In February 2009 the company entered into an agreement with Fexco to acquire 100% of its shares for $ 159.9 million. In the early forties of the 20th century, Western Union has used the first time a commercial intercity microwave transmission system. Another invention of Western Union - time synchronization. The size of the commission fee for the transfer is charged according to the Western Union tariffs and depends on the amount of money sent. One of the common kinds of money transfer is a transfer via the international system of Western Union. Number of active holders of "Golden Card" of Western Union amounted to 9.5 million people worldwide.