HOUSTON, Nov. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- For the three months ended September 30, 2014, Rowan Companies plc ("Rowan" or the "Company") (NYSE: RDC) generated net income of $119.6 million, or $0.96 per share, compared to $51.9 million, or $0.42 per share in the third quarter of 2013. The current quarter includes an income tax benefit which reflects the favorable impact of a US tax settlement, net of an unfavorable retroactive impact of a recently finalized UK tax law, which increased net income by approximately $41.0 million, or $0.33 per share. Excluding the impact of this income tax benefit, net income was $78.6 million or $0.63 per share in the third quarter of 2014.

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Rowan's revenues were $467.7 million in the third quarter of 2014, up 22% over the prior-year quarter due primarily to the commencement, in late April 2014, of the company's first ultra-deepwater drillship and less out-of-service time for jack-up rigs.

Tom Burke, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are reasonably pleased with our third quarter operating results. During the quarter we added $1.2 billion of new contract backlog, principally from four jack-up contract extensions with Saudi Aramco. Our second newbuild ultra-deepwater drillship, the Rowan Resolute commenced operations in the US Gulf of Mexico in October and we will take delivery of our third newbuild drillship, the Rowan Reliance, in Korea this week. As we look forward, we are expecting our revenues to increase in 2015 as our newbuild drillships are added to the fleet.

We are seeing softness in jack-up and deepwater markets worldwide. Notwithstanding these challenging conditions, we continue to believe that our strategy of operating high-specification drillships and jack-ups, along with our conservative financial profile and focus on cost control, place us in a good competitive position."

Rowan will conduct its earnings conference call on Wednesday, November 5, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. Interested parties are invited to listen to the call by telephone or over the Internet. Individuals who wish to participate on the conference call by telephone may dial (877) 869-3847, or internationally (201) 689-8261. You should dial-in approximately five to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Alternatively, to access the online simulcast and rebroadcast of the conference call, please visit Rowan's website at www.rowancompanies.com. You should connect to our website at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to register, and download any necessary software.

Rowan Companies plc is a global provider of contract drilling services in the ultra-deepwater and shallow water jack-up market with a fleet of 34 offshore drilling units, including four ultra-deepwater drillships, two of which are currently under construction, and 30 jack-up rigs, 19 of which are rated high-specification. The Company's fleet is located worldwide, including the United Kingdom and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea, the Middle East, the United States Gulf of Mexico, Southeast Asia, West and North Africa and Trinidad. All four of the Company's ultra-deepwater drillships are now under long-term contracts. The Company's Class A Ordinary Shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RDC." For more information on the Company, please visit www.rowancompanies.com.

Statements herein that are not historical facts are forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements as to the expectations, beliefs and future expected business, financial performance and prospects of the Company. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to certain risks, assumptions, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. 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, variations in energy demand, changes in day rates, cancellation by our customers of drilling contracts or letter agreements or letters of intent for drilling contracts or the exercise of early termination provisions, risks associated with fixed cost drilling operations, cost overruns or delays on shipyard repair, construction or transportation of drilling units, maintenance and repair costs, costs or delays for conversion or upgrade projects, operating hazards and equipment failure, risks of collision and damage, casualty losses and limitations on insurance coverage, customer credit and risk of customer bankruptcy, conditions in the general economy and energy industry, weather conditions and severe weather in the Company's operating areas, increasing complexity and costs of compliance with environmental and other laws and regulations, changes in tax laws and interpretations by taxing authorities, changes in tax rates and provisions, civil unrest and instability, terrorism and hostilities in our areas of operations that may result in loss or seizure of assets, the outcome of disputes and legal proceedings, effects of the change in our corporate structure, and other risks disclosed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.



                                                      ROWAN  COMPANIES  PLC

                                             CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEETS

                                                     Unaudited  (In Millions)




                                                                  SEPTEMBER 30,          DECEMBER 31,

                                                                                    2014                 2013
                                                                                    ----                 ----


                         ASSETS


    Cash and cash equivalents                                                     $707.7             $1,092.8

    Accounts receivable                                                            510.2                344.6

    Other current assets                                                            82.8                 67.7

    Assets of discontinued operations                                                  -                23.8
                                                                                     ---                ----

         Total current assets                                                    1,300.7              1,528.9

    Property, plant and equipment -
     net                                                                         7,508.6              6,385.8

    Other assets                                                                    19.5                 61.1
                                                                                    ----                 ----

         TOTAL                                                                  $8,828.8             $7,975.8
                                                                                ========             ========



             LIABILITIES  AND  STOCKHOLDERS'
                          EQUITY


    Accounts payable                                                              $100.5               $124.0

    Other current liabilities                                                      161.6                210.5

    Liabilities of discontinued
     operations                                                                        -                20.1
                                                                                     ---                ----

         Total current liabilities                                                 262.1                354.6

    Long-term debt                                                               2,807.5              2,008.7

    Other liabilities                                                              649.2                718.7

    Stockholders' equity                                                         5,110.0              4,893.8
                                                                                 -------              -------

         TOTAL                                                                  $8,828.8             $7,975.8
                                                                                ========             ========




                                                                 ROWAN  COMPANIES  PLC

                                                  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS  OF  OPERATIONS

                                                Unaudited  (In  Millions  Except  Per  Share  Amounts)


                                                                                   THREE  MONTHS                           NINE  MONTHS

                                                                               ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30                    ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30

                                                                                         2014                     2013                      2014                    2013
                                                                                         ----                     ----                      ----                    ----


    REVENUES                                                      $467.7                           $382.8                $1,268.2                $1,185.9
                                                                  ------                           ------                --------                --------


    COSTS  AND  EXPENSES:

                                           Operations                                   246.9                    211.8                     711.9                   637.3

                                            Depreciation
                                            and
                                            amortization                                 81.5                     69.3                     230.1                   200.4

                                            Selling,
                                            general and
                                            administrative                               33.0                     33.3                      92.1                    96.0

                                           (Gain)/loss
                                            on disposals
                                            of property
                                            and
                                            equipment                                     0.1                    (0.1)                      1.7                  (19.0)

                                           Material
                                            charges,
                                            settlements
                                            and other
                                            expenses                                        -                       -                   (12.6)                      -

                                           Total                                        361.5                    314.3                   1,023.2                   914.7
                                                                                        -----                    -----                   -------                   -----

    INCOME  FROM  OPERATIONS                                                         106.2                     68.5                     245.0                   271.2

    Net interest and other income                                                   (25.0)                  (17.1)                   (73.2)                 (53.8)

    INCOME  FROM  CONTINUING  OPERATIONS
     BEFORE  INCOME  TAXES                                                            81.2                     51.4                     171.8                   217.4

    Provision for income taxes                                                      (38.4)                   (0.5)                   (36.2)                   14.5

    NET  INCOME  FROM  CONTINUING  OPERATIONS                                        119.6                     51.9                     208.0                   202.9

    Discontinued operations, net of tax                    -                                -                     4.0                         -
                                                         ---                              ---                     ---                       ---

    NET  INCOME                                                   $119.6                            $51.9                  $212.0                  $202.9
                                                                  ======                            =====                  ======                  ======


    PER  SHARE  AMOUNTS:

                                            Income from
                                            continuing
                                            operations                                  $0.96                    $0.42                     $1.67                   $1.63


                                            Discontinued
                                            operations,
                                            net of tax                     $                -             $         -                    $0.03            $          -


                                           Net income                                   $0.96                    $0.42                     $1.70                   $1.63



    AVERAGE  DILUTED  SHARES                                                         125.1                    124.6                     124.8                   124.4
                                                                                     =====                    =====                     =====                   =====


    NOTE:  See page 6 for supplemental operating information.



                                                                     ROWAN  COMPANIES  PLC

                                                     CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED   STATEMENTS  OF CASH FLOWS

                                                                   Unaudited  (In  Millions)



                                                                                                        NINE  MONTHS

                                                                                                    ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30

                                                                                                                       2014           2013
                                                                                                                       ----           ----

    CASH  PROVIDED  BY  (USED  IN):

       Operations:

          Net income                                                                                               $212.0         $202.9

          Adjustments  to  reconcile  net  income  to  net

          cash  provided  by  operations:

             Depreciation  and  amortization                                                                      230.1          200.4

             Deferred  income  taxes                                                                             (42.7)         (9.9)

             Gain  on  disposals  of  assets                                                                      (0.2)        (19.0)

             Other -  net                                                                                           (6.5)          28.8

          Net  changes  in  current  assets  and  liabilities                                                 (193.0)        (60.8)

          Net  changes  in  other  noncurrent  assets  and  liabilities                                          0.5           49.6

       Net  cash  provided  by  operations                                                                        200.2          392.0
                                                                                                                  -----          -----


       Investing  activities:

          Property,  plant  and  equipment  additions                                                        (1,367.4)       (455.1)

          Proceeds  from  disposals  of  property,  plant  and
           equipment                                                                                             9.8           42.3

       Net  cash  used  in  investing  activities                                                            (1,357.6)       (412.8)
                                                                                                              --------         ------


       Financing  activities:

          Proceeds from borrowings                                                                                792.7              -

          Payment of cash dividends                                                                              (25.1)             -

          Proceeds  from  equity  compensation  plans  and  other                                                4.7            5.7

       Net  cash  provided  by  financing
        activities                                                                                               772.3            5.7
                                                                                                                 -----            ---


    INCREASE (DECREASE)  IN  CASH  AND  CASH  EQUIVALENTS                                                    (385.1)        (15.1)

    CASH  AND  CASH  EQUIVALENTS,  BEGINNING  OF  PERIOD                                                     1,092.8        1,024.0

    CASH  AND  CASH  EQUIVALENTS,  END  OF  PERIOD                                                             $707.7       $1,008.9
                                                                                                               ======       ========




                                                                                                      ROWAN COMPANIES PLC

                                                                                              SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING INFORMATION

                                                                                                           Unaudited

                                                                                                                                THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                                                                ------------------

                                                                                                                           September 30,           June 30,        September 30,

                                                                                                                                             2014             2014                 2013
                                                                                                                                             ----             ----                 ----


    RIG DAYS:

                                Operating                                                                                                   2,396            2,213                2,205

                                 Out of service (shipyard/
                                 transit/inspections/other)                                                                                   254              363                  354

                                 Operational downtime (off
                                 rate during rig operations)                                                                                   18               41                   17

                                Cold stacked                                                                                                  184              182                  184


                                Total available                                                                                             2,852            2,799                2,760
                                                                                                                                            =====            =====                =====


                                Utilization                                                                                                   84%             79%                 80%
                                                                                                                                              ===              ===                  ===

                                Utilization (excluding cold-stacked rigs)                                                                     90%             85%                 86%
                                                                                                                                              ===              ===                  ===


    AVERAGE DAY RATES (in thousands):

                                Jack-ups:

                                North Sea                                                                                                  $283.6           $290.5               $281.1

                                Middle East                                                                                                 141.1            141.4                137.2

                                Gulf of Mexico                                                                                              144.3            156.9                140.2

                                All jack-up rigs                                                                                            174.3            177.5                169.2

                                Drillship:

                                West Africa                                                                                                $660.2           $605.0        n/a


    OPERATIONS COSTS AND EXPENSES (in millions):

                                Personnel (a)                                                                                              $160.9           $151.8               $129.0

                                Repairs and maintenance                                                                                      42.9             48.6                 45.9

                                Insurance                                                                                                     7.7              8.4                  8.0

                                All other                                                                                                    24.3             24.1                 19.3


                                Subtotal (excluding rebillables)                                                                           $235.8           $232.9               $202.2
                                                                                                                                           ------           ------               ------

                                 Rebillables (equally offset
                                 with rebillable revenue)                                                                                    11.1             11.7                  9.6



                                Total                                                                                                      $246.9           $244.6               $211.8
                                                                                                                                           ======           ======               ======


                                (a) Includes labor, fringes, training, travel and catering costs.

SOURCE Rowan Companies plc