EXHIBIT 10.54 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT This Employment Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of December 15, 1998 by and between Michael T. DuBose, an individual ("Executive"), and Aftermarket Technology Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company" or "ATC"). 1. EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY AND TERM. (a) FULL TIME AND BEST EFFORTS. Subject to the terms set forth herein, the Company agrees to employ Executive as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Executive hereby accepts such employment. In addition, Executive shall serve as (i) President and Chief Executive Officer of each of ACI Electronics Investment Corp. and Metran Automatic Transmission Parts Corp. and (ii) Chief Executive Officer of each of Aaron's Automotive Products, Inc., ACI Electronics Holding Corp., ATC Distribution Group, Inc., ATC Information Services, Inc., ATS Remanufacturing, Inc., Autocraft Industries, Inc., Autocraft Remanufacturing Corp., Component Remanufacturing Specialists, Inc., King-O-Matic Industries Limited and RPM Merit, Inc. During the term of his employment with the Company, Executive shall devote his full time, best efforts and attention to the performance of his duties hereunder and to the business and affairs of the Company, and will not engage in any other employment or business activities for any direct or indirect remuneration that would be directly harmful or detrimental to, or that may compete with, the business and affairs of the Company, or that would interfere with his duties hereunder. (b) DUTIES. Executive shall serve in an executive capacity and shall perform such duties as are customarily associated with his then current title, consistent with the Bylaws of the Company and as required by the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"). Executive agrees to devote his entire professional time, energies and skills to his employment hereunder while so employed (reasonable vacations and absences because of illness excepted). (c) COMPANY POLICIES. The employment relationship between the parties shall be governed by the general employment policies and practices of the Company, including but not limited to those relating to protection of confidential information and assignment of inventions, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company's general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control. (d) TERM. The initial term of employment of Executive under this Agreement shall begin as of December 15, 1998 and end on December 14, 2001 (such three year period, the "Initial Term"), subject to the provisions for termination set forth in Section 5 below and renewal as provided in Section 1(e) below. (e) RENEWAL. Unless the Company shall have given Executive notice that this Agreement shall not be renewed at least 90 days prior to the end of the Initial Term, the term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended for a period of one year, such procedure to be followed in each such successive period. Each extended term shall continue to be subject to the provisions for termination set forth herein. 2. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. (a) SALARY. Executive shall receive for services to be rendered hereunder an annual base salary (the "Base Salary") initially equal to Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) payable on a monthly basis, subject to standard withholdings for taxes and social security and the like. Executive's annual Base Salary will be reviewed annually by the Board and adjusted when deemed appropriate by the Board to adequately reflect the scope and success of the Company's operations. (b) PARTICIPATION IN BENEFIT PLANS. During the term hereof, Executive shall be entitled to participate in any group insurance, hospitalization, medical, dental, health and accident, disability or similar plan or program of the Company now existing or established hereafter to the extent that he is eligible under the general provisions thereof. To the extent that Executive is not immediately eligible for such benefit plans, the Company will reimburse Executive for his reasonable expenses relating to comparable coverage until he becomes eligible under the Company's plans. The Company may, in its sole discretion and from time to time, establish additional senior management benefit programs as it deems appropriate. (c) VACATION. Executive shall be entitled to a period of annual vacation time equal to that provided to senior managers by the Company's policies and procedures regarding vacation, but in any event not less than four weeks per year. The days selected for Executive's vacation must be mutually agreeable to the Company and Executive. (d) 401(K) PLAN. To the extent legally permitted and subject to all eligibility requirements, Executive shall be entitled to place a portion of his Base Salary into a 401(K) or other qualified deferred tax annuity plan of the Company or, if the Company does not have such a plan, of any such plan of any of the Company's subsidiaries, as may be designated by Executive. (e) DISABILITY INSURANCE. To the extent that Executive's disability insurance coverage in effect immediately prior to the date hereof may be continued after the date hereof, the Company shall pay the premiums for such insurance to the extent that the annual coverage provided thereby does not exceed the Base Salary. (f) AUTOMOBILE ALLOWANCE. Executive shall be entitled to a monthly automobile allowance of One Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($1,200.00). (g) RELOCATION EXPENSES. Executive shall recover all benefits to which he is entitled under the Company's relocation policy and will be entitled to the following additional benefits (to the extent such benefits are not provided by the Company's relocation policy): (i) an amount equal to three months of Base Salary (grossed up to cover standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes) as a transfer allowance; (ii) reimbursement of actual travel and temporary living expenses (grossed up to cover standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes) to cover associated costs relating to temporary living expenses in the Chicago, Illinois area; and (iii) the reimbursement of actual costs incurred in transporting household goods to the 2 Chicago, Illinois area and expenses incidental to the purchase of a new residence in the Chicago, Illinois area. 3. OPTION AND BONUS PLANS. (a) PARTICIPATION. During the term hereof, Executive shall be entitled to participate in any stock option plan and any bonus or incentive plan of the Company currently made available by the Company to executive employees of the Company or which may be made available in the future to executive employees of the Company, subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and administration of any such plan; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Executive's annual cash bonus will be as provided in Section 3(c) below. Executive understands that any such plan may be modified or eliminated in the Company's discretion in accordance with applicable law. (b) OPTIONS. Executive shall be entitled to receive stock options ("Options") under the Company's 1998 Stock Incentive Plan to purchase 500,000 shares of the Company's common stock. The Options will be "incentive stock options" if and to the extent permitted under the Internal Revenue Code and shall have the following terms: (i) VESTING. The Options shall vest for so long as Executive shall be employed under this Agreement as follows: (x) one-third on the first anniversary of the date hereof; (y) one-third on the second anniversary of the date hereof; and (z) one-third on the third anniversary of the date hereof. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence and notwithstanding the provisions of the Company's Standard Terms and Conditions Governing Employee Non-Qualified Stock Options under the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Standard Terms and Conditions") the Options shall vest on the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the Standard Terms and Conditions) and neither the Board nor a duly authorized committee of the Board may, without Executive's written consent, amend the terms and conditions of the Company's 1998 Stock Incentive Plan in such a way as to adversely affect Executive's right to immediate vesting pursuant to this Section 3(b)(i). (ii) EXERCISE PRICE. The Options shall have an exercise price as follows: (x) options to purchase 300,000 shares of the Company's common stock shall have an exercise price of $5.00 per share and (y) options to purchase 200,000 shares of the Company's common stock shall have an exercise price of $10.00 per share. (iii) DURATION. The Options shall expire 10 years from the date hereof, subject to the terms of the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan and the Standard Terms and Conditions. (c) ANNUAL CASH BONUS. For all annual periods subsequent to December 31, 1998, Executive shall receive such cash bonus as the Board shall determine in its sole discretion based upon the performance of the Company and its subsidiaries, PROVIDED that the annual cash bonus target for Executive shall not exceed 75% of the Base Salary for such year. Such bonuses shall be paid at the end of the year in which such bonus is earned. 3 4. REASONABLE BUSINESS EXPENSES AND SUPPORT. Executive shall be reimbursed for documented and reasonable business expenses in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder. Executive shall be furnished reasonable office space, assistance and facilities. 5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. The date on which Executive's employment by the Company ceases, under any of the following circumstances, shall be defined herein as the "Termination Date." (a) TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. (i) TERMINATION; PAYMENT OF ACCRUED SALARY AND VACATION. The Board may terminate Executive's employment with the Company at any time for Cause (as defined below), immediately upon notice to Executive of the circumstances leading to such termination for Cause. In the event that Executive's employment is terminated for Cause, Executive shall receive payment for all accrued salary and vacation time through the Termination Date, which in this event shall be the date upon which notice of termination is given. The Company shall have no further obligation to pay further compensation or severance of any kind nor to make any payment in lieu of notice. (ii) DEFINITION OF CAUSE. "CAUSE" means the occurrence or existence of any of the following with respect to Executive, as determined by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Board; (a) unsatisfactory performance (other than unsatisfactory performance resulting from Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness that would qualify Executive for disability benefits under the Company's short-term or long-term disability plans) of Executive's duties or responsibilities as determined by the Board, PROVIDED that the Company has given Executive written notice specifying the unsatisfactory performance of his duties and responsibilities, which remains uncorrected by Executive after the lapse of 30 days following the receipt of the written notice; (b) a material breach by Executive of any of his material obligations hereunder which remains uncured after the lapse of 30 days following the date that the Company has given Executive written notice thereof; (c) a material breach by Executive of his duty not to engage in any transaction that represents, directly or indirectly, self-dealing with the Company or any of its Affiliates which has not been approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Board or of the terms of his employment, if in any such case such material breach remains uncured after the lapse of 30 days following the date that the Company has given Executive written notice thereof; (d) the repeated unsatisfactory performance or material breach by Executive of any obligation or duty referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c) above as to which at least one written notice has been given pursuant to such clause (a), (b) or (c); (e) any act of willful dishonesty, misappropriation, embezzlement, intentional fraud or similar conduct involving the Company or any of its Affiliates; (f) the conviction or the plea of NOLO CONTENDERE or the equivalent in respect of a felony involving moral turpitude; (g) the repeated non-prescription use of any controlled substance or the repeated use of alcohol or any other non-controlled substance which, in the reasonable determination of the Board, in any case described in this clause (g), renders Executive unfit to serve in his capacity as an officer or employee of the Company or its Affiliates; or (h) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his duties 4 hereunder, which conduct is materially injurious to the Company, or a willful and material breach of this Agreement. (b) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION. Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment with the Company at any time upon 90 days prior written notice, after which no further compensation of any kind or severance payment will be payable under this Agreement. (c) TERMINATION UPON DISABILITY. The Company may terminate Executive's employment in the event Executive shall be unable to perform his duties hereunder because of illness or other incapacity, and such illness or other incapacity shall continue for a period of six consecutive months ("Disability"). After the Termination Date, which in this event shall be the date upon which notice of termination is given, no further compensation of any kind or severance payment will be payable under this Agreement except that (i) Executive shall receive the accrued portion of any bonus through the Termination Date, less standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes, payable upon such date or over such period of time which is in accordance with the applicable bonus plan, and (ii) Executive shall be entitled to (x) continued health insurance coverage, at the Company's expense, for 12 months following the Termination Date and (y) such other benefits as are provided under the Company's long-term disability plan, if any, then in effect. (d) TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE. In the event Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, including a termination due to the non-renewal by the Company of this Agreement pursuant to Section 1(e), and such termination is not due to Disability, the Company shall pay Executive as severance the following: (i) if the Termination Date occurs during the Initial Term, an amount equivalent to the then Base Salary for the remainder of the Initial Term or for a period of 24 months from the Termination Date, whichever period is longer, or (ii) if the Termination Date occurs after the end of the Initial Term, an amount equivalent to the then Base Salary for a period of 24 months from the Termination Date, in either case less standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes, payable over such period in monthly PRO RATA payments commencing as of the Termination Date plus the accrued portion of any bonus through the Termination Date, less standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes, payable upon such date or over such period of time which is in accordance with the applicable bonus plan. During the period that Executive is entitled to receive payments under this Section 5(d) and to the extent permissible under applicable law, Executive shall be entitled to (x) continued health insurance coverage, at the Company's expense, and (y) such other benefits as are provided under the Company's long-term disability plan, if any, then in effect. (e) TERMINATION IN CONNECTION WITH A CHANGE IN CONTROL. If Executive's employment with the Company terminates in a Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change of Control (as defined below), the Company shall pay Executive as severance an amount equivalent to the then Base Salary for a period of 24 months from the Termination Date, less standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes, payable over such period in monthly 5 PRO RATA payments commencing as of the Termination Date plus the accrued portion of any bonus through the Termination Date, less standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes, payable upon such date or over such period that Executive is entitled to receive payments under this Section 5(e) and to the extent permissible under applicable law, Executive shall be entitled to (i) continued health insurance coverage, at the Company's expense and (ii) such other benefits as are provided under the Company's long-term disability plan, if any, then in effect. For purposes of this Section 5(e), "Qualifying Termination in Connection with a Change of Control" means the termination of Executive's employment with the Company within 18 months after a Change of Control by reason of Executive's resignation within 60 days after the occurrence of Good Reason (as defined below). For purposes of this Section 5(e), "Good Reason" means the occurrence following a Change of Control of any of the following events that remains uncured 15 days after Executive shall have given the Company written notice thereof: (i) a reduction (which is not consented to by Executive) in Executive's Base Salary in effect immediately prior to a Change of Control, (ii) a material reduction in the aggregate level of employee benefits (other than stock-based compensation) from the levels in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control, or (iii) a material and adverse change in Executive's duties or responsibilities (other than reporting responsibilities) from those in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control. (f) TERMINATION UPON DEATH. If Executive dies prior to the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the Company shall (i) continue, for a period of 12 months following Executive's death, health insurance coverage of Executive's dependents (if any) under all benefit plans or programs in which Executive participated at the time of his death, and (ii) pay to Executive's estate the accrued portion of any bonus through the Termination Date, less standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes, payable upon such date or over such period of time which is in accordance with the applicable bonus plan, and no further compensation of any kind or severance payment will be payable under this Agreement. (g) RELOCATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Upon termination of Executive's employment by the Company pursuant to Section 5(c), (d) or (e), Executive shall recover all benefits to which he is entitled under the Company's relocation policy and will be entitled to the following additional benefits (to the extent such benefits are not provided by the Company's relocation policy): (i) reimbursement of actual travel and temporary living expenses for a period not to exceed three months (grossed up to cover standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes) to cover associated costs relating to temporary living expenses in the Williams, Oregon area and (ii) the reimbursement of actual costs incurred in transporting household goods to the Williams, Oregon area and expenses incidental to the sale of Executive's residence in the Chicago, Illinois area. (h) SECTIONS 280G AND 4999 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. In the event Executive is, as the result of the operation of this Agreement, the recipient of an excess parachute payment, the Company will pay to Executive an additional gross-up payment in order to put Executive in the same after-tax position that Executive would have been in had no excise tax been imposed. 6 6. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS. During the term of employment under this Agreement, Executive will have access to and become acquainted with the Company's confidential and proprietary information, including but not limited to information or plans regarding the Company's customer relationships, personnel, or sales, marketing, and financial operations and methods; trade secrets; formulas; devices; secret inventions; processes; and other compilations of information, records, and specifications (collectively "Proprietary Information"). Executive shall not disclose any of the Company's Proprietary Information directly or indirectly, or use it in any way, either during the term of this Agreement or at any time thereafter, except as required in the course of his employment for the Company or as authorized in writing by the Company. All files, records, documents, computer-recorded information, drawings, specifications, equipment and similar items relating to the business of the Company, whether prepared by Executive or otherwise coming into his possession, shall remain the exclusive property of the Company and shall not be removed from the premises of the Company under any circumstances whatsoever without the prior written consent of the Company, except when (and only for the period) necessary to carry out Executive's duties hereunder, and if removed shall be immediately returned to the Company upon any termination of his employment and no copies thereof shall be kept by Executive; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Executive shall be entitled to retain documents reasonably related to his interest as a shareholder and any documents that were personally owned or acquired. 7. NONINTERFERENCE. Executive agrees that during his employment and, if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 5, for a period of 18 months after the Termination Date, he will not, without the prior consent of the Company, interfere with the business of the Company by directly or indirectly soliciting, attempting to solicit, inducing, or otherwise causing any employee of the Company to terminate his or her employment in order to become an employee, consultant or independent contractor to or for any other employer. 8. NONCOMPETITION. Executive agrees that during his employment and, if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 5(a), 5(b) or 5(c), for a period of 18 months after the Termination Date, he will not, without the prior consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, have an interest in, be employed by, be connected with, or have an interest in, as an employee, consultant, officer, director, partner, stockholder or joint venturer, in any person or entity owning, managing, controlling, operating or otherwise participating or assisting in any business which is similar to or in competition with the business of the Company as it existed during the term of this Agreement in any state in which the Company was conducting business on or before the Termination Date and continues to do so thereafter; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing shall not prevent Executive from being a stockholder of less than 1% of the issued and outstanding securities of any class of a corporation listed on a national securities exchange or designated as national market system securities on an interdealer quotation system by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. 9. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) NOTICES. Any notices provided hereunder must be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon the earlier of personal delivery (including personal delivery by telecopy 7 or telex) or the third day after mailing by first class mail to the recipient at the address indicated below: To the Company: Aftermarket Technology Corp. 1 Oak Hill Center, Suite 400 Westmont, Illinois 60559 Attn: Joseph Salamunovich Telecopier: (630) 455-2621 With a copy to: Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP 333 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, California 90071-3197 Attention: Bruce D. Meyer, Esq. Telecopier: (213) 229-7520 To Executive: Michael T. DuBose 2220 Kincaid Road Williams, Oregon 97544 Telecopier: (541) 846-0103 With a copy to: Porter Wright 41 So. High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 Attention: Dan Costello, Esq. Telecopier: (614) 227-2100 or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party will have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. (b) SEVERABILITY. If any term or provision (or any portion thereof) of this Agreement is determined by a court to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other terms and provisions (or other portions thereof) of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or provision (or any portion thereof) is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, this Agreement shall be deemed to be modified so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible to the end that the 8 transactions contemplated hereby and the terms and provisions hereof are fulfilled to the greatest extent possible. (c) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This document constitutes the final, complete, and exclusive embodiment of the entire agreement and understanding between the parties related to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior or contemporaneous understandings, agreements, or representations by or between the parties, written or oral. (d) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed on separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same agreement. (e) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective successors and assigns, except that Executive may not assign any of his duties hereunder and he may not assign any of his rights hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company. (f) AMENDMENTS. No amendments or other modifications to this Agreement may be made except by a writing signed by both parties. No amendment or waiver of this Agreement requires the consent of any individual, partnership, corporation or other entity not a party to this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any third person any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement. (g) CHOICE OF LAW. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the internal law, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Delaware. (h) INTERPRETATION. In interpreting this Agreement, all terms shall be construed in accordance with their fair meaning and not strictly against any party as the drafter hereof. 10. ARBITRATION. (a) Any disputes or claims arising out of or concerning Executive's employment or termination by the Company, whether arising under theories of liability or damages based upon contract, tort or statute, shall be determined exclusively by arbitration before a single arbitrator in accordance with the employment arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), except as modified by this Agreement. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding on both parties. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. In recognition of the fact that resolution of any disputes or claims in the courts is rarely timely or cost effective for either party, the Company and Executive enter this mutual agreement to arbitrate in order to gain the benefits of a speedy, impartial and cost-effective dispute resolution procedure. (b) Any arbitration shall be held in Executive's place of employment with the Company. The arbitrator shall be an attorney with substantial experience in employment matters, selected by the parties alternately striking names from a list of five such persons 9 provided by the AAA office located nearest to the place of employment, following a request by the party seeking arbitration for a list of five such attorneys with substantial professional experience in employment matters. If either party fails to strike names from the list, the arbitrator shall be selected from the list by the other party. (c) Each party shall have the right to take the deposition of one individual and any expert witness designated by the other party. Each party shall also have the right to propound requests for production of documents to any party and the right to subpoena documents and witnesses for the arbitration. Additional discovery may be made only where the arbitrator selected so orders upon a showing of substantial need. The arbitrator shall have the authority to entertain a motion to dismiss and/or a motion for summary judgment by any party and shall apply the standards governing such motions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The arbitrator will have authority in his or her discretion to grant injunctive relief, award specific performance and impose sanctions upon any party to any such arbitration. (d) The Company and Executive agree that they will attempt, and they intend that they and the arbitrator should use their best efforts in that attempt, to conclude the arbitration proceeding and have a final decision from the arbitrator within 120 days from the date of selection of the arbitrator; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the arbitrator shall be entitled to extend such 120-day period for a total of two 120-day periods. The arbitrator shall immediately deliver a written award with respect to the dispute to each of the parties, who shall promptly act in accordance therewith. (e) The Company and Executive shall each pay half of the fees and expenses of the arbitrator. Each party shall pay its own attorney fees and costs including, without limitation, fees and costs of any experts. However, attorney fees and costs incurred by the party that prevails in any such arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 or any judicial action or proceeding seeking to enforce the agreement to arbitrate disputes as set forth in this Section 10 or seeking to enforce any order or award of any arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 may be assessed against the party or parties that do not prevail in such arbitration in such manner as the arbitrator or the court in such judicial action, as the case may be, may determine to be appropriate under the circumstances. If any party prevails on a statutory claim that entitles the prevailing party to a reasonable attorney fees (with or without expert fees) as part of the costs, the arbitrator may award reasonable attorney fees (with or without expert fees) to the prevailing party in accord with such statute. Any controversy over whether a dispute is an arbitrable dispute or as to the interpretation or enforceability of this paragraph with respect to such arbitration shall be determined by the arbitrator. (f) In a contractual claim under this Agreement, the arbitrator shall have no authority to add, delete or modify any term of this Agreement. 10 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this agreement effective as of the date it is last executed below by either party. /s/Michael T. Dubose ------------------------------------------ MICHAEL T. DUBOSE Aftermarket Technology Corp. By: /s/Joseph Salamunovich ------------------------------------- Joseph Salamunovich, Vice President 11