<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): June 1, 2006

                          MERRILL LYNCH DEPOSITOR, INC.
            (ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC STEERS(R) SERIES 1998 TRV-C1 TRUST)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

    DELAWARE                      001-32445                    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


                      INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT

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>

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 Public STEERS(R) Series 1998
                  TRV-C1 Trust Certificates on June 1, 2006.

                           For information with respect to the underlying
                  securities held by Public STEERS(R) Series 1998 TRV-C1 Trust,
                  please refer to Citigroup Inc.'s (Commission file number
                  001-09924) 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 guarantor has filed electronically with
                  the SEC.

<PAGE>

                           Although we have no reason to believe the information
                  concerning the underlying securities, the underlying
                  securities issuer, the guarantee or the underlying securities
                  guarantor contained in the underlying securities guarantor'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 or the underlying
                  securities guarantor (including, without limitation, no
                  investigation as to its financial condition or
                  creditworthiness) or of the underlying securities or the
                  guarantee has been made. You should obtain and evaluate the
                  same information concerning the underlying securities issuer
                  and the underlying securities guarantor as you would obtain
                  and evaluate if your investment were directly in the
                  underlying securities, the guarantee or in other securities
                  issued by the underlying securities issuer or underlying
                  securities guarantor. There can be no assurance that events
                  affecting the underlying securities, the guarantee, the
                  underlying securities issuer or the underlying securities
                  guarantor 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 June 1, 2006
                           distribution to holders of the Public STEERS(R)
                           Series 1998 TRV-C1 Trust Certificates.

<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: June 20, 2006                     By: /s/ Zvi Gillon
                                            -----------------------------
                                            Name:    Zvi Gillon
                                            Title:   Vice President

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


         99.1     Trustee's report in respect of the June 1, 2006 distribution
                  to holders of the Public STEERS(R) Series 1998 TRV-C1 Trust
                  Certificates.
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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): June 1, 2006

                          MERRILL LYNCH DEPOSITOR, INC.
            (ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC STEERS(R) SERIES 1998 TRV-C1 TRUST)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

    DELAWARE                      001-32445                    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

                      INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT

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))
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 Public STEERS(R) Series 1998
                  TRV-C1 Trust Certificates on June 1, 2006.

                           For information with respect to the underlying
                  securities held by Public STEERS(R) Series 1998 TRV-C1 Trust,
                  please refer to Citigroup Inc.'s (Commission file number
                  001-09924) 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 guarantor has filed electronically with
                  the SEC.
Although we have no reason to believe the information
                  concerning the underlying securities, the underlying
                  securities issuer, the guarantee or the underlying securities
                  guarantor contained in the underlying securities guarantor'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 or the underlying
                  securities guarantor (including, without limitation, no
                  investigation as to its financial condition or
                  creditworthiness) or of the underlying securities or the
                  guarantee has been made. You should obtain and evaluate the
                  same information concerning the underlying securities issuer
                  and the underlying securities guarantor as you would obtain
                  and evaluate if your investment were directly in the
                  underlying securities, the guarantee or in other securities
                  issued by the underlying securities issuer or underlying
                  securities guarantor. There can be no assurance that events
                  affecting the underlying securities, the guarantee, the
                  underlying securities issuer or the underlying securities
                  guarantor 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 June 1, 2006
                           distribution to holders of the Public STEERS(R)
                           Series 1998 TRV-C1 Trust Certificates.
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: June 20, 2006                     By: /s/ Zvi Gillon
                                            -----------------------------
                                            Name:    Zvi Gillon
                                            Title:   Vice President

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

         99.1     Trustee's report in respect of the June 1, 2006 distribution
                  to holders of the Public STEERS(R) Series 1998 TRV-C1 Trust
                  Certificates.