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. Leaving the idea of expansion into Europe, Western Union took up the expansion of services in the U.S. market. 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 October 2006 the company made an initial public offering of shares on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming independent from First Data company. One of the common kinds of money transfer is a transfer via the international system of Western Union. Thanks to cooperation with Western Union the Associated Press at the end of the XIX century took almost monopolistic position in the U.S. market news. Western Union for more than 130 years provides money transfer services to its customers. Gold Card Loyalty Program Western Union Western Union made so that the time in all of American civil services was the same.