A FIFE-based engineering company, bought by its management from

receiver KPMG Peat Marwick, has gone into receivership for the second

time in 18 months. BTE (Glenrothes) was formed in April 1993 when the

business and assets of Barr Thomson Engineering were bought by its

management team. The receiver had been called in four months earlier.

A little over 12 months later, the new directors have had to call in

the receiver with the immediate loss of 45 jobs at the plant on the

Queensway Industrial Estate in Glenrothes.

Receiver Blair Nimmo of KPMG Peat Marwick said the company had

traditionally had a strong presence mainly as a sub-contractor in the

coal industry. Barr Thomson was the former mining industry arm of

Anderson Strathclyde. The intention of the new management team had been

to expand into the oil and gas sector.

This had proved extremely difficult because of the competitive nature

of the sector. ''This combined with the virtual disappearance of their

coal-related business has led to the company's present trading

difficulties.''

The directors had been negotiating the sale of their new town site in

the hope of providing a cash lifeline, he said. But when the talks had

become protracted they had decided they could no longer continue.

KPMG is continuing to trade BTE at a reduced level with the remaining

staff of 30. Mr Nimmo said some interest had been expressed in the

company. ''We have contacted those companies who showed an interest when

the company was in receivership first time round and a series of site

visits have already taken place.''