Agreement and General Release



 Exhibit 10.51 
 SEPARATION AGREEMENT 
 THIS SEPARATION AGREEMENT
(this “Agreement”) is made as of March 31, 2009 by and among Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CSA Holdings”), Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc., an Ohio corporation, (the “Company”), and
Larry J. Beard (“Executive”). 
 A. The Company and Executive are parties to an Employment Agreement dated as of
January 1, 2008 (the “Employment Agreement”). Except where the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings given them in the Employment Agreement. 
 B. Pursuant to Section 7.c. of the Employment Agreement, Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate due to
Executive’s resignation for Good Reason effective March 31, 2009, and the parties wish to set forth the terms and conditions pertaining to the termination of Executive’s employment. 
 THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and obligations set forth in this Agreement, the Company and Executive agree as follows:

 1. Separation. Executive’s employment with the Company and its corporate parent, subsidiaries and affiliates
shall terminate effective March 31, 2009 (the “Separation Date”). Executive shall, to the extent required to effect and complete such termination of employment, execute those documents and complete those actions required to resign his
position as an officer or director or other agent of the Company, its corporate parent, subsidiaries and affiliates all effective not later than the Separation Date. 
 2. Consideration provided by the Company. The Company agrees, subject to Section 3 hereof and Executive’s continued performance of his obligations hereunder: 
 a. to continue to pay Executive’s current salary in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s usual
payment practices and to provide Executive such Employee Benefits, if any, as to which he may be entitled under the employee benefit plans of the Company, through the Separation Date, which shall include compensation for 5 accrued and unused
vacation days in 2009; 
 b. to reimburse Executive for any unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by
Executive in accordance with Company policy through the Separation Date; 
 c. to pay Executive the total gross
amount of $1,237,500.00, which the parties agree is, and shall be deemed to be, the total amount payable to Executive under Section 7(c)(iii)(A)(iii) of the Employment Agreement, as follows: 
 i. Two monthly installments of $137,500.00 each, payable on or before April 30 and May 31, 2009, respectively, and








 ii. A third and final installment of $962,500.00, payable on or before
June 30, 2009; 
 d. to pay, distribute and/or issue to Executive the amounts and considerations to which he
is entitled under the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan and Pre-2005 Executive Deferred Compensation Plan in accordance with the terms of such plans, as follows: 
 i. With respect to that portion of Executive’s balances in the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan and Pre-2005
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan which are not deemed to be invested in Company stock units, a total cash lump sum payment equal to $259,998.28 which the parties agree is, and shall be deemed to be, the total amount to which he is entitled under
such plans other than the considerations set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) hereof; and 
 ii. For the portion of
Executive’s balances in the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan which are deemed to be invested in Company stock units, a distribution of 3,512 shares of common stock of CSA Holdings, which is based on the Executive’s total number of
Company stock units under the Deferred Compensation Plan as of March 31, 2009. 
 e. to pay Executive the
amounts to which he is entitled under the Company’s qualified Salaried Retirement Plan and qualified Investment Savings Plan in accordance with the terms of such plans; 
 f. to pay Executive the amount of $498,000, which the parties agree is, and shall be deemed to be, the total amount to which
he is entitled under the Company’s Nonqualified Supplementary Benefit Plan, on or before June 30, 2009; 
 g. to pay Executive the amount of $234,413.00, which the parties agree is, and shall be deemed to be, the total amount payable to Executive under Section 7(c)(iii)(A)(iv) of the Employment Agreement, on or before June 30, 2009;

 h. for twenty-four (24) months following the Separation Date, to provide Executive with life and health
insurance benefits in accordance with Section 7(c)(iii)(A)(v) of the Employment Agreement. 
 3. Purchase of CSA
Holdings Shares. On a date to be determined by the Company which shall not be earlier than twelve months or later than thirteen months following the date on which the Company distributes shares of CSA Holdings common stock to Executive pursuant
to Section 2(d)(ii) hereof (the “Closing Date”), CSA Holdings or one of its affiliates will purchase and Executive will sell all of the shares of the common stock of CSA Holdings then owned and held by Executive (the
“Shares”) for a purchase price per share equal to the Fair Market Value per share of such common stock as of December 31, 2009, as determined in accordance with the Stockholders Agreement by and among CSA Holdings and its stockholders
dated as of December 23, 2004 (“Stockholders Agreement”). On the Closing Date, (a) Executive shall deliver to CSA Holdings certificates representing the Shares together with a duly executed stock power in a form satisfactory to
CSA Holdings and, by delivering the Shares on the Closing Date,

  

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 will represent and warrant as of the Closing Date that Executive is delivering the Shares to CSA Holdings
under this Agreement free and clear of any liens and that he is the sole beneficial and record owner of the Shares with full right, power and authority to convey the Shares to CSA Holdings; and (b) CSA Holdings shall pay Executive the purchase
price for the Shares determined in accordance with this Section. 
 4. Stock Options. With respect to the options granted
to Executive under the CSA Holdings Stock Incentive Plan (the “Stock Option Plan”), the provisions of the Stock Option Plan, the Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement dated December 23, 2004 between CSA Holdings and Executive, as
amended (the “Option Agreement”) and the Stockholders Agreement shall apply in accordance with their terms, subject to Section 3 of this Agreement. 
 5. Release of Further Obligations. Executive and the Company agree that, upon fulfillment of the obligations set forth in this Agreement, neither the Company, CSA Holdings or any of their
affiliates, officers, directors or representatives shall have any further obligation of any kind to Executive. The Company’s obligations hereunder shall be contingent upon Executive executing and delivering to the Company within thirty days
following the Separation Date, one original of a Release in the form of Exhibit A (the “Release”). 
 6.
Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement, or any other benefits received pursuant hereto, such minimum Federal, state and/or local taxes, FICA
and such other deductions as may be required to be withheld under any applicable law or regulation. 
 7. Severability of
Provisions. If any of the provisions, terms, or clauses of this Agreement are held invalid, illegal, unenforceable or ineffective, such provisions, terms and clauses shall be deemed severable such that all other provisions, terms and clauses of
this Agreement shall remain valid and binding upon the parties. 
 8. Entire Agreement. With the exception
of the Release and sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the Employment Agreement, which shall remain in effect, this Agreement contains the complete understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter addressed herein, and
supersedes and replaces all prior negotiations and agreements, whether written or oral, including the Agreement and General Release dates as of March 31, 2009 by and among the parties. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived
except by written agreement signed by the parties. 
 9. No Waiver of Breach. No waiver of any breach of any term or
provision of this Agreement shall be construed to be, or shall be, a waiver of any other breach of this Agreement. 
 10.
Binding Effect. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns. 
 11. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
Michigan. 
  

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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year
first above written. 
  

			
	COOPER-STANDARD HOLDINGS INC.
		
	By:	 	/S/    JAMES S.
MCELYA        
		 	Name: James S. McElya
		 	Title: Chairman and CEO


  

			
	COOPER-STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE INC.
		
	By:	 	/S/    JAMES S.
MCELYA        
		 	Name: James S. McElya
		 	Title: Chairman and CEO


  

	
	EXECUTIVE:
	
	/S/    LARRY J.
BEARD        
	Name: Larry J. Beard


  

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 EXHIBIT A 
 COOPER-STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE INC. 
 Release

 WHEREAS, the employment of Larry J. Beard (the “Executive”) has terminated in accordance with
Section 7(c) of the Employment Agreement dated as of January 1, 2008 between Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. (“CSA”) and the Executive (the “Employment Agreement”); and 
 WHEREAS, the Executive and CSA have signed a Separation Agreement dated as of March 31, 2009 (“Separation Agreement”) setting
forth the terms and conditions pertaining to the termination of Executive’s employment; 
 NOW THEREFORE, in consideration
of the promises and agreements contained herein and in the Separation Agreement and Employment Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the
Executive agrees as follows: 
 1. This Release is effective on the date hereof and will continue in effect as provided herein.

 2. In consideration of the payments to be made and the benefits to be received by the Executive pursuant to the Separation
Agreement and the Employment Agreement, which the Executive acknowledges are in addition to payments and benefits which the Executive would be entitled to receive absent such agreements, the Executive, for himself and his dependents, successors,
assigns, heirs, executors and administrators (and his and their legal representatives of every kind), hereby releases, dismisses, remises and forever discharges CSA, its predecessors, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, related or affiliated
companies, officers, directors, stockholders, members, employees, heirs, successors, assigns, representatives, agents and counsel (the “Company”) from any and all arbitrations, claims, including claims for attorney’s fees,
demands, damages, suits, proceedings, actions and/or causes of action of any kind and every description, whether known or unknown, which Executive now has or may have had for, upon, or by reason of any cause whatsoever (“claims”),
against the Company, including but not limited to: 
 A. any and all claims arising out of or relating to
Executive’s employment by or service with the Company and his termination from the Company; 
 B. any and
all claims of discrimination, including but not limited to claims of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, age, national origin, marital status, religion or handicap, including, specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
any claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, the Michigan Handicappers’ Civil Rights Act,
the Michigan Wage Payment Act (MCLA Section 408.471), the Polygraph Protection Act of 1981, the Michigan Whistleblower’s Protection Act (MCLA Section 15.361), the common law of the State of Michigan, and any other applicable state
statutes and regulations; and 
  

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 C. provided, however that the foregoing shall not apply to claims to
enforce rights that Executive may have as of the date hereof or in the future under the Separation Agreement, under CSA’s indemnification by-laws, under the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage maintained by CSA, or under this
Release. 
 D. any and all claims of wrongful or unjust discharge or breach of any contract or promise, express
or implied. 
 3. Executive understands and acknowledges that the Company does not admit any violation of law, liability or
invasion of any of his rights and that any such violation, liability or invasion is expressly denied. The consideration provided for this Release is made for the purpose of settling and extinguishing all claims and rights (and every other similar or
dissimilar matter) that Executive ever had or now may have against the Company to the extent provided in this Release. Executive further agrees and acknowledges that no representations, promises or inducements have been made by the Company.

 4. Executive further agrees and acknowledges that: 
 A. The release provided for herein releases claims to and including the date of this Release; 
 B. Executive has been advised by the Company to consult with legal counsel prior to executing this Release, has had an
opportunity to consult with and to be advised by legal counsel of his choice, fully understands the terms of this Release, and enters into this Release freely, voluntarily and intending to be bound; 
 C. Executive has been given a period of 21 days to review and consider the terms of this Release, prior to its execution and
that he may use as much of the 21 day period as he desires; and 
 D. Executive may, within 7 days after
execution, revoke this Release. Revocation shall be made by delivering a written notice of revocation to the General Counsel of CSA. For such revocation to be effective, written notice must be actually received by the General Counsel of CSA no later
than the close of business on the 7th day after Executive executes this Release. If Executive does exercise his right to revoke this Release, all of the terms and conditions of this Release shall be of no force and effect and CSA shall not have any
obligation to make payments or provide benefits to Executive as set forth in the Separation Agreement or the Employment Agreement. 
 5. Executive agrees that he will never file a lawsuit or other complaint asserting any claim that is released in this Release. 
 6. Executive waives and releases any claim that he has or may have to reemployment after the date of this Release. 
  

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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has executed and delivered this Release on the date set
forth below. 
  
  

							
				
	Dated:	 	 	 		 	 
		 		 		 	Larry J. Beard
		 		 		 	Executive

  

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