<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, Consolidated Statements of Income, Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000925433 <NAME> ML Principal Protection Plus L.P. <PERIOD-TYPE> 5-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1996 <CASH> 856 <SECURITIES> 79,566,875 <RECEIVABLES> 9,434,252 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 89,001,983 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 89,001,983 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 4,500,971 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 84,501,012 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 89,001,983 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,767,766 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,148,166 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,846 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 617,754 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 617,754 <EPS-PRIMARY> .75 <EPS-DILUTED> .75