Germany's Car rental giant Sixt chairman Erich Sixt gestures during a news conference in Munich...

Germany's Car rental giant Sixt chairman Erich Sixt gestures during a news conference in Munich April 21. German car rental group Sixt AG said on Wednesday it will more than double its 1998 distribution of earnings to shareholders to 34.8 million marks ($18.9 million) from 16.4 million marks in 1997. The number of Sixt shares has risen to 22.14 million from 7.38 million after the issue of two bonus shares for every existing share held last year, the company said. Despite an increase in the number of Sixt shares the company planned to increase its dividend payout for 1998. On a comparative basis the dividend per ordinary share will rise to 1.56 marks from 0.73 marks, including a bonus. Preference shareholders will see their dividend payout rise to 1.60 marks per share from 0.77 marks, the company added.