<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                                                      6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM ML
VENTURE PARTNERS II, L.P.'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>

<S>                                                                          <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                         DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                                 27,505,870
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                                37,386,258
<RECEIVABLES>                                                             49,442
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                   4,832,531
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        42,268,231
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                       0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                        0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                                345,195
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                      345,195
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                                0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                       0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                    120,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                    120,000
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                      0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                         0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                        0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                       0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                               9,880,388
<NET-ASSETS>                                                          41,923,036
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                        212,646
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                      1,310,239
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                                 0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                         2,210,617
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                (687,732)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                              46,879,092
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                           (25,244,796)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                 20,946,564
<EQUALIZATION>                                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                      0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                 59,366,060
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                        0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                                    0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                            0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                              (52,777,178)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                        0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                      0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                        0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                     0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                             0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                                0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                  61,132,784
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                        596
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                              (7)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                      144
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                    410
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                          323
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                                0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                         0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                           0


</TABLE>