Contractors are still pondering the implications of Balfour Beatty's canny swoop on American infrastructure firm Parsons Brinckerhoff last month.

The almost universal reaction has been one of envy at a deal that takes Balfour up the food chain and further into the white collar world of consulting while strengthening its US power base.

The deal could blaze a trail for other companies to do the same (moving up the food chain) and some chief execs have already instructed their advisors to start looking for a similar deal.

One "mover and shaker" in the world of construction M+A dropped a heavy hint this week as to who might be next.

"I think any company would have to be moving in a similar direction to Balfour Beatty, work in similar sectors, not be saddled with debt and have a young forward-thinking CEO."

Hmmm. Step forward Costain?

Chief exec Andrew Wyllie has never hidden his admiration for Balfour and probably wouldn't mind being thought of as a smaller version of the UK's largest contractor.

So, what's her name and when's the wedding Andrew?