<PAGE>

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
                           --------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                            -------------------------

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 17, 2006

                          MERRILL LYNCH DEPOSITOR, INC.
                 (ON BEHALF OF PREFERREDPLUS TRUST SERIES ELP-1)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                     DELAWARE             001-31288             13-3891329
                 (State or other        (Commission         (I. R. S. Employer
                 jurisdiction  of        File Number)       Identification No.)
                  incorporation)

                WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER,                           10080
                  NEW YORK, NEW YORK                           (Zip Code)
                 (Address of principal
                  executive offices)
                           --------------------------

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 449-1000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.):

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
      (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
      (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
<PAGE>

                      INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT

SECTION 1.        REGISTRANT'S BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 2.        FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 3.        SECURITIES AND TRADING MARKETS

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 4.        MATTERS RELATED TO ACCOUNTANTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 5.        CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 6.        ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 7.        REGULATION FD

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 8.        OTHER EVENTS

         ITEM 8.01         OTHER EVENTS

99.1     Distribution to holders of the PreferredPLUS Trust Certificates
         Series ELP-1 on January 17, 2006.

                                    For information with respect to the
                           underlying securities held by PreferredPLUS Trust
                           Series ELP-1, please refer to El Paso Corporation's
                           (Commission file number 001-14365) periodic reports,
                           including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly
                           reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K,
                           and other information on file with the Securities and
                           Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). You can read and
                           copy these reports and other information at the
                           public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at
                           Room 1580, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549.
                           You may obtain copies of this material for a fee by
                           writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section of the
                           SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You
                           may obtain information about the operation of the
                           Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at
                           1-800-SEC-0330. You can also access some of this
                           information electronically by means of the SEC's
                           website on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov, which
                           contains reports, proxy and information statements
                           and other information that the underlying securities
                           issuer has filed electronically with the SEC.

                                    Although we have no reason to believe the
                           information concerning the underlying securities or
                           the underlying securities issuer contained in the
                           underlying securities issuer's Exchange Act reports
                           is not reliable, neither the depositor nor the
                           trustee participated in the preparation of such
                           documents or made any due diligence inquiry with
                           respect to the information provided therein. No
                           investigation with respect to the underlying
                           securities issuer (including, without limitation, no
                           investigation as to its financial condition or
                           creditworthiness) or of the underlying securities has
                           been made. You should obtain and evaluate the same
                           information concerning the underlying securities
                           issuer as you would obtain and evaluate if you were
                           investing directly in the underlying securities or in
                           other securities issued by the underlying securities
                           issuer. There can be no assurance that events
                           affecting the underlying securities or the underlying
                           securities issuer have not occurred or have not yet
                           been publicly disclosed which would affect the
                           accuracy or completeness of the publicly available
                           documents described above.
<PAGE>

SECTION 9.        FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         ITEM 9.01    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

                  (a) Financial statements of business acquired.

                      Not Applicable.

                  (b) Pro forma financial information.

                      Not Applicable.

                  (c) Shell company transactions.

                      Not applicable.

                  (d) Exhibits.

                      99.1   Trustee's report in respect of the January 17, 2006
                             distribution to holders of the PreferredPLUS Trust
                             Certificates Series ELP-1.

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
                  1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
                  on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.


                                       MERRILL LYNCH DEPOSITOR, INC.

         Date: January 30, 2006        By:    /s/ Zvi Gillon
                                              ------------------------------
                                       Name:  Zvi Gillon
                                       Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


                     99.1  Trustee's report in respect of the January 17, 2006
                           distribution to holders of the PreferredPLUS
                           Trust Certificates Series ELP-1.
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
                           --------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                            -------------------------

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 17, 2006

                          MERRILL LYNCH DEPOSITOR, INC.
                 (ON BEHALF OF PREFERREDPLUS TRUST SERIES ELP-1)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                     DELAWARE             001-31288             13-3891329
                 (State or other        (Commission         (I. R. S. Employer
                 jurisdiction  of        File Number)       Identification No.)
                  incorporation)

                WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER,                           10080
                  NEW YORK, NEW YORK                           (Zip Code)
                 (Address of principal
                  executive offices)
                           --------------------------

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 449-1000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.):

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
      (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
      (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT

SECTION 1.        REGISTRANT'S BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 2.        FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 3.        SECURITIES AND TRADING MARKETS

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 4.        MATTERS RELATED TO ACCOUNTANTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 5.        CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 6.        ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 7.        REGULATION FD

                  Not applicable.

SECTION 8.        OTHER EVENTS

         ITEM 8.01         OTHER EVENTS

99.1     Distribution to holders of the PreferredPLUS Trust Certificates
         Series ELP-1 on January 17, 2006.

                                    For information with respect to the
                           underlying securities held by PreferredPLUS Trust
                           Series ELP-1, please refer to El Paso Corporation's
                           (Commission file number 001-14365) periodic reports,
                           including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly
                           reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K,
                           and other information on file with the Securities and
                           Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). You can read and
                           copy these reports and other information at the
                           public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at
                           Room 1580, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549.
                           You may obtain copies of this material for a fee by
                           writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section of the
                           SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You
                           may obtain information about the operation of the
                           Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at
                           1-800-SEC-0330. You can also access some of this
                           information electronically by means of the SEC's
                           website on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov, which
                           contains reports, proxy and information statements
                           and other information that the underlying securities
                           issuer has filed electronically with the SEC.

                                    Although we have no reason to believe the
                           information concerning the underlying securities or
                           the underlying securities issuer contained in the
                           underlying securities issuer's Exchange Act reports
                           is not reliable, neither the depositor nor the
                           trustee participated in the preparation of such
                           documents or made any due diligence inquiry with
                           respect to the information provided therein. No
                           investigation with respect to the underlying
                           securities issuer (including, without limitation, no
                           investigation as to its financial condition or
                           creditworthiness) or of the underlying securities has
                           been made. You should obtain and evaluate the same
                           information concerning the underlying securities
                           issuer as you would obtain and evaluate if you were
                           investing directly in the underlying securities or in
                           other securities issued by the underlying securities
                           issuer. There can be no assurance that events
                           affecting the underlying securities or the underlying
                           securities issuer have not occurred or have not yet
                           been publicly disclosed which would affect the
                           accuracy or completeness of the publicly available
                           documents described above.
SECTION 9.        FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         ITEM 9.01    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

                  (a) Financial statements of business acquired.

                      Not Applicable.

                  (b) Pro forma financial information.

                      Not Applicable.

                  (c) Shell company transactions.

                      Not applicable.

                  (d) Exhibits.

                      99.1   Trustee's report in respect of the January 17, 2006
                             distribution to holders of the PreferredPLUS Trust
                             Certificates Series ELP-1.
SIGNATURES

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
                  1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
                  on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                                       MERRILL LYNCH DEPOSITOR, INC.

         Date: January 30, 2006        By:    /s/ Zvi Gillon
                                              ------------------------------
                                       Name:  Zvi Gillon
                                       Title: Vice President
EXHIBIT INDEX

                     99.1  Trustee's report in respect of the January 17, 2006
                           distribution to holders of the PreferredPLUS
                           Trust Certificates Series ELP-1.