<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-12-004542.txt : 20120307
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-12-004542.hdr.sgml : 20120307
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120307184254
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-12-004542
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120305
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120307
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120307

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			O HERN THOMAS E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001022056

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12504
		FILM NUMBER:		12675423

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		233 WILSHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 700
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACERICH CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912242
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				954448705
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 WILSHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3103946000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 WILSHIRE BLVD SUITE 700
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-03-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912242</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MACERICH CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MAC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001022056</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>O HERN THOMAS E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE MACERICH COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>401 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD #700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA MONICA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior EVP, Treasurer &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-03-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4598</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>129819</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-03-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4598</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-02-21</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4598</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35640</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person redeemed 4,598 units of limited partnership interest (&quot;Units&quot;) of The Macerich Partnership, L.P., of which the issuer is the general partner. These Units were previously vested service-based LTIP Units of The Macerich Partnership, L.P. Units are redeemable for an equal number of shares of the issuer's common stock or, at the election of the issuer, cash equal to the fair market value of such shares. The issuer elected to redeem the reporting person's Units with common stock. Units have no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">In addition, 5,525 shares are held by minor children who share the reporting person's household. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held by his children and this report should not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such shares for purposes of Section 16 or otherwise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">3,597 shares are also held indirectly by the reporting person through the Company's 401(k) Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The reporting person also holds 65,640 vested performance-based LTIP Units and 20,000 unvested performance-based LTIP Units of The Macerich Partnership, L.P.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Madonna R. Shannon for THOMAS E. O'HERN</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-03-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
