HP or Oracle announces intention to acquire Brocade by Dec. 7?

The latest tech company to hit the M&A rumor mill is Brocade (BRCD), a manufacturer of data center equipment ranging from blade server modules to storage-area networking gear. Reports in the financial press say that the company has put itself up for sale, and prospective buyers include tech heavyweights Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Oracle (ORCL). However, the Wall Street Journal, citing "people familiar with the matter," said that "no deal is imminent."

Oracle has been on an acquisition spree recently, with deals involving Sun and HyperRoll. HP's acquisitions include EDS and Colubris.

Prediction: By December 7, 2009, either HP or Oracle announces its intention to acquire Brocade Communications Systems. The deal does not need to be accepted, approved, or closed by this date, but one of the companies involved must make an announcement or have the news confirmed in a major financial or technology news publication by Monday, December 7, 2009.

Image: Brocade switch, pdstahl/flickr (creative commons license, commercial use)