Current Report Filing (8-k)

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): November 13, 2017

Rowan Companies plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

England and Wales

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

1-5491

(Commission File Number)

98-1023315

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

2800 Post Oak Boulevard

Suite 5450

Houston, Texas
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

77056-6189

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933(§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 8.01

Other Events.

On November 13, 2017, a subsidiary of Rowan Companies plc (the “ Company ”) received a notice of early termination (the “ Termination Notice ”) from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (“ Anadarko ”) pursuant to the Company’s drilling contract for the drillship Rowan Resolute (the “ Drilling Contract ”). Pursuant to the terms of the Drilling Contract, the termination will become effective on June 1, 2018, two hundred (200) calendar days from the date of the Termination Notice. Following the termination, the Company expects to receive a lump sum payment from Anadarko for the remainder of the term of the Drilling Contract at a rate of $418,400 per day. The Drilling Contract was originally scheduled to terminate on August 6, 2018.

SIGNATURES

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.