PRAGUE (ČIA) – Annual payments of Partners’ clients made to private pension schemes increased last year from CZK 5.6 mln in 2010 to CZK 163.1 mln in respect of pension reform preparations. The company saw a positive development in mortgage loans, as well. Petr Borkovec, vice chairman of the board and director of Partners Distribution unit, said that the growing interest in mortgages was affected both by the VAT rate rise from 10 to 20% in January 2012 and by the declining interest rates at banks that hit record lows since 2003.