MERRILL LYNCH RETIREMENT ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM INC
NSAR-B, 1999-03-25
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 B000000 01/31/99
000 C000000 0000918848
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
001 B000000 811-7177
001 C000000 6092822800
002 A000000 P.O. BOX 9011
002 B000000 PRINCETON
002 C000000 NJ
002 D010000 08543
002 D020000 9011
003  000000 N
004  000000 N
005  000000 N
006  000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000  5
007 C010100  1
007 C020100 ML FUNDAMENTAL VALUE PORTFOLIO
007 C030100 N
007 C010200  2
007 C020200 ML GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
007 C030200 N
007 C010300  3
007 C020300 ML QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO
007 C030300 N
007 C010400  4
007 C020400 ML U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
007 C030400 N
007 C010500  5
007 C020500 ML GROWTH OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
007 C030500 N
007 C010600  6
007 C010700  7
007 C010800  8
007 C010900  9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-11583
008 D01AA01 PRINCETON
008 D02AA01 NJ
008 D03AA01 08543
008 D04AA01 9011
008 A00AA02 MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT U.K., LTD.
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
008 B00AA02 S
008 C00AA02 801-31780
008 D01AA02 LONDON
008 D05AA02 ENGLAND
008 D06AA02 EC24 9LY
011 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-14663
011 C01AA01 PRINCETON
011 C02AA01 NJ
011 C03AA01 08543
011 C04AA01 9011
012 A00AA01 FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
012 B00AA01 84-01339
012 C01AA01 JACKSONVILLE
012 C02AA01 FL
012 C03AA01 32246
012 C04AA01 6484
013 A00AA01 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B01AA01 PRINCETON
013 B02AA01 NJ
013 B03AA01 08540
014 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
014 B00AA01 8-7221
018  00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00  216
019 C00AA00 MERRILLLYN
020 A000001 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
020 B000001 13-5108880
020 C000001     26
020 A000002 SCHRODER & CO. INC.
020 B000002 13-2697272
020 C000002     26
020 A000003 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
020 B000003 13-5674085
020 C000003     26
020 A000004 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
020 B000004 13-2655998
020 C000004     24
020 A000005 UBS AG WARBURG DILLON READ
020 B000005 13-3340045
020 C000005     22
020 A000006 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
020 B000006 13-5659485
020 C000006     20
020 A000007 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITIES INC.
020 B000007 13-3224016
020 C000007     19
020 A000008 SMITH BARNEY INC.
020 B000008 13-1912900
020 C000008     15
<PAGE>      PAGE  3
020 A000009 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
020 B000009 13-2518466
020 C000009     14
020 A000010 PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
020 B000010 13-2638166
020 C000010     10
021  000000      363
022 A000001 HSBC SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000001 13-2650272
022 C000001   1045978
022 D000001      1393
022 A000002 GENERAL MOTORS ACCEPTANCE CORP.
022 C000002    901594
022 D000002         0
022 A000003 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP.
022 C000003    527192
022 D000003         0
022 A000004 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
022 B000004 13-2655998
022 C000004    311697
022 D000004      7495
022 A000005 NIKKO SECURITIES CO. INTERNATIONAL, INC.(THE)
022 B000005 94-1302123
022 C000005    219121
022 D000005         0
022 A000006 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000006 13-5108880
022 C000006     91765
022 D000006     32008
022 A000007 ASSOCIATE CORP. OF NORTH AMERICA
022 C000007     42535
022 D000007         0
022 A000008 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
022 B000008 13-5659485
022 C000008     23988
022 D000008     15169
022 A000009 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITES INC.
022 B000009 13-3224016
022 C000009     25737
022 D000009      4716
022 A000010 CHASE SECURITIES INC.
022 B000010 13-3112953
022 C000010     26924
022 D000010         0
023 C000000    3365005
023 D000000     109727
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
<PAGE>      PAGE  4
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
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027  000000 Y
037  00AA00 N
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039  00AA00 N
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041  00AA00 Y
054 A00AA00 Y
054 B00AA00 Y
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 N
054 H00AA00 Y
054 I00AA00 N
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054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 N
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
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078  000000 N
080 A00AA00 ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.
080 C00AA00     2500
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 137
082 A00AA00 N
082 B00AA00        0
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00        0
084 A00AA00 N
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015 A000101 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
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<PAGE>      PAGE  5
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<PAGE>      PAGE  6
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<PAGE>      PAGE  7
055 A000100 N
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066 A000100 Y
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<PAGE>      PAGE  8
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<PAGE>      PAGE  9
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015 A000201 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000201 C
015 C010201 NEW YORK
015 C020201 NY
015 C030201 10286
<PAGE>      PAGE  10
015 E010201 X
015 A000202 CREDITANSTALT AG
015 B000202 S
015 C010202 AUSTRIA
015 D010202 AUSTRIA
015 E040202 X
015 A000203 MERITA BANK LTD.
015 B000203 S
015 C010203 FINLAND
015 D010203 FINLAND
015 E040203 X
015 A000204 BANQUE PARIBAS
015 B000204 S
015 C010204 FRANCE
015 D010204 FRANCE
015 E040204 X
015 A000205 OEKB
015 B000205 S
015 C010205 AUSTRIA
015 D010205 AUSTRIA
015 E040205 X
015 A000206 DRESDNER BANK AG
015 B000206 S
015 C010206 GERMANY
015 D010206 GERMANY
015 E040206 X
015 A000207 ALLIED IRISH BANK
015 B000207 S
015 C010207 IRELAND
015 D010207 IRELAND
015 E040207 X
015 A000208 CBISSO
015 B000208 S
015 C010208 IRELAND
015 D010208 IRELAND
015 E040208 X
015 A000209 CREST
015 B000209 S
015 C010209 IRELAND
015 D010209 IRELAND
015 E040209 X
015 A000210 BANCA COMMERCIALE ITALIANA
015 B000210 S
015 C010210 ITALY
015 D010210 ITALY
015 E040210 X
015 A000211 DEN DANSKE BANK
015 B000211 S
015 C010211 DENMARK
015 D010211 DENMARK
015 E040211 X
<PAGE>      PAGE  11
015 A000212 VPC
015 B000212 S
015 C010212 DENMARK
015 D010212 DENMARK
015 E040212 X
015 A000213 MITSUBISHI BANK OF TOKYO
015 B000213 S
015 C010213 JAPAN
015 D010213 JAPAN
015 E040213 X
015 A000214 BANK OF JAPAN
015 B000214 S
015 C010214 JAPAN
015 D010214 JAPAN
015 E040214 X
015 A000215 JASDEC
015 B000215 S
015 C010215 JAPAN
015 D010215 JAPAN
015 E040215 X
015 A000216 CSD
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015 C010216 FINLAND
015 D010216 FINLAND
015 E040216 X
015 A000217 DEN NORSKE BANK
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015 C010217 NORWAY
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015 E040217 X
015 A000218 VPS
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015 C010218 NORWAY
015 D010218 NORWAY
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015 A000219 BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA
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015 C010219 SPAIN
015 D010219 SPAIN
015 E040219 X
015 A000220 SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN
015 B000220 S
015 C010220 SWEDEN
015 D010220 SWEDEN
015 E040220 X
015 A000221 UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND
015 B000221 S
015 C010221 SWITZERLAND
015 D010221 SWITZERLAND
015 E040221 X
015 A000222 SEGA
<PAGE>      PAGE  12
015 B000222 S
015 C010222 SWITZERLAND
015 D010222 SWITZERLAND
015 E040222 X
015 A000223 MEESPIERSON N.V.
015 B000223 S
015 C010223 NETHERLANDS
015 D010223 NETHERLANDS
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015 A000224 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000224 S
015 C010224 LONDON
015 D010224 UNITED KINGDOM
015 E010224 X
015 A000225 DELETE
015 A000226 SICOVAM
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015 C010226 FRANCE
015 D010226 FRANCE
015 E040226 X
015 A000227 BANQUE DE FRANCE
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015 C010227 FRANCE
015 D010227 FRANCE
015 E040227 X
015 A000228 THE DEUTSCHER KASSENVEREIN AG
015 B000228 S
015 C010228 GERMANY
015 D010228 GERMANY
015 E040228 X
015 A000229 MONTE TITOLI S.P.A.
015 B000229 S
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015 A000230 BANK OF ITALY
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015 C010230 ITALY
015 D010230 ITALY
015 E040230 X
015 A000231 DELETE
015 A000232 NECIGEF
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015 C010232 NETHERLANDS
015 D010232 NETHERLANDS
015 E040232 X
015 A000233 NIEC
015 B000233 S
015 C010233 NETHERLANDS
015 D010233 NETHERLANDS
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<PAGE>      PAGE  13
015 A000234 DELETE
015 A000235 SCLV
015 B000235 S
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015 A000236 BANK OF SPAIN
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015 C010236 SPAIN
015 D010236 SPAIN
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015 A000237 ESPACLEAR
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015 C010237 SPAIN
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015 E040237 X
015 A000238 VPC
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015 C010238 SWEDEN
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015 A000239 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
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015 C030239 10006
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015 A000240 THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
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015 C030240 10017
015 E010240 X
015 A000241 CUSTODIAL TRUST CO.
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015 C030241 10167
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015 A000242 MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST CO. OF NEW YORK
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<PAGE>      PAGE  14
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015 A000245 CMO
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015 A000246 DELETE
015 A000247 DELETE
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024  000200 Y
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<PAGE>      PAGE  15
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<PAGE>      PAGE  16
051  000200 N
052  000200 N
053 A000200 N
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<PAGE>      PAGE  17
070 F010200 Y
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<PAGE>      PAGE  18
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<PAGE>      PAGE  19
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<PAGE>      PAGE  20
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<PAGE>      PAGE  21
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<PAGE>      PAGE  22
064 B000300 N
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<PAGE>      PAGE  23
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<PAGE>      PAGE  24
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015 B000401 C
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<PAGE>      PAGE  25
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<PAGE>      PAGE  26
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<PAGE>      PAGE  27
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<PAGE>      PAGE  28
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<PAGE>      PAGE  29
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015 B000501 C
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<PAGE>      PAGE  30
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<PAGE>      PAGE  31
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<PAGE>      PAGE  32
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<PAGE>      PAGE  33
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<PAGE>      PAGE  34
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SIGNATURE   DONALD C. BURKE                              
TITLE       TREASURER           
 


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<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> FUNDAMENTAL VALUE PORTFOLIO
       
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<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> FUNDAMENTAL VALUE PORTFOLIO
       
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<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> FUNDAMENTAL VALUE PORTFOLIO
       
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<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
       
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<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 031
   <NAME> QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 032
   <NAME> QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NUMBER> 033
   <NAME> QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 034
   <NAME> QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> US GOVERNMENT SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> US GOVERNMENT SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> US GOVERNMENT SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> US GOVERNMENT SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NUMBER> 051
   <NAME> GROWTH OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
       
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<TABLE> <S> <C>

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<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> GROWTH OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
       
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   <NAME> GROWTH OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
       
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<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NAME> GROWTH OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
       
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