EXHIBIT 10.27 AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 1997 EQUITY PLAN Sub Plan - - DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR ELIGIBLE SENIOR OFFICERS Effective as of October 26, 1999 Ambac Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan Page 2 of 13 AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 1997 EQUITY PLAN SUB PLAN- - DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR ELIGIBLE SENIOR OFFICERS AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), adopts the Ambac Financial Group, Inc. 1997 Equity Plan, Sub Plan - - Deferred Compensation for Eligible Senior Officers (the "Plan"), effective as of October 26, 1999. 1. Definitions For purposes of the Plan, unless defined below, the definitions set forth in the Ambac 1997 Equity Plan, as amended ("Equity Plan"), are applicable to the Plan. "Account" and "Deferred Compensation Account" are used interchangeably and mean the bookkeeping record established for each Participant. A Deferred Compensation Account is established only for purposes of measuring a Deferred Benefit and not to segregate assets or to identify assets that may be used to pay a Deferred Benefit. "Account Value" means the amount reflected on the books and records of the Company as the value of a Participant's Deferred Compensation Account at any date of determination, as determined in accordance with this Plan. "Beneficiary" or "Beneficiaries" means a person or other entity designated by a Participant on a Beneficiary Designation Form to receive Deferred Benefit payments in the event of the Participant's death. "Beneficiary Designation Form" means a document, in form approved by the Committee, to be used by Participants to name their respective Beneficiaries. "Cash Deferral Option" means a Performance Option under which the Deferred Amount credited to a Participant's Deferred Compensation Account is carried as a cash balance to which interest equivalents are credited from time to time as provided in Section 6(c)(i). "Conversion Date" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6(e). "Deemed Capital Gain Tax Charge" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6(c). Ambac Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan Page 3 of 13 "Deferral Election" means the election of a Participant, made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, to defer all or a portion of his/her Eligible Compensation for a Deferral Year. "Deferral Election Form" means a document, in form approved by the Committee, pursuant to which a Participant makes a Deferral Election. "Deferral Year" means the calendar year, starting with calendar year 1999. If an individual becomes eligible to participate in the Plan after the commencement of a Deferral Year, the Deferral Year for the individual shall be the remainder of such Deferral Year. "Deferred Amount" means the amount of Eligible Compensation deferred by a Participant pursuant to a Deferral Election. "Deferred Benefit" means the amount that will be paid on a deferred basis under the Plan to a Participant who has made a Deferral Election. A Participant's Deferred Benefit will equal the Account Value of his/her Deferred Compensation Account, calculated as provided herein. "Election Date" means June 30 of the year preceding the beginning of the Deferral Year. "Eligible Compensation" means the cash portion of such Participant's bonus for the relevant Deferral Year (it being understood that the amount of such bonus may not be determined until after the end of the relevant Deferral Year). "Eligible Officer" means a senior officer of the Company or a Participating Subsidiary who is eligible to participate in the Plan pursuant to Section 4(b). "Employer" means the Company or a Participating Subsidiary, as the case may be, that employs an Eligible Officer. "Participant" means an Eligible Officer who participates in the Plan pursuant to Section 4. "Participating Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that has, by resolution of its board of directors, agreed to participate in the Plan with respect to, and to be responsible for the Deferred Benefits of, Eligible Officers who are employed by it. "Performance Option" means the performance options made available from time to time for selection by Participants to measure the return (positive or negative) to be attributed to Deferred Amounts. Ambac Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan Page 4 of 13 "Restricted Stock Unit" -- A restricted stock unit ( or "RSU") represents the right to receive one share of Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable award. The terms of any award of RSUs normally will include "vesting" requirements. If the vesting requirements are not met, an employee may forfeit his RSUs. Once RSUs become vested, and any other conditions imposed by the award have been satisfied by the employee, he/she will receive from Ambac the value of the RSUs in Common Stock. "Subsidiary" means any corporation 50 percent or more of the voting stock of which is owned directly or indirectly by the Company. 2. Purpose The purpose of the Plan is to provide the Company's Eligible Officers an opportunity to defer payment of all or part of their Eligible Compensation in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein. 3. Administration (a) Authority. The Committee will be responsible for administering the Plan. The Committee will have authority to adopt such rules as it may deem appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Plan, and shall have authority to interpret and construe the provisions of the Plan and any agreements under the Plan and to make determinations pursuant to any Plan provision. Each interpretation, determination or other action made or taken by the Committee pursuant to the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith, and the members of the Committee shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement in the manner provided in the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as it may be amended from time to time. (b) Delegation. The Committee may designate a committee composed of one or more members of the Board to carry out its responsibilities under such conditions as it may set. 4. Eligibility (a) Officers. Officers of the Company or Ambac Assurance who are appointed Managing Director, or any officer title senior to Managing Director as well as such other senior officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries as may be designated from time to time by the Managing Director, Human Resources, may participate in the Plan. (b) Becoming a Participant. An Eligible Officer becomes a Participant for any Deferral Year by filing a Deferral Election Form according to Section 5 of the Plan. Ambac Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan Page 5 of 13 5. Deferral Elections (a) General Provisions. A Participant may elect to defer all or a specified percentage (in multiples of 5 percent) of his/her Eligible Compensation for a Deferral Year, in the manner provided in this Section 5. A Participant's Deferred Benefit is at all times nonforfeitable. (b) Deferral Election Forms. Before the Election Date applicable to a Deferral Year, each Eligible Officer will be provided with a Deferral Election Form and a Beneficiary Designation Form. In order for an Eligible Officer to participate in the Plan for a given Deferral Year, a Deferral Election Form, completed and signed by him/her, must be delivered to the Managing Director, Human Resources on or prior to the applicable Election Date. An Eligible Officer electing to participate in the Plan for a given Deferral Year shall indicate on his/her Deferral Election Form: (i) the percentage of Eligible Compensation for the applicable Deferral Year to be deferred; (ii) the allocation of the Deferred Amount among the several Performance Options then available to Participants, in accordance with the terms and conditions of Section 6(b); and (iii) the Participant's election either to have distribution of his/her Deferred Benefit commence following termination of employment or to have such distribution commence as of a date specified on such Form, provided, however, that any such election concerning the commencement of distribution of a Participant's Deferred Benefit shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 6(e). (iv) if the Participant has not yet met the applicable stock ownership guideline associated with their officer title, twenty-five percent (25%) of their Eligible Compensation will automatically be in the form of RSUs. The Participant need not make any Deferral Election. In addition to the automatic twenty-five percent (25%) deferral in the form of RSUs, the Participant has not yet met the applicable ownership guideline associated with their title he/she may elect to defer an additional portion of their Eligible Compensation. Such further Deferral Election is subject to the terms and conditions of Section 6(b). Once a Participant has met the ownership target, he/she may elect to defer up to one hundred percent (100%) of their Eligible Compensation. (c) Effect of No Deferral Election. An Eligible Officer who does not submit a completed and signed Deferral Election Form to the Managing Director, Human Resources before the relevant Election Date is not a Participant for the Deferral Year and may not defer his/her Eligible Compensation for the Deferral Year. (d) Revocation of Deferral Election. A Participant may revoke a Deferral Election applicable to a Deferral Year, but only pursuant to the procedure described in subsection (ii) below. Ambac Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan Page 6 of 13 (ii) To be effective, a revocation must be in writing and signed by the Participant, must express the Participant's intention to revoke his/her Deferral Election applicable to that Deferral Year, and must be delivered to the Managing Director, Human Resources before the close of business on the Election Date applicable to such Deferral Year. 6. Deferred Compensation Accounts; Distributions (a) Deferred Compensation Accounts. (i) Establishment of Accounts. A Participant's deferrals will be credited to a Deferred Compensation Account set up for that Participant. Each Deferred Compensation Account will be credited with Deferred Amounts, as provided in Section 6(b), and credited (or charged) with earnings (or loss) as provided in Section 6(c). (ii) Crediting of Deferred Amounts. Bonus Compensation. Bonus compensation deferred by an Eligible Officer will be credited to such Eligible Officer's Deferred Compensation Account as of the day on which the Committee meets to award bonuses for the relevant Deferral Year. (b) Allocations Among Performance Options. A Participant shall have the right to allocate the Deferred Amount for any Deferral Year, in minimum allocations of at least 5%, among one or more Performance Options made available from time to time under the Plan, provided, however, that, unless the Committee in its discretion shall determine otherwise, the Deferred Amount of any Participant who is subject to stock ownership guidelines established by the Committee or the Company from time to time shall be deemed invested in the Restricted Stock Unit Option, and such Participant shall not have the right to elect any other Performance Option, unless and until such Participant has satisfied such stock ownership guidelines. The Performance Options generally available to Participants shall include: (i) A Cash Deferral Option; (ii) A Restricted Stock Unit Option; and (iii) Such other Performance Options as the Committee may make available to Participants from time to time. Deemed allocations among the available Performance Options shall be made exclusively for the purpose of determining the Account Value from time to time, and the Company will have no obligation to invest amounts corresponding to Deferred Amounts in investment vehicles corresponding to the Performance Options selected by the Participant. Participants may change the deemed allocation of their Account Value among the Performance Options then available under the Plan in accordance with procedures established by the Committee from time to time; Ambac Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan Page 7 of 13 provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, no such reallocation shall be made more frequently than quarterly; and provided further that no such reallocation may result in less than 5% of the Account Value being deemed allocated to any single Performance Option. (c) Determination of Account Value. The Company will from time to time calculate the Account Value based on the Participant's Deferred Amounts and his/her then-effective elections with respect to deemed allocation of the Account among the available Performance Options. Such calculation will be based on the best information available to the Company as of the date of determination, which information may include estimates. In addition, the following shall apply: (i) Amounts allocated to the Cash Deferral Option will be credited with interest equivalents as of the first business day of each calendar quarter based upon the average daily balance credited to such Cash Option (which balance shall include any earnings on amounts so credited pursuant to this Section 6(c)(i)) during the preceding quarter. Interest equivalents will be calculated using the 90-day commercial paper composite rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank as of the last business day of such preceding calendar quarter, or such other rate as the Committee may designate from time to time by resolution. (ii) The number of Restricted Stock Units credited to a Participant's Deferred Compensation Account (including fractions of Restricted Stock Units) will be determined by dividing (A) the amount of bonus compensation deferred by (B) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of crediting. (iii) If the Company pays any cash or other dividend or makes any other distribution in respect of the Common Stock, each Restricted Stock Unit credited to the Deferred Compensation Account of a Participant will be credited with an additional number of Restricted Stock Units (including fractions thereof) determined by dividing (A) the amount of cash, or the value (as determined by the Committee) of any securities or other property, paid or distributed in respect of one outstanding share of Common Stock by (B) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of such payment or distribution. Such credit shall be made effective as of the date of the dividend or other distribution in respect of the Common Stock. (iv) In determining the value attributable to that portion of a Participant's Deferred Compensation Account allocated to Performance Options other than the Cash Deferral Option and the Restricted Stock Unit Option, the Company will track the rate of return (positive or negative) over the relevant measurement period of the investment fund, index or other vehicle by reference to which the Performance Option is defined. (v) Upon any reallocation of all or any portion of a Participant's Deferred Compensation Account from one Performance Option to any other Performance Option, the Company may charge such Account with an amount not to exceed 5% of the amount so reallocated. The amount of the charge shall be determined by the Company in its Ambac Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan Page 8 of 13 discretion and may vary depending on the Performance Options from which and into which the Account is being reallocated. (vi) In addition, the returns attributable to a Deferred Compensation Account shall be subject to the following adjustments: (A) Returns attributable to any Performance Option, other than the Restricted Stock Unit Option, shall be reduced to reflect the amount that a corporate taxpayer in the highest tax bracket for federal corporate tax purposes would pay on the interests, dividends, distribution or similar items of income that it would receive if it had invested in the commercial paper, investment fund, index or other vehicle by reference to which the Performance Option is defined for the period of time, and in the same amounts, that the relevant Deferred Compensation Account was deemed allocated to such Performance Option. (B) Upon any change in the deemed allocation of a Participant's Deferred Compensation Account among the Performance Options then available other than the Restricted Stock Unit Option, the Account shall be charged with the amount (if any) (the "Deemed Capital Gain Tax Charge") of capital gains tax that a corporate taxpayer in the highest bracket for federal corporate tax purposes would pay upon the amount of gain it would recognize had it invested in the investment fund, index or other vehicle by reference to which the Performance Option is defined for the period of time, and in the same amounts, that the relevant Deferred Compensation Account was deemed allocated to such Performance Option. No credit shall be made to an Account for any loss that would be recognized by a corporate taxpayer that had invested in such Performance Option for such period and in such amount. The amount of the adjustments described in this subparagrpah (vi) shall be determined by the Company in its discretion. The Company shall use its best efforts to apply adjustments on a consistent basis to all Participants who invest in any particular Performance Option. (d) Manner of Payment of Deferred Benefit. All payments of Deferred Benefits under the Plan, other than settlement of Restricted Stock Units which will be settled in shares, will be in cash. The Company shall pay a Participant's Deferred Benefit either in a single lump sum or in a series of installments, as the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine, provided, however, that if the Committee elects to pay a Participant's Deferred Benefit in a series of installments, such installments shall be paid no more frequently than quarterly and the Deferred Benefit must be distributed over a period not exceeding five years. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, consult with the Participant prior to determining the manner of payment of such Participant's Deferred Benefit. If the Committee elects to pay a Participant's Deferred Benefit in a series of installments, the relative size of such installments shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion, and such installments need not be in equal amounts or equal percentages of such Benefit. The unpaid portion of a Participant's Deferred Benefit shall continue to be credited with earnings as provided in Section 6(c) until paid. Ambac Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan Page 9 of 13 (e) Commencement of Payment of Deferred Benefit. For purposes of this Agreement a "Conversion Date" means the earliest to occur of: (i) termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries. (ii) the date specified in the Deferral Election Form executed by the Participant; or (iii) the Participant's death. Notwithstanding any other term or provision of this Plan, upon the occurrence of a Conversion Date, any portion of a Participant's Deferred Compensation Account that is allocated either to the Restricted Stock Unit Option or to any Performance Option other than the Cash Deferral Option will be converted into the Cash Deferral Option based upon (X) in the case of amounts allocated to the Restricted Stock Unit Option, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the Conversion Date and (Y) in the case of any Performance Option other than the Restricted Stock Unit Option, the net asset value or other relevant valuation measure of the investment fund, index or other vehicle by reference to which the Performance Option is defined, determined as of the Conversion Date or, if such net asset value or other valuation information is not available as of the Conversion Date, as of the latest date preceding the Conversion Date for which the same is generally available. The amount credited to the Cash Deferral Option as a result of such conversion shall, in the case of conversions from any Performance Option other than the Restricted Stock Unit Option, be subject to the Deemed Capital Gain Tax Charge as described in Section 6(c) above. Following conversion, amounts so credited to the Cash Deferral Option will be credited with interest equivalents as provided in Section 6(c)(i). Except as provided in Section 6(f), a Participant's Deferred Benefit shall be paid (if payable in a lump sum), or commence to be paid (if payable in a series of installments), to the Participant as soon as practicable (but in no event more than 60 days) after the Conversion Date. (f) Death. In the event of a Participant's death, the Participant's entire Deferred Benefit (including any unpaid portion thereof corresponding to installments not yet paid at the time of death), to the extent not distributed earlier pursuant to Section 6(e), will be distributed in a lump sum to the Participant's Beneficiary or Beneficiaries (or, in the absence of any Beneficiary, to the Participant's estate) on a date, selected by the Committee, no more than six months after the Participant's date of death. (g) Statements. The Company will furnish each Participant with a statement setting forth the value of the Participant's Deferred Compensation Account as of the end of each calendar year and all credits to and payments from the Deferred Compensation Account during such year. Such statement will be furnished no later than 60 days after the end of each calendar year. 7. Designation of Beneficiary (Confirm applicability re RSUs) ------------------------------ (a) Beneficiary Designations. Each Participant may designate a Beneficiary to receive any Deferred Benefit due under the Plan upon the Participant's death by executing a Beneficiary Designation Form. A Beneficiary designation is not binding on the Company until the Ambac Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan Page 10 of 13 Secretary of the Board receives the Beneficiary Designation Form. If no designation is made or no designated Beneficiary is alive (or in the case of an entity designated as a Beneficiary, in existence) at the time of the Participant's death, payments due under the Plan will be made to the Participant's estate. (b) Change of Beneficiary Designation. A Participant may change an earlier Beneficiary designation by executing a later Beneficiary Designation Form. The execution of a Beneficiary Designation Form revokes and rescinds any prior Beneficiary Designation Form. 8. Amendments (a) General Power of Committee. Subject to Section 8(b), the Plan may be altered, amended, suspended, or terminated at any time by the Committee in its sole discretion. (b) When Participants' Consents Required. Except for a termination of the Plan caused by the Committee's determination that the laws upon which the Plan is based have changed in a manner that negates the Plan's objectives, the Committee may not alter, amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan without the consent of any Participant to the extent that such action would result in the distribution to such Participant of amounts then credited to his/her Deferred Compensation Account in any manner other than as provided in the Plan or could reasonably be expected to result in the immediate taxation to such Participant of Deferred Benefits. 9. Employer's Obligation This Plan is unfunded. A Deferred Compensation Account represents at all times an unfunded and unsecured contractual obligation of the relevant Employer. Each Participant or Beneficiary will be an unsecured creditor of the relevant Employer, as the case may be. Amounts payable under the Plan will be satisfied solely out of the general assets of the relevant Employer subject to the claims of the Employer's creditors. No Participant, Beneficiary or any other person shall have any interest in any fund or in any specific asset of the Company or any other Employer by reason of any amount credited to him/her hereunder, nor shall any Participant, Beneficiary or any other person have any right to receive any distribution under the Plan except as, and to the extent, expressly provided in the Plan. The Employer will segregate any funds or assets for Deferred Benefits or issue any notes or security for the payment of any Deferred Benefits. Any reserve or other asset that the Company or any other Employer may establish or acquire to assure itself of the funds to provide benefits under the Plan shall not serve in any way as security to any Participant, Beneficiary or other person for the performance of the Company or any other Employer under the Plan. 10. No Control by Participant A Participant shall have no control over his/her Deferred Compensation Account except for (i) designating initial allocation among Performance Options and subsequently revising such allocation, in all cases to the extent permitted by the Plan, (ii) designating the date of initial distribution of benefits on his/her Deferral Election Form (which designation shall be subject to Ambac Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan Page 11 of 13 the terms and conditions of the Plan, including without limitation Section 6) and (iii) designating his/her Beneficiary on a Beneficiary Designation Form. 11. Restrictions on Transfer The Company or the relevant Employer, as the case may be, shall pay all amounts payable under the Plan only to the Participant or Beneficiary designated under the Plan to receive such amounts. Neither a Participant nor his/her Beneficiary shall have any right to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or change any benefits to which he/she may become entitled under the Plan, and any attempt to do so shall be void. A Deferred Benefit shall not be subject to attachment, execution by levy, garnishment, or other legal or equitable process for a Participant's or Beneficiary's debts or other obligations. 12. Election and Revocation Notices Notices of elections or revocations of elections under the Plan must be in writing. A notice of election or revocation of election will be deemed delivered to the Secretary of the Board on the date it is (i) delivered personally to the secretary of the Board at One State Street Plaza, New York, New York 10004 (or at such other address as the Company may from time to time designate as the address for elections and revocations of elections under the Plan), (ii) mailed by registered mail or certified mail to the Secretary of the Board at such address or (iii) sent by facsimile transmission to the Managing Director, Human Resources at 212-208-3131 (or such other facsimile transmission number as the Company may designate from time to time for elections and revocations of elections under the Plan), provided that an original signed election or revocation of election is received by the Secretary of the Board no later than 10 business days after such transmission. 13. Waivers The waiver of a breach of any provision in the Plan shall not operate as and may not be construed as a waiver of any later breach. 14. Governing Law The Plan shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York. 15. Effective Date The Plan shall be effective as of October 26, 1999. 16. Construction The headings in the Plan have been inserted for convenience of reference only and are to be ignored in any construction of the Plan's provisions. If a provision of the Plan is not Ambac Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan Page 12 of 13 valid or enforceable, that fact shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other Provision. Use of one gender includes the other, and the singular and plural include each other. The provisions of the Plan are binding on the Company, each Participating Subsidiary and their respective successors or assigns, and on the Participants, their Beneficiaries, heirs, and personal representatives. 17. Tax Withholding The Company shall have the right, in connection with any Deferral Election, (i) to require the Participant to remit to the Company or the relevant Participating Subsidiary an amount sufficient to satisfy any Federal, state or local tax withholding requirements, (ii) to withhold an amount necessary to satisfy such requirements from other cash compensation owed to the Participant or (iii) to reduce the amount of Eligible Compensation deferred pursuant to the Plan in order to ensure that all such requirements are satisfied. The Company shall also have the right to deduct from all cash payments made pursuant to the Plan any Federal, state or local taxes required to be withheld with respect to such payments. 18. No Right to Reelection or Continued Employment Nothing in this Plan shall be deemed to confer on any Eligible Officer a right to continued employment, or to limit or restrict the right of the Company or a Participating Subsidiary to terminate an Eligible Officer's employment at any time, for any reason, with or without cause. 19. No Stockholder Rights The crediting of Restricted Stock Units to a Participant's Deferred Compensation Account shall not confer on the Participant any rights as a stockholder of the Company. 20. Adjustment of and Changes in Shares In the event of any merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, special cash dividend or other change in corporate structure affecting the Common Stock, the Committee shall make such adjustments, if any, as it deems appropriate in the number of Restricted Stock Units credited to a Participant's Deferred Compensation Account. The foregoing adjustments shall be decided by the Committee in its discretion. AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 1997 EQUITY PLAN Sub Plan - - DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR ELIGIBLE SENIOR OFFICERS Beneficiary Designation Form To: Managing Director, Human Resources Ambac Financial Group, Inc. I designate ___________________________ as my primary Beneficiary(ies) of any benefits that become payable under the Ambac Financial Group, Inc. 1997 Equity Plan, Sub Plan, Deferred Compensation for Eligible Senior Officers (the "Plan") as a result of my death. If a designated Beneficiary survives me but dies (or if a trust, terminates) before all benefits have been paid to the Beneficiary, I direct the remainder of the payments to be made as the Beneficiary designates or, if the Beneficiary fails to properly execute a Beneficiary designation, to the Beneficiary's estate, or, if a trust, to the trustee to be distributed in accordance with the terms of the trust. This designation revokes and rescinds any prior Beneficiary designation made by me. If a Beneficiary is not named, or if there is no Beneficiary otherwise in existence at the time of my death, I understand that payments will be made according to Section 7(a) of the Plan. I understand that this Beneficiary designation applies until revoked by my written request. I also understand that, in executing this Beneficiary designation, I agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan and agree that such terms and conditions are binding upon my Beneficiary(ies), distributee(s), and personal representative(s). --------------------------- Signature - -------------- --------------------------- Date Name (Please Print)