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 Million Tons and Securing 3-year Coal Supply Contracts Expected to Generate $873.5 million of Revenue

PIRAEUS, Greece, Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- NewLead Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: NEWL) ("NewLead") today announced that the Company has entered into an agreement to acquire title and excavation rights in properties containing 18.6 million tons of estimated coal reserves for $11.0 million. NewLead also entered into an agreement to acquire ownership and leasehold interests in properties containing approximately 143.1 million tons of coal for $55.0 million.

Michael Zolotas, President and Chief Executive Officer of NewLead, stated, "We have expanded our recently launched commodities business with the agreement to acquire an estimated 18.6 million tons of coal reserves.  We are in the process of acquiring additional coal properties with reserves estimated at approximately 143.1 million tons.  Once we have acquired all of the assets, our coal reserves will consist primarily of sub bituminous B coal, which is 13,500 BTU with low sulfur. We will also have 'Blue Gem' and 'Rich Mountain' seams of coal, highly sought after in the international market. We believe that our international shipping expertise will allow us to exploit the demand for these coal reserves."

Michael Zolotas continued, "In entering the mining business, we undertook to secure supply contracts for the coal reserves.  Consequently, we entered into two agreements to supply coal to third parties.  These agreements are expected to generate $873.5 million of revenue over a three-year period. Based on our projections of operating costs, we believe that these sales will have healthy margins and will generate significant cash flow with which to fund continued growth.  We intend to supplement the supply agreements by allowing contract miners to mine and pay us a royalty for coal removed."

Coal and Natural Gas Reserve Acquisitions
As of December 28, 2012, NewLead entered into an agreement to acquire title and mineral excavation rights to 5,000 acres of land in Kentucky.  The coal reserves in these properties are estimated to be approximately 18.6 million tons. The transaction is subject to execution and delivery of certain definitive agreements and other closing conditions, but is currently expected to close by January 29, 2013. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be consummated. The consideration of $11.0 million was paid in the form of notes maturing on January 29, 2013. The notes do not accrue interest, but remain subject to a guaranty by the initial purchaser and are secured by a mortgage lien and a security interest in the assets being purchased.

NewLead has also entered into an agreement to acquire ownership and leasehold interests in 18,335 acres in Tennessee containing coal and natural gas and other natural resources.  The agreement contemplates that the Company will acquire rights, title, permits and leases to coal mines with total reserves estimated at 143.1 million tons. The transaction is subject to execution and delivery of certain definitive agreements and other closing conditions, but is currently expected to close in February 2013. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be consummated. The agreement contemplates that consideration of $55.0 million shall be payable in cash in two installments; $30.0 million at closing and the remaining $25.0 million on the first anniversary of the closing.

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. 

The properties in Tennessee and Kentucky also include natural gas wells and projects relating to extraction of timber, sand, gravel, fly ash and dimension stone. Third parties are currently extracting these commodities on the properties and paying royalties.

Coal Supply Contracts
NewLead 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 in the first year, $318.4 million in the second year and $370.4 million for the third and final year.

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 Company
NewLead also entered into an agreement to acquire a local coal mining management company in exchange for compensation, paid in the form $3.0 million in common shares of NewLead and a warrant for $6.4 million in common shares of NewLead. Such acquisition is subject to a number of terms and conditions and there is no assurance it will be consummated. The management company shall be responsible for managing the daily operations of the coal mines and the excavation of the coal from the properties.

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 1995
This 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. Investors
The 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 8023
Email: [email protected]    

SOURCE NewLead Holdings Ltd.