Exhibit 10.1


 


	 	Credit Agreement




 


This agreement dated as of July 7, 2021 is between JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (together with its successors
and assigns, the "Bank"), whose address is 2000 Regency Pkwy, Floor 04, Cary, NC 27518-8506, and Charles & Colvard,
Ltd. (individually, the "Borrower" and if more than one, collectively, the "Borrowers"), whose address
is 170 Southport Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560.


		1.	Credit Facilities.



 


		1.1	Scope. This agreement governs Facility A, and, unless otherwise agreed to
in writing by the Bank and the Borrower or prohibited by any Legal Requirement, governs the Credit Facilities as defined below. The Bank
has established procedures for the Borrower to obtain advances under any Credit Facilities. Any other procedures that the Bank agrees
to regarding obtaining advances, including automatic loan sweeps, shall not change the terms or conditions of this agreement or the other
Related Documents regarding the Credit Facilities.



 


		1.2	Facility A (Line of Credit). The Bank has approved a credit facility to
the Borrower in a principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000.00, at any one time outstanding ("Facility A"). Credit under
Facility A shall be repaid as described in a Line of Credit Note executed at the same time as this agreement, along with any renewals,
modifications, extensions, rearrangements, restatements and replacements or substitutions.



 


Upfront Fee.
The Borrower will pay to the Bank an upfront fee of $10,000.00 (Ten Thousand and 00/100 Dollars) on the closing date which Borrower acknowledges
has been fully earned by the Bank. Once paid, the upfront fee shall not be refundable under any circumstances, regardless of whether the
transactions or borrowings contemplated hereunder are consummated. The upfront fee shall be paid in U.S. dollars in immediately available
funds.


 


		2.	Definitions and Interpretations.



 


		2.1	Definitions. As used in this agreement, the following terms have the following
respective meanings:



 


		A.	"Affiliate" means any Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by or under common control with, another Person.



 


		B.	"Anti-Corruption Laws" means all laws, rules, and regulations of
any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.



 


		C.	"Collateral" means all Property, now or in the future subject to
any Lien in favor of the Bank, intending to secure, any of the Liabilities.



 


		D.	"Credit Facilities" means all extensions of credit from the Bank
to the Borrower, existing or extended with this agreement, or hereafter arising.



 


		E.	"Distributions" means all dividends and other distributions made
to any Equity Owners, other than salary, bonuses, and other compensation for services expended in the current accounting period.



 


		F.	"Equity Interests" means equity ownership interests in a business
or not for profit entity, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity
interest. G."Equity Owner" means an owner of any Equity Interests.



 


		H.	"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in effect
from time to time in the United States of America, consistently applied.



 


		I.	"Legal Requirement" means any law, order, Sanctions, regulation
(or interpretation of any of the foregoing) of any federal, state or local governmental authority or self regulatory organization having
jurisdiction over the Bank, any Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective Properties or any agreement by which any of them
is bound.



 




    


     


    

 


		J.	"Liabilities" means all indebtedness, liabilities and obligations
of every kind and character of the Borrower to the Bank, whether the obligations, indebtedness and liabilities are individual, joint and
several, contingent or otherwise, now or hereafter existing, including, without limitation, all liabilities, interest, costs and fees,
arising under or from any note, open account, overdraft, credit card, lease, Rate Management Transaction, letter of credit application,
endorsement, surety agreement, guaranty, acceptance, foreign exchange contract or depository service contract, whether payable to the
Bank or to a third party and subsequently acquired by the Bank, any monetary obligations (including interest) incurred or accrued during
the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceedings, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such
proceeding, and all renewals, extensions, modifications, consolidations, rearrangements, restatements, replacements or substitutions of
any of the foregoing.



 


		K.	"Lien" means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, charge, encumbrance,
security interest, collateral assignment or other lien or restriction of any kind.



 


		L.	"Notes" means all promissory notes, instruments and/or contracts
now or hereafter evidencing the Credit Facilities.



 


		M.	"Obligor" means any Borrower, guarantor, surety, co-signer, endorser,
general partner or other Person who may now or in the future be obligated to pay any of the Liabilities, and any Person providing Collateral.



 


		N.	"Organizational Documents" means, with respect to any Person,
certificates of existence or formation, documents establishing or governing the Person including all amendments, and modifications.



 


		O.	"Person" means any individual, business or other entity, or any
governmental authority.



 


		P.	"Permitted Acquisition" means any acquisition (whether by purchase,
merger, consolidation or otherwise) or series of related acquisitions by the Borrower of all or substantially all the assets of or all
or substantially all the Equity Interests in, a Person or division or line of business of a Person; provided that: (a) the total
cash consideration of such acquisition shall not exceed (i) in connection with any single acquisition, $10,000,000 and (ii) for all acquisitions
made during any fiscal year of the Borrower, $25,000,000, (b) at the time of and immediately after giving effect thereto on a pro forma
basis, no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing or would arise under any provision of this agreement or any of the
Related Documents and each of the representations and warranties under this agreement and the Related Doccuments is true and correct in
all respects, (b) such Person or division or line of business is engaged in the same, similar or complementary line of business as the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries, (c) the Borrower shall certify (and provide the Bank with a pro forma calculation in form and substance
satisfactory to the Bank) that, immediately before and after giving effect to the completion of any such acquisition, the Borrower is
in compliance on a pro forma basis with the financial covenants set forth in Section 5.2 hereof (if any), (d) in connection with an acquisition
of the Equity Interests of any Person, all Liens on the Property of such Person shall be terminated unless the Bank in its sole discretion
consents otherwise, (e) such acquisition is not a hostile or contested acquisition, (f) the Borrower (i) has executed and delivered, or
caused to be executed and delivered, such documentation or other instruments (including, without limitation, authorizing documents described
in Section 3.1 D. below, security agreements, pledge agreements, control agreements and/or guarantees) and (ii) taken, or authorized the
Bank to take on its behalf, all actions (including, without limitation, the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings,
mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents in connection with such acquisition), in each case, as requested by the Bank in its sole
discretion, with respect to any newly acquired or formed Subsidiaries, (g) the Borrower has provided to the Bank all documentation and
other information regarding such newly formed or acquired Subsidiaries as may be required to comply with the applicable “know your
customer” rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Actand, and (h) in the case of an acquisition, merger or consolidation
involving the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower, the Borrower or such Subsidiary is the surviving entity of such merger and/or
consolidation.



 


		Q.	"Property" means any interest in any kind of property or asset,
whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible.



 


		R.	"Rate Management Transaction" means any transaction (including
an agreement with respect thereto) that is a rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity
or equity index swap, equity or equity index option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction,
floor transaction, collar transaction, forward transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate
swap transaction, currency option, derivative transaction or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of
these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether linked to one or more interest rates, foreign currencies, commodity prices, equity
prices or other financial measures.



 




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		S.	"Related Documents" means this agreement, and any other instrument
or document executed in connection with this agreement or with any of the Liabilities.



 


		T.	"Sanctions" means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes
imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign
Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, and (b) if the Borrower has operations outside
of the United States, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury
of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority.



 


		U.	"Sanctioned Country" means, at any time, a country, region or
territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions.



 


		V.	"Sanctioned Person" means, at any time, (a) any Person listed
in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by (i) the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the
Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, and (ii) if the Borrower has operations outside of the United States, the United Nations Security
Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions
authority (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country (c) any Person controlled by any such Person or Persons
described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b), or (d) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanction.



 


		W.	"Subsidiary" means, as to any particular Person (the "parent"),
a Person the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent's consolidated financial statements if such
financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as well as any other Person of which fifty percent (50%) or more of the Equity
Interests is directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held, by the parent or by any Person or Persons controlled by the parent, either
alone or together with the parent.



 


		2.2	Interpretations. If any provision of this agreement cannot be enforced, the
remaining portions of this agreement shall continue in effect. The provisions of this agreement shall control in the event of any conflict
or inconsistency between this agreement and the provisions of any other Related Documents. Any reference to a particular document includes
all modifications, supplements, replacements, renewals or extensions of that document. Whenever the Bank's determination, consent, or
approval is required under this agreement or the other Related Documents or whenever the Bank may at its option take or refrain from taking
any action under this agreement or the other Related Documents, such decision shall be in the sole discretion of the Bank.



 


		3.	Conditions Precedent to Extensions of Credit.



 


		3.1	The following conditions must be satisfied before any extension of credit governed
by this agreement must be made by the Bank:



 


		A.	Representations. The Borrower and any other parties, represent that all statements
and information contained in the Related Documents is true and accurate as of the date of the request for credit;



 


		B.	No Event of Default. There has been no default, event of default or event
that would constitute a default or event of default (pending giving of notice or a lapse of time or both), of any provision of this agreement,
the Notes or any other Related Documents or would result from the extension of credit;



 


		C.	Loan Documents. The Notes, and any other documents which the Bank may reasonably
require to give effect to the transactions described in this agreement or the other Related Documents have been delivered to the Bank
in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank;



 


		D.	Organizational and Authorizing Documents. The Organizational Documents and
all certificates of authority to transact business, certificates of good standing, borrowing resolutions, appointments, officer’s
certificates, certificates of incumbency, and other documents which empower and authorize or evidence the power and authority
of the Borrower or any Obligor (each a “Loan Party”) to execute and deliver the Notes and Related Documents have been delivered
to the Bank in a form and substance satisfactory to the Bank and confirm that the execution and delivery of the Notes and Related Documents
(i) are within the Loan Parties’ powers, (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary action of such Loan Parties’ governing
body, and (iii) do not contravene the terms of its Organizational Documents or other agreement or document governing its affairs; and



 




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		E.	No Prohibition or Onerous Conditions. The making of the extension of credit
is not prohibited by and does not subject the Bank, any Obligor, or any Subsidiary of the Borrower to any penalty or onerous condition.



 


		4.	Affirmative Covenants. The Borrower agrees to do, and cause each
of its Subsidiaries to do, each of the following:



 


		4.1	Insurance. Maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurers,
that are satisfactory to the Bank. The insurance will cover its Property and business against those casualties and contingencies and in
the types and amounts according to sound business and industry practices, and furnish to the Bank, upon request, reports on each existing
insurance policy showing such information as the Bank may reasonably request.



 


		4.2	Financial Records. Maintain proper books and records according to GAAP,
that are prepared on a basis consistent with financial statements previously submitted to the Bank.



 


		4.3	Inspection. Permit the Bank, and its agents on reasonable notice and during
normal business hours to: (a) inspect and photograph its Property, to examine and copy files, books and records, and to discuss its business,
operations, prospects, assets, and financial condition with the Borrower's or its Subsidiaries' officers and accountants, at times and
intervals as the Bank reasonably determines;(b) perform audits, appraisals or other inspections of the Collateral, including the records
and documents related to the Collateral; and (c) confirm with any Person any obligations and liabilities of the Person to the Borrower
or its Subsidiaries. The Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to cooperate with any inspection, appraisal or audit.. The Borrower
shall be responsible for the reasonable costs and expenses of one inspection during any 12-month period; provided, the Borrower shall
be responsible for the reasonable costs and expenses of all inspections conducted while a default has occurred and is continuing.



 


		4.4	Other Agreements. Comply in all material respects with all terms and conditions
of all other material agreements, whether now or hereafter existing, between it and any other Person.



 


		4.5	Financial Reports. Furnish to the Bank whatever information, statements,
books and records the Bank may from time to time reasonably request.



 


		4.6	Notices of Claims, Litigation, Defaults, etc. Promptly inform the Bank in
writing of: (1) all existing and threatened litigation, claims, investigations, administrative proceedings and similar actions or changes
in Legal Requirements directly affecting it, of which it has knowledge, that would reasonably be expected to have a materially adverse
effect on its business, assets, affairs, or financial condition; (2) the occurrence of any event which gives rise to the Bank's option
to terminate the Credit Facilities; (3) any additions to or changes in the locations of its businesses; and (4) any alleged breach by
the Bank of any provision of this agreement or of any other Related Document.



 


		4.7	Title to Assets and Property. Maintain good and marketable title or such
other interests in and to all of its Properties consistent with past practices, except for minor imperfections of title arising in the
ordinary course of the business that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the continued use and operation of the
specific properties and assets to which they relate, and defend them against all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming
any interest in them.



 


		4.8	Additional Assurances. Promptly make, execute and deliver any and all agreements,
documents, and instruments that the Bank may request to evidence any of the Credit Facilities, cure any defect in the execution and delivery
of any of the Related Documents, perfect any Lien or comply with any Legal Requirement applicable to the Bank or the Credit Facilities.



 


		4.9	Employee Benefit Plans. Maintain each employee benefit plan as to which
it may have any liability, in compliance with all Legal Requirements.



 




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		4.10	Banking Relationship. Establish and maintain its primary banking depository
and disbursement relationship with the Bank.



 


		4.11	Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. Maintain in effect and
enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers,
employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.



 


		5.	Negative Covenants.



 


		5.1	Without the Bank's prior written consent, the Borrower will not and no Subsidiary
of the Borrower will:



 


		A.	Debt. Incur, contract for, assume, or permit to remain outstanding, indebtedness
for borrowed money, installment obligations, or obligations under capital leases or operating leases, other than (1) unsecured trade debt
incurred in the ordinary course of business, (2) indebtedness owing to the Bank, (3) indebtedness outstanding as of the date hereof that
has been disclosed to the Bank in writing and that is not to be paid with proceeds of borrowings under the Credit Facilities, and (4)
additional indebtedness for borrowed money, installment obligations and obligations under capital leases or operating leases not to exceed
$5,000,000 in the aggregate.



 


		B.	Liens. Create or permit to exist any Lien on any of its Property except:
existing Liens known to and approved by the Bank; Liens to the Bank; Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business securing current
nondelinquent liabilities for taxes, worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, social security and pension liabilities; and
Liens incurred in connection with indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 5.1 A (4) above.



 


		C.	Use of Proceeds. Use any proceeds of the Credit Facilities: (1) for any personal,
family or household purpose; (2) for the purpose of "purchasing or carrying any margin stock" within the meaning of Federal
Reserve Board Regulation U; (3) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money,
or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws; (4) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating
any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country except to the extent permitted
for a person required to comply with Sanctions; or (5) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions.



 


		D.	Business Operations and Continuity of Operations. (1) Engage in any business
activities (a) in violation of any Legal Requirement; (b) substantially different from those in which it is presently engaged; (2) fail
to maintain its existence, cease operations, liquidate, merge, transfer, acquire or consolidate with any other Person (except in connection
with a Permitted Acquisition), change its name, dissolve, divide, or allocate any assets under any plan of division or similar arrangement,
create any series limited liability company, allocate any property to any series, or sell any assets out of the ordinary course of business;
(3) enter into or permit to exist any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by it of Property which has been sold or transferred
by it to such Person; (4) change its business organization, the jurisdiction under which its business organization is formed or organized,
or its chief executive office, or any places of its businesses; or (5) if the Borrower is an individual, change the name on his/her driver’s
license or state issued identification card, as applicable, without notifying the Bank within thirty (30) days of the change, or change
the state of his/her principal residence, without notifying the Bank within thirty (30) days of the change.



 


		E.	Limitation on Negative Pledge Clauses. Enter into or permit to exist any
agreement with any Person other than the Bank which prohibits or limits its ability to create or permit to exist any Lien on any of its
Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except and to the extent required by any provider of indebtedness permitted under 5.1.A.



 


		F.	Conflicting Agreements. Enter into or permit to exist any agreement containing
any provision which would be violated or breached by the performance of its obligations under this agreement or any of the other Related
Documents.



 


		G.	Transfer of Ownership. Permit the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly,
beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC
thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of Equity Interests representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented
by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower.



 




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		H.	Limitation on Loans, Advances, Investments, and Receivables. Purchase, hold
or acquire any Equity Interest or evidence of indebtedness of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, permit to exist any receivable
from, or make or permit to exist any investment or acquire any interest whatsoever in, any Person, except: (1) extensions of trade credit
to customers in the ordinary course of business on ordinary terms; (2) commercial paper, certificates of deposit, US Treasury or other
governmental agency obligations; (3) loans, advances, investments and receivables existing as of the date of this agreement that have
been disclosed to and approved by the Bank in writing and that are not to be paid with proceeds of borrowings under the Credit Facilities
and (4) Equity Interests of any Subsidiaries as of the effective date of this Agreement; and (5) Permitted Acquisitions.



 


		I.	Organizational Documents. Unless at least thirty (30) day prior written notice
is provided to the Bank, amend or modify any of its Organizational Documents.



 


		J.	Government Regulation. (1) Be or become subject at any time to any Legal
Requirement or list of any government agency (including, without limitation, the U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control list) that prohibits
or limits the Bank from making any advance or extension of credit to it or from otherwise conducting business with it, or (2) fail to
provide documentary and other evidence of its identity as may be requested by the Bank at any time to enable the Bank to verify its identity
or to comply with any applicable Legal Requirement, including, without limitation, Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act of 2001, 31 U.S.C.
Section 5318.



 


		K.	Subsidiaries. Form, create or acquire any Subsidiary (other than in connection
with a Permitted Acquisition), unless, (i) the Borrower has provided the Bank with 30 days prior written notice of such formation or acquisition
and (ii) prior to or contemporaneously with the formation or acquisition of such Subsidiary, (A) the Borrower (x) has executed and delivered,
or has caused such Subsidiary to execute and deliver, such documentation or other instruments (including, without limitation, authorizing
documents described in Section 3.1 D. above, security agreements, pledge agreements, control agreements and/or guarantees) and (y) has
taken, or has authorized the Bank to take on its behalf, all actions (including, without limitation, the filing and recording of financing
statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents in connection with such acquisition), in each case, as requested
by the Bank in its sole discretion, with respect to any such newly acquired or formed Subsidiary, and (B) the Borrower has provided to
the Bank all documentation and other information regarding such newly formed or acquired Subsidiaries as may be required to comply with
the applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act.



 


		5.2	Financial Covenants. Without the prior written consent of the Bank, the
Borrower will not:



 


Intentionally
omitted.


 


		6.	Representations.



 


		6.1	Representations and Warranties by the Borrower. To induce the Bank to enter
into this agreement, the Borrower represents and warrants as of the date of this agreement and as of the date of each request for credit
under the Credit Facilities that each of the following statements is true and correct and shall remain so until all Credit Facilities
and all Liabilities under the Notes and other Related Documents are paid in full:



 


 (a)         its name as it appears in this agreement is its exact name as it appears in its most recently filed public organic record and other Organizational Documents,




 


 (b)        the execution and delivery of this agreement and the other Related Documents to which it is a party, and the performance of the obligations they impose, do not violate any Legal Requirement, conflict with any agreement by which it is bound, or require the consent or approval of any other Person,




 


 (c)        this agreement and the other Related Documents have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all parties thereto (other than the Bank) and are valid, enforceable and binding agreements, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity,




 


 (d)        all balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and other financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis with prior financial statements and other information furnished to the Bank are accurate and fairly reflect the financial condition of the Persons to which they apply on their effective dates, which financial condition has not changed materially and adversely since those dates,




 




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 (e)        no litigation, claim, investigation, administrative proceeding or similar action is pending or, to Borrower’s knowledge, threatened against it, and no other event has occurred which may materially affect it or any of its Subsidiaries' financial condition, properties, business, affairs or operations, other than litigation, claims, or other events, if any, that have been disclosed to and acknowledged by the Bank in writing,




 


 (f)        all of its tax returns and reports that are or were required to be filed, have been filed, and all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges have been paid in full, except those presently being contested by it in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided,




 


 (g)       it is not an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company", within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,




 


 (h)       there are no defenses or counterclaims, offsets or adverse claims, demands or actions of any kind, personal or otherwise, that it could assert with respect to this agreement or the Credit Facilities,




 


 (i)         it owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, trade names, copyrights, technology, know-how and processes necessary for the continued current conduct of its business, and




 


 (j)         there has been no default, event of default or event that would constitute a default or event of default (pending giving of notice or a lapse of time or both), of any provision of this agreement, the Notes or any other Related Documents.




 


		6.2	Representations and Warranties Regarding Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions.
The Borrower represents and warrants as of the date of this agreement and as of the date of each request for credit under the Credit
Facilities that the Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower,
its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and
the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors and officers and to the knowledge of the Borrower its employees and agents,
are in compliance with AntiCorruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary,
any of their respective directors, officers or to the knowledge of the Borrower employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any
agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established
hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No advance, letter of credit, use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by the Credit Facilities
will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.



 


		7.	Default/Remedies.



 


		7.1	Events of Default/Acceleration. If any of the following events occurs, the
Notes shall become due immediately, without notice, at the Bank's option:



 


		A.	Any Obligor fails to pay when due any of the Liabilities, or any amount payable
with respect to any of the Liabilities, or under any Note, any other Related Document.



 


		B.	Any Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries: (i) fails to observe or perform any term,
covenant, condition or agreement of any of the Related Documents or any other agreement, now or hereafter in effect, with the Bank, or
any Affiliate of the Bank or their respective successors and assigns; or (ii) makes any materially incorrect or misleading representation
to the Bank.



 


		C.	Any Obligor (i) terminates or revokes or purports to terminate or revoke its guaranty
or any Obligor's guaranty becomes unenforceable in whole or in part; or (ii) fails to perform promptly under its guaranty.



 


		D.	Any Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries (i) defaults under the terms of any agreement
or instrument relating to any debt for borrowed money (other than the debt evidenced by the Related Documents) and the effect of such
default will allow the creditor to declare the debt due before its stated maturity; or (ii) fails to pay when due any other debt in excess
of $250,000 individually and $1,000,000 in the aggregate to any Person (including the Bank), or under any agreement or instrument evidencing
other debt to any Person.



 




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		E.	There is any loss, theft, damage, or destruction of any Collateral not covered by
insurance, but excluding any lack of coverage representing a deductible or self-inured retention as provided in the Company’s insurance
policies approved by lender.



 


		F.	Any event occurs that would permit the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate
any employee benefit plan of any Obligor or any Subsidiary of any Obligor.



 


		G.	Any Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries: (i) becomes insolvent or unable to pay its
debts as they become due; (ii) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; (iii) consents to or commences any proceeding under any
bankruptcy, reorganization, liquidation, insolvency or similar laws; (iv) conceals or removes any of its Property, with intent to hinder,
delay or defraud any of its creditors; (v) makes or permits a transfer of any of its Property, which is reasonably likely to be characterized
as fraudulent under any bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance or similar law; or (vi) makes a transfer of any of its Property to or for the
benefit of a creditor at a time when other creditors similarly situated have not been paid.



 


		H.	A custodian, receiver, or trustee is appointed for any Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries
or for a substantial part of their respective Property.



 


		I.	Any Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries, without the Bank's prior written consent:
(i) liquidates, divides or allocates any assets under a plan of division or similar arrangement, creates any series limited liability
company, allocates any property to any series, or is dissolved; (ii) merges or consolidates with any other Person (except in connection
with a Permitted Acquisition); (iii) leases, sells or otherwise conveys a material part of its assets or business outside the ordinary
course of its business; (iv) leases, purchases, or otherwise acquires a material part of the assets of any other Person, except (x) in
the ordinary course of its business or (y) in connection with a Permitted Acquisition; or (v) agrees to do any of the foregoing; provided,
however, that any Subsidiary of an Obligor may merge or consolidate with any other Subsidiary of that Obligor, or with the Obligor, so
long as the Obligor is the survivor.



 


		J.	Proceedings are commenced under any bankruptcy, reorganization, liquidation, or
similar laws against any Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries and remain undismissed for sixty (60) days after commencement; or any Obligor
or any of its Subsidiaries consents to the commencement of those proceedings.



 


		K.	Any attachment, seizure, sequestration, levy, or garnishment is issued against any
Property of any Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries or any Collateral.



 


		L.	Any individual Obligor dies, or a guardian or conservator is appointed for any individual
Obligor or all or any portion of their respective Property, or the Collateral.



 


		M.	Any material adverse change occurs in: (i) the Property, financial condition, business,
assets, liabilities, or operations of any Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any Obligor's ability to perform its obligations under
the Related Documents; or (iii) the Collateral.



 


		7.2	Remedies. At any time after the occurrence of a default, the Bank may do
one or more of the following: (a) cease permitting the Borrower to incur any Liabilities; (b) terminate any commitment of the Bank evidenced
by any of the Notes; (c) declare any of the Notes to be immediately due and payable, without notice of acceleration, presentment and demand
or protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived; (d) exercise all rights of setoff;
and (e) exercise any and all other rights pursuant to any of the Related Documents.



 


		A.	Generally. The rights of the Bank under this agreement and the other Related
Documents are in addition to other rights (including without limitation, other rights of setoff) the Bank may have contractually, by law,
in equity or otherwise, all of which are cumulative and hereby retained by the Bank. Each Obligor agrees to stand still with regard to
the Bank's enforcement of its rights, including taking no action to delay, impede or otherwise interfere with the Bank's rights to realize
on any Collateral.



 


		B.	Bank’s Right of Setoff. If default shall have occurred, the Bank and
each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and
apply any and all deposits (general or special time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time
owing by the Bank or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Borrower against any of and all the Liabilities, irrespective
of whether or not the Bank shall have made any demand under the Related Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured. The
rights of the Bank under this Section are in addition
to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which the Bank may have.



 




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		8.	Miscellaneous.



 


		8.1	Notice. Any notices and demands under or related to this agreement
                                                                      shall be in writing and delivered to the Borrower at its address stated in this agreement and if to the Bank, Manager Wholesale
                                                                      Lending Services, JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., 10 S. Dearborn, IL1-1145 (Floor L2), Chicago, IL 60603-2300 with a copy addressed to Sara Coronado, JPMorgan Chase Bank,
N.A., 2000 Regency Pkwy, Floor 04, Cary, NC 275188506, by one of the following means: (a) by hand; (b) by overnight courier service; or
(c) by certified or registered mail. Notice shall be deemed given upon receipt. Any party may change its address for purposes of the receipt
of notices and demands by giving notice of the change in the manner provided in this provision.






 


		8.2	Statements. The Bank may provide the Borrower with account statements or
invoices with respect to any of the Liabilities ("Statements"). Unless otherwise agreed to herein, the Bank is under no duty
or obligation to provide Statements, which, if provided, will be solely for the Borrower’s convenience. Statements may contain estimates
of the amounts owed during the relevant billing period, whether of principal, interest, fees or other Liabilities. If the Borrower pays
the full amount indicated on a Statement on or before the due date indicated on such Statement, the Borrower shall not be in default of
payment with respect to the billing period indicated on such Statement; provided, that acceptance by the Bank of any payment that is less
than the total amount actually due at that time (including but not limited to any past due amounts) shall not constitute a waiver of the
Bank’s right to receive payment in full at another time.



 


		8.3	No Waiver. No delay on the part of the Bank in the exercise of any right
or remedy waives that right or remedy. No single or partial exercise by the Bank of any right or remedy precludes any other future exercise
of it or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The making of an advance during the existence of any default or subsequent to the
occurrence of a default or when all conditions precedent have not been met shall not constitute a waiver of the default or condition precedent.
No waiver or indulgence by the Bank of any default is effective unless it is in writing and signed by the Bank, nor shall a waiver on
one occasion bar or waive that right on any future occasion.



 


		8.4	Integration; Severability. This agreement, the Notes, and the other Related
Documents embody the entire agreement and understanding between the Borrower and the Bank and supersede all prior agreements and understandings
relating to their subject matter. If any one or more of the obligations of the Borrower under this agreement, the Notes, or the other
Related Documents or any provision thereof is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining obligations of the Borrower and the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired;
and the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability in one jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of such
obligations or provisions in any other jurisdiction.



 


		8.5	Governing Law and Venue. This agreement and (unless stated otherwise therein)
all Related Documents shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to
its laws of conflicts). The Borrower agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to any of its obligations under this agreement
may be brought by the Bank in any state or federal court located in the State of New York, as the Bank in its sole discretion may elect.
By the execution and delivery of this agreement, the Borrower submits to and accepts, for itself and in respect of its property, generally
and unconditionally, the non-exclusive jurisdiction of those courts. The Borrower waives any claim that the State of New York is not a
convenient forum or the proper venue for any such suit, action or proceeding.



 


		8.6	Non-Liability of the Bank. The relationship between the Borrower on one
hand and the Bank on the other hand shall be solely that of borrower and lender. The Bank shall have no fiduciary obligations to the Borrower.
The Bank is not to be deemed an Affiliate of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.



 


		8.7	Indemnification of the Bank. The Borrower agrees to indemnify, defend and
hold the Bank, its parent companies, Subsidiaries, Affiliates, their respective successors and assigns and each of their respective shareholders,
directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the "Indemnified Persons ") harmless for, from any and against
any and all loss, liability, obligation, damage, penalty, judgment, claim, deficiency, expense, interest, penalties, attorneys' fees (including
the fees and expenses of any attorneys engaged by the Indemnified Person) and amounts paid in settlement ("Claims") to
which any Indemnified Person may become subject arising out of or relating to the Credit Facilities, the Liabilities under this agreement
or any other Related Documents or the Collateral, except to the limited extent that the Claims are proximately caused by the Indemnified
Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The indemnification
provided for in this paragraph shall survive the termination of this agreement and shall not be affected by the presence, absence or amount
of or the payment or nonpayment of any claim under, any insurance.



 




    9


     


    




 


		8.8	Counterparts. This agreement and any Related Document may be executed in
multiple counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts, taken together, shall
constitute one and the same of such agreement or document.



 


		8.9	Advice of Counsel. The Borrower acknowledges that it has had the opportunity
to be advised by counsel, in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this agreement and any other Related Documents.



 


		8.10	Recovery of Additional Costs. If the imposition of or any change in any
Legal Requirement, or the interpretation or application of any thereof by any court or administrative or governmental authority (including
any request or policy not having the force of law) shall impose, modify, or make applicable any taxes (except federal, state, or local
income or franchise taxes imposed on the Bank), reserve requirements, liquidity requirements, capital adequacy requirements, Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) deposit insurance premiums or assessments, or other obligations which would (A) increase the cost to the
Bank for extending, maintaining or funding the Credit Facilities, (B) reduce the amounts payable to the Bank under the Credit Facilities,
or (C) reduce the rate of return on the Bank's capital as a consequence of the Bank's obligations with respect to the Credit Facilities,
then the Borrower agrees to pay the Bank such additional amounts as will compensate the Bank therefor, within five (5) days after the
Bank's written demand for such payment. The Bank's demand shall be accompanied by an explanation of such imposition or charge and a calculation
in reasonable detail of the additional amounts payable by the Borrower, which explanation and calculations shall be conclusive in the
absence of manifest error.



 


		8.11	Expenses. To the extent not prohibited by law, and regardless of whether
the transactions contemplated by this agreement are consummated, the Borrower is liable to the Bank and agrees to pay on demand all reasonable
costs and expenses of every kind incurred (or charged by internal allocation) in connection with the negotiating, preparing, making, servicing
and collection (in bankruptcy or otherwise) of the Credit Facilities and the realization on any Collateral and any other amounts owed
under this agreement or the Related Documents, including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs. The obligations
of the Borrower under this section shall survive the termination of this agreement.



 


		8.12	Assignments. The Borrower agrees that the Bank may at any time sell, assign
or transfer one or more interests or participations in all or any part of its rights and obligations in the Notes to one or more purchasers
whether or not related to the Bank. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this agreement, the Bank may at any time pledge or assign
a security interest in all of any portion of its rights under this agreement to secure obligations of the Bank to a Federal Reserve Bank
or a Federal Home Loan Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release the Bank from any of its obligations hereunder or
substitute any such pledgee or assignee for the Bank as a party hereto.



 


		8.13	Marketing Consent. The Borrower hereby authorizes the Bank, at Bank's sole
expense, and without any prior approval by or compensation to the Borrower, to include the Borrower's name and logo in advertising, marketing,
tombstones, case studies and training materials, posted on the Internet (including social media), on the Bank's Intranet, in pitchbooks
and materials sent to prospective and existing customers, in newspapers or journals and to give such other publicity to this agreement
and any related products and services, as Bank may from time to time determine in its sole discretion.



 


		8.14	Waivers. To the maximum extent not prohibited by applicable Legal Requirements,
each Obligor waives (a) any right to receive notice of the following matters before the Bank enforces any of its rights: (i) any demand,
diligence, presentment, dishonor and protest, or (ii) any action that the Bank takes regarding any Person, any Collateral, or any of the
Liabilities, that it might be entitled to by law or under any other agreement; (b) any right to require the Bank to proceed against the
Borrower, any other Obligor or any Collateral, or pursue any remedy in the Bank's power to pursue; (c) any defense based on any claim
that any Obligor's obligations exceed or are more burdensome than those of the Borrower; (d) the benefit of any statute of limitations
affecting liability of any Obligor or the enforcement hereof; (e) any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of
the Borrower or by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever (other than payment in full) of the obligation of the Borrower for
the Liabilities; and (f) any defense based on or arising out of any defense that the Borrower may have to the payment or performance of
the Liabilities or any portion thereof. Each Obligor consents to any extension or postponement of time of its payment without limit as
to the number or period, to any substitution, exchange or release of all or any part of
any Collateral, to the addition of any other party, and to the release or discharge of, or suspension of any rights and remedies against,
any Obligor.



 




    10


     


    




 


		8.15	Confidentiality. The Bank agrees that it will treat information provided
by the Borrower or its representatives to the Bank (the "Information") as confidential; provided, however, that the Bank
may disclose the Information (a) to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates’ directors, employees, officers, auditors, consultants,
agents, counsel and advisors (such Affiliates and such Persons collectively, "Representatives"), it being understood
that its Representatives shall be informed by the Bank of the confidential nature of such Information and be instructed to comply with
the terms of this section to the same extent as is required of the Bank hereunder; (b) in response to a subpoena or other legal process,
or as may otherwise be required by law, order or regulation, or upon the request or demand of any governmental or regulatory agency or
authority having jurisdiction over the Bank or its Representatives or to defend or prosecute a claim brought against or by the Bank and/or
its Representatives; (c) to actual and prospective assignees, actual and prospective participants, and actual and prospective swap counterparties,
provided that all such participants, assignees or swap counterparties execute an agreement with the Bank containing provisions substantially
the same as those contained in this section; (d) to holders of Equity Interests in the Borrower, other than holders of any Equity Interest
in a publicly traded company; (e) to any Obligor; and (f) with the Borrower's consent. The restrictions contained in this section shall
not apply to Information which (a) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the Bank
or its Representatives in breach of this section, or (b) becomes available to the Bank or its Representatives from a source, other than
the Borrower or one of its agents, who is not known to the Bank or its Representatives to be bound by any obligations of confidentiality
to the Borrower, or (c) was known to the Bank or its Representatives prior to its disclosure to the Bank or its Representatives by the
Borrower or one of its agents or was independently developed by the Bank or its Representatives, or (d) was or is, after the date hereof,
disclosed (or required to be disclosed) by the Borrower to the Bank or any of its Representatives under or in connection with any existing
financing relationship between the Borrower and the Bank or any of its Representatives, the disclosure of which shall be governed by the
agreements executed in connection with such financing relationship. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of the Information
as provided in this section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree
of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information. Bank acknowledges
that it and its Representatives are aware that the United States securities laws prohibit any person who has material non-public information
about a company from purchasing or selling securities of such company, or from communicating such information to any other person under
circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities.



 


		8.16	Electronic Signature. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature
page of this document and any Related Document that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic
means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart
of such document. The words "execution," "signed," "signature," "delivery," and words of like
import in or relating to this document and any Related Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping
of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image
of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed
signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be; provided that nothing herein
shall require the Bank to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures
approved by it. If the Bank agrees to accept any Electronic Signature, it shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly
given by or on behalf of the signer(s) without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form
of any such Electronic Signature and any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the signer(s) hereby (i) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with
any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Bank and signer(s) of this document
or any Related Document, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an
image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this document and any Related Document shall have the same
legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (ii) agrees that the Bank may, at its option, create one or more copies
of this document and any Related Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the
ordinary course of such Person's business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered
an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (iii) waives any argument,
defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this document and any Related Document based solely on the
lack of paper original copies of this document and any Related Document, respectively,
including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (iv) waives any claim against the Bank for any liabilities arising solely from
the Bank’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means
that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the signer(s)
hereto to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.
For purposes of this section, "Electronic Signature" shall mean, an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to,
or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or
record.



 




    11


     


    




 


		8.17	Limitation of Liability. To the extent permitted by applicable law, no party
hereto shall assert, and each such party hereby waives, any liabilities against any other party hereto, on any theory of liability, for
special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or



 


as a result
of, this Agreement, any other Related Document, or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Credit Facilities or
the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that, nothing in this clause shall relieve the Borrower of any obligation it may have to indemnify
an Indemnified Person against special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnified Person by a third
party.


 


		9.	USA PATRIOT ACT NOTIFICATION. The following notification is provided to the Borrower pursuant to Section
326 of the USA Patriot Act of 2001, 31 U.S.C. Section 5318:



 


IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities,
Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each Person that opens an account,
including any deposit account, treasury management account, loan, other extension of credit, or other financial services product. What
this means for the Borrower: When the Borrower opens an account, if it is an individual the Bank will ask for its name, taxpayer identification
number, residential address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Bank to identify it, and, if it is not an individual
the Bank will ask for its name, taxpayer identification number, business address, and other information that will allow the Bank to identify
it. The Bank may also ask, if the Borrower is an individual, to see its driver’s license or other identifying documents, and if
it is not an individual, to see its Organizational Documents or other identifying documents.


 


		10.	WAIVER OF SPECIAL DAMAGES. WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL RELATED DOCUMENTS, THE BORROWER
WAIVES, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT THE UNDERSIGNED MAY HAVE TO CLAIM OR RECOVER FROM THE BANK IN ANY LEGAL
ACTION OR PROCEEDING ANY SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.



 


		11.	JURY WAIVER. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE
BORROWER AND THE BANK (BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF) HEREBY VOLUNTARILY, KNOWINGLY, IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO HAVE
A JURY PARTICIPATE IN RESOLVING ANY DISPUTE (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) BETWEEN THE BORROWER AND THE BANK ARISING
OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS. THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO THE BANK TO
PROVIDE THE FINANCING DESCRIBED HEREIN.



 




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		Borrower:
	 	 
	 	Charles & Colvard, Ltd
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Don O’Connell
	 	 	 
	 	 	Don O’Connell	President & CEO
	 	 	Printed Name	Title




 


	 	Date Signed: 	7/12/2021



 







	 	Bank:




 


	 	JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Thomas Gallagher
	 	 
	 	 	Thomas Gallagher	VP, Credit Risk
	 	 	Printed Name	Title




 


	 	Date Signed:	7/12/2021