JOHANNESBURG, March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Standard and Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P") today assigned Gold Fields Limited ("Gold Fields") (JSE, NYSE, NASDAQ Dubai: GFI) with a 'BBB-/ A-3' long-term and short-term global corporate credit rating and 'zaA/zaA-1' long- term and short-term South Africa national scale corporate credit rating. The outlook is stable. The long-term ratings reflect Gold Fields' satisfactory business risk and intermediate financial risk profiles while the short-term ratings reflect Gold Fields' adequate liquidity. The satisfactory business risk profile reflects Gold Fields' market position as the world's fourth largest gold producer, an industry-leading long reserve life of over 20 years, healthy profitability underpinned by persistently strong gold prices. The company's leverage and financial policy is considered to be moderate. The stable outlook reflects the expectation that Gold Fields will continue to report healthy cash flow generation, supported by ongoing strong gold prices and a weak exchange rate. Paul Schmidt, Chief Financial Officer of Gold Fields, said: "The credit rating is an independent endorsement of Gold Fields as an investment grade company with a stable outlook. The rating further confirms aspects such as Gold Fields' sound corporate governance and risk management while aligning it with global best practice and its peers. Although the intention is to reduce debt over the next 18 months, an official credit rating will allow flexibility to efficiently structure long-term debt as well as new debt, should the need arise." About Gold Fields Gold Fields Limited is one of the world's largest unhedged producers of gold with attributable production of 3,64 million ounces per annum from eight operating mines in South Africa, Ghana and Australia. A ninth mine, Cerro Corona Gold/Copper mine in Peru, commenced production in August 2008 at an initial rate of approximately 375,000 gold equivalent ounces per annum. Gold Fields aims to reach a production rate of approximately 4.0 million ounces per annum during the March quarter of 2009. The company has total attributable ore reserves of 83 million ounces and mineral resources of 251 million ounces. Gold Fields is listed on the JSE Limited (primary listing), New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ Dubai Limited (NASDAQ Dubai), New Euronext in Brussels (NYX) and Swiss Exchange (SWX). For more information please visit the Gold Fields website at http://www.goldfields.co.za/. DATASOURCE: Gold Fields Limited CONTACT: Enquiries: Willie Jacobsz, Mobile: +1-857-241-7127; Nikki Catrakilis-Wagner, Mobile: +27(0)83-309-6720; Marritt Claassens, Mobile: +27(0)82-307-3297

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