Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Albrecht William E
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ROWAN COMPANIES PLC [RDC]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
2800 POST OAK BLVD., SUITE 5450
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/24/2018
(Street)

HOUSTON, TX 77056
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Class A Ordinary Shares 05/24/2018   M   15,111 A $ 0 (1) 25,306 D  
Class A Ordinary Shares 05/24/2018   F   786 (2) D $ 15.92 (3) 24,520 D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Share Units (4) 05/24/2018   M     15,111   (5)   (5) Class A Ordinary Shares 15,111 $ 0 0 D  
Deferred Restricted Share Units (6) 05/25/2018   A   13,080     (7)   (7) Class A Ordinary Shares 13,080 $ 0 18,454 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Albrecht William E
2800 POST OAK BLVD.
SUITE 5450
HOUSTON, TX 77056
  X      

Signatures

 /s/ Ryan Tarkington, Attorney-in-Fact   05/29/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Restricted share units converted into Class A Ordinary Shares on a one-to-one basis pursuant to the election of the compensation committee of the board of directors of Rowan Companies plc.
(2) These shares were surrendered for tax payment upon vesting of restricted share units on May 24, 2018.
(3) Sales price is the fair market value on Thursday, May 24, 2018.
(4) Each restricted share unit represents a contingent right to receive cash, one Class A Ordinary Share of Rowan Companies plc, or a combination thereof, at the discretion of the compensation committee of the board of directors of Rowan Companies plc.
(5) Each restricted share unit vests on the earlier of the first anniversary of the date of the grant or the date of the next annual general meeting of shareholders of Rowan Companies plc. Each restricted share unit settles upon vesting. Each restricted share unit settles in cash, Class A Ordinary Shares of Rowan Companies plc, or a combination thereof, at the discretion of the compensation committee of the board of directors of Rowan Companies plc.
(6) Each deferred restricted share unit represents a contingent right to receive cash, one Class A Ordinary Share of Rowan Companies plc, or a combination thereof, at the discretion of the compensation committee of the board of directors of Rowan Companies plc.
(7) Each deferred restricted share unit vests on the earlier of the first anniversary of the date of the grant or the date of the next annual general meeting of shareholders of Rowan Companies plc. Each deferred restricted share unit settles upon the termination of the reporting person's service on the board of directors of Rowan Companies plc. Each restricted share unit settles in cash, Class A Ordinary Shares of Rowan Companies plc, or a combination thereof, at the discretion of the compensation committee of the board of directors of Rowan Companies plc.

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