NewLead Holdings Announces Time Charter Contract of the M/T Ioli

Piraeus, Greece - May 19, 2015

NewLead Holdings Ltd. (OTC: NEWL) ("NewLead" or the "Company") announced today that it has entered into a time charter contract with a first class charter ("Charterer") for one of its recently delivered bitumen tanker vessels, the Ioli, for a minimum of one year. The vessel has already been delivered to the Charterer that has the option to extend the time charter contract for up to four additional one year periods.

The Ioli is a 2009-built bitumen tanker vessel of 3,396 dwt and is one of the five bitumen tanker vessels that were recently delivered to NewLead's fleet.

Mr. Michael Zolotas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NewLead, stated, "NewLead continues to perform on its adaptive, prudent and long-term chartering strategy to optimize the employment of the Company's fleet and enhance the revenues and cash flow of the Company."

Mr. Zolotas added, "NewLead follows a responsive chartering strategy to market conditions, capitalizing on its commercial and technical expertise to capture opportunities with first-class oil majors and traders."

NewLead has approximately 48.58% and 38.05% of its operating days covered for 2015 for its dry bulk and tanker vessels, respectively.

About NewLead Holdings Ltd.
NewLead Holdings Ltd. is an international vertically integrated shipping, logistics and commodity company providing ideal solutions for seaborne transportation of dry bulk commodities and petroleum products through owned and managed vessels. NewLead controls a fleet of ten vessels, including five dry bulk and five tanker vessels and manages one third party tanker vessel. NewLead is a Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") reporting Foreign Private Issuer in compliance with applicable SEC rules and regulations and current in its SEC reporting, utilizing U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles' financial reporting standards. NewLead's common shares are traded under the symbol "NEWL" on the Over-the-Counter market. To learn more about NewLead Holdings Ltd., please visit NewLead's renewed website at www.newleadholdings.com.

NewLead Holdings Ltd. press release


The 2009-built, 3,396 dwt bitumen tanker IOLI.   Image by NewLead Holdings Ltd.