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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"><B></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">DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported):
July 25, 2012</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">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="text-underline-style: none">Rowan
Companies plc</FONT></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">(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-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-align: center">England and Wales</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">1-5491</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">98-1023315</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; 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-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(Commission <BR> File Number)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(IRS Employer <BR> Identification No.)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<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: 100%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>2800 Post Oak Boulevard</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; 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-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;(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>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
<TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the
Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD>
</TR></TABLE>

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

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
<TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD>
</TR></TABLE>

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

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
<TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD>
</TR></TABLE>

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

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
<TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD>
</TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</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: justify"><B>Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a
Vote of Security Holders</B></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: 0.25in">The final results
of voting on each of the matters submitted to a vote of shareholders during the general meeting of shareholders of Rowan Companies
plc (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;), held on July 25, 2012, are shown below. As of the record date, June 4, 2012, there were 124,184,934
Class A Ordinary Shares (&ldquo;Shares&rdquo;) outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting. The holders of a total of 95,230,791
Shares were present in person or by proxy at the general meeting.</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"><B>Proposal 1 &ndash; Elect Thomas R. Hix
as a Class III Director for a term to expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015:</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></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: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">For</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Against</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Abstain</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Broker Non-Vote</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">84,992,236</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">1,262,467</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">1,032,482</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">7,943,606</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Thomas R. Hix was elected for a term to
expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015, which is in accordance with the Company&rsquo;s previously
announced phased-in declassification of its Board of Directors.</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"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>Proposal 2 &ndash; Elect Suzanne P.
Nimocks as a Class III Director for a term to expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015:</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></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: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">For</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Against</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Abstain</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Broker Non-Vote</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">85,762,682</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">495,320</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">1,029,183</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">7,943,606</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Suzanne P. Nimocks was elected for a term
to expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015, which is in accordance with the Company&rsquo;s previously
announced phased-in declassification of its Board of Directors.</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">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>Proposal 3 &ndash; Elect P. Dexter Peacock
as a Class III Director for a term to expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015:</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></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: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">For</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Against</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Abstain</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Broker Non-Vote</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">72,207,981</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">14,045,323</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">1,033,881</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">7,943,606</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<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. Dexter Peacock was elected for a term
to expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015, which is in accordance with the Company&rsquo;s previously
announced phased-in declassification of its Board of Directors.</P>

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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>Proposal 4 - Ratify the Audit Committee&rsquo;s
appointment of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP as our U.S. independent registered public accounting firm for 2012.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&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: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">For</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Against</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Abstain</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Broker Non-Vote</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">91,497,229</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">3,691,693</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">41,869</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">N/A</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<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">The appointment of Deloitte &amp; Touche
LLP was ratified.</P>

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

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<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">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>Proposal 5 - Ratify the appointment
of Deloitte &amp; Touche UK LLP as our U.K. statutory auditors under the Companies Act 2006.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&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: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">For</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Against</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Abstain</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Broker Non-Vote</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">91,990,933</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">3,197,482</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">42,376</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">N/A</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<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">The appointment of Deloitte &amp; Touche UK LLP was ratified.</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">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>Proposal 6 - Ratify that the Audit Committee
is authorized to determine our U.K. statutory auditors&rsquo; remuneration.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&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: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">For</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Against</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Abstain</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Broker Non-Vote</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">91,392,465</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">3,795,957</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">42,369</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">N/A</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<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">The authorization of the Audit Committee
to determine our U.K. statutory auditors&rsquo; remuneration was ratified.</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">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>Proposal 7 - Approve, by non-binding
vote, the Company&rsquo;s executive compensation.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&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: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">For</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Against</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Abstain</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 25%; border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">Broker Non-Vote</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="border: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">68,672,077</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">15,597,110</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">3,017,998</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">7,943,606</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<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">On an advisory basis,
the Company&rsquo;s executive compensation as set forth in the proxy statement was approved.</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">&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">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.25in">On July 25, 2012, the Company, as successor
issuer to Rowan Companies, Inc., announced that it will continue the previously announced $150 million share repurchase program,
of which approximately $25 million remains available. To effect such repurchases, the Company entered into a purchase agreement
with a dealer. As directed by the Company in repurchase notices provided to the dealer from time to time, the dealer will acquire
Shares either in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The Company will purchase the Shares from the dealer
at a price equal to the price per Share actually paid by the dealer, plus a commission. <FONT STYLE="color: black">Share repurchases
may be commenced or suspended from time to time without prior notice and, in accordance with English law, any Shares repurchased
by the Company will be cancelled. </FONT>The purchase agreement terminates on April 30, 2017 or sooner under certain circumstances.</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 0pt 1.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -1in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 1.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -1in">&nbsp;</P>

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

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<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">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></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: 50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 45%">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>Dated:&nbsp; July 27, 2012</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">ROWAN COMPANIES PLC</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD></TD>
    <TD>By:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-decoration: underline">/s/ William H. Wells&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>William H. Wells</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Senior Vice President &ndash; Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>(Principal Financial Officer)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>


<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">&nbsp;</P>

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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ROWAN COMPANIES PLC", "cik": "0000085408", "assigned-sic": "1381", "irs-number": "981023315", "state-of-incorporation": "X0", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-05491", "film-number": "12990918"}, "business-address": {"street1": "MITRE HOUSE 160", "street2": "ALDERSGATE STREET", "city": "LONDON", "state": "X0", "zip": "EC1A 4DD", "phone": "7139607640"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "MITRE HOUSE 160", "street2": "ALDERSGATE STREET", "city": "LONDON", "state": "X0", "zip": "EC1A 4DD"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "ROWAN COMPANIES INC", "date-changed": "19920703"}, {"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):
July 25, 2012
Rowan
Companies plc
(Exact name of registrant as specified in
its charter)
England and Wales
1-5491
98-1023315
(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 5.07 Submission of Matters to a
Vote of Security Holders
The final results
of voting on each of the matters submitted to a vote of shareholders during the general meeting of shareholders of Rowan Companies
plc (the "Company"), held on July 25, 2012, are shown below. As of the record date, June 4, 2012, there were 124,184,934
Class A Ordinary Shares ("Shares") outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting. The holders of a total of 95,230,791
Shares were present in person or by proxy at the general meeting.
Proposal 1 – Elect Thomas R. Hix
as a Class III Director for a term to expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015:
For
Against
Abstain
Broker Non-Vote
84,992,236
1,262,467
1,032,482
7,943,606
Thomas R. Hix was elected for a term to
expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015, which is in accordance with the Company's previously
announced phased-in declassification of its Board of Directors.
Proposal 2 – Elect Suzanne P.
Nimocks as a Class III Director for a term to expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015:
For
Against
Abstain
Broker Non-Vote
85,762,682
495,320
1,029,183
7,943,606
Suzanne P. Nimocks was elected for a term
to expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015, which is in accordance with the Company's previously
announced phased-in declassification of its Board of Directors.
Proposal 3 – Elect P. Dexter Peacock
as a Class III Director for a term to expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015:
For
Against
Abstain
Broker Non-Vote
72,207,981
14,045,323
1,033,881
7,943,606
P. Dexter Peacock was elected for a term
to expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015, which is in accordance with the Company's previously
announced phased-in declassification of its Board of Directors.
Proposal 4 - Ratify the Audit Committee's
appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our U.S. independent registered public accounting firm for 2012.
For
Against
Abstain
Broker Non-Vote
91,497,229
3,691,693
41,869
N/A
The appointment of Deloitte & Touche
LLP was ratified.
2
Proposal 5 - Ratify the appointment
of Deloitte & Touche UK LLP as our U.K. statutory auditors under the Companies Act 2006.
For
Against
Abstain
Broker Non-Vote
91,990,933
3,197,482
42,376
N/A
The appointment of Deloitte & Touche UK LLP was ratified.
Proposal 6 - Ratify that the Audit Committee
is authorized to determine our U.K. statutory auditors' remuneration.
For
Against
Abstain
Broker Non-Vote
91,392,465
3,795,957
42,369
N/A
The authorization of the Audit Committee
to determine our U.K. statutory auditors' remuneration was ratified.
Proposal 7 - Approve, by non-binding
vote, the Company's executive compensation.
For
Against
Abstain
Broker Non-Vote
68,672,077
15,597,110
3,017,998
7,943,606
On an advisory basis,
the Company's executive compensation as set forth in the proxy statement was approved.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On July 25, 2012, the Company, as successor
issuer to Rowan Companies, Inc., announced that it will continue the previously announced $150 million share repurchase program,
of which approximately $25 million remains available. To effect such repurchases, the Company entered into a purchase agreement
with a dealer. As directed by the Company in repurchase notices provided to the dealer from time to time, the dealer will acquire
Shares either in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The Company will purchase the Shares from the dealer
at a price equal to the price per Share actually paid by the dealer, plus a commission.
Share repurchases
may be commenced or suspended from time to time without prior notice and, in accordance with English law, any Shares repurchased
by the Company will be cancelled.
The purchase agreement terminates on April 30, 2017 or sooner under certain circumstances.
3
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:  July 27, 2012
ROWAN COMPANIES PLC
By:
/s/ William H. Wells
William H. Wells
Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer)
4