The 2013-built dry bulk, eco-type, handysize 35,542 dwt Newlead Castellano.   Image by NewLead Holdings Ltd.

NewLead Holdings Announces Time Charter for Newlead Castellano

Piraeus, Greece - June 23, 2015

NewLead Holdings Ltd. (OTC: NEWL) ("NewLead" or the "Company") announced today that it has entered into a time charter contract for one of its Eco-type dry bulk Handysize vessels, the Newlead Castellano, for a minimum of three and a maximum of five months. The gross charter-out rate is US$7,650 per day less a 6.25% commission paid to third parties. The vessel was delivered to the charterers at the beginning of June 2015.

The Newlead Castellano is a 2013-built dry bulk Eco-type Handysize vessel of 35,542 dwt and is one of the three Eco-type dry bulk Handysize vessels that were delivered to NewLead's fleet in 2014.

Mr. Michael Zolotas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NewLead, stated, "NewLead achieved a time charter agreement at a premium compared to the industry's average year to date Handysize dry bulk vessels earnings. We continue to benefit from our strong and long-lasting relationships with charterers, traders and brokers. NewLead's commercial competence is the result of continuous investment in the development of commercial relationships and in the maintenance of its vessels' technical quality standards."

Mr. Zolotas added, "Throughout historically distressed dry bulk market conditions, we continue to make the most of our cost-efficient ship management capabilities while maintaining the operating condition of our vessels at the highest levels."

NewLead has approximately 50.71% and 36.53% 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