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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>UNITED STATES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>FORM 8-K</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">CURRENT REPORT</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported):
April 30, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 14pt; text-underline-style: none">Rowan
Companies, Inc.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">(Exact name of registrant as specified in
its charter)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 30%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding: 0; text-align: center">Delaware</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 30%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">1-5491</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 30%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-indent: 0">75-0759420</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; text-align: center">(Commission <BR> File Number)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; text-align: center; text-indent: 0">(IRS Employer <BR> Identification No.)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 100%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding: 0; text-indent: 0">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>2800 Post Oak Boulevard</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center"><B>Suite 5450</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Houston, Texas</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>77056-6189</B></P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0">(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Registrant&rsquo;s telephone number, including
area code: <B>+1 713 621 7800</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Not Applicable</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Former name or former address, if changed
since last report)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)</P>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>Item 8.01. Other Events.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Rowan Companies, Inc.
(the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;) expects the previously approved merger, pursuant to which the Company would become a subsidiary of
a newly formed English public limited company to be named Rowan Companies plc, to become effective on May 4, 2012. The Company
expects that Class A Ordinary Shares of Rowan Companies plc (&ldquo;Ordinary Shares&rdquo;) will be exchanged for shares of common
stock of the Company in connection with the merger, and that Ordinary Shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the
&ldquo;NYSE&rdquo;) and made eligible for the depository and book-entry transfer services of The Depository Trust Company (&ldquo;DTC&rdquo;)
under arrangements to be entered into between the Company, and DTC and its related parties. As a result of the listing of our Ordinary
Shares on the NYSE, the Company also expects that it would remain eligible for continued inclusion in the S&amp;P 500 Index.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">*****</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">This document contains
forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation,
statements about the proposed change in corporate structure that are based on current expectations and are subject to certain risks,
trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by the Company. Among the factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially include oil and natural gas prices, the level of offshore expenditures by
energy companies, energy demand, the general economy, including inflation, weather conditions in the Company&rsquo;s principal
operating areas and environmental and other laws and regulations, including changes in tax laws, our ability to implement a Class
A Share capital structure, our remaining eligibility for continued inclusion in the S&amp;P 500 Index and whether we achieve the
benefits we expect from the proposed change in our corporate structure. Other relevant factors have been and will be disclosed
in the Company&rsquo;s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B><U>SIGNATURE</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Pursuant to the requirements 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.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Dated: April 30, 2012</P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 5%; padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 10%; padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal">ROWAN COMPANIES, INC.</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">By:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">&nbsp;/s/ William W. Wells</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">William H. Wells</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">(Principal Financial Officer)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding: 0; text-autospace: none; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 238.5pt">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 238.5pt"></P>

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[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v311091_8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 16275}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ROWAN COMPANIES INC", "cik": "0000085408", "assigned-sic": "1381", "irs-number": "750759420", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-05491", "film-number": "12794977"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2800 POST OAK BLVD.", "street2": "SUITE 5450", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77056-6127", "phone": "7136217800"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2800 POST OAK BOULEVARD", "street2": "SUITE 5450", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77056-6127"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "ROWAN DRILLING CO INC", "date-changed": "19711110"}, {"former-conformed-name": "ROWAN DRILLING CO", "date-changed": "19671112"}]}
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported):
April 30, 2012
Rowan
Companies, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in
its charter)
Delaware
1-5491
75-0759420
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
2800 Post Oak Boulevard
Suite 5450
Houston, Texas
77056-6189
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including
area code:
+1 713 621 7800
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed
since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)
Item 8.01. Other Events.
Rowan Companies, Inc.
(the "Company") expects the previously approved merger, pursuant to which the Company would become a subsidiary of
a newly formed English public limited company to be named Rowan Companies plc, to become effective on May 4, 2012. The Company
expects that Class A Ordinary Shares of Rowan Companies plc ("Ordinary Shares") will be exchanged for shares of common
stock of the Company in connection with the merger, and that Ordinary Shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the
"NYSE") and made eligible for the depository and book-entry transfer services of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC")
under arrangements to be entered into between the Company, and DTC and its related parties. As a result of the listing of our Ordinary
Shares on the NYSE, the Company also expects that it would remain eligible for continued inclusion in the S&P 500 Index.
*****
This document contains
forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation,
statements about the proposed change in corporate structure that are based on current expectations and are subject to certain risks,
trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by the Company. Among the factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially include oil and natural gas prices, the level of offshore expenditures by
energy companies, energy demand, the general economy, including inflation, weather conditions in the Company's principal
operating areas and environmental and other laws and regulations, including changes in tax laws, our ability to implement a Class
A Share capital structure, our remaining eligibility for continued inclusion in the S&P 500 Index and whether we achieve the
benefits we expect from the proposed change in our corporate structure. Other relevant factors have been and will be disclosed
in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
Dated: April 30, 2012
ROWAN COMPANIES, INC.
By:
/s/ William W. Wells
William H. Wells
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer)