NewLead Holdings Ltd. Announces Signing Agreement to Acquire Properties with Estimated Coal Reserves of 18.6 Million Tons; Signing Agreement to Acquire Properties with Estimated Coal Reserves of 143.1 - InvestingChannel

NewLead Holdings Ltd. Announces Signing Agreement to Acquire Properties with Estimated Coal Reserves of 18.6 Million Tons; Signing Agreement to Acquire Properties with Estimated Coal Reserves of 143.1

NewLead has also entered into an agreement to acquire ownership and leasehold interests in 18,335 acres in Tennessee

The estimated reserves stated above are as determined by independent appraisals. The methodology used by the independent appraisers was not compliant with the methodology required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in reserve reports and, accordingly, should not be relied upon. Such reserve information is only provided to give the best currently available information. NewLead is undertaking to obtain reserve reports that comply with SEC methodology. Such reports may differ materially from the information provided herein. Coal Supply ContractsNewLead signed two coal supply contracts with creditworthy counterparties for the sale of coal to such parties. Annual revenue from these two contracts is expected to be $184.7 million

The first contract provides for the sale of 70,000 tons of coal per month for the first 12 months (840,000 tons annually), increasing to 140,000 tons per month for the second year (1.68 million tons annually) and 210,000 tons per month for the third year (2.52 million tons annually). All tonnage is subject to a variation of 5%. The price was established based on the prevailing market price for coal at the time the contract was entered into.

The second contract provides for the sale of 130,000 metric tons per month for the first 12 months (1.56 million metric tons annually), increasing to 210,000 metric tons per month for the second and third years (2.52 million metric tons annually). All tonnage is subject to a variation of 5%. The price was established based on the prevailing market price for coal at the time the contract was entered into.

NewLead intends to source the coal to meet such contracts from the estimated reserves discussed above, but to the extent it is unable to do so, it will be required to seek to source the coal from other suppliers at the prevailing prices.

Management CompanyNewLead also entered into an agreement to acquire a local coal mining management company in exchange for compensation, paid in the form $3.0 million

About NewLead Holdings Ltd.NewLead Holdings Ltd. is an international, vertically integrated shipping and commodity company that manages product tankers and dry bulk vessels. NewLead currently controls four vessels, two tankers and two dry bulk vessels. NewLead’s common shares are traded under the symbol “NEWL” on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. To learn more about NewLead Holdings Ltd., please visit the new website at www.newleadholdings.com.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995This press release includes assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future events. These statements, as well as words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” and “expect,” are intended to be ”forward-looking” statements. We caution that assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future events may vary from actual results and the differences can be material. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, such matters as the creditworthiness of our counterparties, the reliability of the reserve reports, our ability to extract or acquire coal to fulfil contracts, future operating or financial results; our liquidity position and cash flows, our ability to borrow additional amounts under our revolving credit facility and, if needed, to obtain waivers from our lenders and restructure our debt, and our ability to continue as a going concern; statements about planned, pending or recent vessel disposals and/or acquisitions, business strategy, future dividend payments and expected capital spending or operating expenses, including dry-docking and insurance costs; statements about trends in the product tanker and dry bulk vessel shipping segments, including charter rates and factors affecting supply and demand; expectations regarding the availability of vessel acquisitions; completion of repairs; length of off-hire; availability of charters; and anticipated developments with respect to any pending litigation. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although NewLead believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, NewLead cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections described in the forward looking statements. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in charter rates and vessel values, failure of a seller to deliver one or more vessels, and other factors discussed in NewLead’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. NewLead expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in NewLead’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Cautionary Note to U.S. InvestorsThe United States Securities and Exchange Commission limits disclosure for reporting purposes to mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms on this press release, such as “reserves,” “resources,” “geologic resources,” “proven,” or “probable,” which may not be consistent with the reserve definitions established by the SEC. U.S. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into SEC Industry Guide 7 reserves. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our SEC filings to be filed in the future. You can review and obtain copies of these filings from our website or at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

Investor and Media Relations: Elisa Gerouki NewLead Holdings Ltd.    Telephone: + 30 213 014 8023Email: egerouki@newleadholdings.com   Â