ArcelorMittal SA’s head of mergers and acquisitions, Ondra Otradovec, is holding talks in South Africa with the nation’s top development-finance institution and trade department about the sale of the steelmaker’s local unit, people familiar with the situation said.

The executive’s presence in the country is a sign that the discussions between the Luxembourg-based steelmaker and the Industrial Development Corp. have accelerated, said the people, asking not to be identified because the talks are private. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition also took part, one of the people said.

The IDC last month concluded a due-diligence study of ArcelorMittal South Africa Ltd., known as Amsa. It’s working with financial advisers on a possible bid of about 8.5 billion rand ($488 million) fo

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