5

                                                               Exhibit (a)(1)(J)

                            FITCH IBCA/DUFF & PHELPS
                            ANNOUNCE INTEGRATION PLAN

Fitch IBCA - Paris/New York/London - April 12, 2000: Fitch IBCA, controlled by
FIMALAC, a French diversified group listed on the Paris Stock Exchange,
announced today that it had successfully completed its $100.00 per share cash
tender offer for all outstanding shares of Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co.
common stock. The tender offer expired at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on
April 11, 2000. Approximately 4,496,138 Duff & Phelps shares, representing about
96.8% of the outstanding shares, had been validly tendered and not withdrawn
prior to the expiration of the offer (including approximately 30,479 shares that
are guaranteed to be delivered). All such shares so validly tendered and not
withdrawn have been accepted for payment.

The newly elected Duff & Phelps officers and board members are Marc de
Lacharriere, Chairman of Fitch IBCA and now Chairman of Duff & Phelps, Robin
Monro-Davies, CEO, Stephen W. Joynt, President and COO, and Veronique Morali,
Managing Director of FIMALAC. Paul McCarthy and Philip Maffei, former Chairman
and former President and COO of Duff & Phelps, will stay on as board members of
Duff & Phelps.

The merger of Duff & Phelps and Fitch IBCA is expected to be completed by late
May upon completion of requisite corporate procedures. Until the final merger
date, Duff & Phelps will operate as a separate legal entity and ratings of both
Duff & Phelps and Fitch IBCA will remain outstanding. However, all new issue
ratings will be released by Fitch IBCA on behalf of the new organization.

The integration process has begun with combined analytical staffs of Fitch IBCA
and Duff & Phelps working together to harmonize the ratings and rating approach
for the new company. All rating changes resulting from the review process will
be announced when the companies merge.

For information at Fitch IBCA in New York, contact Stephen Joynt or James Jockle
at (212) 908-0547; in London, Robin Monro-Davies or Kris Anderson at 44-171-417-
4222; at FIMALAC in Paris contact Veronique Morali at 33-1-47-53-61-71.