UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                 Date of Report

                                  June 17, 1997


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


 Louisiana                              0-22992                     72-1106167
 State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission File Number)    (IRS Employer
    incorporation)                                           Identification No.)

11100 Mead Road, 2nd Floor, Baton Rouge, Louisiana                70816
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)

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

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)











                                        



ITEM 5.  Other Events.

     As previously  reported in a Current  Report on Form 8-K dated February 11,
1997,  as amended by a Current  Report on Form 8-K/A-1  dated April 9, 1997,  on
January  27,  1997,  The  Shaw  Group  Inc.  ("Shaw")  acquired  (i)  all of the
outstanding stock of NAPTech,  Inc. ("NAPTech") and (ii) the 335,000 square foot
facility NAPTech leased from a related entity,  Freeport  Properties,  L.C. Such
acquisition  (the "NAPTech  Acquisition") is being accounted for as a pooling of
interest,  and will,  therefore,  result in a  restatement  of Shaw's  financial
statements for all periods  presented.  At its election,  Shaw has chosen to set
forth in this Current Report on Form 8-K certain restated  financial  statements
and other related information that reflects the NAPTech Acquisition as a pooling
of intersts.  Such  financial  statements  and other  information,  all attached
hereto as  Attachment  A, are  restated  "Item 7,  Management's  Discussion  and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and restated "Item 8.
Financial  Statements and Supplementary  Data" from Shaw's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1996.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

            (a)     Not applicable.

            (b)     Not applicable.

            (c)     Exhibits:

                      23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

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

                      27.1     Financial Data Schedule



                                       2





                                 SIGNATURES
                                 ----------



     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                         THE SHAW GROUP INC.
                                         (Registrant)


Date:    June 17, 1997                   By: /s/ Edward L. Pagano
                                             ------------------------
                                             Edward L. Pagano
                                             Vice President
                                                and Chief Financial Officer





                                       3











                              THE SHAW GROUP INC.


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

                                    Form 8-K

                                 June 17, 1997


Exhibit Number                  Description                          Page No.

        23.1         Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

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

        27.1         Financial Data Schedule




















                                       4



                                  ATTACHMENT A
                                  ------------

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

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

Recent Acquisitions

On April 29, 1994,  the Company  acquired the business of Fronek  Company,  Inc.
("FCI"),  an engineering firm with offices located in Englewood,  New Jersey and
Toronto,  Canada, and F.C.I. Pipe Support Sales, Inc.  ("PSSI"),  a pipe support
fabrication  facility  located  in  Longview,  Texas.  These  acquisitions  were
completed  through the issuance of 75,000 shares of the  Company's  Common Stock
valued at $1.4 million and cash of $2.1 million. In addition, the Company agreed
to issue options to acquire up to 57,000  shares of the  Company's  Common Stock
and make additional cash payments up to $300,000 based on the future earnings of
the Company's  subsidiaries  managed by the former owner of FCI and PSSI through
1997. See Note 3 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

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

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

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

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


                                       5

                                        




Results of Operations

General

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




                                                                         Year Ended August 31,
                                                                 1994             1995             1996

                                                                                         

Sales                                                           100.0%            100.0%          100.0%
Cost of sales                                                    85.8              83.3            83.9
                                                                 ----              ----            ----
Gross profit                                                     14.2              16.7            16.1
General and administrative expenses                               9.6              10.5            10.7
                                                                  ---              ----            ----
Operating income                                                  4.6               6.2             5.4
Interest expense                                                 (1.8)             (2.2)           (1.9)
Other income, net                                                 0.2               0.2             0.3
                                                                  ---               ---             ---
Income before income taxes                                        3.0               4.2             3.8
Provision for income taxes                                        1.1               1.3             1.2
                                                                  ---               ---             ---
Income before earnings (losses) from
  unconsolidated entities                                         1.9               2.9             2.6
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated entities                    0.6              (0.4)            0.1
                                                                  ---              ----             ---
Income before extraordinary item                                  2.5               2.5             2.7
Extraordinary item, less applicable income taxes                  0.3                .3              --
                                                                  ---               ---             ---   
Net income                                                        2.8%              2.8%            2.7%
                                                                  ===               ===             ===
                                                           


Fiscal 1996 Compared to Fiscal 1995

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

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



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



                                       6




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




                                                        Fiscal 1995                  Fiscal 1996
                                                (in millions)      %          (in millions)       %
                                              -----------      --------       -------------    -------
                                                                                     

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



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


          The gross  margin for fiscal  1996  decreased  to 16.1% from 16.7% for
fiscal 1995.  The decrease is  attributable  primarily to the decreased  margins
generated  by NAPTech for fiscal  1996  compared to fiscal  1995.  In  addition,
during fiscal 1996,  the Company had a  substantial  decrease in sales and gross
profits from the Company's Venezuelan facility,  which historically has achieved
higher gross margin  percentages than the Company's domestic  subsidiaries.  The
Company does not expect significant  contributions in sales or profits,  if any,
from its Venezuelan subsidiary until at least the second quarter of fiscal 1997.
These factors contributing to the decline in gross margins were partially offset
by an increase in  international  projects  with their  generally  higher profit
margins,  improvement in pricing in the domestic market and  contributions  from
the APP and Word subsidiaries.

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

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

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

          Fiscal 1995 Compared to Fiscal 1994

          Sales increased by 19.7% for fiscal 1995 to $156.9 million from $131.1
million for fiscal  1994.  Gross  profit  increased  40.7% to $26.2  million for
fiscal 1995 from $18.6  million for fiscal  1994.  Both sales and gross  profits
were  positively  impacted  by the  increase in  international  sales which have
historically  generated  higher profit margins.  International  sales for fiscal
1995  included  $9.4 million of sales by the  Company's  Venezuelan  subsidiary,
which became a wholly owned  subsidiary in December  1994.  In addition,  fiscal
1995 sales included $10.2 million of sales by the Company's engineering and pipe
support fabrication subsidiaries, which were acquired in April 1994.


                                       7
                                        


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

                                                    Fiscal 1995
                                            (in millions)        %
                                            ------------       -----
Geographic Region:
  U.S.A.                                     $ 107.8            68.7%
  Far East/Pacific Rim                          24.3            15.5
  Middle East                                    4.2             2.7
  Latin America                                 20.5            13.1
  Other                                          0.1             0.0
                                              ------           -----
                                              $156.9           100.0%
                                              ======           =====

          International  sales by geographic region are not available for fiscal
1994.

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

                                  Fiscal 1994                   Fiscal 1995
                             (in millions)       %         (in millions)    %
                             ------------    -----          -----------   -----
Industry Sector:
  Power                       $ 57.7          51.0%         $ 59.2       43.8%
  Refining                      31.7          28.0            39.2       29.0
  Chemical                      20.4          18.0            33.5       24.7
  Other                          3.4           3.0             3.4        2.5
                                 ---           ---             ---        ---
                               113.2         100.0%          135.3      100.0%
                                             =====                      =====
  Pooled Sales *                17.9                          21.6
                              $131.1                        $156.9
                              ======                        ======

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

          Gross margins for fiscal 1995 increased to 16.7% from 14.2% for fiscal
1994.  This  increase  was due to  higher  margins  on  international  projects,
primarily attributable to work performed by the Company's Venezuelan subsidiary,
as well as improvement in the domestic  market in the third and fourth  quarters
of fiscal 1995.  Fiscal 1994 gross margins were down due to a number of domestic
projects that were  adversely  affected by competitive  pricing,  quick delivery
requirements and/or productivity difficulties. These factors also impacted gross
margins for the first and second quarters of fiscal 1995.

          General and administrative  expenses for fiscal 1995 increased by $3.9
million to $16.5  million as  compared  to $12.6  million in fiscal  1994.  This
increase was due primarily to $1.5 million in additional  overhead  attributable
to the Company's  engineering and pipe support  fabrication  subsidiaries  and a
$1.2  million  increase in  overhead  relating  to the  Company's  international
operations.  The remaining  $1.2 million  increase was due primarily to variable
costs associated with increased sales levels.

          The Company's effective tax rates for fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1994 were
31.1% and 38.0%, respectively.  The decrease in fiscal 1995 from fiscal 1994 was
primarily  due to tax benefits  derived from export sales and lower state income
taxes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

          Net cash  used in  operations  was  $22.0  million  for  fiscal  1996,
compared to net cash provided by operations of $3.9 million for fiscal 1995. For
fiscal 1996, net cash used in operations was a result  primarily of increases of
$16.7 million in receivables and $19.3 million in inventories,  partially offset
by an increase of $9.3 million in accounts payable.

                                       8



          The increase in  receivables  was primarily  attributable  to a higher
volume  of sales  activity  for  fiscal  1996.  During  the  year,  the  Company
experienced  some billing  delays due to an increased  number of contracts  with
intricate  and time  consuming  billing  provisions.  At the end of fiscal 1996,
there has been a shift in the contract  mix,  and the Company has  substantially
eliminated these billing delays.

          Inventories  increased due to the  procurement of material for current
and future  sales  activities,  which are expected to exceed  historical  levels
based upon the  Company's  backlog at August 31,  1996 of  approximately  $193.0
million.  The increase in inventories was primarily  financed by the increase in
accounts payable and increases in the Company's revolving credit agreement.

          Net cash used in  investing  activities  was $26.0  million for fiscal
1996,  compared to $3.9 million for fiscal 1995. During fiscal 1996, the Company
invested $0.8 million in cash in connection  with the  acquisition of Word and a
net $8.7 million of cash in connection with the acquisition of APP. In addition,
the Company  purchased  $18.5  million of property and equipment in fiscal 1996.
Major  property and  equipment  purchases  include $2.3 million for an induction
bending machine for the Company's  subsidiary in Laurens,  South Carolina;  $2.6
million for an induction bending machine and $2.8 million of facility  expansion
for the Company's subsidiary in Walker, Louisiana; $2.0 million of assets at the
Company's Venezuelan subsidiary; and $3.7 million of transportation equipment.

          Net cash provided by financing activities was $51.1 million for fiscal
1996,  compared  to $80,000  provided in fiscal  1995.  For fiscal  1996,  $31.4
million  of cash  was  provided  from the  Company's  revolving  line of  credit
facility  under the Company's  loan and security  agreement  with its commercial
lenders.  The  revolving  line of credit  facility  has been used  generally  to
provide working capital and fund fixed asset purchases and acquisitions.  During
fiscal 1996,  the Company  borrowed  $22.2 million in term debt.  The borrowings
were used  primarily  to  refinance  $5.8  million of APP's debt,  pay down $3.8
million  of  revolving  debt  and  purchase  two  induction   bending   machines
aggregating $4.9 million and transportation equipment totaling $2.8 million.

          Concurrent  with the  acquisition of APP, the Company amended its loan
and security  agreement with its  commercial  lenders to provide for a revolving
line of credit of up to $70.0 million,  depending upon the Company's  collateral
base (which consists  primarily of certain  eligible  amounts of receivables and
inventory) and up to $10.0 million in term loans at an interest rate based upon,
at the Company's  option,  either the London  Interbank  Offering Rate ("LIBOR")
plus 85 to 200  basis  points  or  prime  rate  plus  zero to 75  basis  points,
depending on certain financial ratios. Pursuant to the amended loan and security
agreement,  the Company makes daily draws against the line of credit to fund its
cash disbursements.  Repayments to the line of credit are made through a lockbox
arrangement as the Company's  customers  remit payments on outstanding  accounts
receivable.  The line of credit facility expires on March 31, 1999, and the term
loans expire on March 31, 2001.  The effective  interest rate at August 31, 1996
for the line of credit and the term loans was 7.0%.

          In September 1995, the Company  obtained  industrial  development bond
financing of $4.0 million.  Approximately $2.3 million of the bond proceeds were
used to purchase a bending machine for the Laurens,  South Carolina  facility in
November 1995. The remaining balance is held in short-term marketable securities
until used for other  capital  improvements  at such  facility.  The loan is due
September 1, 2005 and is secured by a letter of credit issued under the loan and
security  agreement  with  the  Company's  commercial  lenders.  The  loan has a
variable  interest  rate,  with the  effective  interest rate at August 31, 1996
being 3.95%.

          In addition,  since  February  29,  1996,  the Company has obtained an
aggregate  of $16.9  million  in term  loans  from a  commercial  lender  and an
insurance  company.  The loans,  which are secured by equipment and real estate,
have terms  ranging from five to seven years and variable  interest  rates based
upon LIBOR plus 160 basis points and 30-day  commercial paper rates plus 190 and
235 basis points for the  equipment  and real estate  loans,  respectively.  The
effective rates at November 25, 1996 ranged from 7.10% to 7.74%.

                                       9



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 commissions and other expenses of the
offering,  from the  issuances of the  2,398,000  shares of Common Stock totaled
approximately $47.0 million and will be used to repay outstanding amounts on the
Company's  line of credit,  which has been used  generally  to  provide  working
capital   and  fund  fixed  asset   purchases   and   subsidiary   acquisitions.
Approximately  $12.0 million of the Company's  line of credit was used to fund a
portion of the  acquisition  costs of Word and APP.  Pending  the use of the net
proceeds  from  the  Offering,  such  funds  will  be  invested  in  short-term,
interest-bearing, investment-grade securities.

          The Company  believes  that its  current  financing  arrangements  are
sufficient to support its operations for the foreseeable future.

Material Changes in Financial Condition

          The  Company's  current  assets  increased by $63.8 million from $88.1
million at August 31, 1995 to $151.9  million at August 31,  1996.  The increase
resulted  primarily  from increases in inventories of $36.2 million and accounts
receivable of $23.8 million.  Receivables  increased  primarily due to increased
sales  levels and  acquisitions,  and  inventories  increased  primarily  due to
current and future production requirements and acquisitions. At August 31, 1996,
approximately  $23.4  million  of  the  inventories  and  $9.5  million  of  the
receivables were attributable to the newly acquired Word and APP subsidiaries.

          Property and equipment  increased by $34.0 million to $69.5 million at
August 31, 1996 from $35.5 million at August 31, 1995.  This  increase  resulted
primarily  from the $12.3  million of  property  and  equipment  acquired in the
acquisition  of APP, the $5.4 million of property and equipment  acquired in the
acquisition of Word, the purchase of two induction bending machines  aggregating
$4.9 million, $4.8 million in fixed asset additions relating to the expansion of
the  facilities  for  the  Company's  subsidiaries  in  Walker,   Louisiana  and
Venezuela, and transportation equipment of $3.7 million.

          The Company's current  liabilities  increased $54.8 million from $49.2
million at August 31, 1995 to $104.0 million at August 31, 1996. The increase is
due primarily to increases of $36.3 million in the revolving  line of credit and
$11.8 million in accounts  payable.  The  increases in accounts  payable and the
revolving line of credit were used to finance the Company's increase in accounts
receivable, inventories, fixed asset purchases and acquisitions.

Financial Accounting Standards Board Statements

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

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

                                       10



          In March 1995,  Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 121,
"Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to
be Disposed  of",  was issued and required to be adopted by the Company no later
than the fiscal year ending  August 31, 1997.  The adoption of this new standard
will not have a material impact on the Company's  financial  position or results
of operations.

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

     In February 1997,  Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 128 --
"Earnings  Per Share"  ("SFAS 128") was issued which  establishes  standards for
computing and presenting earnings per share ("eps"). Under SFAS 128, primary eps
is replaced with basic eps. Basic eps is computed by dividing income  applicable
to common shares by the weighted average shares outstanding; no dilution for any
potentially  convertible  shares is included in the  calculation.  Fully diluted
eps,  now called  diluted eps, is still  required;  however,  when  applying the
treasury  stock method,  the average stock price is used rather than the greater
of the average or closing stock price for the period.  Under SFAS 128, basic eps
and  diluted  eps for the  years  audited  August  31,  1994 and  1995  were not
materially  different  from the eps reported by the Company.  For the year ended
August 31, 1996, basic eps and diluted eps was $.70 and $.68, respectively. SFAS
128 is  effective  for  financial  statements  issued for periods  ending  after
December 15, 1997.

                                       11





ITEM 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                                                        Page
                                                                        ----

Report of Independent Public Accountants                                    13

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 31, 1995 and 1996             14 - 15

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended
  August 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996                                            16

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years
  ended August 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996                                      17

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years
  ended August 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996                                 18 - 19

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                             20 - 33





                                       12
                                        





                    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,  1995  and  1996,  and  the  related  consolidated   statements  of  income,
shareholders'  equity and cash  flows for each of the three  years in the period
ended August 31, 1996. 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, 1995 and 1996, and the results of
their  operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended  August  31,  1996,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.


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

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


May 16, 1997







                                       13
                                    







                                       THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                            CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                          As of August 31, 1995 and 1996

                                                                             1995                1996
                                                                            ------              ------

                                                      ASSETS
                                                                                       

Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                                             $    783,783         $  2,967,342
  Accounts receivable, net--Note 7                                        51,459,471           75,241,111
  Receivables from unconsolidated entities--Note 5                         1,630,862              700,479
  Inventories--Notes 4 and 7                                              32,638,253           68,878,231
  Prepaid expenses                                                           693,318            2,440,503
  Deferred income taxes--Note 8                                              857,400            1,634,817
                              -                                           ----------          -----------
         Total current assets                                             88,063,087          151,862,483

Investment in unconsolidated entities--Note 5                              1,824,448            1,920,880

Property and equipment--Notes 6 and 10:
  Transportation equipment                                                 1,031,567            4,685,200
  Furniture and fixtures                                                   4,145,536            6,155,724
  Machinery and equipment                                                 16,649,456           36,299,786
  Buildings and improvements                                               9,355,723           18,268,904
  Assets acquired under capital leases                                     2,693,616              896,677
  Land                                                                     1,611,030            3,201,626
                                                                          ----------          -----------
                                                                          35,486,928           69,507,917
Less: Accumulated depreciation (including amortization
  of assets acquired under capital leases)                                (8,258,030)         (12,065,574)
                                                                          ----------          ----------- 
                                                                          27,228,898           57,442,343

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

Other assets, net--Notes 3 and 15                                          3,968,005            6,652,738
                                                                        ------------         ------------
                                                                        $121,084,438         $218,503,444
                                                                        ============         ============



                                   (Continued)



        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       14
                                      






                                       THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                            CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                          As of August 31, 1995 and 1996


                                                                                 1995              1996
                                                                                 ----              ----
                                       LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                                                                       

Current liabilities:
  Outstanding checks in excess of bank balance                             $      781,185    $    3,104,746
  Accounts payable--Note 15                                                    17,152,567        28,905,023
  Accrued liabilities                                                           6,311,626         9,412,963
  Current maturities of long-term debt--Note 6                                  4,902,281         4,865,038
  Revolving line of credit--Note 7                                             16,501,285        52,796,148
  Current portion of obligations under capital
    leases--Note 10                                                               481,411            68,143
  Deferred revenue--prebilled                                                     902,004         1,839,689
  Advanced billings                                                             2,135,820         2,990,631
                                                                               ----------         ---------
         Total current liabilities                                             49,168,179       103,982,381

Long-term debt, less current maturities--Note 6                                11,008,644        36,795,386

Obligations under capital leases, less current
  portion--Note 10                                                                709,547            44,696

Deferred income taxes--Note 8                                                     842,174         1,635,702

Shareholders' equity--Notes 9 and 12:
  Preferred stock, no par value, 5,000,000 shares
    authorized, no shares issued and outstanding                                       --                --
  Common stock, no par value, 50,000,000 shares
    authorized; 15,606,924 and 16,619,099 shares
    issued in 1995 and 1996; 8,944,008 and 9,956,183
    shares outstanding in 1995 and 1996                                        45,871,001        56,849,127
  Retained earnings                                                            20,312,728        26,023,987
  Treasury stock, 6,662,916 shares                                             (6,827,835)       (6,827,835)
                  ---------                                                    ----------        ----------
         Total shareholders' equity                                            59,355,894        76,045,279
                                                                               ----------        ----------
                                                                             $121,084,438      $218,503,444
                                                                             ============      ============



        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       15







                                       THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                         CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS  OF INCOME For
                                the Years Ended August 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996

                                                        1994                  1995              1996
                                                       -----                 -----             ------
                                                                                   

Income:
  Sales                                             $131,145,311          $156,921,769      $249,358,437
  Cost of sales                                      112,515,393           130,714,344       209,210,668
                                                     -----------           -----------       -----------
Gross profit                                          18,629,918            26,207,425        40,147,769

General and administrative expenses                   12,630,056            16,459,916        26,679,302
                                                      ----------            ----------        ----------
         Operating income                              5,999,862             9,747,509        13,468,467

Interest expense                                      (2,364,999)           (3,465,454)       (4,823,336)
Other income, net                                        303,828               244,315           922,839
                                                      ----------             ---------         ---------
                                                      (2,061,171)           (3,221,139)       (3,900,497)
                                                      ----------            ----------        ---------- 

Income before income taxes                             3,938,691             6,526,370         9,567,970

Provision for income taxes--Note 8                     1,494,873             2,026,552         3,053,703
                                 -                     ---------             ---------         ---------

Income before earnings (losses) from
  unconsolidated entities                              2,443,818             4,499,818         6,514,267

Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated
  entities--Note 5                                       792,144              (587,569)          102,931
                 -                                     ---------              --------           -------

Income before extraordinary item                       3,235,962             3,912,249         6,617,198

Extraordinary item, less applicable
  income taxes of $204,000 in 1994 and
  $-0- in 1995 -- Note 2 and 6                           370,455               490,625             --
                                                       ---------             ---------         ---------
  Net income                                        $  3,606,417          $  4,402,874      $  6,617,198
                                                    ============          ============      ============

Earnings per common share--Note 12:
  Income before extraordinary item                  $        .40          $        .44      $        .68
  Extraordinary item                                         .05                    05             --
                                                    ------------          ------------      ------------
  Net income                                        $        .45          $        .49      $        .68
                                                    ============          ============      ============



        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       16







                      THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
               For the Years Ended August 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996


                                                       Common Stock                 Treasury Stock                           Total
                                                       -------------                --------------        Retained     Shareholders'
                                                 Shares         Amount        Shares        Amount        Earnings       Equity
                                                 ------         ------        ------        ------        --------       ------
                                                                                                      

Balance, September 1, 1993                      12,264,916     $  748,713     5,789,041   ($1,977,835)   $13,609,204    $12,380,082
Pooling of interest                                 90,320      1,952,285        --            --         (1,056,491)       895,794
                                                -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, September 1, 1993 (Restated)           12,355,236      2,700,998     5,789,041    (1,977,835)    12,552,713     13,275,876
  Net income                                        --              --            --            --         3,606,417      3,606,417
  Share purchase                                    --              --          873,875    (4,850,000)        --         (4,850,000)
  Share sale                                     2,875,000     37,612,721         --            --            --         37,612,721
  Shares issued to acquire
  F.C.I. Pipe Support
  Sales, Inc. - Note 3                              75,000      1,350,000         --            --            --          1,350,000
  Pooled entity:
     Share sale                                     14,341        200,000         --            --            --            200,000
     Dividend                                       --              --            --            --          (124,276)      (124,276)
                                                -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, August 31, 1994                        15,319,577     41,863,719     6,662,916   ($6,827,835)    16,034,854     51,070,738
  Net income                                        --              --            --            --         4,402,874      4,402,874
  Pooled entity:
    Share sale                                     193,555      2,699,283         --            --            --          2,699,283
    Dividend                                        --             --             --            --          (125,000)      (125,000)
    Conversion of note payable, redeemable
    preferred stock and cumulative redeemable
    preferred stock dividends to common stock       93,792      1,307,999         --            --             --         1,307,999
                                                -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, August 31, 1995                        15,606,924     45,871,001     6,662,916    (6,827,835)    20,312,728     59,355,894
  Net income                                        --             --             --            --         6,617,198      6,617,198
  Shares issued to acquire
  Word - Note 3                                    385,000      3,401,900         --            --             --         3,401,900
  Shares issued to acquire
  APP--Note 3                                      541,177      6,724,712         --            --             --         6,724,712
  Exercise of options                               45,125        281,514         --            --             --           281,514
  Pooled entity:
      Net loss not included in reporting
      period - Note 3                                --            --             --            --         (905,939)       (905,939)
      Share sale                                    40,873        570,000         --            --              --          570,000
                                                -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, August 31, 1996                        16,619,099    $56,849,127     6,662,916   $(6,827,835)   $26,023,987    $76,045,279
                                                ==========    ===========     =========   ============   ===========     ==========



        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       17
                                       







                                       THE SHAW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS For
                                the Years Ended August 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996

                                                                 1994                 1995               1996
                                                                 ----                 ----               ----
                                                                                            

Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                                  $ 3,606,417         $ 4,402,874        $ 6,617,198
  Net loss not included in reporting period - Note 3               --                 --              (  905,939)
  Adjustments to reconcile net income
    to net cash provided by (used in)
    operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                               2,094,399           2,982,056          4,992,087
    Provision (benefit) for deferred
      income taxes                                               (211,200)            871,559         (2,802,430)
    (Earnings) losses from unconsolidated
      entities                                                   (792,144)            663,569           (102,931)
    Translation loss                                             --                  --                  863,822
    Gain on sale of marketable securities                        --                  --                 (855,047)
    Other                                                        (303,750)           (301,781)          (251,170)
 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
    (Increase) in receivables                                 (13,563,089)         (9,016,718)       (16,658,477)
    (Increase) in inventories                                  (2,632,420)         (4,206,489)       (19,337,381)
    (Increase) decrease in other current
      assets                                                       74,337             (76,666)        (1,479,433)
    (Increase) in other assets                                   (200,713)         (1,004,108)          (851,173)
    Increase (decrease) in accounts payable                    (1,672,987)          6,597,886          9,305,533
    Increase (decrease) in deferred
      revenue--prebilled                                         (288,563)            156,014            937,685
    Increase (decrease) in accrued
      liabilities                                              (2,314,563)            663,406         (2,295,054)
    Increase in advanced billings                              --                   2,135,820            854,811
                                                              -----------           ---------            -------
Net cash provided by (used in)
    operating activities                                      (16,204,276)          3,867,422        (21,967,899)

Cash flows from investing activities:
  Investment in unconsolidated entities                        (1,316,408)           (381,678)            95,513
  Dividends received from unconsolidated
    entities                                                      350,000             --                --
  Investment in subsidiaries, net of
    cash received                                              (2,101,909)           (482,243)        (9,516,276)
  Proceeds from sale of property and
    equipment                                                       9,536              70,285          1,702,573
  Purchase of property and equipment                           (5,880,222)         (5,810,465)       (18,478,171)
  Purchase of marketable securities                              (920,411)           (269,351)        (1,433,143)
  Cash transferred (to) from escrow fund                         (802,000)          1,295,000          --
  Purchase of other assets                                        (64,274)            ( 7,596)         --
  Proceeds from sale of marketable
    securities                                                  --                  1,694,070          2,288,190
  Issuance of note receivable to a
    related party                                               --                  --                  (625,000)
                                                              -----------          -----------        ----------- 
Net cash used in investing activities                         (10,725,688)         (3,891,978)       (25,966,314)


                                   (Continued)

        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       18







                                                                  1994                1995              1996
                                                                  ----                ----              ----
                                                                                           

Cash flows from financing activities:
  Net proceeds (repayments) from
    revolving credit agreement                                 (1,435,831)         (9,534,617)        31,440,326
  Proceeds from issuance of debt                                3,401,808          13,786,912         22,244,181
  Repayment of debt and leases                                (11,876,187)         (5,779,974)        (5,787,667)
  Dividend from pooled entity                                      --                (105,000)             --
  Increase (decrease) in outstanding
    checks in excess of bank balance                             (380,255)            380,734          2,323,561
  Purchase of treasury stock                                   (1,000,000)             --                  --
  Issue common stock                                           37,819,309           1,330,883            851,514
                                                               ----------           ---------        -----------
 Net cash provided by financing activities                     26,528,844              78,938         51,071,915
  Effects of exchange rate changes
    on cash                                                        --                  --               (954,143)
                                                               ----------          ----------        -----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash                                  (401,120)             54,382          2,183,559

Cash and cash equivalents--beginning
  of year                                                       1,130,521             729,401            783,783
                                                              -----------         -----------        -----------
Cash and cash equivalents--end of year                        $   729,401         $   783,783        $ 2,967,342
                                                              ===========         ===========        ===========

Supplemental disclosures:

Cash payments for:
  Interest                                                    $ 2,439,661         $ 3,467,508        $ 4,865,283
                                                              ===========         ===========        ===========
  Income taxes (refund)                                       $ 3,154,148        ($ 2,370,260)       $ 7,712,620
                                                              ===========        ============        ===========

Noncash investing and financing activities:
  Property and equipment acquired through
    issuance of debt                                          $   384,852       $     104,963       $     15,300
                                                              ===========       =============       ============
  Investment in subsidiaries acquired
    through issuance of common stock                          $ 1,350,000       $      --           $ 10,126,613
                                                              ===========       =============       ============
  Treasury stock acquired through issuance
    of debt                                                   $ 3,850,000       $      --           $     --
                                                              ===========       =============       ============
  Investment in unconsolidated entities
    through reduction in receivables                          $    --           $   1,015,000       $     89,014
                                                              ===========       =============       ============
  Property and equipment acquired through
    recovery of investment in
    unconsolidated subsidiary                                 $    --           $   1,075,300       $     --
                                                              ===========       =============       ============
  Other assets acquired through issuance
    of debt                                                   $    --           $      --           $  2,131,515
                                                              ===========       =============       ============
  Acquisition of assets and assumption of
    liabilities in exchange for a contract payable            $   900,000       $      --           $     --
                                                              ===========       =============       ============
  Conversion of note payable,  contract payable, 
   redeemable preferred stock and
   cumulative preferred stock dividends
   to common stock                                            $    --           $   2,676,399       $     --
                                                              ===========       =============       ============



        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       19
                                       





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

Note 1--Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 Principles of Consolidation

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

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

 Nature of Operations

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

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.

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.

         During 1996, the Company established an allowance for doubtful accounts
and contract adjustments. The reserve balance as of August 31, 1996 is $920,000.
Charges to this allowance were not material  during fiscal 1996.  Prior to 1996,
uncollectible accounts receivable and contract adjustments were charged directly
against earnings when they were determined to be uncollectible. Charge-offs have
not  been  material.  The  use of  this  method  did not  result  in a  material
difference from the valuation method required by generally  accepted  accounting
principles.

Inventories

         Inventories  are  stated  at the  lower  of  cost  or  market.  Cost is
determined  using the  first-in,  first-out  (FIFO)  cost method in 1996 and the
average cost method in 1995 and 1994. The effect of changing from the average to
the FIFO cost method during 1996 was not material.


                                       20
                                       





Work in Process

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

  Property and Equipment

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

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

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

  Income Taxes

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

  Revenues

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

         The Company  also  contracts  with  certain  customers on a fixed price
basis.  Revenue is  recognized  as spools  are  completed.  Costs and  estimated
earnings  in  excess  of  billings  included  in  accounts   receivable  totaled
$1,943,128  and  $5,597,175  for the  years  ended  August  31,  1995 and  1996,
respectively.  Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings for both years
are not material.

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

  Intangible Assets

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

 Reclassifications

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

                                       21



  New Accounting Standards

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

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

     In February 1997,  Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 128 --
"Earnings  Per Share"  ("SFAS 128") was issued which  establishes  standards for
computing and presenting earnings per share ("eps"). Under SFAS 128, primary eps
is replaced with basic eps. Basic eps is computed by dividing income  applicable
to common shares by the weighted average shares outstanding; no dilution for any
potentially  convertible  shares is included in the  calculation.  Fully diluted
eps,  now called  diluted eps, is still  required;  however,  when  applying the
treasury  stock method,  the average stock price is used rather than the greater
of the average or closing stock price for the period.  Under SFAS 128, basic eps
and  diluted  eps for the  years  audited  August  31,  1994 and  1995  were not
materially  different  from the eps reported by the Company.  For the year ended
August 31, 1996, basic eps and diluted eps was $.70 and $.68, respectively. SFAS
128 is  effective  for  financial  statements  issued for periods  ending  after
December 15, 1997.

Note 2--Initial Public Offering

         In December  1993, the Company  completed the initial  public  offering
(the "IPO") of its common stock.  The Company issued  2,875,000 shares at $14.50
per share.  Net  proceeds  to the  Company,  after  underwriting  discounts  and
commissions and other expenses of the offering,  were approximately $38 million.
The net proceeds  from the offering  were used  primarily to repay the Company's
outstanding  indebtedness.  As a result of its early  retirement of certain debt
instruments,  the Company  recognized  an  extraordinary  gain of  approximately
$370,000 (net of income tax).

Note 3--Acquisitions

         On April 29, 1994, the Company acquired the business of Fronek Company,
Inc.  (FCI), an engineering  firm with offices located in Englewood,  New Jersey
and Toronto,  Canada, and F.C.I. Pipe Support Sales, Inc. (PSSI), a pipe support
fabrication  facility in Longview,  Texas.  These  acquisitions  were  completed
through the issuance of 75,000  shares of the  Company's  common stock valued at
$1,350,000  and cash of  $2,130,524.  In addition,  the Company  agreed to issue
options to  acquire  up to 57,000  shares of common  stock and  additional  cash
payments  up  to  $300,000  based  on  the  future  earnings  of  the  Company's
subsidiaries  managed by the former owner through 1997. These  acquisitions were
accounted for using the purchase  method of accounting.  The excess of cost over
the estimated fair value of the net assets  acquired of $1,565,912,  included in
other  assets,  is being  amortized  over twenty  years using the  straight-line
method.  The pro forma effect of this acquisition,  as though it had occurred at
the  beginning of year ended August 31, 1994,  is not material to the  operating
results of the Company.

         On December  15,  1994,  the Company  acquired  the 50% interest of the
other  participant  in the  Shaw-Formiconi  joint venture  located in Venezuela,
together with the concurrent  acquisition  of certain land,  buildings and other
assets used by the venture.  The total amount of the purchase  price  related to
this  acquisition,  including the selling  participant's  share of joint venture
profits, was approximately  $2,900,000.  The purchase method was used to account
for the  acquisition.  The 

                                       22



$926,825 of excess cost over the  estimated  fair value of the assets  acquired,
which is included in other assets,  is being  amortized  over twenty years using
the  straight-line  method.  The name of the wholly-owned  continuing  entity is
Manufacturas Shaw South America, C.A.

         On  January  16,  1996,  the  Company's   newly  formed,   wholly-owned
subsidiary,  Word Industries Fabricators,  Inc. (Word), 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.  The
acquisition  was  completed  through  the  issuance  of  385,000  shares  of the
Company's  common stock valued at $3,442,000  and cash of $503,000.  Acquisition
costs of $246,000 were incurred by the Company.  The purchase method was used to
account  for the  acquisition.  The  purchase  price has been  allocated  to the
estimated fair value of assets acquired and  liabilities  assumed at the date of
acquisition as follows:

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

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

         In addition to the transactions  described above, the Company agreed to
loan WIPF an aggregate of $1,725,000  pursuant to two separate loan  agreements,
each dated as of January 15,  1996,  one in the amount of $625,000 and the other
in the amount of $1,100,000. The $625,000 loan has been funded and is secured by
a pledge of 115,000  shares of the  Company's  common stock  received by WIPF in
connection  with the  acquisition.  The $1,100,000 loan will be secured by (i) a
mortgage covering an approximately  6-acre tract of land in Tulsa,  Oklahoma and
(ii) a  mortgage  covering  an  approximately  12-acre  tract of land in  Tulsa,
Oklahoma. This $1,100,000 loan had not been funded as of August 31, 1996.

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

         Accounts Receivable                                     $ 6,751,000
         Inventory                                                16,923,000
         Other Current Assets                                        268,000
         Property and Equipment                                   12,253,000
         Other Assets                                                222,000
         Revolving Line of Credit                                 (4,855,000)
         Notes Payable                                            (5,789,000)
         Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities                 (8,117,000)
         Deferred Income Taxes                                    (2,205,000)
                                                                  ---------- 
         Purchase price (net of cash received of $2,960,000)     $15,451,000
                                                                  ===========

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

     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.

                                       23



         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 (collectively,  "NAPTech").  The
transaction  was  accounted  for  using  the  pooling-of-interests  method;  and
accordingly,  the financial  information for all prior periods  presented herein
have been restated to include financial information of NAPTech.

         Because the fiscal  periods of the  Company  and  NAPTech  were not the
same,  NAPTech's financial  statements for its 1996 fiscal year were recast from
the twelve months ended March 31, 1996 to the twelve months ended June 30, 1996.
As a result,  sales and losses of NAPTech for April,  May, and June 1995,  which
amounted to $3,811,400  and $905,939  respectively,  have been excluded from the
restated statements of income for fiscal 1996.

         The financial  statements of the Company for the years ended August 31,
1994 and 1995  have  been  restated  to  reflect  NAPTech's  combined  financial
statements for the years ended April 1, 1994 and March 31, 1995, respectively.

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

                            Year Ended          Year Ended          Year Ended
                        August 31, 1994      August 31, 1995     August 31, 1996
                        ---------------      ---------------     ---------------
Sales
- -----
As previously reported    $113,176,824         $135,264,643        $222,017,437
NAPTech                     17,968,487           21,657,126          27,341,000
                            ----------           ----------          ----------
As restated               $131,145,311         $156,921,769        $249,358,437
                          ============         ============        ============

Net Income
- ----------
As previously reported    $  3,378,834         $  4,266,045        $  8,776,498
NAPTech                        227,583              136,829         ( 2,159,300)
                          ------------         ------------        ------------
As restated               $  3,606,417         $  4,402,874        $  6,617,198
                          ============         ============        ============

         The following  summarized  unaudited income statement data reflects the
impact the above acquisitions  accounted for as a purchase would have had on the
Company's  results of operations  if the  Shaw-Formiconi  transaction  had taken
place on September 1, 1993 and the Word and APP  acquisitions had taken place on
September 1, 1994:

                       Unaudited Pro-forma Results for the Year Ended August 31,
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
                                  1994              1995              1996
                                  ----              ----              ----

Gross revenue                $138,480,895       $237,401,682     $292,626,338
                             ============       ============     ============
Net income                   $  4,398,561       $  7,721,968     $  6,850,667
                             ============       ============     ============
Earnings per common share    $      0 .55       $       0.78     $       0.67
                             ============       ============     ============

                                       24

 

Note 4--Inventories

         The major components of inventories consist of the following:

                                                   August 31,
                                             ------------------------
                                             1995                1996
                                             ----                ----

Finished Goods                           $ 2,023,748         $23,138,238
Raw Materials                             22,720,952          34,241,467
Work In Process                            7,893,553          11,498,526
                                         -----------          ----------
                                         $32,638,253         $68,878,231
                                         ===========         ===========

Note 5--Investment in Unconsolidated Entities

         During the years ended August 31, 1994 and 1995,  the Company  invested
$250,000 and $1,880,000,  respectively  in Shaw-Nass  Middle East,  W.L.L.,  the
Company's Bahrain joint venture ("Shaw-Nass"). The Company owns 49% of Shaw-Nass
and accounts for this investment on the equity basis. As such,  during the years
ended August 31, 1994, 1995, and 1996 the Company  recognized  earnings (losses)
of $-0-, ($205,968) and $102,931  respectively from Shaw-Nass.  No distributions
have been received  through August 31, 1996 from Shaw-Nass.  In addition,  as of
August 31, 1995 and 1996, the Company had outstanding receivables from Shaw-Nass
totaling  $1,630,862  and  $700,479   respectively.   These  receivables  relate
primarily to inventory and equipment sold to Shaw-Nass.

         As discussed in Note 3, the Company  purchased  the 50% interest of the
other participant in its Venezuelan joint venture,  together with the concurrent
acquisition of certain land, buildings and other assets used by the venture. The
Company had  previously  accounted for its investment in the joint venture as an
unconsolidated  subsidiary under the equity method and had recognized net income
of  approximately  $792,000  during the year ended  August 31,  1994 and $29,000
during the period from September 1 to December 15, 1994.

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

Note 6--Long-Term Debt


         Long-term debt consisted of:

                                                                                                       August 31,
                                                                                               ------------------------
                                                                                               1995                1996
                                                                                               ----                ----
                                                                                                         

Notes payable to insurance  companies;  variable  interest rates based on 30-day
  commercial  paper  rates plus 190 to 235 basis  points  ranging  from 7.26% to
  7.74%  as of  August  31,  1996;  payable  in  monthly  installments  based on
  amortization  over the  respective  note  lives;  maturing  from 2001 to 2005;
  secured  by  property  and  equipment  with an  approximate  net book value of
  $20,253,000 as of August 31, 1996 and guaranties by the Company and
  certain subsidiaries of the Company                                                        $7,089,437        $15,971,239

                                       25



Note payable to a bank;  variable  interest  rate  based upon  London  Interbank
  Offering  Rate  (LIBOR)  plus 85 to 200 basis  points  depending  upon certain
  financial  ratios.  Interest  rate as of August 31, 1996 was 7.0%;  60 monthly
  principal  payments of $50,000 through May 31, 2000; secured by equipment with
  an approximate net book value of $2,832,000 as of
  August 31, 1996                                                                             2,900,000         2,300,000

Note payable to a bank,  interest at 9.36%,  payable in monthly  installments of
  $39,559 through May 10, 2001,
  collateralized by accounts receivable and equipment.                                        2,917,182         2,853,078

Note with interest at 8.5%,  payable in monthly  installments of $17,183 through
1999 with the remaining principal balance due
on January 1, 2000, secured by land and a building                                            1,827,852         1,856,680

Note payable to a corporation; interest payable
  quarterly at 60% of prime rate; repayable in annual
  installments through December 15, 1995, unsecured                                             580,000              --

Note payable to a bank; interest payable annually at LIBOR plus 1.6%; payable in
  28 annual installments of $264,286 with remaining balance due in 2003; secured
  by equipment with an approximate net
  book value of $8,757,000                                                                         --           7,400,000

Mortgages  payable to a bank;  interest  payable  monthly at 8.375%;  95 monthly
  payments of $9,850 and  $26,935  with  remaining  balance due on June 1, 2002;
  secured by real property with an approximate  net book value of $2,074,000 and
  deposits at financial institutions
  with an approximate value of $2,010,000                                                          --           3,432,531

South Carolina  Revenue  Bonds  payable;  principal  due in 2005;  interest paid
  monthly accruing at a variable rate of 3.95% as of August 31, 1996;
  secured by $4,000,000 letter of credit                                                           --           4,000,000

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

Note  payable  to a leasing  company,  interest  at 8.59%,  payable  in  monthly
  installments of $7,606 through September 1999,
  collateralized by equipment.                                                                   339,708          258,058

Note payable to an individual who is related to the Company,
  interest at 10%, payable on demand, uncollateralized.                                          100,000        1,075,000

Other notes payable;  variable interest rates ranging from 6% to 13.8%;  payable
  in monthly installments based on amortization over the
  respective note lives; maturing from 1996 to 1998                                              156,746          382,323
                                                                                                 -------        ---------

Total debt                                                                                    15,910,925       41,660,424 
Less: current maturities                                                                      (4,902,281)      (4,865,038)
                                                                                              ----------       ----------
Total long-term debt                                                                        $ 11,008,644      $36,795,386
                                                                                            ============       ===========



                                       26



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

         1997                                            $ 4,865,038
         1998                                              3,838,955
         1999                                              4,012,912
         2000                                              4,105,293
         2001 and thereafter                              24,838,226
         ----                                             ----------
                                                         $41,660,424
                                                         ===========

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

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

         Certain of the debt agreements contain restrictive  covenants which the
Company is  required to meet  including  financial  ratios and  minimum  capital
levels.  As of August 31, 1996, 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, 1995 and 1996.

Note 7--Revolving Line Of Credit

         In 1996,  the Company  entered into a new loan and  security  agreement
with  its  commercial   lenders  which  allows  the  Company  to  borrow  up  to
$70,000,000,  depending  upon the  Company's  collateral  base  (which  consists
primarily of certain  eligible  amounts of receivables and  inventory),  under a
revolving  line of credit at an  interest  rate not to exceed 2% over the London
Interbank  Offering Rate (LIBOR) or .75% over the Prime rate.  The index used to
determine  the interest  rate is selected by the Company and the spread over the
index is dependent upon certain  financial  ratios of the Company.  The interest
rate adjusts  quarterly.  This replaced the prior year  revolving line of credit
which allowed the Company to borrow up to  $30,000,000 at an interest rate based
upon the LIBOR plus 85 to 200 basis  points  depending  upon  certain  financial
ratios of the Company.  During 1995 and 1996, the maximum amount outstanding was
approximately $29,318,000 and $55,512,000,  respectively, and the average amount
outstanding was $24,441,000 and $31,752,000,  respectively,  at weighted average
interest rates of 9.79% and 7.04%, respectively. The new agreement expires March
31, 1999. The line of credit is secured by the Company's accounts receivable and
inventories.

         In 1996,  the Company had a line of credit with a bank for  $3,400,000.
The line of credit is  collateralized  by accounts  receivable,  inventory,  and
equipment  and accrues  interest  at 2% above the bank's  prime rate and expires
July 31,  1997.  In  1995,  the  Company  had a line of  credit  with a bank for
$2,500,000.  The line of  credit  was  collateralized  by  accounts  receivable,
inventory,  and  equipment  and accrued  interest at 1.6% above the bank's prime
rate. On January 27, 1997, the Company terminated this line of credit agreement.

         The lines of credit are also subject to certain  restrictive  covenants
similar to those of the long-term  debt. As of August 31, 1996,  the Company was
in compliance with these covenants or had obtained the required waivers.

                                       27


Note 8--Income Taxes

         A summary of net deferred taxes is as follows:

                                                            August 31,
                                                     ------------------------
                                                     1995                1996
                                                     ----                ----

Deferred tax assets                               $1,689,755         $4,156,255
Deferred tax liabilities (Net of deferred
 tax liabilities assumed in Word and APP
 acquisitions totaling -0- in 1995 and
 $2,818,541 in 1996)                              (1,674,529)        (1,338,599)
                                                  ----------         ----------
Net deferred taxes                                $   15,226         $2,817,656
                                                  ==========         ==========



The significant components of net deferred taxes are as follows:

                                                                                         August 31,
                                                                                    -------------------
                                                                                    1995           1996
                                                                                    ----           ----
                                                                                           
         Assets:
           Tax basis of inventory in excess of book basis                         $  184,200     $  244,800
           Expenses not currently deductible                                         709,173      1,763,073
           Net operating loss carry forward                                          796,382      2,148,382
                                                                                  ----------      ---------
                                                                                  $1,689,755     $4,156,255
                                                                                  ==========     ==========
         Liabilities:
           Excess of financial reporting over tax basis of assets                 $1,338,465     $3,596,438
           Income not currently taxable                                              336,064        560,702
                                                                                  ----------     ----------
                                                                                  $1,674,529     $4,157,140
           Less: Deferred tax liabilities assumed in Word and APP
                    acquisitions                                                       --        (2,818,541)
                                                                                  ----------     ----------
                                                                                  $1,674,529     $1,338,599
                                                                                  ==========     ==========



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

                                     1994             1995               1996
                                     ----             ----               ----
         Domestic                $3,938,691         $1,259,124        $9,526,236
         Foreign                   --                5,267,246            41,734
                                 ----------        -----------        ----------
         Total                   $3,938,691        $ 6,526,370        $9,567,970
                                 ==========        ===========        ==========

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

                                    1994             1995               1996
                                    ----             ----               ----
         Current                $1,496,273         $1,170,993        $5,736,133
         Deferred                 (211,200)           871,559        (2,802,430)
         State                     209,800            (16,000)          120,000
                                 ---------            -------           -------
         Total                  $1,494,873         $2,026,552        $3,053,703
                                ==========         ==========        ==========

                                       28



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

                                    1994             1995              1996
                                    ----             ----              ----
         Statutory rate             34%                34%               34%
         State taxes provided        5                 --                 1
         Other                      (1)                (3)               (3)
                                    --                 --                -- 
                                    38%                31%               32%
                                    ==                 ==                == 

         As of August 31,  1996,  for Federal  income tax return  purposes,  the
Company  had  approximately  $6,100,000  of  net  operating  loss  carryforwards
available to offset future taxable income of its NAPTech subsidiary,  subject to
an  annual  limitation  of  approximately  $500,000.  The  carryforwards  expire
beginning in 2008 through 2010.

Note 9--Treasury 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,  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.

         During fiscal 1994, prior to its initial public  offering,  the Company
repurchased  873,875  shares of common  stock from one of its  stockholders  for
$4,850,000.

Note 10--Leases

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

         Assets acquired under capital leases -- net of accumulated amortization
are as follows:
                                                          August 31,
                                                   ------------------------
                                                   1995                1996
                                                   ----                ----

         Transportation equipment              $1,710,270           $    --
         Furniture and fixtures                   899,352             878,236
         Machinery and equipment                   83,994              18,441
                                                ---------              ------
                                                2,693,616             896,677
         Less: accumulated amortization          (595,520)           (245,385)
                                               ----------            --------
                                               $2,098,096           $ 651,292
                                               ==========           =========

                                       29


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

         Minimum lease payments:
           1997                                                   $ 75,986
           1998                                                     29,839
           1999                                                     18,591
           ----                                                   --------
         Total minimum lease payments                              124,416
         Less: amount representing interest                        (11,577)
                                                                   -------
                                                                   112,839
         Less: current portion                                     (68,143)
                                                                 ---------
         Long-term obligations under capital leases              $  44,696
                                                                 =========

         Operating  leases -- The Company  leases certain  offices,  fabrication
shops, warehouse facilities,  office equipment and machinery under noncancelable
operating  lease  agreements  which  expire at various  times and which  require
various  minimum  rentals.  The  non-cancelable  operating  leases which were in
effect as of August 31, 1996  require the Company to make the  following  future
minimum lease payments:

         For the year ending August 31:
           1997                                                $1,187,869
           1998                                                   927,145
           1999                                                   517,493
           2000                                                   371,856
           ----                                                ----------
         Total minimum lease payments                          $3,004,363
                                                               ==========

Note 11--Commitments and Contingencies

     As of August 31, 1996, the Company has committed to purchase  approximately
$4.3 million of additional pipe bending machines for its domestic facilities.

         The Company has posted letters of credit  aggregating  approximately $4
million as of August 31, 1996 to secure its performance  under certain contracts
and insurance  arrangements,  as well as its purchase of a pipe bending  machine
for one of its domestic facilities.

         For the year ended August 31, 1996,  60% of the  Company's  labor force
was covered by collective bargaining agreements. Of this amount, 93% are covered
by collective  bargaining agreements which will expire during the Company's next
fiscal year. The Company does not expect that the renewal of the agreements will
have an adverse  impact on the  Company's  results of  operations  or  financial
position.

Note 12--Earnings Per Common Share

         In connection with the initial public  offering of 2,500,000  shares of
its  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 all periods, the share amounts
and per share data  throughout  the financial  statements  have been adjusted to
give effect to the stock split. Earnings per common share is calculated based on
the weighted  average number of shares  outstanding,  including  dilutive common
stock  equivalents when material,  during the periods adjusted for the effect of
the stock split.  The weighted  average number of shares  outstanding  for 1994,
1995, and 1996 were 8,053,996, 8,915,977, and 9,757,610 respectively.

                                       30


Note 13--Major Customers and Export Sales

         For the year ended  August 31,  1994,  sales to the  Company's  largest
customer  totaled  $13,100,000,  or 10% of sales.  For the year ended August 31,
1995,  sales  to a  customer  accounting  for more  than  10% of  sales  totaled
$19,100,000  and  comprised  12% of sales.  For the year ended  August 31, 1996,
sales to a customer  accounting  for more than 10% of sales totaled  $27,200,000
and comprised 11% of sales. Because of the nature of the Company's business, the
significant customers vary between years.

         For the years ended  August 31,  1994,  1995 and 1996,  the Company has
included  as  part  of  its  international  sales   approximately   $32,000,000,
$40,000,000,  and  $74,000,000  respectively,   of  exports  from  its  domestic
facilities.

Note 14--Employee Benefit Plans

         Effective with its initial public offering, the Company adopted a Stock
Option Plan (the Plan) under which both qualified and non-qualified  options may
be  granted.  In  addition,  804,875  shares of common  stock are  reserved  for
issuance under the Plan. The Plan is  administered  by a committee of the Board,
which selects  persons  eligible to receive options and determines the number of
shares subject to each option,  the vesting schedule,  the option price, and the
duration of the option.  The exercise price of any option granted under the Plan
cannot  be less  than  100% of the fair  market  value on date of grant  and its
duration cannot exceed 10 years.  Only qualified options have been granted under
the Plan.

     In connection  with the Company's  acquisition of FCI and PSSI during 1994,
5,000 options with an exercise  price of $18.00 were issued.  The options expire
in 2004 and are currently  exercisable.  In January 1995,  the exercise price of
these  options was amended to $5.875 per share,  which was the fair market value
of the common  stock at the date of such  amendment.  In  addition,  in 1994 the
Company granted options  contingent upon the ability of FCI and PSSI to generate
consolidated net income in excess of certain  thresholds during the fiscal years
ending August 31, 1995,  1996 and 1997. The maximum  number of options  issuable
under this plan is 19,000 per year or 57,000.  These options  expire in 2004 and
have an exercise  price equal to the closing  price quoted on the last  business
day of the  immediately  preceding  fiscal  year to which the  grant of  options
relate.  The minimum  threshold  for the year ended August 31, 1995 was not met,
and  therefore,  no options were issued for that year. For the year ended August
31, 1996,  9,000  options with an exercise  price of $9.59 per share were earned
and will be issued in fiscal 1997.

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

                                             Shares
                                       Plan       Acquisitions    Option Price
Outstanding at September 1, 1993        3,585          --     $0.14
Granted                               213,727       5,000     $5.875 - $13.95
Exercised                                --          --        --
                                      -------      ------
Outstanding at August 31, 1994        217,312       5,000     $0.14 - $13.95
Granted                               245,635        --       $5.875 - $27.89
Exercised                                --          --       --
                                      -------      ------
Outstanding at August 31, 1995        462,947       5,000     $0.14 - $6.75
Granted                                21,793      85,000     $17.375 - $27.89
Exercised                             (45,125)         --     $5.875 - $6.75
                                      -------      ------
Outstanding at August 31, 1996        439,615      90,000     $0.14 - $27.89
                                      =======      ======
Exercisable at August 31, 1996         92,365       5,000     $0.14 - $27.89
                                      =======      ======

                                       31



         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  contribution  to this  plan  during  1994,  1995  and  1996  was
approximately $102,000, $220,000, and $285,000 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  made  a
contribution to the plan of  approximately  $16,100,  $9,000 and $23,900 for the
years ended August 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively.

         The Company has a separate qualified,  contributory 401(k) savings plan
covering all non-union employees of NAPTech. The Company may, at its discretion,
make  a  matching  contribution  in an  amount  determinable  by  the  board  of
directors.  The Company did not make a  contribution  to the plan in fiscal 1994
and  1995;  in  fiscal  1996  the  Company  made a  contribution  to the plan of
approximately $6,600.

         The Company has a defined  contribution  profit  sharing plan  covering
substantially  all  employees  of APP.  The plan  allows  the  Company to make a
discretionary  contribution  to  the  plan  of up to 15%  of  eligible  employee
compensation.  For the period from the  effective  date of  acquisition  through
August 31, 1996, the Company accrued $175,000 in contributions to the 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 has agreed to serve in that  capacity  until
December  31,  1996  (subject to an  automatic  three-year  extension)  and will
receive, among other things, an annual base salary of $500,000, participation in
the Company's annual bonus plan as determined by the  Compensation  Committee of
the Board of Directors, and other benefits such as health and life insurance. In
the event the  President and CEO's  employment  is  terminated  due to events as
defined in the agreement,  the President and CEO will receive a lump-sum payment
equal to the full amount payable under the agreement.

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

         As discussed in Note 3, in connection  with the Word  acquisition,  the
Company  entered  into a  $625,000  loan  agreement  with Word  Industries  Pipe
Fabricating,  Inc. ("WIPF").  WIPF is owned primarily by certain stockholders of
the  Company.  The loan is due on January 15, 2001 and bears  interest at a rate
equal to that charged on the Company's revolving line of credit.

                                       32


     In addition, as of August 31, 1996 the Company has included in its accounts
payable approximately $280,000 to WIPF.

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

Note 16--Foreign Currency Transactions

         The  Company's  wholly-owned  subsidiary in Venezuela has net assets of
approximately  $7,000,000 denominated in Venezuelan Bolivars. In accordance with
SFAS 52, the U.S. dollar is used as the functional  reporting currency since the
Venezuelan economy is defined as highly inflationary.  Therefore, the assets and
liabilities  must be translated into U.S. dollars using a combination of current
and historical exchange rates. During 1995, the Venezuelan  government fixed the
exchange rate for  Bolivars,  thus there was no change in the exchange rate used
to translate these assets and  liabilities,  and accordingly no gain or loss was
recognized in 1995 by this  translation.  During the year ended August 31, 1995,
the  Company  recognized  as part  of its  sales  aggregate  exchange  gains  of
approximately  $.9 million  relating to  collections  on  contracts  in progress
during the year.

         During 1996,  the  Venezuelan  government  lifted all foreign  exchange
controls. Subsequent to this action, the Bolivar devalued from 170 to 475 to the
U.S.  dollar.  As  a  result,   the  Company  recorded  a  translation  loss  of
approximately  $864,000  in  translating  the assets and  liabilities  into U.S.
dollars.  The Company also  recognized a gain of  approximately  $818,000 during
1996 related to a Venezuelan  Government bond purchased at a fixed exchange rate
which was subsequently  sold. The earnings from this subsidiary in 1996 were not
material to the consolidated results of operations.

Note 17--Subsequent Event

         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 commissions and other expenses of the
offering,  from the  issuances of the  2,398,000  shares of Common Stock totaled
approximately $47.0 million and will be used to repay outstanding amounts on the
Company's  line of credit,  which has been used  generally  to  provide  working
capital and fund fixed asset purchases and subsidiary acquisitions.


                                       33





                                  Exhibit 23.1


                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


     As independent public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the incorporation
by  reference of our report  dated May 16, 1997  covering the audited  financial
statements of The Shaw Group Inc. (Shaw) and  subsidiaries  included in its Form
8-K dated June 17, 1997 into Shaw's previously filed Registration Statement File
No. 333-4570 on Form S-3.

                                    /S/ Arthur Andersen LLP    
                                    -----------------------    
                                    ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



New Orleans, Louisiana
June 17, 1997










                                  Exhibit 23.2


                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


     As independent public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the incorporation
by  reference of our report  dated May 16, 1997  covering the audited  financial
statements of The Shaw Group Inc. (Shaw) and  subsidiaries  included in its Form
8-K dated June 17, 1997 into Shaw's previously filed Registration Statement File
No. 333-4570 on Form S-3.


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



Baton Rouge, Louisiana
June 17, 1997