NewLead Holdings Announces Time Charter for Newlead Albion

Piraeus, Greece - June 30, 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 Albion, for a minimum of two and a maximum of four months at the charterer's option. The gross charter-out rate is US $5,150 per day for the first sixty days and US $5,400 per day, if extended, for the remaining period less a 6.25% commission paid to third parties. The vessel was delivered to the charterers in the middle of June 2015.

The Newlead Albion is a 2012-built dry bulk Eco-type Handysize vessel of 32,318 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 continues to realize competitive employment of its dry vessels, despite the worst industry downturn in thirty years, as a result of NewLead's management established commercial relationships in the industry. NewLead follows an opportunistic approach to chartering strategy which allows the Company to capture market reactions."

Mr. Zolotas added, "The Newlead Albion trades primarily in the Far East area but trading is at charterer's option. NewLead ensures trading of its dry bulk vessels in the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean to hedge trading opportunities across all markets."

NewLead has approximately 53.09% and 57.17% 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