NewLead Holdings Buys Vessels

NewLead Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ:NEWL) announced that it has signed a Stock Purchase Agreement providing for the purchase of two Kamsarmaxes for an aggregate purchase price of $112.7m and signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the sale of the product tanker Chinook for $8.5m.

“NewLead's fleet continues to transform, becoming younger and more versatile," said Michael S. Zolotas, President and Chief Executive Officer. "As we sell non-productive assets, we will be seeking to add new vessels particularly those with favorable charters. These two high quality dry bulk Kamsarmaxes add a unique class of vessel to our fleet and seven years of revenue visibility."

The company is acquiring two geared, 80,000 DWT Kamsarmaxes from COSCO Dalian Shipyard Co. Ltd. to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2010 and 2011, respectively. The charter for the first vessel is for a five-year initial term at $28,710 (net) a day. The charter for the second vessel is for a seven-year term at $27,300 (net) a day.