FORM 8-A

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                          MERRILL LYNCH DEPOSITOR, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


              Delaware                                   13-3891329
(State of incorporation or organization)    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

        World Financial Center,
           New York, New York                              10281
(Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

        Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

        Title of each class                     Name of each exchange on which
        to be so registered                     each class is to be registered

          INDEXPLUS Trust                         The American Stock Exchange
    Certificates Series 2003-1
       (the "Certificates")

     If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant
to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), check the following box. [x]

     If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant
to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), check the following box. [ ]

       Securities Act registration file number to which this form relates:
                                  333-88166-10

        Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                                      None



INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 1.   Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.

          The description of the Certificates to be registered hereunder is set
          forth under the captions entitled: "Description of the Trust
          Certificates"; and "United States Federal Income Tax Consequences" in
          the registrant's prospectus supplement dated December 11, 2003 (the
          "Prospectus Supplement"), and "Description of the Certificates" in the
          registrant's prospectus dated October 24, 2002 (the "Prospectus"),
          which descriptions are incorporated herein by reference. The
          registrant filed the Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement with the
          Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on December 15, 2003
          pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
          amended.

Item 2.   Exhibits

          1.   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
               registrant is set forth as Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant's
               Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-29015,
               dated September 17, 1997) (the "Registration Statement") and is
               incorporated herein by reference.

          2.   By-laws of the registrant are set forth as Exhibit 3.2 to the
               Registration Statement and are incorporated herein by reference.

          3.   Standard Terms for Trust Agreements dated February 20, 1998 (the
               "Standard Terms") are set forth as Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 8-K
               dated February 20, 1998 and filed by the registrant with the SEC
               on February 27, 1998 and are incorporated herein by reference.

          4.   Form of INDEXPLUS Trust Series 2003-1 Series Supplement (the
               "Series Supplement") to the Standard Terms.

          5.   Form of the Certificate.




                                    SIGNATURE

              Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.


                                            MERRILL LYNCH DEPOSITOR, INC.


Date: December 16, 2003                     By:    /s/ Barry Finkelstein
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name:  Barry N. Finkelstein
                                               Title: President