sc13da901874122_12222008.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D
(Rule 13d-101)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO
§ 240.13d-2(a)

(Amendment No. 9)1

Rowan Companies, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.125
(Title of Class of Securities)

779382100
(CUSIP Number)

STEVEN WOLOSKY, ESQ.
OLSHAN GRUNDMAN FROME ROSENZWEIG & WOLOSKY LLP
Park Avenue Tower
65 East 55th Street
New York, New York 10022
(212) 451-2300
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

December 22, 2008
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ¨.

Note:  Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits.  See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.


_______________
1              The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
 
CUSIP NO. 779382100
 
 
1
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
 
STEEL PARTNERS II, L.P.
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
  (a) o
  (b) o
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS
 
WC
5
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)
 
¨
6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
DELAWARE
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
9,993,717 (1)
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
- 0 -
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
9,993,717 (1)
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
- 0 -
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
9,993,717 (1)
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
 
¨
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
8.8%
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
 
PN
 
(1) Includes 2,500,000 Shares underlying call options.

 
2
CUSIP NO. 779382100
 
 
1
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
 
STEEL PARTNERS II GP LLC
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
  (a) o
  (b) o
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS
 
AF
5
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)
 
¨
6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
DELAWARE
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
9,993,717 (1)
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
- 0 -
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
9,993,717 (1)
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
- 0 -
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
9,993,717 (1)
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
 
¨
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
8.8%
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
 
OO
 
(1) Includes 2,500,000 Shares underlying call options.

 
3
CUSIP NO. 779382100
 
 
1
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
 
STEEL PARTNERS II MASTER FUND L.P.
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
  (a) o
  (b) o
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS
 
AF
5
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)
 
¨
6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
CAYMAN ISLANDS
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
9,993,717 (1)
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
- 0 -
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
9,993,717 (1)
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
- 0 -
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
9,993,717 (1)
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
 
¨
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
8.8%
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
 
PN
 
(1) Includes 2,500,000 Shares underlying call options.

 
4
CUSIP NO. 779382100
 
 
1
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
 
STEEL PARTNERS LLC
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
  (a) o
  (b) o
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS
 
AF
5
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)
 
¨
6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
DELAWARE
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
9,993,717 (1)
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
- 0 -
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
9,993,717 (1)
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
- 0 -
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
9,993,717 (1)
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
 
¨
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
8.8%
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
 
OO
 
(1) Includes 2,500,000 Shares underlying call options.

 
5
CUSIP NO. 779382100
 
 
1
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
 
WARREN G. LICHTENSTEIN
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
  (a) o
  (b) o
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS
 
AF
5
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)
 
¨
6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
USA
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
9,993,717 (1)
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
- 0 -
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
9,993,717 (1)
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
- 0 -
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
9,993,717 (1)
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
 
¨
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
8.8%
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
 
IN
 
(1) Includes 2,500,000 Shares underlying call options

6
CUSIP NO. 779382100
 
The following constitutes Amendment No. 9 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 9”).  This Amendment No. 9 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth.
 
Item 3.
Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
 
Item 3 is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
 
The aggregate purchase price of the 7,493,717 Shares owned directly by Steel Partners II is approximately $240,600,201, including brokerage commissions.  The aggregate purchase price of the call options exercisable into 2,500,000 Shares owned by Steel Partners II is approximately $12,415,000, including brokerage commissions.  The Shares and call options owned by Steel Partners II were acquired with partnership funds.
 
Steel Partners II effects purchases of securities primarily through margin accounts maintained for it with prime brokers, which may extend margin credit to it as and when required to open or carry positions in the margin accounts, subject to applicable federal margin regulations, stock exchange rules and the prime brokers’ credit policies.  In such instances, the positions held in the margin accounts are pledged as collateral security for the repayment of debit balances in the accounts.
 
Item 5.
Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
 
Item 5(a) is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
 
(a)           The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 113,003,698 Shares outstanding, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as of October 31, 2008 as reported in the Issuer’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 7, 2008.
 
As of the close of business on December 22, 2008, Steel Partners II beneficially owned 9,993,717 Shares (including 2,500,000 Shares underlying call options), constituting approximately 8.8% of the Shares outstanding.  By virtue of their relationships with Steel Partners II discussed in further detail in Item 2, each of Steel GP LLC, Steel Master, Partners LLC and Warren G. Lichtenstein may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned by Steel Partners II.
 
Item 5(c) is hereby amended to add the following:
 
(c)           Schedule A annexed hereto lists all transactions in the securities of the Issuer by the Reporting Persons since the filing of Amendment No. 8 to the Schedule 13D.  All of such transactions were effected in the open market.
 
Item 6.
Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer.
 
 
Item 6 is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
 
As of the close of business on December 22, 2008, Steel Partners II held call options to purchase 500,000 Shares at a strike price of $35 per Share and call options to purchase 2,000,000 Shares at a strike price of $10.00 per Share and were short call options to purchase 2,000,000 Shares at a strike price of $30 per Share.  The call options and short call options expire on January 17, 2009.
 
7
CUSIP NO. 779382100

As of the close of business on December 22, 2008, Steel Partners II was a party to certain equity swap arrangements (the “Swap Arrangements”) with UBS Securities LLC as counterparty.  Pursuant to these Swap Arrangements, Steel Partners II has agreed to pay to or receive from such counterparty, an amount of cash equal to the change in price on a total of 700,000 Shares.  The Swap Arrangements require cash settlement.  Steel Partners II has no right to physical settlement.  Steel Partners II does not have voting or dispositive power with respect to any Shares that may be actually owned by the counterparty to hedge its position in the Swap Arrangements.
 
8
CUSIP NO. 779382100

SIGNATURES
 
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
 
Dated:                      December 23, 2008
STEEL PARTNERS II, L.P.
   
 
By:
Steel Partners II GP LLC
General Partner

 
By:
/s/ Sanford Antignas
   
Sanford Antignas
as Attorney-In-Fact for Warren G. Lichtenstein,
Managing Member


 
STEEL PARTNERS II GP LLC
   
 
By:
/s/ Sanford Antignas
   
Sanford Antignas
as Attorney-In-Fact for Warren G. Lichtenstein,
Managing Member


 
STEEL PARTNERS II MASTER FUND L.P.
   
 
By:
Steel Partners II GP LLC
General Partner

 
By:
/s/ Sanford Antignas
   
Sanford Antignas
as Attorney-In-Fact for Warren G. Lichtenstein,
Managing Member


 
STEEL PARTNERS LLC
   
 
By:
/s/ Sanford Antignas
   
Sanford Antignas
as Attorney-In-Fact for Warren G. Lichtenstein,
Manager


 
/s/ Sanford Antignas
 
SANFORD ANTIGNAS
as Attorney-In-Fact for Warren G. Lichtenstein
 
9
CUSIP NO. 779382100
 
SCHEDULE A
 
Transactions in Securities of the Issuer Since the Filing of Amendment No. 8 to the Schedule 13D
 
Class of
Security
Securities
Purchased / (Sold)
 
Price ($)
Date of
Purchase / Sale

STEEL PARTNERS II, L.P.
 
Call Option
($7.50 Strike Price)
(10,000)
  
8.2500
12/09/08
Call Option
($7.50 Strike Price)
(10,000)
  
8.2500
12/09/08
Call Option
($10.00 Strike Price)
10,000
  
6.1000
12/09/08
Call Option
($10.00 Strike Price)
10,000
  
6.1000
12/09/08
Common Stock
375,000
  
15.3333
12/19/08
Common Stock
375,000
  
15.3333
12/19/08
Common Stock
375,000
  
14.8463
12/22/08
Common Stock
375,000
  
14.8463
12/22/08


STEEL PARTNERS II GP LLC
None
 

STEEL PARTNERS II MASTER FUND L.P.
None
 

STEEL PARTNERS LLC
None
 

WARREN G. LICHTENSTEIN
None
 
 
10