.7              80.9            84.1
                                                                   ----              ----            ----
Gross profit                                                       16.3              19.1            15.9
General and administrative expenses                                10.7              11.2             9.7
                                                                  -----             -----            ----
Operating income                                                    5.6               7.9             6.2
Interest expense                                                   (2.0)             (2.0)           (1.7)
Other income, net                                                   0.4               0.0             0.1
                                                                   ----              ----            ----
Income before income taxes                                          4.0               5.9             4.6
Provision for income taxes                                          1.3               1.8             1.4
                                                                   ----              ----            ----
Income from continuing operations before earnings (losses) from
  unconsolidated entity                                             2.7               4.1             3.2
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated entity                        0.1               0.2             0.0
                                                                    ---               ---             ---
Income from continuing operations                                   2.8               4.3             3.2
Discontinued operations, net of tax:
   Operating results                                                0.1              (0.1)             .1
   Net gain on disposals                                             --                --              .5
                                                                   ------            -----           ----
Net income                                                          2.7%              4.2%            3.8%
                                                                   ====              ====            ====
</TABLE>


          Fiscal 1998 Compared to Fiscal 1997

          Sales  increased  49.4% for fiscal 1998 to $501.6  million from $335.7
million for fiscal  1997.  Gross  profit  increased  24.4% to $79.6  million for
fiscal 1998 from $64.0  million for fiscal 1997.  Approximately  $112 million of
the increase in sales relates to sales of  subsidiaries  acquired  during fiscal
1998.

The Company's sales were to customers in the following geographic regions:

                                  Fiscal 1997                    Fiscal 1998
                       ----------------------------     ------------------------
                           (in millions)      %          (in millions)       %

Geographic Region:
  U.S.A.                    $ 232.5           69.3%         $286.5         57.1%
  Far East/Pacific Rim         62.6           18.6           100.6         20.0
  Middle East                  12.8            3.8            18.4          3.7
  South America                18.4            5.5            31.9          6.4
  Europe                        4.0            1.2            55.8         11.1
  Other                         5.4            1.6             8.4          1.7
                             ------          -----          ------        -----
                             $335.7          100.0%         $501.6        100.0%
                             ======          =====           =====        =====


<PAGE>


         The  Company's  sales  were  to  customers  in the  following  industry
sectors:

                           Fiscal 1997                       Fiscal 1998
                 -----------------------------      --------------------------
                   (in millions)      %             (in millions)     %
Industry Sector:
  Power              $101.8           30.3%            $193.5         38.6%
  Refining             50.0           14.9               83.9         16.7
  Chemical            130.4           38.9              141.4         28.2
  Petrochemical         *              *                 33.6          6.7
  Oil and Gas           *              *                 23.1          4.6
  Other                53.5           15.9               26.1          5.2
                     ------          -----             ------        -----
                     $335.7          100.0%            $501.6        100.0%
                     ======          =====             ======        =====

          * Sales for  Petrochemical  and Oil and Gas sectors are not segregated
and are included elsewhere in the above chart.

     Revenues in fiscal 1998 from all  geographic  areas  increased  over fiscal
1997  levels  primarily  due  to  the  Company's   continued  expansion  through
acquisitions.  The  Company's  domestic  market  for its  construction  services
continues to expand while sales from the Company's pipe  fabrication and bending
operations declined in fiscal 1998 due to the substantial  completion of a large
mining contract in fiscal 1997. With respect to the Far East/Pacific Rim region,
the Company  expects  that sales in the  foreseeable  future will be  negatively
impacted by the  economic  problems in the region,  although the Company has not
experienced  any  significant   project   cancellations,   only  delays  in  the
commencement of work. The Company believes that the long-term outlook for growth
in sales in the South America region is positive based upon the current economic
outlook,  the prospective  projects  identified by the Company and the Company's
existing  presence  and  contacts  in the  region,  particularly  in  Venezuela;
however,  there are short-term  economic and political  uncertainties  that will
likely negatively impact sales growth in the region in fiscal 1999. The increase
in sales to Europe in fiscal 1998,  compared to the prior year, is primarily due
to the acquisitions of the Company's United Kingdom  operations (PED and certain
of the Prospect  businesses) in the first quarter of fiscal 1998. The Company is
still in process of integrating  these UK operations with Shaw's  strategies and
procedures  and expects to be completed  with this process  during  fiscal 1999.
Until such time, the Company expects sales to Europe to be negatively impacted.

          Gross  margins  for  fiscal  1998  decreased  to 15.9% from 19.1% from
fiscal 1997 due  primarily  to the  following  factors:  (i) a higher  volume of
construction and maintenance work, which typically produces a lower gross profit
margin; (ii) reduced gross margins on the Company's manufactured products due to
pricing  pressure  experienced  in 1998 from  foreign  imports;  and (iii) lower
margins  realized from the Company's UK operations  since the acquisition of PED
and certain  businesses of Prospect.  The Company expects that  construction and
maintenance  work will continue to be a significant  portion of its  operations,
and gross  margins  may be at lower  than  historical  levels as a result.  With
regard  to the  pricing  pressures  from  foreign  imports  on its  manufactured
products,  the  Company  does not  foresee  a change in these  pressures  in the
short-term.  While the UK market has  historically  produced  lower margins than
other  markets,  the Company is in the process of integrating  these  operations
with the Company's operating processes,  which the Company believes will enhance
the overall profitability of the operation.  By the end of the second quarter of
fiscal  1999,  the  Company  will have  terminated  approximately  55% of the UK
workforce,  which will result in future cost  savings.  The related  contractual
severance  costs  have  been  included  as a  cost  of  the  acquisition  of the
businesses.

          General and  administrative  expenses for fiscal 1998 increased  $11.1
million  to  $48.5  million,  as  compared  to $37.4  million  in  fiscal  1997.
Approximately,  $9 million of the increase relates to general and administrative
expenses of newly acquired subsidiaries,  including those owned for only part of
fiscal 1997. The remaining increase in these expenses relates to increased costs
of  corporate  overhead due to the increase in the  Company's  operations.  As a
percentage of sales, however, general and administrative expenses decreased from
11.2% in fiscal 1997 to 9.7% in fiscal 1998.

          Interest  expense for fiscal 1998 was $8.5 million,  up 25.0% from the
$6.8 million  incurred in fiscal  1997,  primarily  due to increased  borrowings
resulting  from the  expansion  of business  and the  acquisitions  of Prospect,
Cojafex, PED and Lancas in 1998.

          The Company's effective tax rates for fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1998 were
30.6% and 30.2%, respectively. The decrease in the fiscal 1998 rates from fiscal
1997 was primarily due to additional  tax savings from higher  foreign sales and
foreign  sourced  income  taxed at lower rates  partially  offset by lower state
income tax incentives and refunds.

          Fiscal 1997 Compared to Fiscal 1996

         Sales  increased  34.8% for fiscal 1997 to $335.7  million  from $249.0
million for fiscal  1996.  Gross  profit  increased  58.0% to $64.0  million for
fiscal 1997 from $40.5 million for fiscal 1996. Approximately $68 million of the
sales increase relates to sales of newly acquired subsidiaries,  including those
owned for only part of fiscal 1996. The remaining  increase was due primarily to
increased  sales  for  projects  in the  domestic  chemical  and  other  sectors
(primarily  mining),  and the foreign power sector,  offset by a decrease in the
domestic refining sector.

          The  Company's  sales were to  customers in the  following  geographic
regions:

                                Fiscal 1996                     Fiscal 1997
                       ----------------------------    ------------------------
                         (in millions)        %          (in millions)     %
Geographic Region:
  U.S.A.                  $ 173.3            69.7%        $232.5         69.3%
  Far East/Pacific Rim       39.6            15.9           62.6         18.6
  Middle East                21.4             8.6           12.8          3.8
  Latin America               2.6             1.0           18.4          5.5
  Europe                      9.0             3.6            4.0          1.2
  Other                       3.1             1.2            5.4          1.6
                         --------         -------       --------      -------
                           $249.0           100.0%        $335.7        100.0%
                           ======           =====         ======        =====

          The  Company's  sales  were to  customers  in the  following  industry
sectors:

                               Fiscal 1996                     Fiscal 1997
                     -----------------------------       ---------------------
                       (in millions)      %          (in millions)          %
Industry Sector:
  Power                  $  86.7            39.0%       $ 101.8            30.3%
  Refining                  62.4            28.1           50.0            14.9
  Chemical                  62.1            28.0          130.4            38.9
  Other                     10.8             4.9           53.5            15.9
                          ------         -------        -------           ------
                           222.0           100.0%       $ 335.7           100.0%
                                         =======        =======
  Pooled Sales *            27.0
                          ------
                          $249.0
                          ======
     *  Sales  by  industry  sector  for the  pooled  entity,  NAPTech,  are not
available.

          Gross margins for fiscal 1997 increased to 19.1% from 16.3% for fiscal
1996.  This  increase was due  primarily to improved  profitability  on domestic
process projects, an increase in revenues from the power segment and an increase
in the sale of value-added services, such as engineering and design.

          General and  administrative  expenses for fiscal 1997 increased  $10.8
million  to  $37.4  million,  as  compared  to $26.6  million  in  fiscal  1996.
Approximately $5.6 million of the increase relates to general and administrative
expenses of newly acquired subsidiaries,  including those owned for only part of
fiscal 1996. Additionally,  the Company incurred merger and business combination
costs of approximately  $700,000 related to the NAPTech  acquisition,  which was
accounted for using the pooling-of-interests  method. These  acquisition-related
costs are  included in general and  administrative  expenses  for the year ended
August 31, 1997. See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated  Financial Statements.  The
remaining  increase in these expenses  relates to variable costs associated with
increased sales.

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

          The Company's effective tax rates for fiscal 1996 and fiscal 1997 were
32.1% and 30.6%, respectively. The decrease in the fiscal 1997 rates from fiscal
1996 was primarily due to state income tax incentives and refunds.  The majority
of these incentives and refunds may not be recurring;  however,  any increase in
state income taxes should be  partially  offset by  additional  tax savings from
foreign sales.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

          Net cash used in operations was $3.2 million for fiscal 1998, compared
to net cash provided by  operations of $7.6 million for fiscal 1997.  For fiscal
1998,  net  cash  was  favorably  impacted  by  net  income  of  $19.2  million,
depreciation  and  amortization  of $10.3 million,  increases of $5.8 million in
accounts payable and $8.4 million in advanced billings and billings in excess of
cost and  estimated  earnings on  uncompleted  contracts  and a decrease of $4.2
million in  inventories.  Offsetting  these  positive  factors were increases of
$38.3 million in receivables and $7.5 million in costs and estimated earnings in
excess of billings on uncompleted contracts.

          The increase in  receivables  was primarily  attributable  to a higher
volume of sales  activity.  Receivables  from  contracts  which are  subject  to
renegotiations or legal  proceedings  during fiscal 1998 (see Note 1 of Notes to
Consolidated   Financial   Statements)  also  contributed  to  the  increase  in
receivables.  Inventories  decreased due to a concentrated effort by the Company
to reduce and better manage its inventory  levels.  Accounts  payables and other
items  changed  due  to  normal   operating   activities  and  contract  billing
provisions.

          Net cash used in  investing  activities  was $38.0  million for fiscal
1998, compared to $28.4 million for fiscal 1997. During fiscal 1998, the Company
invested net cash of $18.0 million in  connection  with the  acquisition  of the
Prospect businesses, net cash of $4.6 million in connection with the acquisition
of Cojafex,  and $5.1 million in connection with other acquisitions.  See Note 3
of  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.  In  addition,  the  Company
purchased $14.6 million of property and equipment in fiscal 1998. Major property
and  equipment  purchases  include  $1.4 million of assets for a new facility in
Houston,  Texas and $13.2  million of other  property and  equipment  purchases.
These uses of cash were  partially  offset by proceeds from sale of property and
equipment of $3.2 million due primarily to the sale of corporate  transportation
equipment and proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations of $1.2 million.

     Net cash provided by financing  activities totaled $40.8 million for fiscal
1998,  compared to $22.2 million  provided in fiscal 1997. $62.2 million of cash
was  provided  from the  issuance of new debt,  primarily  $60 million of Senior
Secured  Notes funded in May 1998.  The proceeds  from the Senior  Secured Notes
were used primarily to pay down the Company's principal revolving line of credit
facility,  which had  reached a balance of $69.5  million at the time the Senior
Secured Notes were funded. The principal  revolving line of credit had been used
generally  to  provide  working  capital  and fund  fixed  asset  purchases  and
subsidiary  acquisitions.  The Senior  Secured  Notes are payable  primarily  to
insurance  companies,  rank in pari passu with the Company's  revolving  line of
credit and are secured by domestic accounts  receivable,  inventory,  intangible
assets and bank deposits.  Seven equal annual principal  payments  beginning May
1999 are due with respect to $20 million of the Senior  Secured  Notes that bear
interest  at 6.44%,  payable  semi-annually,  and seven equal  annual  principal
payments  beginning  May 2002 are due with  respect to $40 million of the Senior
Secured Notes that bear interest at 6.93%, payable semi-annually.  See Note 6 of
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

          In May 1998,  in connection  with the private  placement of the Senior
Secured Notes, the Company entered into a new three-year  secured revolving line
of credit facility with its existing  commercial lenders providing for a line of
credit of up to $100 million. This replaced the Company's secured revolving line
of credit of up to $77 million and the  Company's  unsecured  revolving  line of
credit of up to $17 million with such commercial  lenders.  The Company believes
that its current financing arrangements are sufficient to support its operations
for the next twelve months.

         Subsequent to August 31, 1998, in accordance with a plan adopted by the
Board of  Directors,  the Company  began to  repurchase  shares of the Company's
Common Stock through open market and block transactions.  The Board has approved
acquisition  of up to  2,700,000  shares,  or  approximately  20% of the  shares
outstanding  at August 31, 1998.  As of November 24, 1998,  1,473,100  shares of
Common  Stock  had  been  repurchased  at a  total  price,  including  brokerage
commissions, of $12.7 million. This repurchase of stock has been financed by the
Company's  principal  revolving line of credit  facility (see Note 7 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements).

Year 2000 Compliance

         The Year 2000 ("Y2K") issue is the result of computerized systems being
written to store and process the year  portion of dates using two digits  rather
than four.  Date-sensitive  systems may fail or produce  erroneous results on or
before  January 1, 2000  because the year 2000 will be  interpreted  as the year
1900.  During 1998,  the Company's  executive  management and Board of Directors
began  implementation  of a  program  to  identify,  evaluate  and  address  the
Company's Y2K risks to ensure that its Information Technology ("IT") systems and
non-IT  systems  will be able to process  dates  from and after  January 1, 2000
without critical systems failure. In addition to evaluating its own systems, the
Company is attempting to assess the Y2K risks  associated  with its  significant
customers and suppliers.

     In  general,   the  Company's  program  for  identifying,   evaluating  and
addressing  its Y2K risks for both IT and non-IT  systems  involves  preliminary
assessments by Company  personnel,  detail audits and assessments by consultants
(scheduled  to  be  completed  by  February  28,  1999  and  estimated  to  cost
approximately  $150,000) and  correction  or  replacement  of any  non-compliant
systems.

         The Company is currently  evaluating its IT systems for Y2K compliance.
Over  the  last 18  months,  the  Company  has  been  evaluating,  updating  and
consolidating  its  principal  IT systems.  While this  project  was  undertaken
primarily  to  integrate  the  Company's  various  operations  and  increase the
efficiency, accuracy and usefulness of the Company's IT systems, the Company has
been able to evaluate and address its Y2K risks with respect to its principal IT
systems  without   incurring   significant   additional   costs.  The  Company's
non-compliant IT systems are currently scheduled for replacement or modification
to Y2K compliant systems by June 1999.

         Regarding the Company's  non-IT  systems,  which  primarily  consist of
systems with  embedded  technology,  the Company is in the process of completing
its preliminary assessment of all date-sensitive components.  Upon completion of
its assessment,  the Company will replace or modify other  non-compliant  non-IT
systems as necessary.

     The Company has not incurred significant costs related to Y2K compliance as
of August 31, 1998. Based upon the information currently available,  the Company
does not  believe  that the cost to modify or replace its  non-compliant  IT and
non-IT systems will be significant; however, there can be no assurance that such
cost will not  materially  and  negatively  impact its  financial  condition  or
results of operations.

         Based on its preliminary  risk  assessments,  the Company  believes the
most  likely Y2K related  failure  would be a  temporary  disruption  in certain
materials and services  provided by third  parties,  which could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or results of operations. As
part of its assessment of the Y2K risk associated  with third parties'  systems,
the Company intends to contact its significant  material suppliers and customers
to  determine  their  level of Y2K  compliance.  The Company  has  scheduled  to
complete its assessment by June 1999.

         Based  upon  the  outcome  of  its   assessments  and  audits  and  the
information  derived from its significant  customers and suppliers,  the Company
will  develop  specific  contingency  plans to address  certain  risk areas,  as
needed,  beginning in July 1999. There can be no assurance that the Company will
not be materially adversely affected by Y2K problems or related costs.

Financial Accounting Standards Board Statements

          In February 1997,  Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128
- -- "Earnings Per Share" ("SFAS 128") was issued which establishes  standards for
computing and presenting earnings per share ("eps"). Under SFAS 128, primary eps
is replaced with basic eps. Basic eps is computed by dividing income  applicable
to common shares by the weighted average shares outstanding; no dilution for any
potentially  convertible  shares is included in the  calculation.  Fully diluted
eps,  now called  diluted eps, is still  required;  however,  when  applying the
treasury  stock method,  the average stock price is used rather than the greater
of the average or closing  stock  price for the period.  See Note 12 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.

         In June  1998,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board (the FASB)
issued  Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 133 -- "Accounting for
Derivative  Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS No. 133"). The provisions
of this statement are effective for the Company's  fiscal year ending August 31,
2000.  Management  does not believe that the impact of adopting  this  statement
will have a material  impact on the Company's  financial  position or results of
operations.

         In early 1998, the American  Institute of Certified Public  Accountants
("AICPA") issued Statement of Position 98-5, "Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up
Activities"  ("SOP").  The SOP is  effective  for fiscal years  beginning  after
December 15, 1998 and will require costs of start-up activities and organization
costs to be  expensed as  incurred.  Any such  unamortized  costs on the date of
adoption of the new standard  will be written off and  reflected as a cumulative
effect of a change in accounting  principle.  As of August 31, 1998, the Company
had total deferred  organizational costs of approximately  $850,000. The Company
intends to adopt this new requirement in fiscal 2000.



ITEM 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

         The Company is exposed to interest rate risk due to changes in interest
rates,  primarily  in the  United  States.  The  Company's  policy  is to manage
interest rates through the use of a combination of fixed and floating rate debt.
The Company  currently  does not use any  derivative  financial  instruments  to
manage its exposure to interest rate risk. The table below provides  information
about  the  Company's  future  maturities  of  principal  for  outstanding  debt
instruments  and fair value at August 31, 1998.  All  instruments  described are
non-trading instruments ($ in millions).

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                1999     2000    2001     2002       2003     Thereafter      Total        Fair Value
                                ----     ----    ----     ----       ----     ----------      -----        ----------
<S>                           <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>        <C>       <C>             <C>           <C>

Long-term Debt
  Fixed rate                  $6.2       $7.5    $4.5     $12.8      $10.1       $40.2        $81.3             $84.0
    Average interest rate      6.9%       7.0%    6.7%      7.2%       6.7%        6.7%         6.8%              --
  Variable rate               $3.1       $3.2    $4.4     $ 3.3      $ 3.4       $ 2.3        $19.7             $19.7
    Average interest rate      7.6%       7.6%    7.7%      7.6%       7.6%        7.7%         7.6%
- --

Short-term Debt
  Variable rate               $20.9       --       --       --         --          --         $20.9             $20.9
    Average interest rate       7.3%      --       --       --         --          --           7.3%              --

</TABLE>

Foreign Currency Risks

          Although  the  majority  of the  Company's  transactions  are in  U.S.
dollars,  the Company does have certain of its subsidiaries  which conduct their
operations in various foreign currencies. The Company currently does not use any
off-balance  sheet hedging  instruments to manage its risks  associated with its
operating  activities  conducted in foreign  currencies  unless that  particular
operation  enters into a contract in a foreign  currency which is different than
the local currency of the particular  operation.  In limited  circumstances  and
when considered appropriate, the Company will utilize forward exchange contracts
to hedge the anticipated  purchases  and/or sales.  The Company has historically
used these  instruments  primarily  in the buying  and  selling of certain  pipe
bending  machines.  The Company  attempts to  minimize  its  exposure to foreign
currency fluctuations by matching its revenues and expenses in the same currency
for its  contracts.  As of  August  31,  1998,  the  Company  does  not have any
outstanding  forward  exchange  contracts.  See  Notes 1 and 16 of  Notes to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.


<PAGE>


ITEM 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----


Report of Independent Public Accountants......................................23

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 31, 1997 and 1998...............24 - 25

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended
  August 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998..............................................26

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years
  ended August 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998........................................27

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years
  ended August 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998...................................28 - 29

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements...............................30 - 51





<PAGE>


                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

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

                  We have audited the accompanying  consolidated  balance sheets
of The Shaw Group Inc. (a Louisiana  corporation)  and subsidiaries as of August
31,  1997  and  1998,  and  the  related  consolidated   statements  of  income,
shareholders'  equity and cash  flows for each of the three  years in the period
ended August 31, 1998. These financial  statements are the responsibility of the
Company's  management.  Our  responsibility  is to  express  an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.

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

                  In our opinion,  the  financial  statements  referred to above
present fairly,  in all material  respects,  the financial  position of The Shaw
Group Inc. and  subsidiaries  as of August 31, 1997 and 1998, and the results of
their  operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended  August  31,  1998,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.

/s/  Arthur Andersen LLP                      /s/ Hannis  T. Bourgeois,L.L.P.
- ------------------------                      -------------------------------

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

October 22, 1998


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                      THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                         As of August 31, 1997 and 1998
                             (Dollars in thousands)

                                                       ASSETS

                                                                             1997                1998
                                                                             ----                ----
<S>                                                                      <C>                 <C>

Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                                              $     4,358         $      3,743
  Accounts receivable, net                                                    84,167              140,631
  Receivables from unconsolidated entity                                       1,453                1,758
  Inventories                                                                 70,310               65,861
  Cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings
     on uncompleted contracts                                                  3,236               19,797
  Prepaid expenses                                                             2,352                4,948
  Deferred income taxes                                                        2,855                4,697
  Other current assets                                                         2,615                9,559
  Current assets of discontinued operations                                    1,956                 --
                                                                            --------              -------
         Total current assets                                                173,302              250,994

Investment in unconsolidated entity                                            4,005                3,965

Property and equipment:
  Transportation equipment                                                     4,893                3,153
  Furniture and fixtures                                                       8,331               10,756
  Machinery and equipment                                                     46,637               65,158
  Buildings and improvements                                                  22,770               32,920
  Land                                                                         3,973                5,923
                                                                            --------              -------
                                                                              86,604              117,910
Less: Accumulated depreciation                                               (17,705)             (25,050)
                                                                            --------              -------
                                                                              68,899               92,860

Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization of $493
 and $1,430 at August 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively                         11,100               33,356

Assets of discontinued operations                                              1,466                  --

Other assets                                                                   3,687                8,669
                                                                            --------             --------
                                                                            $262,459             $389,844
                                                                            ========             ========

</TABLE>

                                   (Continued)



     The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                        THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                             CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                           As of August 31, 1997 and 1998
                                               (Dollars in thousands)

                                             LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                                                                    1997                1998

<S>                                                                           <C>                 <C>

Current liabilities:
  Outstanding checks in excess of bank balance                                    $   676           $   4,009
  Accounts payable                                                                 30,713              45,307
  Accrued liabilities                                                               8,622              24,831
  Current maturities of long-term debt                                              6,392               9,314
  Revolving lines of credit                                                        29,146              20,898
  Deferred revenue-prebilled                                                        3,582               1,813
  Advanced billings and billings in excess of cost and estimated
     earnings on uncompleted contracts                                                834              14,367
  Current liabilities of discontinued operations                                      380                --
                                                                                  -------             -------
         Total current liabilities                                                 80,345             120,539

Long-term debt, less current maturities                                            39,039              91,715

Deferred income taxes                                                               5,260               6,895

Commitments and contingencies                                                       --                  --

Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, no par value,
    5,000,000 shares authorized;
    no shares issued and outstanding                                                --                  --
  Common stock, no par value,
    50,000,000 shares authorized;
    19,151,309 and 19,942,782 shares issued, respectively;
    12,488,393 and 13,279,866 shares outstanding,  respectively                   104,870             119,360
  Retained earnings                                                                39,773              58,950
  Cumulative translation adjustments                                                 --                  (420)
  Unearned restricted stock compensation                                             --                  (367)
  Treasury stock, 6,662,916 shares                                                 (6,828)             (6,828)
                                                                                 --------             -------
         Total shareholders' equity                                               137,815             170,695
                                                                                 --------             -------
                                                                                 $262,459            $389,844
                                                                                 ========             =======

 </TABLE>
      The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                        THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                 For the Years Ended August 31,  1996,  1997 and 1998
                               (Dollars in  thousands,  except per share amounts)

                                                         1996               1997                 1998
                                                         ----               ----                 ----
<S>                                                   <C>                  <C>                 <C>

Income:
  Sales                                                $248,969            $ 335,734           $ 501,638
  Cost of sales                                         208,473              271,759             422,057
                                                        -------            ---------           ---------
Gross profit                                             40,496               63,975              79,581

General and administrative expenses                      26,569               37,377              48,503
                                                        -------            ---------           ---------
Operating income                                         13,927               26,598              31,078

Interest expense                                         (4,823)              (6,778)             (8,471)
Other income, net                                           923                  155                 698
                                                         -------           ---------           ---------
                                                         (3,900)              (6,623)             (7,773)
                                                         -------           ---------           ---------
Income before income taxes                               10,027               19,975              23,305

Provision for income taxes                                3,215                6,112               7,033
                                                         ------            ---------            --------
Income from continuing operations
  before earnings (losses) from unconsolidated entity     6,812               13,863              16,272

Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated entity                103                  437                 (40)
                                                         ------            ---------            --------
Income from continuing operations                         6,915               14,300              16,232

Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
   Operating results                                       (298)                (252)                298
   Net gain on disposals                                    --                --                   2,647
                                                         ------            ---------            --------
Net income                                               $6,617            $  14,048            $ 19,177
                                                         ======            =========            ========

Basic:
Income per common share:
   Continuing operations                                 $  .71            $    1.23            $   1.29
   Discontinued operations                                 (.03)                (.02)                .23
                                                         ------            ---------            --------
Net income per common share                              $  .68            $    1.21            $   1.52
                                                         ======            =========            ========

Diluted:
Income per common share:
   Continuing operations                                 $  .69            $    1.20            $   1.26
   Discontinued operations                                 (.03)                (.02)                .23
                                                         ------            ---------            --------
Net income per common share                              $  .66            $    1.18            $   1.49
                                                         ======            =========            ========

</TABLE>


        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.



<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                        THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                 For the Years Ended August 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
                                               (Dollars in thousands)

                                                              Unearned                           Cumulative                 Total
                                       Common Stock        Restricted Stock    Treasury Stock    Translation   Retained Shareholders
                                       ------------                            --------------                  
                                    Shares     Amount      Compensation    Shares     Amount     Adjustments   Earnings    Equity
                                    ------     ------      ------------    ------     ------     -----------   --------    ------

<S>                                <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>           <C>         <C>

Balance, September 1, 1995         15,606,924   $ 45,871   $   --       6,662,916    $  (6,828)  $    --       $20,313     $59,356
  Net income                           --          --          --           --           --           --         6,617       6,617
  Shares issued to acquire Word       385,000      3,402       --           --           --           --          --         3,402
  Shares issued to acquire APP        541,177      6,725       --           --           --           --          --         6,725
  Exercise of options                  45,125        281       --           --           --           --          --           281
  Pooled entity:
    Net loss not included in
        reporting period               --           --         --           --           --           --         (906)        (906)
    Share sale                         40,873        570       --           --           --           --          --           570

                                   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, August 31, 1996            16,619,099    56,849       --       6,662,916       (6,828)       --       26,024       76,045
  Net income                           --           --         --           --           --           --       14,048       14,048
  Shares issued in public
     offering                        2,398,000    46,986       --           --           --           --          --        46,986
  Shares issued to acquire
      certain assets of MERIT
      Industrial Constructors, Inc.
      and certain of its affiliates     62,500     1,266       --           --           --           --          --         1,266
  Exercise of options                   71,710       433       --           --           --           --          --           433
  Pooled entity:
    Purchase of treasury stock         --           (664)      --           --           --           --          --          (664)
    Distributions to members of
      Freeport Properties, L.C.        --           --         --           --           --           --        (168)         (168)
    Net loss not included in
      reporting period                 --           --         --           --           --           --        (131)         (131)
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Balance, August 31, 1997          19,151,309   104,870       --       6,662,916       (6,828)       --      39,773       137,815
    Net income                                                                                                19,177        19,177
    Restricted stock compensation       30,000       581     (581)          --           --           --         --            --
    Amortization of restricted stock
     compensation                                             214           --           --           --         --            214
    Shares issued to acquire Bagwell   645,000    13,033       --           --           --           --         --         13,033
    Exercise of options                116,473       876       --           --           --           --         --            876
    Translation adjustments             --            --                     --           --           (420)     --           (420)
                                    ----------  --------    -------     ---------     ---------     --------  -------      --------
   Balance, August 31, 1998         19,942,782  $119,360    $ (367)     6,662,916     $ (6,828)     $  (420)  $58,950      $170,695
                                    ==========  ========    =======     =========     =========     ========  =======      ========

</TABLE>


      The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.




<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                      THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
               For the Years Ended August 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
                             (Dollars in thousands)

                                                                        1996                 1997               1998
                                                                        ----                 ----               ----
<S>                                                                    <C>                 <C>                <C>

Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                                           $ 6,617             $14,048            $19,177
  Net loss not included in reporting period                               (906)              ( 132)              --
  Adjustments to reconcile net income
    to net cash provided by (used in)
    operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                                        4,992               7,358             10,280
    Provision (benefit) for deferred
      income taxes                                                      (2,803)              2,231                 40
    (Earnings) losses from unconsolidated
      entity                                                              (103)               (437)                40
    Transaction losses                                                     864                   6                702
    Gain on sale of marketable securities                                 (855)                --                --
    Gain on sale of discontinued operations                               --                   --              (3,010)
    Other                                                                 (251)                290                246
 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
    (Increase) in receivables                                          (16,165)             (2,817)           (38,291)
    (Increase) decrease in cost and estimated
       earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts           1,307              (1,050)            (7,530)
    (Increase) decrease in inventories                                 (20,570)             (5,833)             4,211
    (Increase) decrease in other current assets                           (494)             (1,847)               848
    (Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses                             (1,480)                257             (2,708)
    (Increase) decrease in other assets                                   (851)                311             (1,317)
    Increase in accounts payable                                         9,306                 274              5,842
    Increase (decrease) in deferred
      revenue--prebilled                                                   938               1,742             (1,769)
    Increase (decrease) in accrued
      liabilities                                                       (2,295)             (3,467)             1,660
    Increase (decrease) in advanced billings and billings in
       excess of cost and estimated earnings on uncompleted
       contracts                                                           781              (3,330)             8,355
                                                                      --------            --------             ------
Net cash provided by (used in)
    operating activities                                               (21,968)              7,604             (3,224)

Cash flows from investing activities:
  Investment in unconsolidated entity                                       95              (1,647)              --
  Investment in subsidiaries, net of
    cash received                                                       (9,516)            (11,651)           (27,738)
  Proceeds from sale of property and
    equipment                                                            1,703                 622              3,167
  Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations                           --                  --                1,208
  Purchase of property and equipment                                   (18,478)            (15,832)           (14,616)
  Purchase of marketable securities                                     (1,433)               --                  --
  Proceeds from sale of marketable
    securities                                                           2,288                --                  --
  Payment (issuance) of note receivable to a
    related party                                                         (625)                 87                --
                                                                      ---------           --------            -------
Net cash used in investing activities                                  (25,966)            (28,421)           (37,979)



                                   (Continued)
       The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


<PAGE>


                                                                        1996                1997               1998
                                                                         ----               ----               ----
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Net proceeds (repayments) from
    revolving credit agreement                                         31,440             (23,890)           (10,182)
  Proceeds from issuance of debt                                       22,244              15,031             62,154
  Repayment of debt and leases                                         (5,788)            (13,107)           (13,817)
  Increase (decrease) in outstanding
    checks in excess of bank balance                                    2,324              (2,414)             1,725
  Distributions to members of Freeport Properties, L.C.                  --                  (168)              --
  Purchase of treasury stock                                             --                  (664)              --
  Issue common stock                                                      852              47,419                876
                                                                      -------            --------            -------
 Net cash provided by financing activities                             51,072              22,207             40,756
  Effects of exchange rate changes
    on cash                                                              (954)                --                (168)
                                                                      -------             -------            -------
Net increase (decrease) in cash                                         2,184               1,390               (615)

Cash and cash equivalents--beginning
  of year                                                                 784               2,968              4,358
                                                                      -------            --------            -------
Cash and cash equivalents--end of year                                $ 2,968             $ 4,358            $ 3,743
                                                                       ======             =======            =======

Supplemental disclosures:

Cash payments for:
  Interest                                                            $ 4,865            $ 6,663             $ 7,048
                                                                      =======            =======             =======
  Income taxes                                                        $ 7,713            $ 5,784             $ 2,873
                                                                       ======            =======             ========

Noncash investing and financing activities:
  Property and equipment acquired through
    issuance of debt                                                  $    15            $    83             $    85
                                                                      =======            =======             =======
 Investment in subsidiaries acquired
    through issuance of common stock                                  $10,127            $ 1,266             $13,033
                                                                      =======            =======             =======
  Investment in unconsolidated entity
    through reduction in receivables                                  $    89            $   --              $   --
                                                                      =======            =======             =======
  Other current assets acquired through issuance
    of debt                                                           $ 2,132            $   134             $   --
                                                                      ========           =======             =======
  Purchase of inventory and payment of liabilities through
    cancellation of notes receivable to a related party               $   --             $   538             $   --
                                                                      ========           =======             =======
  Investment in subsidiaries acquired through issuance
    of debt                                                           $   --             $  --               $ 4,702
                                                                      ========           =======             =======
  Sale of subsidiaries financed through issuance of
    notes receivables                                                 $   --             $  --               $ 8,792
                                                                      ========           =======             =======

</TABLE>

          The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.



<PAGE>




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

Note 1--Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 Principles of Consolidation

         The consolidated  financial statements include the accounts of The Shaw
Group  Inc.  (a  Louisiana   corporation)  and  its  wholly-owned   subsidiaries
(collectively, the Company). All material intercompany accounts and transactions
have been eliminated in these financial statements.

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

 Nature of Operations

         The  Company  is a  supplier  of  industrial  piping  systems  for  new
construction and retrofit projects throughout the world, primarily for customers
in the  electric  power,  refining,  chemical,  petrochemcial,  and  oil and gas
industries.  The Company offers comprehensive  design and engineering  services,
piping system  fabrication,  industrial  construction and maintenance  services,
manufacturing  and sale of specialty pipe fittings and design and fabrication of
pipe support systems.  The Company's  operations are conducted primarily through
wholly-owned subsidiaries and one joint venture.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

         For purposes of reporting  cash flows,  all highly  liquid  investments
with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are cash equivalents.  At
August 31,  1997 and 1998,  the Company  included  in cash and cash  equivalents
approximately  $1,100,000 and,  $1,200,000  respectively,  the proceeds of which
came from industrial development bond financing.  These funds are required to be
invested  in  short-term  marketable  securities  until  used for other  capital
improvements.

Accounts Receivable and Credit Risk

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

         At August 31, 1997 and 1998, accounts receivable includes approximately
$7,000,000 and  $18,000,000,  respectively,  of receivables and claims due under
contracts which are subject to contract  renegotiations or legal proceedings and
which are  recorded at  estimated  net  realizable  value.  At August 31,  1998,
contracts with five customers made up the $18,000,000  balance  discussed above.
Management believes that the ultimate resolution of these disputes will not have
a significant impact on future results of operations.

Allowance for Uncollectable Receivables and Contract Adjustments

         The allowance for uncollectable receivables and contract adjustments of
$2,800,000 and $7,100,000 at August 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively, is based on
management's  estimate of the amount  expected to be  uncollectable  considering
historical experience and the information management is able to obtain regarding
the  financial  condition  of  significant  customers.  Net  provisions  to this
allowance were not material during fiscal 1997 and were approximately $1,700,000
in fiscal 1998.  During  fiscal 1998,  the Company  acquired  subsidiaries  with
allowances of approximately $2,600,000.

Inventories

         Inventories  are  stated  at the  lower  of  cost  or  market.  Cost is
determined  using  the  first-in,  first-out  (FIFO)  or  weighted-average  cost
methods.

Property and Equipment

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

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

         Transportation equipment                 5-15 Years
         Furniture and fixtures                   3-7   Years
         Machinery and equipment                  3-18 Years
         Buildings and improvements               8-40 Years

Income Taxes

         The Company provides for deferred taxes in accordance with Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 109  "Accounting  for Income  Taxes," which
requires an asset and liability  approach for measuring  deferred tax assets and
liabilities due to temporary differences existing at year end using currently
enacted tax rates.

Revenues

         The Company recognizes revenue using the following methods:

         Pipe fabrication  contracts - For certain operating units, revenues are
recognized upon completion of individual spools of production.  A spool consists
of piping  materials  and  associated  shop labor to form a  prefabricated  unit
according to contract  specifications.  Spools are generally shipped to job site
locations when complete. During the fabrication process, all direct and indirect
costs related to the fabrication process are capitalized as work in progress.

         For  other  operating  units,  revenues  are  recognized  based  on the
percentage of labor incurred to date to total estimated  contract labor for each
contract or contract costs incurred to date, excluding the cost of any purchased
but uninstalled materials, compared with total estimated contract costs.

         Project  construction  services  -  Revenues  are  measured  under  the
percentage of completion  method based  primarily on contract  costs incurred to
date, excluding the costs of any purchased but uninstalled  materials,  compared
with total estimated contract costs.  Revenues from cost-plus-fee  contracts are
recognized on the basis of costs incurred during the period plus the fee earned,
measured by the cost-to-cost method.

         Pipe fittings,  manufacturing  operations and other services - Revenues
are  recognized on product  sales at the time of shipment or upon  completion of
the services.

         Provisions for estimated  losses for uncompleted  contracts are made in
the period in which such losses are identified.  Other changes,  including those
arising from contract  penalty  provisions and final contract  settlements,  are
recognized in the period in which the revisions  are  identified.  To the extent
that these  adjustments  result in a  reduction  or  elimination  of  previously
reported profits, the Company would report such a change by recognizing a charge
against current  earnings,  which might be significant  depending on the size of
the project or the adjustment.



<PAGE>


Goodwill

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

Financial Instruments, Forward Contracts - Non-Trading Activities

         When  considered  appropriate,  the Company  utilizes  forward  foreign
exchange contracts to hedge the anticipated  purchases and sales of certain pipe
bending machines.  Financial  instruments are designated as a hedge at inception
where  there is a direct  relationship  to the price  risk  associated  with the
Company's  future sales and purchases.  Hedges of anticipated  transactions  are
accounted  for  under  the  deferral  method  with  gains  and  losses  on these
transactions  recognized in revenues when the hedged transaction  occurs.  Gains
and losses on the early termination or maturity of forward contracts  designated
as hedges  are  deferred  and  included  in  revenues  in the  period the hedged
transaction  is  recorded.  If the direct  relationship  to price risk ceases to
exist, the difference in the carrying value and fair value of a forward contract
is  recognized  as a  gain  or  loss  in  revenues  in  the  period  the  direct
relationship  ceases to  exist.  Future  changes  in fair  value of the  forward
contracts are recognized as gains or losses in revenues in the period of change.

Reclassifications

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

New Accounting Standards

         In February 1997,  Statement of Financial  Accounting Standards No. 128
- -- "Earnings Per Share" ("SFAS 128") was issued which establishes  standards for
computing and presenting earnings per share ("eps"). Under SFAS 128, primary eps
is replaced with basic eps. Basic eps is computed by dividing income  applicable
to common shares by the weighted average shares outstanding; no dilution for any
potentially  convertible  shares is included in the  calculation.  Fully diluted
eps,  now called  diluted eps, is still  required;  however,  when  applying the
treasury  stock method,  the average stock price is used rather than the greater
of the average or closing stock price for the period. SFAS 128 was effective for
financial  statements issued for periods ending after December 15, 1997, and the
Company has restated its eps calculations for all periods presented.

     In early 1998,  the  American  Institute of  Certified  Public  Accountants
("AICPA") issued Statement of Position 98-5, "Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up
Activities"  ("SOP").  The SOP is  effective  for fiscal years  beginning  after
December 15, 1998 and will require costs of start-up activities and organization
costs to be  expensed as  incurred.  Any such  unamortized  costs on the date of
adoption of the new standard  will be written off and  reflected as a cumulative
effect of a change in accounting  principle.  As of August 31, 1998, the Company
had total deferred  organizational costs of approximately  $850,000. The Company
intends to adopt this new requirement in fiscal 2000.


<PAGE>


Note 2--Public Offering of Common Stock

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

Note 3--Acquisitions

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

         Property and equipment                                    $5,405
         Notes payable                                               (294)
         Accrued liabilities                                         (306)
         Deferred income taxes                                       (614)
                                                                    -----
         Purchase price                                            $4,191
                                                                   ======

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

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

         Accounts receivable                                           $ 6,751
         Inventory                                                      16,175
         Other current assets                                              268
         Property and equipment                                         13,001
         Other assets                                                      222
         Revolving line of credit                                       (4,855)
         Notes payable                                                  (5,789)
         Accounts payable and accrued liabilities                       (8,117)
         Deferred income taxes                                          (2,205)
                                                                       -------
         Purchase price (net of cash received of $2,960)               $15,451
                                                                       =======

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

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

         Effective  October 1, 1996, the Company acquired all of the outstanding
capital stock of Pipe Shields  Incorporated  (Pipe Shields),  an industrial pipe
insulation   company  located  in  Vacaville,   California,   for  approximately
$2,500,000  in cash,  net of cash  received.  The  purchase  method  was used to
account for the acquisition. The excess of cost over the estimated fair value of
the  assets  acquired  (goodwill)  was  approximately  $2,000,000  and is  being
amortized on a straight-line  basis over 20 years. The operating results of Pipe
Shields  have been  included  in the  consolidated  statements  of income of the
Company from the effective date of the acquisition.  The pro-forma effect of the
acquisition  of Pipe  Shields,  had it occurred  on  September  1, 1995,  is not
material to the operations of the Company.

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

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

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

         Because the fiscal  periods of the  Company  and  NAPTech  were not the
same, the 1996 fiscal year financial  statements of NAPTech were recast from the
twelve  months ended March 31, 1996 to the twelve months ended June 30, 1996. As
a result,  the following sales and losses of NAPTech have been excluded from the
respective statements of income (in thousands):

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

           Effective  February  1,  1997,  the  Company  purchased  all  of  the
outstanding  capital stock of United Crafts,  Inc., now named Shaw Constructors,
Inc. ("Shaw Constructors"),  an industrial  construction and maintenance company
based in Baton Rouge,  Louisiana,  for cash of $8,000,000.  Acquisition costs of
approximately  $192,000  were incurred by the Company.  The purchase  method was
used to account for the  acquisition.  Goodwill of  approximately  $4,800,000 is
being amortized on a straight-line basis over 20 years. The estimated fair value
of the assets and liabilities of Shaw Constructors as of February 1, 1997 are as
follows (in thousands):

               Accounts receivable                                     $6,040
               Property and equipment                                   2,992
               Other assets                                             4,832
               Accounts payable & accrued liabilities                  (3,502)
               Advanced billings                                       (1,277)
               Notes payable                                           (1,101)
               Deferred income taxes                                     (146)
                                                                       ------
               Purchase price (net of cash received of $354)           $7,838
                                                                       ======


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

       On March 20, 1997,  the  Company,  through a  newly-formed,  wholly-owned
subsidiary,  completed  the  purchase of certain  assets and the  assumption  of
certain  liabilities  of  MERIT  Industrial   Constructors,   Inc.  (MERIT),  an
industrial  construction and maintenance  firm based in Baton Rouge,  Louisiana,
and  certain of its  affiliates.  Total  consideration  paid by the  Company was
approximately $1,300,000 in cash (including acquisition costs), 62,500 shares of
the  Company's  Common  Stock  valued at  approximately  $1,300,000,  options to
purchase  25,000  shares of the Company's  Common Stock at $20.25 per share,  as
well as the assumption of  approximately  $340,000 of debt. The purchase  method
was used to account for the acquisition. Goodwill of approximately $1,100,000 is
being amortized on a straight-line  basis over 20 years.  The operating  results
related to the  acquired  MERIT  assets have been  included in the  consolidated
statements of income from the date of the  acquisition.  The pro-forma effect of
the  acquisition  of the MERIT assets,  had it occurred on September 1, 1995, is
not material to the operations of the Company.

       On October 8, 1997,  the Company  purchased the capital stock of Pipework
Engineering  and  Developments  Limited  (PED),  a pipe  fabrication  company in
Wolverhampton,  United Kingdom, for $539,000 in cash, net of cash received,  and
notes  payable  to  former  stockholders  of  $1,078,000.  Acquisition  costs of
approximately  $160,000  were incurred by the Company.  The purchase  method was
used to account for the acquisition.  Goodwill, which is being amortized over 20
years  using  the  straight-line  method,  was  approximately  $1,600,000.   The
operating  results of PED have been included in the  consolidated  statements of
income of the Company from the date of acquisition.  The pro-forma effect of the
acquisition of PED, had it occurred on September 1, 1996, is not material to the
operations of the Company.

       On November 14, 1997,  the Company  purchased all of the capital stock or
substantially  all of  the  assets  of the  principal  operating  businesses  of
Prospect Industries plc (Prospect) of Derby,  United Kingdom,  for approximately
$14,600,000 in cash, net of cash received.  Acquisition  costs of  approximately
$2,000,000  were incurred by the Company.  Excluded  from the purchase  price is
$1,438,000,  which  represents the fair value of the assets and liabilities of a
discontinued  operation,  CBP  Engineering  Corp.  (CBP).  The  sale  of CBP was
completed  in 1998 at no gain or loss.  Prospect,  a mechanical  contractor  and
provider of turnkey  piping  systems  serving the power  generating  and process
industries  worldwide,   operated  through  several  wholly-owned   subsidiaries
including  Connex Pipe Systems,  Inc.  (Connex),  a piping  systems  fabrication
business  located in Troutville,  Virginia;  Aiton  Australia Pty Limited (Aiton
Australia),  a piping  systems,  boiler  refurbishment  and  project  management
company based near Sydney,  Australia; and Prospect Engineering Limited (PEL), a
mechanical contractor and a provider of turnkey piping systems located in Derby,
United  Kingdom.  Prospect  also owned a 66% interest in Inflo  Control  Systems
Limited  (Inflo),  a manufacturer of boiler steam leak detection,  acoustic mill
and combustion monitoring equipment and related systems.  Under the terms of the
acquisition agreement, the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock
of Prospect  Industries  Overseas Limited, a United Kingdom holding company that
held the entire  ownership  interest in Connex and CBP, all of the capital stock
of Aiton  Australia  and  certain  assets of PEL, as well as  Prospect's  entire
ownership interest in Inflo. The Company also assumed certain liabilities of PEL
and Prospect relating to its employees and pension plans including approximately
$4,100,000  of costs  related to the  Company's  plan to reduce the workforce at
Prospect.  These costs relate to amounts due to employees  under  statutory  and
contractual  severance  entitlements.  As  of  August  31,  1998,  approximately
$2,400,000  had been  paid to former  employees  with the  remaining  $1,700,000
expected to be paid during the first half of fiscal 1999, upon completion of the
Company's  workforce reduction plan. The purchase method was used to account for
the  acquisition.  Goodwill,  which is being  amortized  over 20 years using the
straight-line method, was approximately $4,600,000.  The estimated fair value of
the assets  acquired  and  liabilities  assumed as of  November  14, 1997 are as
follows (in thousands):

        Accounts receivable                                           $15,288
        Inventories                                                     2,087
        Cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings on
           uncompleted contracts                                        7,588
        Property and equipment                                         11,339
        Other assets                                                    6,486
        Outstanding checks in excess of bank balance                   (1,527)
        Accounts payable and accrued liabilities                      (19,910)
        Revolving line of credit                                         (318)
        Advanced billings and billings in excess of cost and
           eastimated earnings on uncompleted contracts                (4,456)
                                                                      -------
        Purchase price (net of cash received of $99)                  $16,577
                                                                      =======

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


       In connection with the Prospect acquisition, the Company incurred certain
contingent   liabilities  (see  Note  11  of  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial
Statements).

       On January 15, 1998, the Company purchased all of the outstanding capital
stock of Lancas, C.A. (Lancas),  a construction company in Punto Fijo, Venezuela
for  approximately  $2,600,000 in cash, net of cash  received.  The Company also
incurred  approximately $100,000 of acquisition costs. Goodwill of approximately
$400,000 is being amortized over 20 years,  using the straight-line  method. The
purchase method was used to account for this acquisition.  The operating results
of Lancas have been included in the  consolidated  statements of income from the
date of acquisition.  The pro-forma effect of the acquisition of Lancas,  had it
occurred on September 1, 1996, is not material to the operations of the Company.

       On January 19, 1998, the Company  completed the acquisition of all of the
outstanding capital stock of Cojafex,  B.V. of Rotterdam,  Holland (Cojafex) for
approximately $8,500,000; $4,547,000 (net of cash received) of which was paid at
closing.  The balance of the purchase  price will be paid  through  December 31,
2003.  Acquisition costs of approximately  $60,000 were incurred by the Company.
Cojafex owns the technology for certain induction pipe bending machines used for
bending pipe and other carbon steel and alloy items for  industrial,  commercial
and  agricultural  applications,  and using such  technology,  Cojafex  designs,
engineers,  manufactures,  markets and sells such  induction  bending  machines.
Goodwill, which is being amortized over 20 years using the straight-line method,
was approximately  $8,500,000.  The purchase method was used to account for this
acquisition.  The  operating  results  of  Cojafex  have  been  included  in the
consolidated  statements of income from the date of  acquisition.  The pro-forma
effect of the  acquisition of Cojafex,  had it occurred on September 1, 1996, is
not material to the operations of the Company.

       On July 28, 1998,  the Company  completed the  acquisition  of all of the
outstanding   capital  stock  of  Bagwell   Brothers,   Inc.  and  a  subsidiary
(collectively,  Bagwell).  Total  consideration  paid  was  $1,600,000  cash and
645,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock valued at $13,033,000.  The Company
also incurred  $184,000 of acquisition  costs.  The purchase  method was used to
account for the  acquisition.  Goodwill of  approximately  $10,300,000  is being
amortized  on a  straight-line  basis over 20 years.  The  operating  results of
Bagwell have been  included in the  consolidated  statements  of income from the
date of acquisition.  The pro-forma effect of the acquisition of Bagwell, had it
occurred on September 1, 1996, is not material to the operations of the Company.

       The following  summarized  unaudited  income  statement data reflects the
impact the Word, APP and Shaw Constructors  acquisitions would have had on 1996;
the Shaw Constructors and Prospect  acquisitions would have had on 1997; and the
Prospect  acquisition  would have had on 1998,  if such  acquisitions  had taken
place at the beginning of the applicable  fiscal year (in thousands,  except per
share data): <TABLE> <CAPTION>

                                                                          Unaudited Pro-forma Results
                                                                        for the Years Ended August 31,
                                                                        1996         1997          1998
                                                                        ----         ----          ----
<S>                                                                  <C>          <C>          <C>

Gross revenue                                                        $321,990     $476,384     $  531,329
                                                                     ========     ========     ==========
Income from continuing operations                                    $  7,262     $ 10,196     $   16,193
                                                                     ========     ========     ==========
Basic earnings from continuing operations per common share           $    .73     $    .88     $     1.28
                                                                     ========     ========     ==========
Diluted earnings from continuing operations per common share         $    .71     $    .86     $     1.26
                                                                     =========    ========     ==========
</TABLE>



<PAGE>


Note 4--Inventories

         The major  components  of  inventories  consist  of the  following  (in
thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                         August 31,
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        1997                                           1998
                                          ---------------------------------           -----------------------------------
                                          Weighted                                    Weighted
                                          Average         FIFO        TOTAL            Average         FIFO         TOTAL
                                          -------         ----        -----            -------         ----         -----
         <S>                              <C>          <C>          <C>                <C>           <C>          <C>

         Finished Goods                   $29,028      $   --       $29,028            $28,671       $    --      $28,671
         Raw Materials                      3,712       29,314       33,026              3,162        25,937       29,099
         Work In Process                      835        7,421        8,256              1,914         6,177        8,091
                                          -------      -------      -------            -------       -------      -------
                                          $33,575      $36,735      $70,310            $33,747       $32,114      $65,861
                                          =======      =======      =======            =======       =======      =======

</TABLE>

Note 5--Investment in Unconsolidated Entities

         During  the year  ended  August  31,  1997,  the  Company  invested  an
additional  $1,647,000 in Shaw-Nass Middle East,  W.L.L.,  the Company's Bahrain
joint venture (Shaw-Nass).  There was no additional investment in fiscal 1996 or
1998. The Company owns 49% of Shaw-Nass and accounts for this  investment on the
equity basis. As such,  during the years ended August 31, 1996,  1997, and 1998,
the Company recognized earnings (losses) of $103,000,  $437,000,  and $(40,000),
respectively, from Shaw-Nass. No distributions have been received through August
31,  1998 from  Shaw-Nass.  As of August  31,  1997 and 1998,  the  Company  had
outstanding  receivables  from Shaw-Nass  totaling  $1,453,000  and  $1,758,000,
respectively. These receivables relate primarily to inventory and equipment sold
to Shaw-Nass.  At August 31, 1998, the Company also had a note  receivable  from
Shaw-Nass for $436,000, included in other assets.

     During 1996, 1997 and 1998, revenues of $270,000,  $782,000, and $1,626,000
were  recognized  on sales  of  products  from the  Company  to  Shaw-Nass.  The
Company's  49% of profit on these  sales was  eliminated.  At August  31,  1998,
undistributed  earnings  of  Shaw-Nass  included  in the  consolidated  retained
earnings of the Company amounted to approximately $294,000.



<PAGE>


Note 6--Long-Term Debt
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   Long-term debt consisted of:                                                                August 31,
                                                                                     1997                     1998

                                                                                     ----                     ----
                                                                                             (in thousands)
<S>                                                                                <C>                     <C>

Notes payable to insurance  companies;  variable  interest rates based on 30-day
   commercial  paper rates plus 190 to 235 basis  points  ranging  from 7.41% to
   7.85% as of  August  31,  1998;  payable  in  monthly  installments  based on
   amortization  over the  respective  note lives;  maturing  from 2001 to 2006;
   secured by  property  and  equipment  with an  approximate  net book value of
   $23,415,000 as of August 31, 1998 and guaranties by the Company
   and certain subsidiaries of the Company                                         $  17,714               $  13,638

Note payable to a bank;  interest payable  quarterly based upon London Interbank
   Offering  Rate  (LIBOR)  plus  1.6%;   payable  in  28  quarterly   principal
   installments  of $264,286  with  remaining  balance  due in 2003;  secured by
   equipment with an approximate net book value of $9,233,000 as
   of August 31, 1998                                                                  6,343                   5,286

South Carolina  Revenue  Bonds  payable;  principal  due in 2005;  interest paid
   monthly accruing at a variable rate of 5.38% as of August 31, 1998;
   secured by $4,000,000 letter of credit                                              4,000                   4,000

Note payable to a bank;  variable  interest  rate based  upon  London  Interbank
   Offering  Rate  (LIBOR)  plus  1.4%;   payable  in  28  quarterly   principal
   installments  of $142,857  through March 25, 2004 plus  interest;  secured by
   equipment with an approximate net book value of $2,597,000 as of August 31,
   1998                                                                                3,857                   3,286


Notes payable to a bank;  variable  interest  rate based upon  London  Interbank
   Offering  Rate  (LIBOR) plus 85 to 200 basis  points  depending  upon certain
   financial  ratios;  60 monthly  principal  payments  of $50,000  and  $36,233
   through May 31, 2000 and November 15, 2001, respectively; secured by
   property and equipment, accounts receivable and inventory                           3,584                    --

Mortgages  payable to a bank;  interest  payable  monthly  at 8.38%;  95 monthly
   payments of $9,850 and $26,935  with  remaining  balance due on June 1, 2002;
   secured by real property with an approximate net book value of $2,350,000 and
   deposits at financial institutions with an approximate value of $17,000 as of
   August 31, 1998                                                                     3,276                   3,107

Mortgage  payable  to an  insurance  company;  variable  interest  rate based on
   average  weekly yield of 30 day commercial  paper plus 2.35%;  payable in 120
   monthly  installments of $39,934  through June 30, 2007,  secured by land and
   buildings with an approximate net book value of $1,851,000 as of August 31,
   1998                                                                                3,263                   3,036

Notes payable to  employees  relating to  non-competition  agreements;  interest
   payable  monthly at 7.125% and 7%;  monthly  payments  of $20,830  and $5,000
   until April 2004 and August 2000 respectively; unsecured; see Note 15 -
   Related Party Transactions                                                          1,740                   1,274



<PAGE>


                                   August 31,
                                                                                        1997                    1998
                                                                                        ----                    ----
                                                                                                (in thousands)
Mortgage  payable  to a bank;  interest  payable  monthly  at 8.63%;  59 monthly
   installments  of $7,520  with  remaining  balance  due on  November  7, 2001;
   secured by real property with an approximate net book value of $677,000 as of
   August 31, 1998                                                                        572                   524

Senior  secured  notes of  $20,000,000  and  $40,000,000  payable  primarily  to
   insurance  companies;  interest  payable  semi-annually  at 6.44%  and  6.93%
   respectively;  payable in seven annual  principal  installments of $2,857,143
   beginning May, 1999 and $5,714,286 beginning May 2002, respectively;  rank in
   pari passu with the  Company's U. S.  revolving  credit  facility (see Note 7
   Revolving  Lines  of  Credit);   secured  by  domestic  accounts  receivable,
   inventory,  intangible assets, and bank deposits with an approximate net book
   value of $200,000,000 as of August 31, 1998                                            --                  60,000

Notes payable to former owners in conjunction  with an  acquisition;  payable in
   six annual  installments of $750,000  (including  interest  imputed at 6.56%)
   through December 31, 2003; secured by the stock of the acquired subsidiary             --                   3,624

Note payable  to a bank;  interest  payable  quarterly  at 7.23%;  28  quarterly
   payments  of $51,877  through  April 1, 2005;  secured by  equipment  with an
   approximate net book value of $1,006,000 as of August 31, 1998                         --                   1,100

Notes payable to employees in conjunction with an acquisition;  interest payable
   semi-annually  at 7.00%;  payable on April  30th or October  31st of any year
   with balance due no later than April 30,  2002;  secured by letters of credit
   totaling $1,128,000 as of August 31, 1998; see Note 15 - Related Party 
   Transactions                                                                           --                    1,078

Other mortgages payable;  interest rates at 8%; payable in monthly  installments
   through February and July, 1998; secured by real property                               567                   --

Other notes  payable;  interest  rates  ranging from 4.65% to 18.3%;  payable in
   monthly installments based on amortization over the respective note
   lives; maturing from 1999 through 2003                                                  515                  1,076
                                                                                       -------                -------


Total debt                                                                              45,431                101,029
Less:  current maturities
                                                                                        (6,392)                (9,314)
                                                                                     ---------                -------
Total long-term debt                                                                 $  39,039               $ 91,715
                                                                                     =========               ========

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

     1999                                                                                            $   9,314
     2000                                                                                               10,713
     2001                                                                                                8,850
     2002                                                                                               16,092
     2003 and thereafter                                                                                56,060
                                                                                                     ---------
                                                                                                     $ 101,029
                                                                                                     =========

</TABLE>

     Certain of the debt  agreements  contain  restrictive  covenants  which the
Company is  required to meet  including  financial  ratios and  minimum  capital
levels.  As of August 31, 1998 the Company was in compliance  with the covenants
or had obtained the required waivers.

     The estimated fair value of long-term debt approximated its carrying value,
based on  borrowing  rates  currently  available  to the  Company for notes with
similar  terms and average  maturities,  as of August 31, 1997. As of August 31,
1998, the estimated fair value of long-term debt is approximately $103,700,000.

Note 7--Revolving Lines Of Credit

         In May 1998,  the Company  entered into a three-year  revolving  credit
facility  with  its U.S.  banks,  which  allows  the  Company  to  borrow  up to
$100,000,000  at an  interest  rate not to exceed 2% over the  London  Interbank
Offering  Rate (LIBOR) or .75% over the Prime rate.  The index used to determine
the  interest  rate is  selected by the Company and the spread over the index is
dependent upon certain financial ratios of the Company.  This agreement replaced
a $77,000,000  secured  revolving  credit facility (at an interest rate based on
the same  indices  and  spreads  as the  current  agreement)  and a  $13,000,000
unsecured  revolving credit  facility.  During fiscal 1997 and 1998, the maximum
amount  outstanding  under these revolving credit  facilities was  approximately
$66,198,000 and $87,873,000 respectively, and the average amount outstanding was
approximately  $44,462,000 and  $51,523,000  respectively,  at weighted  average
interest rates of 7.27% and 7.19%  respectively.  The new agreement  expires May
15, 2001. The revolving  credit  facility ranks in pari passu with the Company's
Senior  Secured  Notes  and  is  secured  by  the  Company's  domestic  accounts
receivable, inventory, intangible assets and bank deposits.

         In 1998,  a foreign  subsidiary  of the Company  initiated an overdraft
credit  facility  with a bank for up to  (pound)3,000,000,  with interest at the
bank's  base rate plus  1.25%.  The  facility  is  secured  by the assets of the
subsidiary and a (pound)10,000,000  limited guarantee given by the Company.  The
facility  expires December 17, 1998. The outcome of the negotiations to renew or
replace  this  overdraft  credit  facility is not  expected to have any material
adverse effect on the future operations of the Company.

Note 8--Income Taxes

         A summary of net deferred taxes is as follows (in thousands):

                                                              August 31,
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                         1997              1998
                                                         ----              ----
         Deferred tax assets                          $ 4,165            $ 6,036
         Deferred tax liabilities                       6,570              8,234
                                                      -------            -------
         Net deferred taxes                           $ 2,405            $ 2,198
                                                      =======            =======

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

         The  significant  components  of net deferred  taxes are as follows (in
         thousands):

                                                                                            August 31,
                                                                                  -----------------------------
                                                                                      1997               1998
                                                                                      ----               ----
        <S>                                                                       <C>               <C>


        Assets:
            Tax basis of inventory in excess of book basis                         $     926         $     946
            Receivable reserves not currently deductible                               1,008             1,437
            Self insurance reserves not currently deductible                             439               667
            Net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards                           1,259             1,895
            Other expenses not currently deductible                                      533             1,091
                                                                                    --------          --------
                 Assets                                                                4,165             6,036

         Liabilities:
           Excess of financial reporting over tax basis of assets                      6,570             6,462
           Excess of financial reporting over tax basis of receivables                  --               1,067
           Pension                                                                      --                 705
                                                                                    --------          --------
                 Liabilities                                                           6,570             8,234
                                                                                    --------          --------
         Net deferred tax liabilities                                                  2,405             2,198

         Plus: Net deferred tax assets assumed in fiscal year
            ending August 31, 1998 acquisitions                                         --                 247
                                                                                     -------           -------
                                                                                     $ 2,405           $ 2,445
                                                                                     =======           =======
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
         Income before  provision for income taxes for the years ended August 31
         was as follows (in thousands):

                            1996               1997              1998
                            ----               ----              ----
         Domestic         $ 9,985            $17,544           $12,764
         Foreign               42              2,431            10,541
                          -------            -------           -------
         Total            $10,027            $19,975           $23,305
                          =======            =======           =======

         The  provision  for income  taxes for the years ended  August 31 was as
         follows (in thousands):

                                                1996          1997        1998
                                                ----          ----        ----
         Current                             $ 5,860         $4,313      $6,874
         Net operating loss utilized             --            (890)       (200)
         Deferred                             (2,802)         2,230          40
         State                                   157            459         319
                                             -------         ------      ------
         Total                               $ 3,215         $6,112      $7,033
                                             =======         ======      ======

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

                                                       1996       1997      1998
                                                       ----       ----      ----
         Statutory rate                                  34%       35%       35%
         State taxes provided                             1         1         1
         Foreign income taxed at different rates         (4)       (4)       (6)
         Other                                            1         2         3
         State tax credits                               --        (3)       (3)
                                                       ----      ----      ----
                                                         32%       31%       30%
                                                         ==        ==        ==

         As of August 31,  1998,  for Federal  income tax return  purposes,  the
Company had  approximately  $3,300,000 of U.S. net operating loss  carryforwards
available to offset future taxable income of its NAPTech subsidiary,  subject to
an  annual  limitation  of  approximately  $500,000.  The  carryforwards  expire
beginning in 2008 through  2010.  As of August 31, 1998,  the  Company's  United
Kingdom  operations  had  net  operating  loss  carryforwards  of  approximately
(pound)3,000,000,  which  can be used to  reduce  future  taxable  income in the
United Kingdom. As of August 31, 1998, no benefit had been given to these losses
in  the  accompanying   financial   statements  due  to  the  current  operating
environment in that market.

         Unremitted  foreign  earnings  reinvested  abroad  upon which  deferred
income  taxes have not been  provided  aggregated  approximately  $4,500,000  at
August 31, 1998. Due to the timing and  circumstances  of  repatriation  of such
earnings,  if any, it is not practicable to determine the unrecognized  deferred
tax  liability  relating  to such  amounts.  Withholding  taxes,  if  any,  upon
repatriation would not be significant.

Note 9--Common Stock

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

Note 10--Leases

         Operating  Leases - The Company  leases  certain  offices,  fabrication
shops, warehouse facilities, office equipment and machinery under non-cancelable
operating  lease  agreements  which  expire at various  times and which  require
various  minimum  rentals.  The  non-cancelable  operating  leases which were in
effect as of August 31, 1998  require the Company to make the  following  future
minimum lease payments:


<PAGE>



          For the year ending August 31 (in thousands):

             1999                                           $  3,226
             2000                                              2,479
             2001                                              1,698
             2002                                              1,213
             2003 and thereafter                               3,421
                                                               -----
          Total minimum lease payments                       $12,037
                                                             =======

         The Company  enters into  short-term  lease  agreements  for  equipment
needed to fulfill  the  requirements  of specific  jobs.  Any  payments  owed or
committed under these lease  arrangements as of August 31, 1998 are not included
as part of total minimum lease payments. Rent expense for the fiscal years ended
August  31,  1996,  1997 and 1998 was  $2,258,000,  $3,587,000  and  $7,902,000,
respectively.

Note 11--Commitments and Contingencies

     The  Company  has  posted  letters  of  credit  aggregating   approximately
$6,800,000  as of  August  31,  1998 to secure  its  performance  under  certain
contracts and insurance arrangements.

         On August 11, 1997,  the Company  announced  that Shaw Power  Services,
Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, and China Baoyuan Industry and Trade Company,
a wholly-owned  subsidiary of China National Nuclear  Corporation,  had signed a
letter  of intent  to  establish  joint-venture  ownership  of a piping  systems
fabrication facility located in Dalian,  Peoples Republic of China (P.R.C.). The
letter  of  intent  has  subsequently  expired;  at August  31,  1998,  ultimate
completion of this joint-venture is uncertain.

         During  1997 and  1998,  the  Company  was  self-insured  for  workers'
compensation  claims in certain states up to certain  policy  limits.  Claims in
excess of $250,000  per  incident  are insured by third  party  reinsurers.  The
Company has accrued a liability for outstanding and incurred,  but not reported,
claims  based on  historical  experience  totaling  approximately  $840,000  and
$780,000 at August 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively.

         During  1997  and  1998,  certain  subsidiaries  of  the  Company  were
self-insured for health claims up to certain policy limits.  Claims in excess of
$100,000 per incident and approximately $1,000,000 in the aggregate per year are
insured by third party  reinsurers.  The  Company  had  accrued a  liability  of
$444,000 and $812,000,  respectively,  for  outstanding  and  incurred,  but not
reported, claims based on historical experience.

         In  connection  with  the   acquisition  of  the  principal   operating
businesses  of  Prospect  (see  Note  3  of  Notes  to  Consolidated   Financial
Statements),  the Company  entered into several  indemnification  agreements  in
favor of Prospect,  PEL, and Prospect's principal lender (the Lender). The first
agreement  required the Company to indemnify  the Lender for any losses that the
Lender  may incur in  connection  with  certain  letters  of  credit,  bonds and
guarantees  previously issued by the Lender relating to projects entered into by
PEL,  Connex,  CBP,  Aiton  Australia and other  subsidiaries  of Prospect.  The
Company has determined  that its exposure for indemnity under the agreement with
the Lender as of August 31, 1998 was approximately $1,900,000.

         Additionally, the Company has agreed to indemnify each of Prospect, PEL
and the Lender with  respect to certain  preferential  creditors of Prospect and
PEL.  Immediately  after  the  closing  of the  acquisition  by the  Company  of
Prospect, the Lender had an administrative  receiver appointed for Prospect, PEL
and the  subsidiaries  not acquired by the Company.  The Company is obligated to
indemnify  Prospect  and PEL for  preferential  debts  of PEL  and  Prospect  in
connection with the receivership proceedings. Further, the Company has agreed to
indemnify  the  Lender  for any loss the  Lender  may  suffer as a result of the
Company's  failure to perform  its  indemnity  obligations  under the  Company's
agreement with Prospect and PEL concerning  preferential creditors. As of August
31, 1998, the Company estimates the aggregate  preferential debt of Prospect and
PEL  to  be  approximately  $4,000,000;  this  amount  is  included  in  accrued
liabilities in the accompanying financial statements.

Note 12--Earnings Per Common Share

         In 1997, the Financial  Accounting Standards Boards issued Statement of
Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." SFAS No. 128 replaced
the previously reported primary and fully-diluted  earnings per share with basic
and diluted earnings per share.

         Basic earnings per common share were computed by dividing net income by
the weighted  average  number of shares of common stock  outstanding  during the
year.  Diluted earnings per common share were determined on the assumptions that
all  dilutive  stock  options  (see Note 14 of Notes to  Consolidated  Financial
Statements)  were exercised and stock was  repurchased  using the treasury stock
method,  at the average  price for each year.  The Company  adopted SFAS No. 128
effective  December 15, 1997. The following  table sets forth the computation of
basic and diluted income from continuing operations per share:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                 For the years ended August 31,
                                                                          1996              1997              1998
                                                                    -------------      ------------       ------------

<S>                                                                 <C>                <C>                <C>

Income from continuing operations (dollars in thousands)               $    6,915       $    14,300       $     16,232
                                                                       ==========       ===========       ============

Shares:
   Weighted average number of common shares outstanding                 9,757,610        11,632,068         12,616,997
   Net effect of stock options                                            255,181           269,253            214,980
                                                                       ----------       -----------       ------------
   Weighted average number of common shares outstanding,
      plus assumed exercise of stock options                           10,012,791        11,901,321         12,831,977
                                                                       ==========        ==========       ============

Income from continuing operations:
   Basic earnings per share                                            $      .71       $      1.23        $      1.29
                                                                       ==========       ===========        ===========
   Diluted earnings per share                                          $      .69       $      1.20        $      1.26
                                                                       ==========       ===========        ===========

</TABLE>

Note 13--Major Customers and Export Sales

         For the year ended August 31, 1996, sales to a customer  accounting for
more than 10% of sales totaled  approximately  $27,200,000  and comprised 11% of
sales.  For the years ended August 31, 1997 and 1998,  no one customer had sales
to them exceeding 10% of sales. Because of the nature of the Company's business,
the significant customers vary between years.

         For the years ended  August 31,  1996,  1997 and 1998,  the Company has
included  as  part  of  its  international  sales   approximately   $74,000,000,
$89,000,000  and  $111,000,000,  respectively,  of  exports  from  its  domestic
facilities.

         The  following  information  presents  the  location  of the  Company's
subsidiaries  producing  sales and  operating  profits,  and the location of the
assets of the Company (in thousands):


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                         Years ended August 31,
                                                                          1996                 1997                  1998
                                                                          ----                 ----                  ----
         <S>                                                            <C>                  <C>                   <C>

         Sales:
         United States                                                  $240,088             $322,658              $396,852
         United Kingdom/Europe                                              --                  6,838                59,964
         Other International                                               8,881                6,238                44,822
                                                                        --------             --------              --------
            Total sales                                                 $248,969             $335,734              $501,638
                                                                        ========             ========              ========

         Operating profit and income before income taxes:
         United States                                                  $ 24,748              $33,915               $36,272
         United Kingdom/Europe                                              --                    456                 3,837
         Other International                                                 688                2,583                 7,754
                                                                        --------             --------              --------
            Total operating profit                                        25,436               36,954                47,863
         Less:
         General corporate expenses                                      (10,586)             (10,201)              (16,087)
         Interest expense                                                 (4,823)              (6,778)               (8,471)
                                                                        --------            ---------              --------
            Income before income taxes                                  $ 10,027             $ 19,975              $ 23,305
                                                                        ========             ========              ========

         Identifiable assets:
         United States                                                  $204,011             $239,998              $295,394
         United Kingdom/Europe                                              --                  2,521                51,559
         Other International                                              14,492               19,940                42,891
                                                                        --------             --------              --------
            Total identifiable assets                                   $218,503             $262,459              $389,844
                                                                        ========             ========              ========

</TABLE>

         With the acquisition of the Prospect and PED  subsidiaries  (see Note 3
of Notes to Consolidated  Financial  Statements),  the Company has begun to have
additional   intra-enterprise   sales  between  geographical  regions  to  other
wholly-owned  subsidiaries at reasonable margins. These sales were immaterial in
fiscal  1996  and  1997.  In  fiscal  1998,  these  sales,   which  approximated
$1,600,000, have been eliminated from the amounts shown above.

Note 14--Employee Benefit Plans

         The  Company  has a Stock  Option  Plan (the  Plan)  under  which  both
qualified and non-qualified  options and restricted stock may be granted.  As of
August 31, 1998,  596,692 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance under
the Plan. The Plan is  administered  by a committee of the Board,  which selects
persons  eligible to receive options and determines the number of shares subject
to each option,  the vesting  schedule,  the exercise price, and the duration of
the option.  The exercise  price of any option  granted under the Plan cannot be
less than 100% of the fair  market  value on the date of grant and its  duration
cannot exceed 10 years. Only qualified options have been granted under the Plan.

         Shares of restricted stock are subject to risk of forfeiture during the
vesting period.  Restrictions  related to these shares and the restriction terms
are determined by the committee.  Holders of restricted  stock have the right to
vote the shares.  During the year ended  August 31,  1998,  the  Company  issued
30,000 shares of restricted stock which had a weighted  average  grant-date fair
value of $19.38. These shares remain outstanding as of August 31, 1998.

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

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

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

         Had  compensation  cost been determined  based on the fair value at the
grant date  consistent  with the  provisions  of SFAS No. 123, the Company's net
income and  earnings  per common  share would have  approximated  the  pro-forma
amounts below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                         1997                       1998
                                                                        ------                     -----
               <S>                                                      <C>                       <C>

               Net income from continuing operations (in thousands):
                   As reported                                          $14,300                   $16,232
                                                                        =======                   =======
                   Pro-forma                                            $14,086                   $15,751
                                                                        =======                   =======

               Basic earnings per share from continuing operations:
                   As reported                                          $  1.23                   $  1.29
                                                                        =======                   =======
                   Pro forma                                            $  1.21                   $  1.25
                                                                        =======                   =======

                Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations:
                   As reported                                          $  1.20                   $  1.26
                                                                        =======                   =======
                   Pro-forma                                            $  1.18                   $  1.23
                                                                        =======                   =======
</TABLE>

         The  pro-forma  effect  on  net  earnings  for  1997  and  1998  is not
representative  of the pro-forma  effect on net earnings in future years because
it does not take into consideration  pro-forma  compensation  expense related to
grants prior to September 1, 1995.




<PAGE>


         The following  table  summarizes  the activity in the  Company's  stock
option plans:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

<S>                                         <C>               <C>                           <C>

Outstanding at September 1, 1995            462,947             5,000                       $6.962
Granted                                      21,793            85,000                       $19.243
Exercised                                   (45,125)           --                           $6.239
                                            --------          -------
Outstanding at August 31, 1996              439,615            90,000                       $9.500
Granted                                      41,189            42,500                       $19.623
Exercised                                   (71,710)           --                           $5.984
Canceled                                    (36,250)          (50,000)                      $15.755
                                            --------          -------
Outstanding at August 31, 1997              372,844            82,500                       $10.729
Granted                                      87,000             --                          $23.920
Exercised                                  (111,473)           (5,000)                      $7.511
Cancelled                                    (7,625)            --                          $6.499
                                            --------          -------
Outstanding at August 31, 1998              340,746            77,500                       $14.447
                                            =======            ======
Exercisable at August 31, 1998              163,871            28,125                       $20.608
                                            =======            ======
</TABLE>

          As of August 31, 1996,  1997 and 1998,  the number shares  relating to
options  exercisable  under the stock  option  plans was  97,365;  160,344;  and
191,996,  respectively, and the weighted average exercise price of those options
was $9.745, $10.023 and $20.608, respectively.

          The weighted  average fair value at date of grant for options  granted
during  1997 and 1998 was $12.72 and  $13.21 per share,  respectively.  The fair
value  of  options  granted  is  estimated  on  the  date  of  grant  using  the
Black-Scholes   option-pricing   model  with  the  following   weighted  average
assumptions  in 1997 and 1998,  respectively:  (a)  dividend  yield of 0.00% and
0.00%;  (b) expected  volatility of 54% and 59% (c)  risk-free  interest rate of
6.7% and 5.8%; and (d) expected life of 5 years and 5 years.

          The  following  table  summarizes   information  about  stock  options
outstanding as of August 31, 1998:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                           Options Outstanding                               Options Exercisable
                                   -----------------------------------------             ----------------------------
                                                  Weighted        Weighted                                  Weighted
                                                   Average         Average                                   Average
              Range of                            Remaining       Exercise                                  Exercise
           Exercise Prices         Shares       Contract Life       Price                 Shares             Price
           ---------------         ------       -------------       -----                 ------             -----
           <S>                    <C>              <C>            <C>                     <C>              <C>

           $5.875-$9.594           197,875          6.4 Yrs         $ 6.356                107,875           $ 6.443
           $13.875-$19.500          62,500          8.0 Yrs         $18.005                 25,625           $18.485
           $20.250-$22.375          83,530          7.8 Yrs         $20.949                 41,655           $21.293
           $24.000-$27.890          62,341          8.6 Yrs         $24.302                  4,841           $27.883
           $32.875-$32.875          12,000          9.0 Yrs         $32.875                 12,000           $32.875
                                   -------                                                 -------
                                   418,246          7.3 Yrs         $14.447                191,996           $20.608
                                   =======                                                 =======
</TABLE>

         During 1994, the Company, excluding NAPTech, adopted a voluntary 401(k)
profit  sharing  plan for  substantially  all  employees  who are not subject to
collective bargaining agreements. The plan provides for the eligible employee to
contribute  from 1% to 10% of annual  compensation,  subject to an annual limit,
with the Company matching 50% of the employee's eligible  contribution up to 6%.
The Company's expense for this plan during 1996, 1997 and 1998 was approximately
$292,000, $480,000 and $803,000, respectively.

         The Company has a qualified,  contributory 401(k) savings plan covering
all  employees of NAPTech who belong to the  Certified  Metal Trades  Journeymen
collective bargaining unit. The Company is required to make a contribution of 3%
of participants' compensation on an annual basis. The Company's expense for this
plan was approximately  $24,000,  $52,000 and $61,000 for the years ended August
31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.

         The Company has a qualified  contributory  401(k) savings plan covering
all non-union employees of Connex after one year of service. The Company matched
75% of employees'  contribution up to 6% of eligible compensation.  From date of
acquisition  through  August 31,  1998 the  Company's  expense for this plan was
$55,000.  The plan will be merged with the Company's  401(k) plan as of December
1, 1998.

         The Company  maintains a 401(k)  savings  plan for  Bagwell's  domestic
employees,  who have completed one (1) year of service and have attained age 21.
Eligible  employees  may elect to defer up to 15% of their  salary,  subject  to
Internal Revenue Service limits. The Company makes a matching contribution of up
to 2% of the employee's deferral.  Company contributions to the plan amounted to
$10,000 for the period from acquisition to August 31, 1998.

         The Company has a defined benefit pension plan for employees of Connex.
Effective  January 1, 1994, no new  participants  were admitted to the plan. The
pension plan's  benefit  formulas  generally base payments to retired  employees
upon their length of service and a percentage of qualifying  compensation during
their final year of employment.  The pension plan's assets are invested in fixed
income assets,  equity based mutual funds, and money market funds. At August 31,
1998,  the fair market value of the plan assets was  $1,264,000,  which exceeded
the estimated projected benefit obligation.

         The Company has two pension  plans (Plan A and Plan B) for employees of
one of its United Kingdom subsidiaries. Plan A is a money purchase plan in which
the  employer  and  employee  make  matching  contributions  between  3%  and 6%
depending  on age.  From  date of  acquisition  through  August  31,  1998,  the
Company's expense for this plan was $98,000. Plan B is a salary-related plan for
certain employees;  admittance to this plan is now closed. The employees in Plan
B  contribute  7%. The Company  contribution  depends on length of service,  the
employee's salary at retirement,  and the earnings of the fund  investments.  If
the plan's earnings are sufficient, the Company makes no contributions. From the
date of  acquisition to August 31, 1998 the Company  expensed  $111,000 for this
plan.  The  following  table sets forth Plan B's  pension  cost from the date of
acquisition (November 14, 1997) to August 31, 1998, and the plan's funded status
as of  August  31,  1998 in  accordance  with the  provisions  of  Statement  of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 87 "Employers' Accounting for Pensions":

         Net  periodic  pension cost for the period  ending  August 31, 1998 (in
thousands):

         Service cost                                  $    284
         Interest cost                                      711
         Actual return on plan assets                    (1,333)
         Net amortization and deferral                      449
                                                       --------
         Net periodic pension cost                     $    111
                                                       ========

         Reconciliation of funded status at August 31, 1998 (in thousands):

         Vested benefit obligation                     $ (16,363)
                                                       ==========
         Accumulated benefit obligation                $ (16,370)
                                                       ==========
         Projected benefit obligation                  $ (17,133)
         Fair value of plan assets                        17,437
                                                       ----------
         Funded status                                       304
         Unrecognized net transition (asset)                --
         Unrecognized net (gain)/loss                        615
                                                       ---------
         Prepaid pension cost                          $     919
                                                       =========

         The key assumptions used to determine the net periodic pension cost for
the period and the funded status at the end of the year were:

                                                   Net Periodic
                                                   Pension Cost    Funded Status
                                                   ------------    -------------

         Discount rate                                   6%             5.5%
         Expected long term return on plan assets        7%              --
         Salary increases                              4.5%             4.5%

         The Company contributes to a Group Employee superannuation fund for its
employees  in  Australia.  This  fund is a defined  contribution  fund with both
employees and the Company  contributing a fixed  percentage of salary each week.
The Company also  contributes to Industry  Funds for its employees.  These Funds
are also defined contribution funds with the Company contributing a fixed amount
each week for each employee. All members are entitled to benefits on termination
due to retrenchment,  retirement,  death or disability.  The Company is under no
obligation  to make up any shortfall in the funds assets to meet payments due to
employees. From the date of acquisition to August 31, 1998, the Company expensed
$139,000 (US dollars) for this plan.

Note 15--Related Party Transactions

         During 1994, the Company entered into an employment  agreement with the
President and Chief Executive  Officer (CEO) of the Company.  Under terms of the
agreement,  the President and CEO will  receive,  among other things,  an annual
base salary of $575,000,  participation  in the  Company's  annual bonus plan as
determined by the  Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors,  and other
benefits such as health and life insurance. In the event the President and CEO's
employment  is  terminated  due to  events  as  defined  in the  agreement,  the
President  and CEO will  receive a  lump-sum  payment  equal to the full  amount
payable under the agreement.  The employment agreement was amended on August 25,
1997 to extend the  expiration  date to  December  31,  2007.  The term shall be
automatically  extended for an additional one-year period upon each December 31,
unless a party electing not to extend the agreement  provides  written notice to
the other party at least three months prior to such December 31.

         The  Company  has  entered  into  several  loan   agreements  with  key
management,  some of which were non-interest  bearing. The impact of discounting
such loans to record interest income was not  significant.  The balance of these
employee  loan   receivables  as  of  August  31,  1996,   1997,  and  1998  was
approximately $220,000, $416,000 and $996,000,  respectively. These balances are
included in other assets.

         During 1996 and 1997, in connection with certain acquisitions discussed
in Note 3, the Company has entered into non-competition  agreements with several
key employees.  Related assets totaling  approximately  $2,300,000,  included in
other  assets,   are  being  amortized  over  five  to  eight  years  using  the
straight-line  method.  Any corresponding  liabilities are included in long-term
debt  as  further  discussed  in  Note  6 of  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial
Statements.

         A director  of the  Company is a managing  director  of the  investment
banking firm that was an underwriter and acted as one of the  representatives of
the  underwriters  for the public  offering of 2,000,000  shares of Common Stock
discussed in Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated  Financial Statements.  The Company
also  granted to the  underwriters  an option to  purchase  up to an  additional
398,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to such terms to cover  over-allotments,
which over-allotment  option was exercised.  The closing of such public offering
was completed in December 1996 and January 1997, at a price of $21.00 per share,
less the  underwriting  discounts and commissions of  approximately  $2,500,000.
Approximately 40% of these commissions were earned by the director's  investment
banking firm.  In connection  with this public  offering,  certain  officers and
directors  of the Company  sold  494,118  shares of stock.  The same  investment
banking firm is handling the repurchase of shares of the Company's common stock,
which began  subsequent to August 31, 1998 (see Note 19 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements.)

         A director of the Company is an owner of  construction  companies  that
were used primarily as a sub-contractor by the Company.  During fiscal 1998, the
Company paid these  construction  companies  approximately  $4,000,000  for work
performed.

         In connection  with the acquisition of a subsidiary in fiscal 1998, the
Company financed  $1,078,000 of the purchase with two of the former owners,  who
are now  employees of the Company.  The related  liability,  which is secured by
letters of  credits,  is  discussed  further in Note 6 of Notes to  Consolidated
Financial Statements.

Note 16--Foreign Currency Transactions

         The Company's wholly-owned  subsidiaries in Venezuela had net assets of
approximately  $8,700,000 and $16,300,000  denominated in Venezuelan Bolivars as
of August 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively.  In accordance with SFAS 52, "Foreign
Currency  Translation,"  the U.S.  dollar  is used as the  functional  reporting
currency  since the  Venezuelan  economy  is  defined  as  highly  inflationary.
Therefore,  the asset and liabilities must be translated into U.S. dollars using
a combination of current and historical exchange rates.

         During 1996,  the  Venezuelan  government  lifted its foreign  exchange
controls. Subsequent to this action, the Bolivar devalued from 170 to 475 to the
U.S.  dollar.  As  a  result,   the  Company  recorded  a  translation  loss  of
approximately  $864,000  in  translating  the assets and  liabilities  into U.S.
dollars.  The Company also  recognized a gain of  approximately  $818,000 during
1996 related to a Venezuelan  Government bond purchased at a fixed exchange rate
which was  subsequently  sold. At August 31, 1998, 582 Bolivars is equivalent to
one  U.S.  dollar.  During  1997  and  1998,  the  Company  recorded  losses  of
approximately  $6,000 and $734,000  respectively,  in translating the assets and
liabilities  of its Venezuelan  subsidiaries  into U.S.  dollars.  Because these
losses were  partially  offset by  inflationary  billing  provisions  in certain
Company contracts, the $734,000 was offset against sales.

         Other foreign  subsidiaries  maintain their accounting records in their
local  currency  (primarily  British  Sterling,   Australian  Dollar  and  Dutch
Guilder).  The currencies  are converted to U.S.  dollars with the effect of the
foreign currency translation reflected as a component of shareholders' equity in
accordance with SFAS No. 52. Foreign  currency  transaction  gains or losses are
credited or charged to income.  There were no material  exchange gains or losses
incurred  in  fiscal  1996 and 1997.  At August  31,  1998,  cumulative  foreign
currency  translation  adjustments  related to these  subsidiaries  reflected in
shareholders' equity amounted to $420,000; transaction gains reflected in income
amounted to $32,000.

Note 17--Discontinued Operations

         In June 1998, the Company  adopted a plan to discontinue its operations
of the following  subsidiaries:  Weldtech,  a seller of welding supplies;  Inflo
Control Systems Limited (Inflo),  a manufacturer of boiler steam leak detection,
acoustic mill and combustion monitoring equipment and related systems; Greenbank
(a  division  of  PEL),  an  abrasive  and  corrosion   resistant  pipe  systems
specialist; and NAPTech Pressure Systems Corporation, a manufacturer of pressure
vessels and truck  tanker  trailers.  The Company sold and/or  discontinued  its
investment in each of these operations  prior to August 31, 1998.  Proceeds from
the sale of these operations  totaled  approximately  $1,200,000 in net cash and
notes  receivable of approximately  $7,400,000,  which resulted in a net gain on
the disposal of  $2,647,000,  net of tax. The results of these  operations  have
been  classified  as  discontinued  operations  in  the  consolidated  financial
statements of the Company.  Revenues of these  discontinued  operations  totaled
approximately  $390,000;  $2,600,000;  and  $7,700,000  in 1996,  1997 and 1998,
respectively.

Note 18--Unbilled Receivables, Retainage Receivable and Costs and Estimated
Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts

         Included in accounts  receivable  is  $14,426,000  and  $17,173,000  at
August 31, 1997 and 1998,  respectively,  related to unbilled  receivables which
represents  revenues  recorded  based on completion of an individual  spool (see
Note 1 of Notes to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements)  over amounts billed on
these lump sum contracts.  Advanced  billings  related to these  contracts as of
August 31, 1997 and 1998 was $369,000  and  $5,476,000,  respectively.  Balances
under retainage  provisions totaled $2,164,000 and $9,222,000 at August 31, 1997
and 1998,  respectively,  and are also  included in accounts  receivable  in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

         The  components of costs and  estimated  earnings in excess of billings
and billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted  contracts
as of August 31, 1997 and 1998 are as follows (in thousands):

                                                      1997            1998
                                                      ----            ----

Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts             $ 71,315       $170,048
Estimated earnings thereon                            13,321         17,578
                                                    --------       --------
                                                      84,636        187,626
Less billings applicable thereto                     (81,865)      (176,720)
                                                     -------       --------
                                                    $  2,771       $ 10,906
                                                    ========       ========
Included in the accompanying balance sheet under the following captions:
Cost and estimated earnings in excess
   of billings on uncompleted contracts             $  3,236        $19,797
Billings in excess of costs and estimated
   earnings on uncompleted contracts                    (465)        (8,891)
                                                    --------        -------
                                                    $  2,771        $10,906
                                                    ========        =======


<PAGE>


Note 19--Subsequent Event

         Subsequent to August 31, 1998, in accordance with a plan adopted by the
Board of  Directors,  the Company  began to  repurchase  shares of the Company's
Common Stock  through the open market and/or block  transactions.  As of October
22,  1998,  1,168,500  shares of stock had been  repurchased  at a total  price,
including  brokerage  commissions,  of $9,620,000.  This repurchase of stock has
been financed by the Company's U.S.  revolving line of credit facility (see Note
7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).


<PAGE>
Note 20--Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       First           Second               Third              Fourth
                                                    Quarter            Quarter             Quarter           Quarter
1997                                                        (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
<S>                                                 <C>                 <C>               <C>                <C>

Sales
As previously reported                                   $ 75,719         $ 85,516         $ 88,884          $ 88,231
Sales of discontinued operations                             (427)            (607)            (783)             (799)
                                                         --------         --------         --------        ----------
As restated                                              $ 75,292         $ 84,909         $ 88,101          $ 87,432
                                                         ========         ========         ========          ========

Gross Profit
As previously reported                                   $ 14,570         $ 15,137         $ 17,343           $ 17,066
Gross (profit) loss of discontinued operations                142              107             (184)             (206)
                                                         --------         --------         --------        ----------
As restated                                              $ 14,712         $ 15,244         $ 17,159          $ 16,860
                                                         ========         ========         ========          ========

Net Income from continuing operations
As previously reported                                   $  3,145         $  3,588         $   3,555          $  3,760
Net (income) loss of discontinued operations                  149              149               (24)              (22)
                                                         --------         --------         ---------        ----------
As restated                                              $  3,294         $  3,737         $   3,531          $  3,738
                                                         ========         ========         =========          ========

Basic Net Income from continuing operations per share
As previously reported                                   $    .30         $    .31         $     .29         $     .30
Net loss of discontinued operations                           .01              .01             --                 --
                                                         --------         --------         ---------         ---------
As restated                                              $    .31         $    .32         $     .29         $     .30
                                                         ========         ========         =========         =========

Diluted Net Income from continuing operations per share
As previously reported                                   $    .29         $    .30         $      28       $       .30
Net loss of discontinued operations                           .01              .01              --                --
                                                         --------         --------         ---------     -------------
As restated                                              $    .30         $    .31         $     .28       $       .30
                                                         ========         ========         =========       ===========

1998
Sales
As previously reported                                   $ 99,742         $137,457         $147,684                *
Sales of discontinued operations                           (1,072)          (2,812)          (3,362)               *
                                                         --------         --------         --------
As restated                                              $ 98,670         $134,645         $144,322          $124,001
                                                         ========         ========         ========          ========

Gross Profit
As previously reported                                   $18,280          $ 23,232         $ 23,736                *
Gross (profit) of discontinued operations                   (306)             (480)            (899)               *
                                                         -------          --------         --------
As restated                                              $17,974          $ 22,752         $ 22,837          $ 16,018
                                                         =======          ========         ========          ========

Net Income from continuing operations
As previously reported                                   $ 4,704          $  5,338         $  5,978                *
Net (income) loss of discontinued operations                 (69)               57             (286)               *
                                                         -------          --------         --------
As restated                                              $ 4,635          $  5,395         $  5,692        $      510
                                                         =======          ========         ========        ==========

Basic Net Income from continuing operations per share
As previously reported                                  $    .38         $     .43         $    .48                *
Net (income) loss  of discontinued operations               (.01)             --               (.03)               *
                                                        --------         ---------         --------
As restated                                             $    .37         $     .43         $    .45        $     .04
                                                        ========         =========         ========        =========

Diluted Net Income from continuing operations per share
As previously reported                                  $    .37         $     .42         $   .47                 *
Net (income) loss of discontinued operations                (.01)           --                (.02)                *
                                                        --------         ---------         -------
As restated                                             $    .36         $     .42         $   .45          $    .04
                                                        ========         =========         =======          ========
</TABLE>

     * Fourth  quarter  of 1998 was not  previously  reported  on a Form 10-K or
10-Q.

        The unaudited quarterly financial data above have been restated from the
Company's  previously  filed  Forms 10-K and 10-Q to reflect  the  revenues  and
expenses of discontinued operations.


<PAGE>



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

        There  have been no  changes  in  accountants  and no  disagreements  on
accounting  principles or practices,  financial statement disclosure or auditing
scope or  procedure  between the Company and its  independent  certified  public
accountants during the period beginning September 1, 1995 and ending on the date
hereof.

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

                                    PART III

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

     Information regarding directors and executive officers of the Company is to
be included in the Company's  definitive proxy statement  prepared in connection
with the 1999 Annual Meeting of the  Shareholders to be held in January 1999 and
is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 11.  Executive Compensation

     Information  regarding  executive  compensation  is to be  included  in the
Company's definitive proxy statement prepared in connection with the 1999 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held in January 1999 and is incorporated herein by
reference.

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

     Information  regarding  security ownership of certain beneficial owners and
management  is to be  included  in  the  Company's  definitive  proxy  statement
prepared in connection  with the 1999 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders to be held
in January 1999 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

     Information  regarding certain relationships and related transactions is to
be included in the Company's  definitive proxy statement  prepared in connection
with the 1999 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  to be held in January 1999 and is
incorporated herein by reference.


<PAGE>



                                     PART IV

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

(a)  1.   Financial Statements.

          See Item 8 of Part II of this report.

     2.   Financial Statement Schedules.

     3.   Exhibits.

             *3.1   Restatement of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company
                    dated December 10, 1993.
             *3.2   Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company dated
                    December 9, 1993.
            **4.1   Specimen Common Stock Certificate.
          ***10.1   Credit  Agreement  dated May 15,  1998  among  the  Company,
                    Mercantile  Business  Credit,  Inc.,  City  National Bank of
                    Baton Rouge,  Hibernia National Bank and Union Planters Bank
                    of Louisiana.
            +10.2   Amendment  to Credit  Agreement  made as of  August  31.1998
                    among the Company,  Mercantile  Business  Credit Inc.,  City
                    National  Bank of Baton Rouge,  Hibernia  National  Bank and
                    Union Planters Bank of Louisiana.
          ***10.3   Note Purchase Agreement dated May 21, 1998.
         ****10.4   1993 Employee Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated
           **10.5   Employment Agreement by and between the Company and James M.
                    Bernhard, Jr.
           **10.6   Joint Venture  Agreement of Shaw-Nass  Middle East,  W.L.L.
                    dated November 18, 1993, by and among Shaw Overseas
                    (Cayman), Ltd., Abdulla Ahmed Nass and the Company.
          ___10.7   Plan and  Agreement  of Merger,  dated as of August 5, 1996,
                    among the hareholders of NAPTech,  Inc. (NAPTech"),
                    NAPTech, The Shaw Group Inc. and SAON, Inc., as amended by
                    the First amendment to Plan and Agreement of Merger dated as
                    of January 27, 1997.
          ___10.8   Purchase  and Sale  Agreement  dated as of January 27, 1997,
                    among the members of Freeport Properties, L.C. ("Freeport"),
                    Freeport, The Shaw Group Inc. and SAON
                    Properties, Inc.
         ____10.9   1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan.
            +21.1   Subsidiaries of the Company.
            +24.1   Powers of Attorney


<PAGE>



         -------------
         *          Incorporated  by reference  from the Company's Form 10-K for
                    the fiscal year ended August 31, 1994, as amended.
         **         Incorporated  by reference  from the Company's  Registration
                    Statement  on Form S-1 filed  October 22,  1993,  as amended
                    (Registration Number 33-70722).
         ***        Incorporated  by reference  from the Company's Form 10-Q for
                    the quarterly period ended May 31, 1998.
         ****       Incorporated  by reference  from the Company's Form 10-K for
                    the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997.
         +          Filed herewith.
         ___        Incorporated by reference from the Company's  Current Report
                    on Form 8-K dated February 11, 1997, as amended by Amendment
                    No.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A-1 dated April 9, 1997.
         ____       Incorporated  by reference  from the Company's  Registration
                    Statement   on  Form  S-8  filed  on   September   24,  1997
                    (Registration Number 333-36315).

(b)     Reports on Form 8-K

     No current  reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Company during the fourth
quarter of fiscal 1998.

<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                                    THE SHAW GROUP INC.


                                    /s/ Robert L. Belk
                                   --------------------
                                   By: Robert L. Belk
                                       Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
                                       Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
                                    Date: November 30, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

          Signature                               Title                                           Date
<S>                                      <C>                                              <C>

*                                        Chairman of the Board,                           November 30, 1998
(J. M. Bernhard, Jr.)                       President and 
                                            Executive Officer

/s/ Robert L. Belk                       Executive Vice President, Chief Financial        November 30, 1998
- ----------------------------                 Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
(Robert L. Belk)

*                                        Director                                         November 30, 1998
- --------------------------------
(Albert McAlister)

*                                        Director                                         November 30, 1998
- -------------------------------
(L. Lane Grigsby)

*                                        Director                                         November 30, 1998
- ------------------------------
(David W. Hoyle)

*                                        Director                                         November 30, 1998
- -----------------------------
(John W. Sinders, Jr.)

*                                        Director                                         November 30, 1998
- ----------------------------
(William H. Grigg)



* By:     /s/ Robert L. Belk                                                              November 30, 1998
      ---------------------------
          Robert L. Belk
          Attorney-in-Fact

</TABLE>



                          AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


     THIS AMENDMENT TO CREDIT  AGREEMENT  (this  "Amendment") is made as of this
_____ day of  November,  1998,  by and between THE SHAW GROUP INC.,  a Louisiana
corporation,  MERCANTILE  BUSINESS  CREDIT  INC., a Missouri  corporation,  CITY
NATIONAL  BANK OF BATON ROUGE,  a national  bank,  UNION  PLANTERS  BANK N.A., a
national  banking  association,  and HIBERNIA  NATIONAL  BANK,  a national  bank
(collectively,  the "Lenders"),  and MERCANTILE BUSINESS CREDIT INC., a Missouri
corporation, as agent for Lenders (in such capacity, the "Agent").

                                  WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS,  Borrower,  Agent and Lenders  have  heretofore  entered into that
certain Credit Agreement dated as of May 15, 1998 (the "Agreement"); and

     WHEREAS,  Borrower desires to amend the Agreement in the manner hereinafter
set forth.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  above  premises  and for other
valuable  considerations,  the  receipt  and  sufficiency  of which  are  hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

     1. The definition of "Consolidated Net Operating Cash Flow" in Section 1 of
the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety.

     2. Section  7.1(i)(i) of the  Agreement is hereby  deleted in its entirety,
and in its place shall be substituted the following:

     Debt Service  Coverage Ratio.  Maintain on a consolidated  basis as of each
fiscal  quarter-end  during the Term  hereof a ratio of  Consolidated  EBITDA to
Consolidated Debt Service,  each determined for the 12-month period ending as of
each such  fiscal  quarter-end,  of not less  than  2.50 to 1.0 for each  fiscal
quarter ending during the Term hereof;

     3. Exhibit D to the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety, and
in its place shall be substituted Exhibit D hereto.

     4. Borrower  hereby  agrees to reimburse  Agent and Lenders upon demand for
all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including  reasonable  attorneys' fees and
expenses)  incurred by Agent and  Lenders in the  preparation,  negotiation  and
execution of this Amendment and all other documents,  instruments and agreements
relating to this amendment of Borrower's existing credit facilities with Lender.
All of the  obligations  of  Borrower  under  this  Paragraph  4  shall  survive
termination of the Agreement.

     5. Borrower hereby represents and warrants to Agent and Lenders that:

     (a) the execution,  delivery and  performance by Borrower of this Amendment
are within the corporate  powers of Borrower,  have been duly  authorized by all
necessary  corporate action and require no action by or in respect of, or filing
with, any  governmental or regulatory body,  agency or official.  The execution,
delivery and  performance by Borrower of this Amendment do not conflict with, or
result in a breach of the terms,  conditions or  provisions  of, or constitute a
default  under or result in any  violation  of, and the  Borrower  is not now in
default under or in violation of, the terms of its Articles of  Incorporation or
Bylaws,  any applicable  law, any rule,  regulation,  order,  writ,  judgment or
decree of any court or governmental or regulatory agency or instrumentality,  or
any agreement or instrument to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower is
bound or to which Borrower is subject;

     (b) this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered and constitutes the
legal, valid and binding  obligation of Borrower  enforceable in accordance with
its terms; and

     (c) as of the  date  hereof,  all of  the  covenants,  representations  and
warranties  of Borrower set forth in the  Agreement  are true and correct and no
"Event of  Default"  (as  defined  therein)  under or within the  meaning of the
Agreement has occurred and is continuing.

     6.  Borrower  hereby  releases  Agent and  Lenders  and  their  successors,
assigns, directors,  officers, agents, employees,  representatives and attorneys
from any and all  claims,  demands,  causes of action,  liabilities  or damages,
whether now existing or hereafter  arising or  contingent or  noncontingent,  or
actions in law or equity of any type or  matter,  relating  to or in  connection
with any  statements,  agreements,  action or  inaction  on the part of Agent or
Lenders at any time prior to the  execution of this  Amendment,  with respect to
Borrower or the Agreement.

     7. The Agreement,  as hereby amended,  and any other agreements executed in
connection therewith,  are and shall remain the binding obligations of Borrower,
and all of the provisions, terms, stipulations, conditions, covenants and powers
contained  therein shall stand and remain in full force and effect,  except only
as the same are herein and hereby specifically  varied or amended,  and the same
are hereby ratified and confirmed.

     8. All  references  in the  Agreement  to "this  Agreement"  and any  other
references of similar import shall  henceforth  mean the Agreement as amended by
this  Amendment.  All  capitalized  terms used herein and not otherwise  defined
herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement,  as
amended by this Amendment.

     9. This  Amendment  shall be binding  upon and inure to the  benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that Borrower
may not assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations hereunder.

     10. This  Amendment  shall be governed by and construed in accordance  with
the internal laws of the State of Missouri.

     11. In the event of any  inconsistency  or conflict  between this Amendment
and the Agreement,  the terms, provisions and conditions of this Amendment shall
govern and control.

     12. ORAL  AGREEMENTS  OR  COMMITMENTS  TO LOAN MONEY,  EXTEND  CREDIT OR TO
FOREBEAR FROM  ENFORCING  REPAYMENT OF A DEBT,  INCLUDING  PROMISES TO EXTEND OR
RENEW SUCH DEBT, ARE NOT  ENFORCEABLE.  TO PROTECT  BORROWER,  AGENT AND LENDERS
FROM ANY MISUNDERSTANDING OR DISAPPOINTMENT, ANY AGREEMENTS REACHED BY BORROWER,
AGENT AND LENDERS  COVERING  SUCH  MATTERS ARE  CONTAINED IN THE  AGREEMENT,  AS
HEREBY  AMENDED,  WHICH  CONSTITUTES A COMPLETE AND  EXCLUSIVE  STATEMENT OF THE
AGREEMENTS  BETWEEN  BORROWER,  AGENT AND LENDERS EXCEPT AS BORROWER,  AGENT AND
LENDERS MAY LATER AGREE IN WRITING TO MODIFY. THE AGREEMENT,  AS HEREBY AMENDED,
EMBODIES THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND  UNDERSTANDING  BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO AND
SUPERSEDE ALL PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS  (ORAL OR WRITTEN) RELATING TO
THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF.

     13. This  Amendment  is made  solely for the benefit of Borrower  Agent and
Lenders as set forth  herein,  and is not intended to be relied upon or enforced
by any other person or entity.

     14.  This  Amendment  may be executed  in one or more  counterparts  by the
parties hereto, and shall constitute one agreement.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of
the day and year first written above on this _____ day of November, 1998.

                       Borrower:

                       THE SHAW GROUP INC.



                       By:    _________________________________________________
                       Title:__________________________________________________

                       Agent:

                       MERCANTILE BUSINESS CREDIT INC.


                       By:
                       Title:
                      Lenders:

Revolving Credit Commitment:            MERCANTILE BUSINESS CREDIT INC.

         $31,250,000.00

                                        By:
                                        Title:

Revolving Credit Commitment:            CITY NATIONAL BANK OF BATON ROUGE

         $25,000,000.00

                                        By:
                                        Title:

Revolving Credit Commitment:            UNION PLANTERS BANK OF LOUISIANA

         $18,750,000.00

                                        By:
                                        Title:

Revolving Credit Commitment:            HIBERNIA NATIONAL BANK

         $25,000,000.00

                                        By:
                                        Title:



<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT D

                             COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

                                              _________________, 19___

Mercantile Business Credit Inc.
100 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 500
St. Louis, Missouri  63105
Attention: Senior Credit Officer

Gentlemen:

     Reference is hereby made to that certain Credit  Agreement  dated as of May
15,  1998,  by and between  you, as agent for the Banks named  therein,  and the
undersigned  (as from time to time amended,  the  "Agreement").  All capitalized
terms used and not otherwise  defined herein shall have the respective  meanings
ascribed to them in the Agreement.

     The undersigned hereby certifies to you that as of the date hereof:

     (a) All of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6 of the
Agreement are true and correct as if made on the date hereof;

     (b) No violation or breach of any of the affirmative covenants set forth in
Section 7.1 of the Agreement has occurred and is continuing;

     (c) No violation or breach of any of the  negative  covenants  set forth in
Section 7.2 of the Agreement has occurred and is continuing;

     (d) No  Default  or Event of  Default  under or within  the  meaning of the
Agreement has occurred and is continuing;

     (e) The financial statements of Borrower and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries
delivered to you with this letter are true, correct and complete in all material
respects and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied; and

     (f) The  financial  covenant  information  set forth in  Schedule 1 to this
letter is true and correct.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    THE SHAW GROUP INC.


                                    By:
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

<PAGE>

                                   Schedule 1
                            To Compliance Certificate
     (The Certificate attached hereto is as of ________________)

     Capitalized  terms used  herein  shall have the  meanings  set forth in the
Credit Agreement dated as of May 15, 1998 among The Shaw Group Inc.,  Mercantile
Business  Credit  Inc.,  as agent,  and the lenders  named  therein (as amended,
restated,   supplemented   or  otherwise   modified  from  time  to  time,   the
"Agreement").  Subsection  references  herein relate to the  subsections  of the
Agreement.

A.  MAXIMUM CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
    1.    Actual Capital Expenditures for current
          Fiscal Year-To-Date                                    $____________
    2.    Maximum Permitted (Section 7.2(i))                     $____________
B.  CONSOLIDATED EBITDA
          For the 12 months ended _____________:
    1.    Net Income (excluding extraordinary items)             $ ____________
    2.    Income Tax Expense                                     $ ____________
    3.    Interest Expense                                       $ ____________
    4.    Amortization and Depreciation Expenses                 $ ____________
    5.    Consolidated EBITDA (sum of Lines B1 through B4)       $ ____________
C.  DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO
    1.    Consolidated EBITDA (from B5 above)                    $ ____________
    2.    Interest Expense (from Line B3 above)                  $ ____________
    3.    Scheduled  payments of principal on  Indebtedness
          (for the 12 months  ending ______________)             $ ____________
    6.    Consolidated Debt Service  (Sum of D2 and D3)          $ ____________
    7.    Debt Service Coverage (D1 divided by D4)                 _____ to 1.0
    8.    Minimum Required (Section 7.1(i)(i))                     2.50 to 1.0
D.  MAXIMUM LEVERAGE RATIO
    1.    Average Revolving Credit Loans outstanding             $ ____________
    2.    Face amount of Letters of Credit outstanding           $ ____________
    3.    Other Borrowed Money Indebtedness outstanding          $ ____________
    4.    Consolidated Total Funded Debt outstanding as of _______
          (Sum of E1 through E3)                                 $ ____________
    5.    Consolidated EBITDA (from B5 above)                    $ ____________
    6.    Leverage Ratio (E4 divided by E5)                       _____ to 1.0
    7.    Maximum Permitted (Section 7.1(i)(ii))                   4.00 to 1.0

<PAGE>

E.  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    1.    Shareholders' Equity as of ______________              $ ____________
    2.    Beginning Required Shareholders' Equity                $135,000,000.00
    3.    Cumulative  Quarterly  Net Income  (excluding          $ ____________
          any Quarterly Net Losses) for Quarters ending
          November 30, 1997 and thereafter
    4.    Net Proceeds of Capital Stock issued subsequent
          to August 31, 1997                                     $ ____________
    5.    Total Required Shareholders' Equity (Sum of
          F2 through F4)                                         $ ____________
F.  TOTAL FUNDED DEBT TO TOTAL CAPITALIZATION
    1.  Consolidated  Total  Funded  Debt  (Line  E4  above) $  ____________  2.
    Shareholders'  Equity (Line F1 above) $ ____________ 3. Total Capitalization
    (Sum of G1 plus G2) $  ____________  4.  Ratio of G1 divided by G3) _____ to
    1.0 5. Maximum Permitted Ratio (Section 7.1(i)(iv)) 0.60 to 1.0
G.  OTHER INDEBTEDNESS
    1.    Purchase money debt as of _________________            $ ____________
    2.    Maximum permitted (Section 7.2(a)(iv))                 $ ____________
    3.    Subordinated Debt as of _______________                $ ____________
    4.    Maximum permitted (Section 7.2(a)(v))                  $ ____________
    5.    Other Indebtedness                                     $ ____________
    6.    Maximum permitted (Section 7.2(a)(vi))                 $ ____________
H.  RESTRICTION ON LEASES____________
    1. Direct and indirect  obligations with respect to leases $ ____________ 2.
     Maximum permitted (Section 7.2(m)) $ ____________





                                  EXHIBIT 21.1

                                  Subsidiaries


Aiton Australia Pty Ltd.
Alloy Piping Products, Inc.
B. F. Shaw, Inc.
C.B.P. Engineering Corp.
Cojafex, B. V.
Connex Pipe Systems, Inc.
Fronek-ren, S.R.O.
Fronek A/DE, Inc.
Fronek Engineering and Consulting, Inc.
Fronek Power Services, Inc.
FVF, Incorporated
IRM/NAPTech Joint Venture, L.L.C.
NAPTech, Inc.
National Fabricators, Inc.
Manufacturas Shaw South America, C.A.
Pipe Shields Incorporated
Pipework Engineering and Development, Ltd.
Prospect Industries (Holdings) Inc.
Prospect Industries Overseas, Ltd.
SAON Properties, Inc.
Secorp, Inc.
Shaw Aiton, Ltd.
Shaw Bagwell, Inc.
Shaw Contructors, Inc.
Shaw Dunn, Ltd.
Shaw Energy Services, Inc.
Shaw Fabricators, Inc.
Shaw-Fronek Fabrication, Inc.
Shaw Group International, Inc.
Shaw Group U.K. Holdings, Ltd.
Shaw Group U.K., Ltd.
Shaw Heat Treating, C.A.
Shaw Holdings South America, C.A.
Shaw International, Inc.
Shaw Lancas, C.A.
Shaw Maintenance, Inc.
Shaw Managed Services, Inc.
Shaw Manufacturing and Services, Inc.
Shaw Nass Middle East, W.L.L.
Shaw Overseas (Cayman) Ltd.
Shaw Overseas (Far East), Ltd.
Shaw Power Services, Inc.
Shaw Process and Industrial Group, Inc.
Shaw Trading FSC, Ltd.
Sunland Fabricators, Inc.
Welding Technology and Supply, Inc.
Word Industries Fabricators, Inc.
World Industrial Constructors, Inc.
Worldwide Industrial Constructors, Inc.



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------


STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE

     BE IT KNOWN that before me, the undersigned  Notary Public, in the presence
of the undersigned competent witnesses personally came and appeared:

                           J. M. Bernhard, Jr.

     a  resident  of the age of  majority  of the  Parish of East  Baton  Rouge,
Louisiana (hereinafter "Appearer"), who declared as follows:

     Appearer does by these presents constitute and appoint T. A. Barfield,  Jr.
and Robert L.  Belk,  acting  individually  or  jointly,  as his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact  and  agent  (hereinafter  the  "Agent")  with  full  power and
authority to do any and all things and to execute any and all instruments  which
said Agent may deem  necessary  or  advisable  to comply with  Section 13 of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") in connect with the filing of an
annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1998,  including
without limitation execution on behalf of Appearer of such annual report on Form
10-K and any amendments thereto.

     Executed in Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana  in the  presence  of the  undersigned
competent witnesses and me, Notary, on this 20th day of November, 1998.


WITNESSES:
                                               /s/ J. M. Bernhard, Jr.
- ---------------------------                    -----------------------------

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

                                    ------------------------
                                    Notary Public



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------


STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF LAURENS

     BE IT KNOWN that before me, the undersigned  Notary Public, in the presence
of the undersigned competent witnesses personally came and appeared:

                           Albert McAlister

     a resident of the age of majority of the County of Laurens,  South Carolina
(hereinafter "Appearer"), who declared as follows:

     Appearer does by these presents constitute and appoint T. A. Barfield,  Jr.
and Robert L.  Belk,  acting  individually  or  jointly,  as his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact  and  agent  (hereinafter  the  "Agent")  with  full  power and
authority to do any and all things and to execute any and all instruments  which
said Agent may deem  necessary  or  advisable  to comply with  Section 13 of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") in connect with the filing of an
annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1998,  including
without limitation execution on behalf of Appearer of such annual report on Form
10-K and any amendments thereto.

     Executed in Laurens,  South  Carolina  in the  presence of the  undersigned
competent witnesses and me, Notary, on this 23rd day of November, 1998.


WITNESSES:                                              /s/ Albert McAlister
- ------------------------------                          -----------------------

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


                                    ------------------------
                                    Notary Public




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------


STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF GASTON

     BE IT KNOWN that before me, the undersigned  Notary Public, in the presence
of the undersigned competent witnesses personally came and appeared:

                           David W. Hoyle

     a resident of the age of majority of the County of Gaston,  North  Carolina
(hereinafter "Appearer"), who declared as follows:

     Appearer does by these presents constitute and appoint T. A. Barfield,  Jr.
and Robert L.  Belk,  acting  individually  or  jointly,  as his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact  and  agent  (hereinafter  the  "Agent")  with  full  power and
authority to do any and all things and to execute any and all instruments  which
said Agent may deem  necessary  or  advisable  to comply with  Section 13 of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") in connect with the filing of an
annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1998,  including
without limitation execution on behalf of Appearer of such annual report on Form
10-K and any amendments thereto.

     Executed in Gastonia,  North  Carolina in the  presence of the  undersigned
competent witnesses and me, Notary, on this 23rd day of November, 1998.


WITNESSES:
                                                  /s/ David W. Hoyle
- -----------------------------                     ---------------------------

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

                                    --------------------
                                    Notary Public



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------


STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF MECKLENBURG

     BE IT KNOWN that before me, the undersigned  Notary Public, in the presence
of the undersigned competent witnesses personally came and appeared:

                           William H. Grigg

     a  resident  of the age of  majority  of the County of  Mecklenburg,  North
Carolina (hereinafter"Appearer"), who declared as follows:

     Appearer does by these presents constitute and appoint T. A. Barfield,  Jr.
and Robert L.  Belk,  acting  individually  or  jointly,  as his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact  and  agent  (hereinafter  the  "Agent")  with  full  power and
authority to do any and all things and to execute any and all instruments  which
said Agent may deem  necessary  or  advisable  to comply with  Section 13 of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") in connect with the filing of an
annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1998,  including
without limitation execution on behalf of Appearer of such annual report on Form
10-K and any amendments thereto.

     Executed in Charlotte,  North  Carolina in the presence of the  undersigned
competent witnesses and me, Notary, on this 24th day of November, 1998.


WITNESSES:                                        /s/ William H. Grigg
- -------------------------                         ------------------------

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

                                   --------------------
                                    Notary Public



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------


STATE OF TEXAS

COUNTY OF HARRIS

     BE IT KNOWN that before me, the undersigned  Notary Public, in the presence
of the undersigned competent witnesses personally came and appeared:

                           John W. Sinders, Jr.

     a  resident  of the  age  of  majority  of  the  County  of  Harris,  Texas
(hereinafter "Appearer"), who declared as follows:

     Appearer does by these presents constitute and appoint T. A. Barfield,  Jr.
and Robert L.  Belk,  acting  individually  or  jointly,  as his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact  and  agent  (hereinafter  the  "Agent")  with  full  power and
authority to do any and all things and to execute any and all instruments  which
said Agent may deem  necessary  or  advisable  to comply with  Section 13 of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") in connect with the filing of an
annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1998,  including
without limitation execution on behalf of Appearer of such annual report on Form
10-K and any amendments thereto.

     Executed in Houston,  Texas in the  presence of the  undersigned  competent
witnesses and me, Notary, on this 20th day of November, 1998.


WITNESSES:
                                                  /s/ John W. Sinders, Jr.
- ----------------------------                      ---------------------------

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

                                    -------------------------
                                    Notary Public


<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     (Replace this text with the legend)
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                          0000914024
<NAME>                                         The Shaw Group Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U. S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Aug-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 Sep-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   Aug-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         3,743
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  140,631
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    65,861
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               250,994
<PP&E>                                         117,910
<DEPRECIATION>                                 25,050
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 389,844
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          120,539
<BONDS>                                        0
                          0
                                    0
<COMMON>                                       119,360
<OTHER-SE>                                     51,335
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   389,844
<SALES>                                        501,638
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               501,638
<CGS>                                          422,057
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  422,057
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             8,471
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                23,305
<INCOME-TAX>                                   7,033
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            16,232
<DISCONTINUED>                                 2,945
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   19,177
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.49
        


</TABLE>


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