EXHIBIT 99.1






   THE SHAW GROUP INC. ANNOUNCES PRICING OF $253 MILLION SENIOR NOTES OFFERING



Baton Rouge, Louisiana, March 12, 2003 - The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE: SGR) ("Shaw"
or "the Company") today announced that it has priced its private offering of
$253 million face amount of senior notes due 2010 with a coupon of 10.75
percent. The notes were priced at 98.8 percent of their face amount to yield 11
percent to maturity. The Company expects to close the transaction, along with
the renewal of its $250 million credit facility, on Monday, March 17, 2003.


This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to
buy any of these securities. The securities to be offered will not be registered
under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws and may not be
offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.


The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor"
for certain forward-looking statements. The statements contained herein that are
not historical facts (including without limitation statements to the effect that
the Company or its management "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," or
other similar expressions) and statements related to revenues, earnings,
backlog, or other financial information or results are forward-looking
statements based on the Company's current expectations and beliefs concerning
future developments and their potential effects on the Company. There can be no
assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those
anticipated by the Company. These forward-looking statements involve significant
risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions
and are subject to change based upon various factors. Should one or more of such
risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in
the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. A description of some of the risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such
forward-looking statements can be found in the Company's reports and
registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including its Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, reports and on the Company's web-site
under the heading "Forward Looking Statement". These documents are also
available from the Securities and Exchange Commission or from the Investor
Relations department of Shaw. For more information on the company and
announcements it makes from time to time on a regional basis visit our web site
at www.shawgrp.com.