<HTML>
<HEAD>
     <TITLE></TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">

<P STYLE="margin: 0"></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"><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>&nbsp;</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):
August 3, 2012</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">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 14pt; text-underline-style: none">Rowan
Companies plc</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: 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: 32%; 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: 32%; 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: 32%; 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>( 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"><B><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></B> 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"><B><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></B> 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"><B>&#168;</B></FONT><B>
</B>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"><B>&#168;</B></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">&nbsp;</P>

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

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 1 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font-size: 10pt"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white"><B>Item 5.02 Departure of Directors
or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</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">Mr. William H. Wells, the current Chief Financial Officer of
Rowan Companies plc (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;), has announced that he will retire after a transition period, expected to be within
the next 30 days. The Company thanks Mr. Wells for many years of service.</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">Mr.&nbsp;J. Kevin Bartol will assume the position of Chief Financial
Officer, in addition to his recent appointment as Executive Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development, to be effective
as of Mr. Wells&rsquo; retirement date. Mr. Bartol, age 53, joined the Company in June 2007, serving as Vice President, Strategic
Planning until March 2010, when he became Senior Vice President, Corporate Development. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Bartol
was a consultant to the Company on strategic initiatives from January 2007 to June 2007. Mr. Bartol&rsquo;s previous positions
include serving as Chief Financial Officer of Jindal United Steel Corp., Chief Operating Officer of Network International, co-founder
of the Saint Arnold Brewing Company and Vice-President at Simmons and Company International.</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="color: black">Mr. Bartol&rsquo;s annual base salary
will remain at $400,000. Mr. Bartol will continue to participate in the Company&rsquo;s annual incentive plan and long-term incentive
plan, with targets of 60% and 275% of base salary, respectively, remaining the same for
2012. </FONT>In addition, Mr. Bartol&rsquo;s change in control arrangements will remain the same, which arrangements are substantially
similar to the arrangements with our Named Executive Officers. The Company&rsquo;s executive level change in control arrangements
are described in the Company&rsquo;s 2012 proxy statement. Mr. Bartol&rsquo;s multiple is two times the sum of base salary and
calculated bonus and his change in control agreement does not include an excise tax gross up provision.</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>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 2; Options: NewSection; Value: 2 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font-size: 10pt"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%"><!-- Field: Sequence; Type: Arabic; Name: PageNo -->2<!-- Field: /Sequence --></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;&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: August 7, 2012</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="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">ROWAN COMPANIES PLC</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold; width: 50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold; width: 4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold; width: 46%">&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 STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left">By:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: underline">/s/ Melanie M. Trent&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Melanie M. Trent</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Company Secretary</TD></TR>
</TABLE>


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

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 3; Options: Last -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font-size: 10pt"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%"><!-- Field: Sequence; Type: Arabic; Name: PageNo -->3<!-- Field: /Sequence --></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v320617_8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14839}]
{"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": "121014661"}, "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):
August 3, 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:
( 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 5.02 Departure of Directors
or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Mr. William H. Wells, the current Chief Financial Officer of
Rowan Companies plc (the "Company"), has announced that he will retire after a transition period, expected to be within
the next 30 days. The Company thanks Mr. Wells for many years of service.
Mr. J. Kevin Bartol will assume the position of Chief Financial
Officer, in addition to his recent appointment as Executive Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development, to be effective
as of Mr. Wells' retirement date. Mr. Bartol, age 53, joined the Company in June 2007, serving as Vice President, Strategic
Planning until March 2010, when he became Senior Vice President, Corporate Development. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Bartol
was a consultant to the Company on strategic initiatives from January 2007 to June 2007. Mr. Bartol's previous positions
include serving as Chief Financial Officer of Jindal United Steel Corp., Chief Operating Officer of Network International, co-founder
of the Saint Arnold Brewing Company and Vice-President at Simmons and Company International.
Mr. Bartol's annual base salary
will remain at $400,000. Mr. Bartol will continue to participate in the Company's annual incentive plan and long-term incentive
plan, with targets of 60% and 275% of base salary, respectively, remaining the same for
2012.
In addition, Mr. Bartol's change in control arrangements will remain the same, which arrangements are substantially
similar to the arrangements with our Named Executive Officers. The Company's executive level change in control arrangements
are described in the Company's 2012 proxy statement. Mr. Bartol's multiple is two times the sum of base salary and
calculated bonus and his change in control agreement does not include an excise tax gross up provision.
2
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: August 7, 2012
ROWAN COMPANIES PLC
By:
/s/ Melanie M. Trent
Melanie M. Trent
Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Company Secretary
3