 Ackerman had Curtis sell for $7.3 million its Philadelphia headquarters to a real estate developer, John W. Merriam, and lease half the buildings back to pay off most of the First National loan.In 1968, Curtis Publishing sold the "Ladies' Home Journal", along with "The American Home", to Downe Communications for $5.4 million in stock.Ackerman had Curtis sell the Downe stock for operating cash.