SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT

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


For the fiscal year ended:		Commission file number:
December 31, 2011		001-16727

MERRILL LYNCH DEPOSITOR, INC.

(ON BEHALF OF PREFERREDPLUS TRUST SERIES QWS-1)

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


DELAWARE (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		13-3891329 (I. R. S. Employer Identification No.)


ONE BRYANT PARK, 4th FL STRUCTURED CREDIT TRADING NEW YORK, NEW YORK (Address of principal executive offices)		10036 (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (646) 855-6745

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

PreferredPLUS Trust Certificates Series QWS-1, listed on The New York Stock Exchange

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

Not Applicable.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes o No þ

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes o No þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes o No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer þ Smaller reporting filer o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes o No þ

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

Not Applicable.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding for each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Not Applicable.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	PART I
	ITEM 1. BUSINESS
	ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
	ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
	ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
	ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
	ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
	PART II
	ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
	ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
	ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
	ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
	ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
	ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
	ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
	ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
	PART III
	ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
	ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
	ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
	ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
	ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
	PART IV
	ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
SIGNATURES
EX-31.1: CERTIFICATION
EX-99.1: TRUSTEE’S ANNUAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
EX-99.2: REPORT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
EX-99.3: REPORT OF KPMG LLP

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

For information with respect to the underlying securities held by PreferredPLUS Trust Series QWS-1, please refer to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s (Commission file number 001-15577) 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, N.E., 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, N.E., 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 and the underlying securities issuer has filed electronically with the SEC.

Although we have no reason to believe the information concerning the guarantee and underlying securities or the underlying securities guarantor and the underlying securities issuer 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 guarantor and underlying securities issuer (including, without limitation, no investigation as to their respective financial condition or creditworthiness) or of the underlying securities and 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 or in other securities issued by the underlying securities issuer or the underlying securities guarantor. There can be no assurance that events affecting the underlying securities and guarantee or the underlying securities issuer and 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.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Your investment in the trust certificates will involve certain risks. You should carefully consider the following discussion of risks, and the other information included or incorporated by reference in the applicable prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. You should also carefully consider any risk factors and other information that the underlying securities guarantor may file in its Exchange Act reports as referenced in Item 1 above.

IF THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES ARE REDEEMED PRIOR TO THEIR MATURITY DATE OR IF ANY CALL WARRANTS ARE EXERCISED, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REINVEST YOUR REDEMPTION OR CALL PROCEEDS AT A YIELD COMPARABLE TO THE YIELD YOU WOULD HAVE RECEIVED ON YOUR TRUST CERTIFICATES

The yield you will realize on your trust certificates depends upon several factors, including:

	•		the purchase price of the trust certificates,

	•		when you acquire your trust certificates,

	•		whether the underlying securities issuer exercises its option to redeem the underlying securities, and

	•		whether the call warrant holders exercise their optional rights to purchase outstanding trust certificates.

The underlying securities issuer has the right to redeem the underlying securities at its option. Because the underlying securities issuer has the right to redeem the underlying securities early, we cannot assure you that the trust will be able to hold the underlying securities until their maturity date.

Although the call warrant holders are not obligated to exercise the call warrants, the yield you will realize on your trust certificates depends on whether the call warrant holders exercise their call warrants to purchase the trust certificates. Prevailing interest rates at the time of an early redemption or a call exercise may be lower than the yield on your trust certificates. Therefore, you may be unable to realize a comparable yield upon reinvesting the funds you receive from an early redemption or exercise of any call warrants. In addition, if the prevailing market value of the trust certificates exceeds the redemption price call exercise price paid to you upon a redemption of the underlying securities or the exercise of a call, you will not be able to realize such excess.

YOU MAY NOT BE PAID IF THE ASSETS OF THE TRUST ARE INSUFFICIENT

Currently, the trust has no significant assets other than the underlying securities. If the underlying securities are insufficient to make payments or distributions on the trust certificates, no other assets will be available for payment of the deficiency.

THE TRUSTEE WILL NOT MANAGE THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES

Except as described below, the trust will not dispose of any underlying securities, even if an event occurs that adversely affects the value of the underlying securities or that adversely affects the underlying securities issuer. As provided in the applicable trust agreement, the trust will dispose of the underlying securities only if:

	•		there is a payment default on any underlying securities,

	•		there is another type of default that accelerates the maturity of the underlying securities, or

	•		the underlying securities guarantor ceases to file Exchange Act reports.

Under the first circumstance listed above, the trustee must sell the underlying securities on behalf of the trust, even if adverse market conditions exist. The trustee has no discretion to do otherwise. If adverse market conditions do exist at the time of the trustee’s sale of the underlying securities, you may incur greater losses than if the trust continued to hold the underlying securities.

THE TRUST CERTIFICATES ARE SUBJECT TO THE CREDITWORTHINESS OF THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES ISSUER AND THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES GUARANTOR

The trust certificates represent interests in obligations of the underlying securities issuer and the underlying securities guarantor. In particular, the trust certificates will be subject to all the risks associated with directly investing in both the underlying securities issuer’s and the underlying securities guarantor’s unsecured subordinated debt obligations. Neither the underlying indenture nor the underlying securities place a limitation on the amount of indebtedness that may be incurred by the underlying securities issuer or the underlying securities guarantor.

THE PAYMENTS OWED TO THE TRUST CERTIFICATEHOLDERS ARE UNSECURED OBLIGATIONS

In a liquidation, holders of the underlying securities, including the trust, will be paid only after holders of secured obligations of the underlying securities issuer. According to the underlying securities prospectus, the underlying securities are general unsecured obligations of the underlying securities issuer, which rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the underlying securities issuer. However, if the underlying securities issuer subjects any of its property to a lien then the underlying securities, and any other obligations which are then outstanding and subject to a similar covenant, will be secured ratably with the indebtedness or obligation secured by that lien and for the same length of time, subject to certain exceptions.

THE RIGHTS OF THE TRUST CERTIFICATEHOLDERS THROUGH THE GUARANTEE TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS OF A SUBSIDIARY OF THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES GUARANTOR COULD BE FOUND TO BE SUBORDINATE TO THE PRIOR CLAIMS OF THE CREDITORS OF SUCH SUBSIDIARY

The underlying guarantee is an unsecured obligation of the underlying securities guarantor and ranks equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the underlying securities guarantor. However, because the underlying securities guarantor is a holding company that conducts substantially all of its operations through subsidiaries, the right of the underlying securities guarantor, and hence the right of creditors of the underlying securities guarantor (including holders of the underlying securities through the guarantee), to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of such subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of the underlying securities guarantor itself as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized.

THE RATINGS OF THE TRUST CERTIFICATES MAY CHANGE

At the time of issuance, Moody’s and/or S&P assigned ratings to the trust certificates equivalent to the ratings of the underlying securities as of the date of the applicable prospectus supplement.

Any rating issued with respect to the trust certificates is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security. Ratings do not comment on the market price of the trust certificates or their suitability for a particular investor. We cannot assure you that initial ratings will remain for any given period of time or that a ratings agency would not revise or withdraw entirely the ratings if, in its judgment, circumstances (including, without limitation, the rating of the underlying securities) merit. A revision or withdrawal of a rating may adversely affect the market price of the trust certificates.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not Applicable.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

None.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not Applicable.

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Trust Certificates issued by PreferredPLUS Trust Series QWS-1 are represented by one or more physical certificates registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the Depository Trust Company. The Trust Certificates are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Not Applicable.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Not Applicable.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not Applicable.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Not Applicable.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Registrant has procedures so as to provide reasonable assurance that its future Exchange Act filings will be filed within the applicable time periods.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Not Applicable.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Not Applicable.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

	(a)		Securities Authorized For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans: None.

	(b)		Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners: None.

	(c)		Security Ownership Of Management: Not Applicable.

	(d)		Changes In Control: None.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

None.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

Not Applicable.

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)(1) Financial Statements: Not Applicable.

(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules: Not Applicable.

(a)(3) List of Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed as part of, and incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

	31.1.		Certification the of Vice President of Registrant dated March 9, 2012, pursuant to Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, with respect to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

	99.1.		Trustee’s Annual Compliance Certificate dated March 5, 2012.

	99.2.		Report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, dated March 6, 2012, Registrant’s Assertion on Compliance with PPLUS Minimum Servicing Standards dated March 6, 2012 and PPLUS Minimum Servicing Standards.

	99.3.		Report of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, dated February 24, 2012, The Bank of New York Mellon’s Assertion on Compliance with PPLUS Minimum Servicing Standards dated February 24, 2012 and PPLUS Minimum Servicing Standards.

(b) Exhibits

The Registrant hereby files as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K the exhibits listed in Item 15(a)(3) set forth above.

Not Applicable.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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: March 9, 2012	By:	/s/ John Marciano
	Name:	John Marciano
	Title:	Vice President

MERRILL LYNCH DEPOSITOR INC PREFERREDPLUS TRUST SER QWS- 1 10-K