-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UV2nRJrerX2D0cVxx8HQQD4/qNKvUooAwgFQMpSD0Duq7jC6leAA9A1aTIxewglI
 kfEjfxurg7wDsmgg6cC6MA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-07-022578.txt : 20071204
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-07-022578.hdr.sgml : 20071204
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071204135823
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-07-022578
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071130
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071204
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20071204

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITED INDUSTRIAL CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000101271
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [3690]
		IRS NUMBER:				952081809
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1214

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		124 INDUSTRY LANE
		CITY:			HUNT VALLEY
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21030
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(410) 628-3500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		124 INDUSTRY LANE
		CITY:			HUNT VALLEY
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21030

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TOPP INDUSTRIES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710510

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HAYES MANUFACTURING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19660911

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEHMEL ROBERT F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201289

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04252
		FILM NUMBER:		071283086

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9738981500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5 SYLVAN WAY
		CITY:			PARSIPPANY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07054
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-11-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000101271</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITED INDUSTRIAL CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UIC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201289</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MEHMEL ROBERT F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNITED INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>124 INDUSTRY LANE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HUNT VALLEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21030</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.32</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>63.68</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-03-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>48.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.30</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-05-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>48.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.30</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>61.15</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.85</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-05-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">All unvested options became fully exercisable on November 14, 2007 upon the change in control resulting from consummation of the tender offer under to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 7, 2007 (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;) among the issuer, Textron Inc. and Marco Acquisition Sub Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On November 30, 2007, the Board of Directors of the issuer accelerated the cancellation of these options, in exchange for a cash payment in the amount of $81.00 per share less the exercise price of the options, as contemplated by the Merger Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Susan E. Pendery, as Attorney in Fact for Robert F. Mehmel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----