EX-10.1






Exhibit 10.1




SEPARATION AGREEMENT



This Separation Agreement and General Release is entered into effective as of the 6th day of
August, 2009, by and between Nick Stanage, a U.S. citizen with resident in the State of Michigan
(“Employee”) and Dana Holding Corporation, a Delaware Corporation together with its affiliates and
subsidiaries (collectively referenced herein as “Dana” or the “Company”).




Recitals





	A.	 	Employee has been employed by Dana (or its predecessor) in the United States since August 29,
2005. Employee’s last day as an active employee will be October 31, 2009. He has most
recently been serving as President, Heavy Vehicle Products.
	 
	B.	 	The Employee and Dana have mutually agreed to separate under amicable circumstances after a
full discussion and review of current circumstances and options.
	 
	C.	 	Employee and Dana have concluded that it would be in the best interests of both Employee and
Dana to enter into this Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”) in order to
replace and supercede any agreements or understandings between the Executive and Dana to
separate under mutually agreed terms to pursue other options outside of Dana.
	 
	D.	 	In order to recognize the above-described concerns, and without either party admitting any
liability to the other except for such obligations as shall be herein below assumed, Employee
and Dana have agreed as set forth below.





     NOW, THEREFORE, for value received, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, intending to be bound by this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:




	 	1.	 	Employment. Employee and Dana agree that Employee’s current duties at Dana
ended as of July 31, 2009. Between the effective date of this Agreement and October 31,
2009, the Employee’s last day on the payroll, Employee will work on such ongoing and
transition matters as Dana may reasonably assign.
	 
	 	2.	 	Employment Records. Dana’s records will indicate that Employee’s
employment was terminated by mutual consent for reasons related to the




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	 	 	 	severe economic
conditions impacting the performance of businesses in Dana’s markets that have
been managed by Employee as of July, 2009. The Employee will receive his final pay as
an active employee together with his October, 2009 perquisite allowance and accrued
unused vacation (anticipated not to exceed 2 weeks) no later than October 31, 2009.
	 
	 	3.	 	Payments/Consideration. Employee shall receive the following as
consideration for Employee’s acceptance and execution of this Separation Agreement and
General Release (as summarized on attached Exhibit A). Employee acknowledges that each
item listed constitutes special consideration in exchange for the promises made herein
and that Dana was not otherwise obligated to provide these payments or benefits to
Employee:






	 	a.	 	Upon the receipt of an invoice detailing the
charges, Dana will reimburse Employee for legal services used by
Employee in the negotiation and execution of this Separation Agreement
and Release up to a maximum cost of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000).
	 
	 	b.	 	Dana shall provide Employee with outplacement
services in the U.S. at a cost of up to $25,000. The Employee may
choose the firm to provide this service so long as the firm is
reasonably acceptable to Dana. Dana shall provide Employee with a
$25,000 lump sum cash payment within 30 days after the date of the
Employee’s termination to assist Employee with outplacement assistance.
	 
	 	c.	 	Employee will receive a lump sum payment equal
to 12 months of base compensation with all deductions required by law.
This payment will be made within 30 days after the Employee’s last day
on the payroll as set forth in Paragraph 1 above so long has this
Agreement has been signed and the period for revocation set forth in
Paragraph 13 has expired by such time except that to the extent any
part of this payment would be considered “deferred compensation” not
exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, as referenced in Paragraph 12 below, that
portion (if any) of the lump sum payment which exceeds the lesser of
(A) two times the Employee’s annualized compensation from Dana for the
2008 calendar year, or (B) $490,000 (i.e. two times the annual limit
on compensation as may be in effect under Section 401(a)(17) of the
Internal Revenue Code for 2009), shall not be paid to Employee until
six months and one day after the Employee’s termination date (or, if
earlier, upon the Employee’s death).




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	 	d.	 	The Employee will also receive a payment of
$75,000 in full satisfaction of any claims that the Employee may have
or otherwise
may assert for benefits or payments beyond those reflected on Exhibit A
related to any Dana plan, policy, practice or program whatsoever
(including but not limited to those reflected on Exhibit A). The
Employee will be paid this amount within 30 days after the date of the
Employee’s termination except as may be required to comply with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code but in no event later than May
1, 2010. As such, Dana and the Employee recognize and agree that the
Employee will not be entitled to any benefits or payments pursuant to any
incentive program or benefit plan, policy or practice of Dana beyond
those benefits or payments referenced on Exhibit A.






	 	4.	 	Health Insurance & Other Benefits. Dana will provide group health insurance
and for Employee until October 31, 2009 as the last day of the month in which his
employment terminated. The Employee will also receive 18 months of subsidized COBRA
(requiring payment of only the employee’s premium (based on the coverage chosen and on
then current rates) from November 1, 2009 through April 30, 2011.
	 
	 	5.	 	Other Benefits. Dana shall provide Employee with the benefits to which he
is entitled in accordance with the provisions of any applicable Dana plans in which he
participates (including but not limited to the 2008 Dana Holding Corporation Omnibus
Stock Incentive Plan) to the extent that such benefits represent those that Employee is
either vested in or otherwise entitled to receive. The effective date of his termination
for the purposes of such plans shall be October 31, 2009. The specific treatment of
Long-Term Incentive Plan grants are referenced on Exhibit A. The Employee’s PERQ
allowance will continue through the end of the Employee’s last month on the active
payroll, October, 2009.
	 
	 	6.	 	SERP. As further consideration, the Employee’s termination will be
considered an Involuntary Termination without Cause and the Employee shall receive a SERP
benefit as calculated in accordance with Paragraph 2.5 of the SERP dated August 29, 2005
and set forth in attached Exhibit A, subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code as more particularly described in Paragraph 12 above. The SERP
payment will be made as of May 1, 2010 in compliance with the requirements of Section
409A.
	 
	 	7.	 	General Release. Employee, on behalf of himself and his attorneys, agents,
representatives, successors, assigns, heirs, administrators and executors




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	 	 	 	(collectively, “Releasors”) hereby forever releases and discharges Dana and any of its affiliates,
parent or subsidiary entities, owners, partners, officers, directors, agents, employees,
representatives, employee benefit plans, plan administrators or plan sponsors, attorneys
and executors (collectively, “Released Parties”), from any and all claims, demands,
suits, liabilities, charges or grievances of any nature whatsoever, whether known or
unknown, arising prior to the execution of
this Agreement by all parties hereto or relating in any way to Employee’s employment,
employment agreements (including but not limited to the Executive Employment Agreement)
or contracts with Dana or the termination of such employment or the negotiation and
execution of this Agreement, whether the same be sounding in tort, contract or for the
violation of any federal, state or local statute, code, common law or ordinance,
including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended,
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act,
the Family Medical Leave Act, or any parallel federal or state statute, ordinance or
court decision and claims for attorneys fees and costs. It is understood that this
Release constitutes a general release. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary,
however, Employee does not release Dana from any obligations of indemnification which
flow to Employee as a senior executive or officer of Dana, whether under the Bylaws,
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, other corporate constitutive documents, or under
law, for matters as to which Employee is entitled to indemnification from Dana while he
was an employee of Dana. Employee recognizes that Dana does not have any obligation to
reinstate or reemploy him, and he agrees not to reapply for employment at Dana or at any
Dana facility. This Release does not prevent Employee from suing Dana to enforce Dana’s
obligations hereunder nor does it preclude Employee from filing any claim for workers’
compensation or unemployment compensation.
	 
	 	8.	 	Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Obligations. The parties recognize
that due to his position within Dana, Employee has a special knowledge of Dana’s business
plans, people, and confidential trade secret information. It is further agreed that the
disclosure of this information would result in extensive damage to Dana. Dana, for its
part, recognizes Employee will need to make a living to support his family. In order to
meet the interests of both parties, and in consideration of Dana’s promises set forth in
Paragraph 4 above, Employee agrees that he will not without the express prior written
approval of Dana, prior to July 31, 2010, provide services of any kind for remuneration
to any business, individual, or entity located in North or South America or Europe which
has products which compete with off-highway or commercial vehicle products of Dana which
represent more than 10% of Dana’s 2008 sales from those businesses for which Employee had
responsibility during his final twenty four months of employment with Dana. Employee
will not solicit for business any customer of Dana’s during 2007-2009 for products in the
off-highway or commercial vehicle markets prior to July 31, 2010. Further, Employee
agrees not to solicit or to assist or otherwise become involved in the solicitation of
any




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	 	 	 	Dana employee for employment outside of Dana or its subsidiaries or affiliates in
North America, South America or Europe prior to July 31, 2010. Employee further agrees
to make full disclosure of the applicable obligations contained in Paragraphs 7 through
10 of this Agreement to any prospective employer prior to July 31, 2010.
	 
	 	9.	 	Non-Disparagement. Employee shall not disparage or criticize Dana or any
of its businesses or employees to third parties whether inside or outside of Dana.
Further, Dana will not disparage or criticize Employee to prospective employers or to
third parties whether inside or outside of Dana. Provided however, that (i) neither Dana
nor Employee shall be held in violation of this provision for any statements believed to
be truthful if such statement is required by law, legal process or made with the consent
of the other party and (ii) for purposes of Dana’s obligations hereunder this obligation
will apply to actions or statements made solely by any members of Dana’s Executive
Committee.
	 
	 	10.	 	Reasonable Cooperation. Employee agrees that he will reasonably cooperate
on any reasonable requests from Dana regarding the transition of responsibilities from
the Employee and will further cooperate with Dana for two years subsequent to his
separation in connection with governmental compliance or pending actual or threatened
litigation involving Dana that relate to events, occurrences or conduct occurring (or
claimed to have occurred) during the period of the Employee’s employment. Dana will
reimburse the Employee for his actual reasonable expenses, as well as his actual
reasonable attorneys’ fees (if independent counsel is necessary). Any such cooperation
shall be at the reasonable request of Dana and would be subject to the reasonable demands
of the Employee’s schedule. Cooperation will include and be limited to:






	 	a)	 	Making himself reasonably available for
interviews and discussions with Dana’s counsel as well as for
depositions and trial testimony;
	 
	 	b)	 	Making himself reasonably available and
cooperating in connection with the preparation with Company counsel of
any testimony required whether as part of a deposition or trial
testimony;
	 
	 	c)	 	Refraining from impeding in any way Dana’s
prosecution or defense of any such litigation or administration
proceeding; and
	 
	 	d)	 	Cooperating fully in the development and
presentation of Dana’s prosecution or defense of such litigation or
administrative proceeding.




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	 	11.	 	Confidentiality. The parties agree that this Agreement, and the terms
hereof, are confidential except as such disclosure may be required to discharge any SEC or
other relevant legal obligation and may not be disclosed in any manner to any third party
except in a proceeding to enforce the terms hereof or if required by applicable law or
legal process or as to statements made to Employee’s wife, lawyer and tax or financial
advisors in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or the implementation of its
terms. Employee acknowledges that he is subject to restrictions against disclosure of
confidential or trade secret information through both written agreement with Dana and the
effect of common law.
Employee will take affirmative steps reasonably necessary or required by Dana to protect
confidential and proprietary information from inappropriate disclosure and will give Dana
reasonable prior notice in order to permit the Company to act in the event that
disclosure of confidential or proprietary information is required by law or court order.
	 
	 	12.	 	Section 409A. It is the intent of the parties that this Agreement be
administered so as to comply with Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulations.
In furtherance of this intent, this Agreement shall be interpreted, operated and
administered in a manner consistent with these intentions. Terms defined in this
Agreement shall have the meanings given to such terms under Section 409A of the Code if
and to the extent required in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code. All payments
to be made upon the Employee’s severance under this Agreement may only be made upon a
“separation from service” as defined under Section 409A of the Code. Any payments that
qualify for the short term deferral exception or another exception under Section 409A of
the Code shall be paid under the applicable exception. For purposes of the limitations on
nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, each payment of
compensation under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment of compensation
for purposes of applying the deferral election rules under Section 409A of the Code and
any application exceptions from coverage under Section 409A of the Code. Because the
Employee is considered a “specified employee” of Dana for purposes of Section 409A of the
Code, any payment due hereunder which is “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A
shall be delayed for at least six (6) months and one day after the date of Employee’s
termination (or, if earlier, upon the Employee’s death) as deemed reasonably necessary by
counsel for Dana in order to avoid any violation or penalties under Section 409A of the
Code.
	 
	 	13.	 	Consideration of Agreement. Employee acknowledges that he has twenty-one
(21) days from his receipt of this Agreement to decide if he wishes to agree to its terms,
and that he is under no obligation to communicate his decision whether or not to execute
this Agreement before the 21-day period has




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	 	 	 	expired. Employee further acknowledges that
he has seven (7) days after he has signed this Agreement to revoke the Agreement, and the
Agreement shall neither be effective nor enforceable until after the seven (7) day period
has expired. Any revocation of this Agreement must be in writing and delivered to Dana’s
Chief Administrative Officer at the corporate office before the expiration of the seven
(7) days.
	 
	 	14.	 	Discussion with Counsel. Employee acknowledges that he has been given an
ample opportunity to fully discuss the terms of this Agreement with counsel of his own
choosing and, in fact, Dana has suggested to him that he take such opportunity. Employee
understands and voluntarily accepts the terms of this Agreement, and believes it to be a
fair and reasonable settlement of any and all outstanding issues between the parties.
	 
	 	15.	 	No Admission. It is expressly understood and agreed that, by entering into
this Agreement, none of the parties hereto are admitting any wrongdoing or liability, and
that all parties expressly deny having engaged in any unlawful conduct of any nature.
	 
	 	16.	 	Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement be held to be illegal
or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall be deemed severed from
the Agreement and the remaining provisions shall remain fully enforceable.
	 
	 	17.	 	Complete Agreement. This Agreement represents the complete and entire
understanding of the parties, and supersedes all prior agreements, representations, and
understandings, express or implied, concerning the subject matter hereof, including the
Executive Agreement. This Agreement may only be amended in writing signed by the
parties.
	 
	 	18.	 	Assignability. Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations
hereunder may be assigned by either party without the express written consent of the
other party hereto except that in the unfortunate and unlikely event of Employee’s death
before the receipt of all payments under Paragraphs 3-6, and his receipt of all other
benefits described herein, the Employee’s heirs, beneficiaries, and/or representative
shall be entitled to all such payments and benefits on the same terms and conditions as
Employee would receive them under this Agreement were he alive, subject to the terms and
conditions of the applicable benefit plans.
	 
	 	19.	 	Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
	 
	 	20.	 	Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been made at Toledo,
Ohio and shall be interpreted in accordance with Ohio law without




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	 	 	 	regard to choice of law provisions.
	 
	 	21.	 	Disputes. The parties agree to utilize arbitration for disputes prior to
any resort to a judicial forum except to enforce rights under Paragraphs 7 through 10
above. In the case of such enforcement actions, resort to court for injunctive remedies
shall be immediately available. Arbitration hereunder shall take place in Toledo, Ohio
using the rules of the American Arbitration Association with the costs being shared
equally by both parties.





     The parties acknowledge and understand that this Agreement has been negotiated at arm’s length
between the parties and that each party has had the opportunity to fully consult with counsel of
their own choosing and is completely informed with respect to the terms, covenants, conditions, and
obligations contained in this Agreement and the meaning and effect thereof. Each party has freely
and voluntarily entered into this Agreement with the full knowledge of its impact and effect.



     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement by their signatures below.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	WITNESS:	 	/s/ Gary M. Golden	 	NAME: /s/ Nick L. Stanage 8/6/2009 

	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	WITNESS:	 	/s/ Gary M. Golden	 	DANA HOLDING CORPORATION	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	By:	 	/s/ Robert H. Marcin	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Title:
	 	Chief Administrative Officer	 	 







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