The word from a couple of different sources is that Germany's Hochtief AG, which owns Turner Corp., may be deepening its U.S. investment by negotiating to buy Flatiron Construction Corp. That's what ENR's Debra Rubin has been hearing.

On May 22, Flatiron's current owner, Royal BAM, announced that it was in the advanced stages of unloading Flatiron. The company is one of the top bridge and highway contractors in the U.S. and is based in Longmont, Colo. Royal BAM has owned it since 1993.

Royal BAM is a Netherlands-based collection of civil engineering, building, dredging, mechanical and real estate and consulting companies. Volume is listed as $11 billion.

You can't tell anything by looking at the sparse news section on Flatiron's website. Royal BAM said it expected the negotiations would lead to a finished deal in August.

Hochtief AG is Germany's largest construction company and it has owned all of Turner Corp. since 1999.