Independent Contractor Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement



 Exhibit 10.79 
  
 CHARLES & COLVARD, LTD. 
 1997 OMNIBUS STOCK PLAN 
  
 Independent Contractor Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement 
  
 THIS AGREEMENT (together with Schedule A, attached hereto, the “Agreement”), effective as of the date specified as the Grant Date (the “Grant Date”) on Schedule A, attached hereto, between CHARLES
& COLVARD, LTD., a North Carolina corporation (the “Corporation”), and the individual identified on Schedule A, an individual in service to the Corporation or a related corporation (the “Participant”); 
  
 R E C I T A L S :

  
 In furtherance of the purposes of the 1997 Omnibus Stock Plan
of Charles & Colvard, Ltd., as amended and restated and as it may be hereafter amended (the “Plan”), the Corporation and the Participant hereby agree as follows: 
  
 1. Incorporation of Plan. The rights and duties of the Corporation and the Participant under this Agreement shall in
all respects be subject to and governed by the provisions of the Plan, a copy of which is delivered herewith or has been previously provided to the Participant and the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any conflict
between the provisions in the Agreement and those of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the same definitions as set forth in the Plan. 
  
 2. Grant of Option; Term of Option. The Corporation hereby grants to
the Participant pursuant to the Plan, as a matter of separate inducement and agreement in connection with his or her service to the Corporation, and not in lieu of any salary or other compensation for his or her services, the right and Option (the
“Option”) to purchase all or any part of such aggregate number of shares (the “Shares”) of common stock of the Corporation (the “Common Stock”) at a purchase price (the “Option Price”) as specified on Schedule
A, and subject to such other terms and conditions as may be stated herein or in the Plan or on Schedule A. The Participant expressly acknowledges that the terms of Schedule A shall be incorporated herein by reference and shall constitute part of
this Agreement. The Corporation and the Participant further acknowledge and agree that the signatures of the Corporation and the Participant on the Grant Notice contained in Schedule A shall constitute their acceptance of all of the terms of this
Agreement and their agreement to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. The Option shall be designated as a Nonqualified Option, as stated on Schedule A. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Agreement, this Option will expire if
not exercised in full by the Expiration Date specified on Schedule A. 
  
 3. Exercise of Option. Subject to the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, the Option shall become exercisable on the date or dates, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth on Schedule A. To the extent that the Option is
exercisable but is not exercised, the Option shall accumulate and be exercisable by the Participant in whole or in part at any time prior to expiration of the Option, subject to the terms of the Plan and this Agreement. The minimum number of Shares
that may be purchased under the Option at one time shall be ten (10). The Participant expressly acknowledges that the Option may vest and be exercisable only upon such terms and conditions as are provided in this Agreement (including the terms
set forth in Schedule A) and the Plan. Upon the exercise of the Option in whole or in part and payment of the Option Price in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, the 








 
Corporation shall, as soon thereafter as practicable, deliver to the Participant a certificate or certificates for the Shares purchased. Payment of the
Option Price may be made in the form: (i) of cash; (ii) by delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant at the time of exercise; (iii) by delivery of written notice of exercise to the Corporation and delivery to a broker of written
notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to promptly deliver to the Corporation the amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the Option Price; or (iv) by any combination of the foregoing methods. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a
“change of control” of the Corporation (as such term is defined in the Plan), payment may also be made by the withholding of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise. Shares delivered or withheld in payment on the
exercise of the Option shall be valued at their fair market value on the date of exercise, as determined by the Committee by applying the provisions of the Plan.  
  
 4. No Right of Employment or Service. Neither the Plan, this Agreement nor any other action related to the Plan shall
confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employment or service of the Corporation or a related corporation or interfere with the right of the Corporation or a related corporation to terminate the Participant’s employment or
service at any time. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or this Agreement, all rights of the Participant with respect to the Option shall terminate upon termination of the employment or service of the Participant with the Corporation
or a related corporation. 
  
 5. Termination of Service.
In the event of the Participant’s termination of service, the Option may be exercised only to the extent exercisable on the date of the Participant’s termination of service to the Corporation or a related corporation (the
“termination date”) (unless the termination was for cause), and the Option must be exercised, if at all, prior to the first to occur of the following, as applicable: (X) the close of the period of 90 days next succeeding
the termination date; or (Y) the close of the Option Period. If the services of such a Participant are terminated for cause, his Option shall lapse and no longer be exercisable as of the effective time of his termination of services, as
determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant becomes an employee of the Corporation or a related corporation, he shall be subject to the provisions of Section 6(c)(iii) of the Plan. For purposes of this Agreement,
the Participant’s termination shall be for “cause” if such termination results from the Participant’s personal dishonesty, gross incompetence, willful misconduct, breach of a fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional
failure to perform stated duties, willful violation of any law, rule, regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offences), written Corporation policy or final cease-and-desist order, conviction of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving
moral turpitude, unethical business practices in connection with the Corporation’s business, or misappropriation of the Corporation’s assets. The determination of “cause” shall be made by the Committee and its determination shall
be final and conclusive. 
  
 6. Nontransferability of
Option. The Option shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of intestate succession. The Option shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by him or her or by his or her guardian or legal representative. The
designation of a beneficiary does not constitute a transfer. 
  
 7. Superseding Agreement; Binding Effect. This Agreement supersedes any statements, representations or agreements of the Corporation with respect to the grant of the Option or any related rights, and the Participant hereby waives any
rights or claims related to any such statements, representations or agreements. This Agreement does not supersede or amend any existing confidentiality agreement, nonsolicitation agreement, noncompetition agreement, employment agreement or any other
similar agreement between the Participant and the Corporation, including, but not limited to, any restrictive covenants contained in such agreements. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns. 







 8. Governing Law. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or herein, this Agreement shall be
construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions of any state, and in accordance with applicable federal laws of the United States. 
  
 9. Amendment and Termination; Waiver. Subject to the terms of the
Plan, this Agreement may be modified or amended only by the written agreement of the parties hereto. The waiver by the Corporation of a breach of any provision of the Agreement by the Participant shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any
subsequent breach by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have unilateral authority to amend the Plan and this Agreement (without Participant consent) to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or changes to
applicable law (including but not limited to Code Section 409A, Code Section 422, federal securities laws or related regulations and other guidance). 
  
 10. No Rights as Shareholder. The Participant and his or her legal representatives, legatees or distributees shall not be deemed to be the holder
of any Shares subject to the Option and shall not have any rights of a shareholder unless and until certificates for such Shares have been issued and delivered to him or her or them. 
  
 11. Withholding; Tax Matters. 
  
 (a) The Participant acknowledges that the Corporation shall require the Participant to pay the Corporation
in cash the amount of any local, state, federal, foreign or other tax or other amount required by any governmental authority to be withheld and paid over by the Corporation to such authority for the account of the Participant, and the Participant
agrees, as a condition to the grant of the Option and delivery of the Shares or any other benefit, to satisfy such obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant may satisfy such obligations in whole or in part, and any other local,
state or federal income tax obligations relating to the Option, by electing (the “election”) to have the Corporation withhold shares of Common Stock from the Shares to which the Participant is entitled. The number of Shares to be withheld
shall have a fair market value as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined as nearly equal as possible to (but not exceeding) the amount of such obligations being satisfied. Each election must be made in writing to the
Administrator in accordance with election procedures established by the Administrator. 
  
 (b) The Participant acknowledges that the Corporation has made no warranties or representations to the Participant with respect to the tax
consequences (including but not limited to, income tax consequences) related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the Participant is in no manner relying on the Corporation or its representatives for an assessment of such tax
consequences. The Participant acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences upon acquisition or disposition of the Shares subject to the Option and that the Participant should consult a tax advisor prior to such exercise or disposition.
The Participant acknowledges that he or she has been advised that he or she should consult with his or her own attorney, accountant, and/or tax advisor regarding the decision to enter into this Agreement and the consequences thereof. The Participant
also acknowledges that the Corporation has no responsibility to take or refrain from taking any actions in order to achieve a certain tax result for the Participant. 
  
 12. Administration. The authority to construe and interpret this Agreement and the Plan, and to administer all
aspects of the Plan, shall be vested in the Board of Directors or the Committee, and the 








 
Board or Committee, as the case may be, shall have all powers with respect to this Agreement as are provided in the Plan. Any interpretation of the Agreement
by the Board or Committee, as the case may be, and any decision made by it with respect to the Agreement is final and binding. 
  
 13. Notices. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Plan, any written notices provided for in this Agreement or the Plan shall be in writing
and shall be deemed sufficiently given if either hand delivered or if sent by fax or overnight courier, or by postage paid first class mail. Notices sent by mail shall be deemed received three business days after mailed but in no event later
than the date of actual receipt. Notices shall be directed, if to the Participant, at the Participant’s address indicated on Schedule A (or such other address as may be designated by the Participant in a manner acceptable to the Committee), or,
if to the Corporation, at the Corporation’s principal office, attention Chief Financial Officer. 
  
 14. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions may be determined to be illegal or otherwise
unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable. 
  
 15. Restrictions on Option and Shares. The Corporation may impose such restrictions on the Shares or other benefits underlying the Option as it may
deem advisable, including without limitation restrictions under the federal securities laws, the requirements of any stock exchange or similar organization and any blue sky, state or foreign securities laws applicable to such Shares or other
benefits. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan or the Agreement to the contrary, the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue, deliver or transfer shares of Common Stock, to make any other distribution of benefits, or to take any other
action, unless such delivery, distribution or action is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to the requirements of the Securities Act). The Corporation may cause a restrictive legend to be
placed on any certificate for Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of the Option in such form as may be prescribed from time to time by applicable laws and regulations or as may be advised by legal counsel. 
  
 16. Counterparts; Further Instruments. This Agreement may be executed
in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The parties hereto agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may be
reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement. 
  
 [Signatures of the Corporation and the Participant follow on Schedule A/Grant Notice.] 







 CHARLES & COLVARD, LTD. 1997 OMNIBUS STOCK PLAN 
 Independent Contractor Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement 
  

Schedule A/Grant Notice 
  
 1. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Corporation’s 1997 Omnibus Stock Plan (the “Plan”), you (the “Participant”) have
been granted an option (the “Option”) to purchase              shares (the “Shares”) of our Common Stock as outlined below. 
  

			
	 Name of Participant:
	 	 __________________________________________

	 Address:
	 	 __________________________________________

	 Grant Date:
	 	 _____________________________________, 20__

	 Number of Shares Subject to Option:
	 	 __________________________________________

	 Option Price:
	 	 $_________________________________________

	 Type of Option:
	 	 Nonqualified Stock Option

	 Expiration Date (Last day of Option Period):
	 	 _____________________________________, 20__

	 Vesting Schedule/Conditions:
	 	 __________________________________________


  
 2. By my signature
below, I, the Participant, hereby acknowledge receipt of this Grant Notice and the Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated             
        , 200  , between the Participant and Charles & Colvard, Ltd. (the “Corporation”) which is attached to this Grant Notice. I understand that the Grant Notice and
other provisions of Schedule A herein are incorporated by reference into the Agreement and constitute a part of the Agreement. By my signature below, I further agree to be bound by the terms of the Plan and the Agreement, including but not
limited to the terms of this Grant Notice and the other provisions of Schedule A contained herein. The Corporation reserves the right to treat the Option and the Agreement as cancelled, void and of no effect if the Participant fails to return a
signed copy of the Grant Notice within 30 days of grant date stated above. 
  

							
	 Signature:
	 	  

	 	 Date:
	 	  


			
	 	 	 	 	 Agreed to by:

			
	 	 	 	 	 CHARLES & COLVARD, LTD.

				
	 	 	 	 	 By:
	 	  


	 	 	 	 	 	 	 Robert S. Thomas

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 President & CEO

	 Attest:
	 	 	 	 
			
	
 James R. Braun
	 	 	 	 
	 Secretary
	 	 	 	 

  
 Note: If there are any
discrepancies in the name or address shown above, please make the appropriate corrections on this form. Please retain a copy of the Agreement, including this Grant Notice, for your files.