The Federal Trade Commission has asked Brocade to give it more information over its proposed acquisition of enterprise storage rival McData.

The FTC made its request under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act to examine the deal for potential anti-trust implications, but this looks pretty much par for the takeover course.

Brocade today confirmed its expectation that the deal will close as early as its first quarter of fiscal year 2007, ending January 27, 2007.

The company announced its intention to buy McData, in a $713m all-stock deal, in August. It intends to wield the axe post merger, looking to shave $100m in annual costs. ®