Exhibit 17 FORM OF PROXY FUND A SERIES OF NORTH AMERICAN FUNDS PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS -- June 1, 2000 The undersigned hereby appoints John I. Fitzgerald, John N. Packs and Cathy Z. Angellis, and each of them separately, proxies with power of substitution to each, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated below, at the Special Meeting (the "Meeting") of Shareholders of the Fund indicated above to be held at the offices of American General Asset Management Corp. on June 1, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) and at any adjournment thereof, all of the shares of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present. THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH PROPOSAL. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Meeting. The Trustees recommend a vote FOR the proposals. TO VOTE BY MAIL, PLEASE VOTE, SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. TO VOTE BY FAX, PLEASE VOTE, SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND FAX THE PROXY CARD TO . NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS ON THIS PROXY CARD. All joint owners should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian or as custodian for a minor, please give full title as such. If a corporation, name and indicate the signer's office. If a partner, sign in the partnership name. _____________________________________ Signature _____________________________________ Signature (if held jointly) _____________________________________ Date I. Proposal to approve the Merger of FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN the Fund named on the reverse side of this card, as described in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement and the relevant Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. [_] [_] [_] PLEASE SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.