EXHIBIT 17 FORM OF PROXY [LOGO] YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! [ADDRESS] VOTE TODAY BY MAIL, TOUCH-TONE PHONE OR THE INTERNET CALL TOLL FREE 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX OR LOG ON TO WWW.PROXYWEB.COM/XXXXX *** CONTROL NUMBER: XXX XXX XXX XXX XX *** PLEASE FOLD AND DETACH CARD AT PERFORATION BEFORE MAILING. [ACQUIRED FUND] [ACQUIRED TRUST/CORPORATION] [address] PROXY FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS [time], on [date] The undersigned hereby appoints __________, ____________ and ____________, and each of them, the proxies of the undersigned, with the power of substitution to each of them, to vote all shares of the [Acquired Fund] (the "Fund") which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be held at the offices of Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., [address], on [date] at [time], Eastern time, and at any adjournments thereof. PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED. Dated ____________________,2000 PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME OR NAMES APPEAR. WHEN SIGNING AS AN ATTORNEY, EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR, TRUSTEE OR GUARDIAN, PLEASE GIVE YOUR FULL TITLE AS SUCH. ------------------------------- [NAME] [ADDRESS] ------------------------------- SIGNATURE(S) OF SHAREHOLDER(S) [LOGO] YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! [ADDRESS] VOTE TODAY BY MAIL, TOUCH-TONE PHONE OR THE INTERNET CALL TOLL FREE 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX OR LOG ON TO WWW.PROXYWEB.COM/XXXXX PLEASE FOLD AND DETACH CARD AT PERFORATION BEFORE MAILING. ALL PROPERLY EXECUTED PROXIES WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED ON A PROPERLY EXECUTED PROXY, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSALS. THE PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF [TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS] OF THE [ACQUIRED FUND]. THE BOARD OF [TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS] RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSALS. PLEASE VOTE BY FILLING IN THE BOXES BELOW. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN PROPOSAL 1 To elect Trustees to the Board of Trustees of the Portfolio to hold office until their respective successors have been duly elected / / / / / / and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. NOMINEES: (01) __________, (02) ____________, (03) _________, (04) ______________, (05) ______________, (06) __________, (07) ______________, (08)_______________, (09) ____________. INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, WRITE THE NAME(S) ON THE LINE IMMEDIATELY BELOW. - ---------------------------------------------------- PROPOSAL 2 To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization for the Fund whereby all or substantially all of the assets an / / / / / / liabilities of the Fund would be acquired by [Acquiring Fund] in exchange for shares of the [class] of the [Acquiring Fund]. PROPOSAL 3 To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Fund's / / / / / / independent accountants for the current fiscal year. THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE IN THEIR DISCRETION ON ANY OTHER BUSINESS WHICH MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF. PLEASE SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE