Exhibit 10.1


 





2017 Non-deferred NED RSU Notice







 





2013 ROWAN COMPANIES PLC INCENTIVE
PLAN


NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR NON-DEFERRED
RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT NOTICE


 


		1.	Grant of Restricted Share Units. Pursuant to Annex 1 to the 2013 Rowan Companies
plc Incentive Plan as amended (the “Plan”), upon and subject to the conditions described in this Non-Employee
Director Non-deferred Restricted Share Unit Notice (this “Notice”) and Annex 1 to the Plan, Rowan Companies
plc, a public limited company incorporated under English law (the “Company”), hereby grants to ___________
(the “Participant”), effective as of _________ (the “Grant Date”), ___________
restricted share units (the “RSUs” and such award, the “Grant”). Each RSU is
granted with a tandem Dividend Equivalent, which shall entitle the Participant to receive payments in accordance with Section
5 below. All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.



 


		2.	Incorporation of the Plan. References in this Notice to the Plan shall be taken to
mean Annex 1 to the Plan. The Plan is hereby incorporated herein by this reference. In the event of any conflict between the terms
of this Notice and the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.



 


		3.	Vesting Schedule; Forfeiture; Payment.



 


		(a)	The Grant shall vest and become non-forfeitable with respect to all of the RSUs subject thereto
on the earlier of (i) the date of the first (1st) annual general meeting of the Company’s shareholders to occur following
the Grant Date or (ii) the one (1) year anniversary of the Grant Date (such date, the “Vesting Date”),
subject to the Participant’s continued service as a Director through the Vesting Date; provided, however, that if the Participant
incurs a Director Termination (as defined below) due to the Participant’s death prior to the Vesting Date, the Grant shall
vest in full with respect to all RSUs (to the extent not then-vested) upon such Director Termination and shall be payable in accordance
with Section 3(c) below.



 


		(b)	Subject to Section 3(a) above, if the Participant resigns as a Director, is removed as a
Director or ceases to provide services as a Director for any reason (each, a “Director Termination”),
the Grant (to the extent not then-vested, after taking into account any accelerated vesting that occurs in connection with such
Director Termination, if any) shall be forfeited as of the date of such Director Termination, unless determined otherwise by the
Committee. For the avoidance of doubt, upon the Participant ceasing to provide services as a Director for any reason, unless otherwise
provided in this Notice or another written agreement between the Company and the Participant or otherwise determined by the Committee,
no portion of the RSUs which have not become vested as of the date the Participant ceases to provide services as a Director shall
thereafter become vested.



 


		(c)	Payment to the Participant of amounts due in respect of any RSUs that vest in accordance herewith
shall be made in Shares or, as determined by the Committee in its discretion, in cash or a combination of Shares and cash, on the
earliest to occur of: (i) the Vesting Date, and (ii) the Participant’s death. The Company shall distribute such Shares and/or
cash to the Participant (or his or her estate, as applicable) within thirty (30) days after the applicable event requiring such
distribution. If payment of the RSUs is made in Shares, the Committee may require the Participant to pay the nominal value for
such Shares.



 


		4.	establishment of Account.
The Company shall maintain an appropriate bookkeeping record (the “RSU Account”) that from time to time
will reflect the Participant’s name, the number of RSUs granted to the Participant (and their vested status) and the Fair
Market Value of such RSUs. The Fair Market Value of one (1) RSU shall equal the FMV Per Share. The RSUs granted hereby shall be
credited to the Participant’s RSU Account effective as of the Grant Date.



 






     


     


    

 


		5.	Dividends. Each RSU granted hereunder is hereby granted in tandem with a corresponding
Dividend Equivalent, which Dividend Equivalent shall remain outstanding from the Grant Date until the earlier of the settlement
or forfeiture of the RSU to which it corresponds. Each Dividend Equivalent shall entitle the Participant to receive an additional
amount of RSUs with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the product of (a) the per share amount of any cash dividend declared
by the Company and (b) the number of Shares underlying the RSUs that are outstanding on the date on which the dividend is paid.
Such additional RSUs shall be credited to the Participant’s RSU Account and the Shares underlying such additional RSUs shall
be payable as and when the RSUs vest and are paid to the Participant. Any Dividend Equivalents that accrue prior to the settlement
of the RSUs shall not accrue interest. Upon the forfeiture of an RSU, the Dividend Equivalent (and any RSUs credited to the Participant’s
RSU Account in respect thereof) with respect to such forfeited RSU shall also be forfeited. The Dividend Equivalents and any Shares
that may become distributable in respect thereof shall be treated separately from the RSUs and the rights arising in connection
therewith for purposes of Code Section 409A (including for purposes of the designation of the time and form of payments required
by Code Section 409A).



 


		6.	Responsibility for Taxes. The Participant acknowledges that, regardless of any action
by the Company, the ultimate liability for all United Kingdom and/or United States federal, state, local and other taxes, foreign
taxes, income taxes, social insurance taxes, payroll taxes, fringe benefits taxes, payments on account or other tax-related items
related to the Participant's participation in the Plan and legally applicable to the Participant (collectively, the “Tax-Related
Items”) is and remains the sole responsibility of the Participant's and is not the responsibility of the Company.



 


The Participant
further acknowledges that the Company (i) makes no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items
in connection with any aspect of the RSUs or Dividend Equivalents, including, but not limited to, the grant of the RSUs and tandem
Dividend Equivalents, the issuance of Shares or payment of cash in respect thereof, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant
to such issuance and the receipt of any dividends with respect to such Shares, and (ii) are under no obligation to structure the
terms of the grant or any other aspect of the RSUs or the Dividend Equivalents to reduce or eliminate the Participant's liability
for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result.


 


Further, the
Participant acknowledges that, if the Participant is subject to Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction between the Grant
Date and the date of any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, the Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related
Items in more than one jurisdiction.


 


The Participant
acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall have the right to require the Participant to satisfy all obligations relating to
the Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following, as determined in the discretion of the Company (or, with respect
to clauses (c) and (d) below, as determined in the discretion of the Committee):


 


		(a)	withholding from the Participant's cash compensation to be paid to the Participant by the Company,
including any cash payment made pursuant to the RSUs (if the RSUs are paid in cash) and/or the Dividend Equivalents;



 






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		(b)	withholding from proceeds of the sale of Shares acquired upon payment of the RSUs (if the RSUs
are paid in Shares) either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on the Participant's behalf
and without consent from the Participant);



 


		(c)	selling or transferring to the employee benefit trust established by the Company a number of Shares
that would otherwise be issued upon payment of the RSUs (if the RSUs are paid in Shares); or



 


		(d)	withholding an appropriate number of Shares to be issued upon payment of the RSUs (if the RSUs
are paid in Shares).



 


Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, unless the Committee determines otherwise, any withholding obligations relating to the Tax-Related
Items, up to the applicable minimum statutory withholding amount or other applicable amount, will be satisfied by reducing the
number of Shares issuable to the Participant in respect of the RSUs. For the avoidance of doubt, if the obligation for Tax-Related
Items is satisfied by withholding Shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the RSUs, for tax purposes, the Participant shall be deemed
to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the RSUs, notwithstanding that number of the Shares withheld for the purpose
of paying the Tax-Related Items. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall have the authority and the right
to deduct or withhold, or to require the Participant to pay to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy all Tax-Related Items
that arise in connection with the RSUs and the Dividend Equivalents.


 


For Participants
subject to tax in the United Kingdom, if payment or withholding of the income tax due in connection with the RSUs is not made within
ninety (90) days of any event giving rise to the income tax liability or such other period specified in Section 222(1)(c) of the
U.K. Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (the “Due Date”), the amount of any uncollected income
tax will constitute a benefit to the Participant on which additional income tax (and national insurance contributions (“NICs”),
to the extent applicable) will be payable. The Company may recover any such additional income tax and NICs at any time thereafter
by any of the means referred to herein or otherwise permitted under the Plan. The Participant will also be responsible for reporting
and paying any income tax due on this additional benefit directly to HMRC under the self-assessment regime.


 


		7.	Adjustment.   The Participant acknowledges and agrees that
the RSUs and Dividend Equivalents are subject to adjustment upon certain events as set forth in the Plan.



 


		8.	Participant’s Directorship. In consideration of the RSUs granted hereby, the
Participant covenants with the Company that he or she shall remain a Director of the Company for at least six (6) months from the
Grant Date.



 


		9.	Securities Laws.



 


(a)       The
Participant acknowledges that the Plan and this Notice are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and any and all regulations and rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder, as well as all applicable state securities laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Plan shall be administered, and the RSUs are granted, only in such a manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and this Notice shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform
to such laws, rules and regulations.


 






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(b)       Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan or this Notice, if the Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, then the Plan,
the RSUs and this Notice shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section
16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of
such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, this Notice shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to
conform to such applicable exemptive rule.


 


		10.	Conditions to Issuance of Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver
any Shares or to make any book entries evidencing Shares issuable pursuant to the RSUs prior to fulfillment of the conditions set
forth in Section 10.7 of the Plan.



 


		11.	Transfer of RSUs. Except as provided under Section 6 hereof, the RSUs, the
Dividend Equivalents and all rights granted hereunder shall not be (i) assignable, saleable or otherwise transferable by the Participant
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order or (ii) subject to any encumbrance,
pledge or charge of any nature. Any purported assignment, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer, encumbrance or other charge of the
RSUs or the Dividend Equivalents in violation of this Section 11 shall be void and of no force or effect. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the RSUs and the Dividend Equivalents shall be subject to the restrictions on transferability
set forth in Section 10.8 of the Plan (“Transferability”).



 


		12.	Severability. In the event that any provision of this Notice shall be held illegal,
invalid, or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be fully severable and shall not affect the remaining provisions
of this Notice, and this Notice shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never
been included herein.



 


		13.	Certain Restrictions. By accepting the RSUs granted under this Notice, the Participant
acknowledges that he or she will enter into such written representations, warranties and notices and execute such documents as
the Company may reasonably request in order to comply with the terms of this Notice or the Plan, or securities laws or any other
applicable laws, rules or regulations, or as are otherwise deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company and/or the Company’s
counsel.



 


		14.	Recoupment.   Notwithstanding any provision of this Notice to the
contrary, the Participant acknowledges that the Committee may, in its sole discretion and in accordance with the terms of the Plan:



 


(a)       recoup
from the Participant all or a portion of the Shares issued (or cash paid) and/or the Shares or payments made in respect of Dividend
Equivalents under this Notice if the Company’s reported financial or operating results are materially and negatively restated
within five (5) years of the issuance of such Shares or payment of such amounts, as applicable; and


 


(b)       recoup
from the Participant if, in the Committee’s judgment, the Participant engaged in conduct which was fraudulent, negligent
or not in good faith, and which disrupted, damaged, impaired or interfered with the business, reputation or employees of the Company
or its Affiliates or which caused a subsequent adjustment or restatement of the Company’s reported financial statements,
all or a portion of the Shares issued (or cash paid) and/or the payments made in respect of Dividend Equivalents under this Notice
within five (5) years of such conduct.


 






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In addition,
to the extent determined by the Company in its discretion to be applicable to the Participant, the RSUs and/or the Dividend Equivalents,
as applicable, shall be subject to the requirements of (i) Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection
Act (regarding recovery of erroneously awarded compensation) and any rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) similar rules under
the laws of any other jurisdiction and (iii) any policies adopted by the Company to implement such requirements.


 


Any Shares
subject to recoupment may be transferred to the employee benefit trust established by the Company, and the Participant agrees to
execute any documents necessary to effectuate such transfer.


 


		15.	Amendment and Termination. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Notice,
no amendment of this Notice or the RSUs that adversely affects the Participant’s rights hereunder in any material respect
or termination of this Notice shall be made by the Company without the consent of the Participant.



 


		16.	Data Privacy. The Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection,
use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of the Participant’s personal data as described in this Notice and any other
grant materials by and among the Company and its Affiliates (collectively, the “Company Group”) for the
exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan.



 


The Participant
understands that the Company Group may hold certain personal information about the Participant, including, but not limited to,
the Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification
number, salary, nationality, title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company Group, details of any RSUs, Dividend Equivalents
or any other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in the Participant’s favor,
for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Plan (collectively, “Data”).


 


The Participant
understands that Data will be transferred to such Plan service provider as may be selected by the Company in the future, which
is assisting the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. The recipients of Data may be located
in the United States or elsewhere, and the recipients’ country (e.g., the United States) may have different data privacy
laws and protections than the Participant’s country. The Participant may request a list with the names and addresses of any
potential recipients of Data by contacting the Company’s Secretary. The Participant authorizes the Company Group and any
other possible recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering and managing
the Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing,
administering and managing his or her participation in the Plan. Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer
and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Participant may, at any time, view Data, request additional information
about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in
any case without cost, by contacting in writing the Company’s Secretary. Further, the Participant is providing his or her
consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. If the Participant does not consent, or if the Participant later seeks to revoke his
or her consent, his or her service with the Company will not be adversely affected; the only adverse consequence of refusing or
withdrawing the Participant's consent is that the Company would not be able to grant the RSUs or other equity awards to the Participant
or administer or maintain such awards. Therefore, the Participant’s refusal or withdrawal of his or her consent may affect
the Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of the Participant’s
refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, the Participant may contact the Company’s Secretary.


 






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		17.	Code Section 409A; No Guarantee of Tax Consequences. This award of RSUs and Dividend
Equivalents is intended to comply with Code Section 409A and the provisions hereof shall be interpreted and administered consistently
with such intent. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or this Notice to the contrary, if at any time the Committee determines,
in its sole discretion, that this award of RSUs or Dividend Equivalents (or any portion thereof) may not be compliant with Code
Section 409A, the Committee shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant
or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan or this Notice, or adopt other policies and procedures
(including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Committee determines
are necessary or appropriate to provide for either the RSUs and Dividend Equivalents to be exempt from the application of Code
Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A; provided, however, that this Section 17 shall not
create any obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action,
nor shall the Company have any liability for failing to do so. The Company makes no commitment or guarantee to the Participant
that any federal or state tax treatment will apply or be available to any person eligible for benefits under this Notice.



 


		18.	No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial
advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding the Participant's participation in the Plan, the grant, vesting
and/or payment of the RSUs or Dividend Equivalents, and/or the acquisition or disposition of the Shares subject to the RSUs. The
Participant is hereby advised to consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his or her participation
in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.



 


		19.	Successors and Assignees; Binding Effect. The Company may assign any of its rights
under this Notice to single or multiple assignees. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Notice shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any assignees of or successors to the Company, the Participant and all persons lawfully
claiming under the Participant.



 


		20.	Governing Law. This Notice shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the United States and the State of Texas, without regard to conflict of laws principles, except to the extent that
the Act or the laws of England and Wales mandatorily apply.



 


		21.	Imposition of Other Requirements. The Company reserves the right to impose other
requirements on the Participant's participation in the Plan, the RSUs, Dividend Equivalents and any Shares issued under the Plan,
to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require the Participant
to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.



 






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		22.	Waiver. A waiver by the Company of breach of any provision of this Notice shall not
operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Notice, or of any subsequent breach of any other provision of
this Notice by the Participant or any other person.



 


****


 


 


 




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2017 Non-deferred NED RSU Notice







 


 


2013 ROWAN COMPANIES PLC INCENTIVE PLAN


NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR NON-DEFERRED RESTRICTED
SHARE UNIT NOTICE





 


 


 


By signing below, the Participant agrees to be bound by the
terms and conditions of the Plan and this Notice. The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all
decisions and/or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan or relating to the RSUs and the Dividend
Equivalents.


 


 


____________________________________


Name


 


 


 


Please sign and
return in the enclosed envelope.