Shaw Seeks Assurances from NEG on Available Funding to Complete Harquahala and Covert Projects
BATON ROUGE, La., Oct 11, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE:SGR) ("Shaw" or "the Company") announced today that, as reported in PG&E; Corp.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2002, PG&E; National Energy Group ("NEG") has notified the lenders for the Harquahala and Covert projects that it does not intend to make further equity contributions for these projects and is in negotiations with its lenders to fund completion of these projects. Shaw, through its subsidiary Stone & Webster, Inc., is the EPC contractor on the Harquahala and Covert projects. Shaw is in discussions with NEG, and expects to enter into discussions with its lenders, with the intent of receiving adequate assurances that funding will be available to complete the projects.

Shaw believes that, in any event, its lien rights and the value to be realized from an orderly disposition of the assets will cover its current exposure relating to the projects.

If NEG or the lenders fail to fund the completion of the projects, there will be a material adverse effect on Shaw's ability to meet its current earnings expectations for fiscal year 2003.

The Shaw Group Inc. is the world's only vertically-integrated provider of comprehensive engineering, procurement, pipe fabrication, construction and maintenance services to the power, process and environmental & infrastructure sectors. Shaw is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and currently has offices and operations in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Shaw employs more than 20,000 people annually. Additional information on The Shaw Group is available at www.shawgrp.com.

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. 

CONTACT:          The Shaw Group Inc., Baton Rouge
                  Christine N. Mollere, 225/932-2500
                  www.shawgrp.com
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"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding SHAW GROUP INC's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.