NewLead Holdings' NASDAQ Compliance Plan Accepted

Greece's NewLead Holdings Ltd. says that NASDAQ has accepted its plan to regain compliance in order to permit the continued listing of the Company's common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

As previously reported, on May 16, 2013 the Company received a letter from NASDAQ stating that the Company was not in compliance with the Rule because the Company did not timely file its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the "Form 20-F"). As a result of the violation of the Rule, the NASDAQ letter stated that the Company had until July 15, 2013 to submit a plan to regain compliance.

On July 10, 2013, the Company submitted to NASDAQ a plan to regain compliance with the Rule. After reviewing the Company's plan to regain compliance, NASDAQ granted an exception to enable the Company to regain compliance with the Rule. Under the terms of the exception, the Company must file its Form 20-F on or before September 2, 2013. NASDAQ has advised the Company that a failure to file the Form 20-F within the extension period granted will result in a notice of delisting of the Company's common stock.

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.