Mark and Dan Saltzman each sold shares valued at about R321 million between January and February 2026, following a major restructuring of the family’s holdings last year that made them significant shareholders for the first time.
A new generation of shareholders
The share sales come after Ivan Saltzman transferred a 25% stake in Dis-Chem to the two brothers in 2025, a move that reshaped control of the Johannesburg-listed retailer.
The 217 million shares, previously held through the family investment vehicle Ivlyn Local Investment Holdings, were distributed as part of what the company described as a restructuring of Ivan Saltzman’s shareholding.
According to Moneyweb, the company said at the time that Saltzman was “in the process of restructuring his interest in the Dis-Chem share portfolio,” adding that “this restructuring involves the distribution 217 125 386 ordinary shares.”
Dis-Chem said the shares would remain within the family, noting that they “will remain within the Saltzman family, thereby continuing current family ownership”.
Before the transaction, Ivan and Lynette Saltzman indirectly held about 29.3% of the company.
Following the restructuring, Mark and Dan each acquired roughly a 12.6% stake, despite previously holding no shares.
Leadership transition and family control
The restructuring coincides with broader leadership changes at the company.
Their brother, Saul Saltzman, stepped down as an executive director after nearly two decades in the role in February 2026, but remains on the board as a non-independent non-executive director.
Ivan Saltzman stepped down as chief executive officer in 2023 and is set to leave his executive director role in June 2026, while continuing as deputy chairman.
He was succeeded by Rui Morais, the group’s former chief financial officer. Lynette Saltzman had earlier stepped down from her executive role in 2022.
Strong performance supports family wealth
The ownership changes come as Dis-Chem continues to post strong financial performance.
For the six months to August 31, 2025, revenue rose 8.7% to R21.3 billion, while core retail profit before tax increased 25.8% year-on-year.
At the time of the share transfer, the 217 million shares gifted to Mark and Dan were valued at approximately R6.8 billion, underscoring the scale of the family’s wealth tied to the business.
The company also expanded its footprint, opening 17 new pharmacy stores to bring its total to 302 retail pharmacies and 44 baby stores, with plans to open 32 more outlets by the end of the 2026 financial year.
Strategic repositioning
Founded in 1978 in Johannesburg, Dis-Chem has grown into one of South Africa’s largest pharmacy chains, with an expanding presence across the continent.
The recent share disposals by Mark and Dan Saltzman highlight a broader transition within the family, as control gradually shifts to a new generation while maintaining majority ownership.
The company is also investing in future growth, including plans to launch a “Store of the Future” concept in 2027 and a new mobile app, as it seeks to strengthen its competitive position in Africa’s retail healthcare market.
