KENTZ Corporation, the international engineering group which emerged from High Court examinership in 1994, is to carry out a major review of its operations.

The company, whose majority shareholder is the Malaysian group, Peremba, has commissioned the Malaysian arm of accountants, KPMG, to carry out the review. A spokesman for Kentz emphasised this was a review, not a restructuring, but informed sources have suggested that the majority shareholders are unhappy with the performance of some of the company's operations, including some of those in Ireland. Peremba has had a 60 per cent stake in the company since buying it out of examinership in 1994, with the three executive directors - chief executive, Mr Gus Kearney, managing director, Mr Michael Campbell, and business development director, Mr Noel Kelly - holding the other 40 per cent.

In a statement, Kentz said the prospects for the company were brighter now than they had been for the past 12 months. But informed sources have indicated that the Malaysian investors - who have a majority on the board - have decided to exert a greater influence.

A Kentz spokesman refused to comment on suggestions that Peremba might be planning to strengthen the Kentz management team.