In February 2009 the company entered into an agreement with Fexco to acquire 100% of its shares for $ 159.9 million. In the 30's of the twentieth century, Western Union has become the world's largest telegraph company. Each money transfer is protected with control number, that allows you to track and to ensure prompt payment of money specified by you person. In 1877, starting from September, New York City residents began to have the opportunity to check the time on clock with the "time ball", located on the roof of constructed in the same year a new corporate headquarters - Western Union Building. In 1864, fearing the laying of long underwater lines, Western Union offered to carry out laying of telegraph lines to Europe through the Russian Alaska under the narrow Bering Strait and then to Siberia with branching in the major cities of Europe. Payment systems are one of basic elements of infrastructure of e-commerce. In 2000 was launched the Web site westernunion.com, with which users from certain countries can independently transfer funds online. Number of active holders of "Golden Card" of Western Union amounted to 9.5 million people worldwide.