According to a Friday report in UK paper The Guardian, shares of British operator Anglo American were on the rise, with traders reportedly feeling that the company’s interest in a takeover might have re-emerged.

“We ... continue to examine M&A opportunities as one of our strategic priorities in driving value in core commodities,” Anglo chairman Sir John Parker said last week in the company’s annual report, a statement which fueled much of the renewed chatter.

The Guardian report also identified BHP Billiton as a speculated buyer, as well as billionaire and Berkshire Hathaway owner Warren Buffett.

Buffett already holds US coal rail shipper Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

An ILN request for comment and more details on any potential merger activity from Walter was not returned by press time, though historically the miner declined to speak about M&A rumors.

Walter has been riddled with management issues over the last year and is now the subject of a recently filed class action lawsuit by shareholders for an alleged breach of fiduciary responsibility.

It was previously the target of a buyout last September and October.

BHP and Anglo were two of the larger groups of reported possible suitors at that time as well.

In a Bloomberg report, the companies were said to be keen to expand their metallurgical coal footprint and increase exports while coking coal prices neared record levels and the industry reached a consolidation phase.

An initial report from the Independent UK newspaper said that other possible bidders included Brazil-based Vale and Cia Siderurgica Nacional and a report from Dow Jones Newswires also cited Rio Tinto as a potential buyer.

The previous month, London’s The Times newspaper said that both Anglo and BHP were considering a $US120 per share offer for Walter.

Walter purchased Canadian miner Western Coal in April 2011 for $C3.3 billion.

Walter’s Keith Calder, who was the former chief executive officer of Western Coal, resigned in June and cited differences of opinion with the philosophy of the company’s management.

Walter Scheller was named the permanent chief executive officer on September 12, 2011.

Walter Energy operates mines in Alabama and West Virginia as well as British Columbia and Wales.