Amendment to Rowan Companies, Inc. Restated 1988 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan.


 Exhibit 10.9 
 AMENDMENT TO THE 
 ROWAN COMPANIES, INC. 

RESTATED 1988 NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN 
 WHEREAS, the board of directors of Rowan Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), assumed and adopted the Rowan Companies, Inc. Restated 1988 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan
effective April 24, 1998 (which, as previously amended from time to time, is referred to herein as the “Plan”); 
 WHEREAS, the
stockholders of the Company approved and adopted, at the Special Meeting of the Stockholders on April 16, 2012, the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) by and between the Company and a newly formed
Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Rowan Delaware (“Rowan Mergeco”), pursuant to which Rowan Mergeco will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the merger as an
indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Rowan Companies plc, a newly formed public limited company incorporated under English law (“Rowan UK”); 
 WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each outstanding share of common stock of the Company will be converted, on a one-for-one basis, into the right to receive a Class A Ordinary Share in Rowan
UK; 
 WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, outstanding equity awards relating to shares of common stock of the Company granted to
employees and directors by the Company under the Company’s equity incentive plans (including the Plan) prior to the effective time of the Merger will entitle the holder of such equity award to purchase, acquire or receive, or receive benefits
or amounts based on, as applicable, an equal number of Shares (as defined below); and 
 WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company has
determined it is desirable to adopt this amendment to the Plan, contingent upon the consummation of the Merger and to be effective as of May 4, 2012 (or, if different, the effective date of the Merger), to reflect the provisions of the Merger
Agreement and the effect of the Merger on the Plan and any awards outstanding under the Plan. 
 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, contingent
upon the consummation of the Merger and effective as of May 4, 2012 (or, if different, the effective date of the Merger), the Plan is amended as follows: 
  

	1.	References to “common stock of the Company,” “Stock,” “shares of Stock,” “shares” and similar references shall be replaced with
references to “Share” or “Shares,” as applicable, and references to stockholders of the Company shall be replaced with references to shareholders of Rowan UK, unless otherwise required by the context as determined by the
Committee is its sole discretion. 








	2.	For purposes of the Plan, the following definitions apply: 

 “Rowan UK” means Rowan Companies plc, a public limited company incorporated under English law. 
 “Share” means a Class A ordinary share of Rowan UK, nominal value $0.125. 
  

	3.	Article II is amended by replacing the first sentence of such section with the following sentence: 


The Plan shall be administered by a committee (the “Committee”) of, and appointed by, the board of directors or Rowan UK (the
“Board”). 
  

	4.	Section V is amended by replacing the second sentence of such section with the following sentence: 


Such Shares (x) may consist of newly allotted and issued Shares, Shares that have been acquired by the trustees of an employee
benefit trust established in connection with the Plan, or Shares acquired on the open market and (y) shall be fully paid and nonassessable. 
  

	5.	Article VIII is amended to change all references to “the Company” in such article to “Rowan UK.” 


 

	6.	Article X, Section A is amended by replacing “other state and federal laws” with “other laws.” 


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