ROWAN COMPANIES INC
424B3, 1995-11-13
DRILLING OIL & GAS WELLS
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<PAGE>   1
                                              Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
                                              Registration No. 033-62885

PROSPECTUS



                            ROWAN COMPANIES, INC.

                               1,525,926 SHARES

                        COMMON STOCK, $.125 PAR VALUE



       This Prospectus relates to the sale of up to 1,525,926 shares of the
common stock, $.125 par value per share ("Common Stock"), of Rowan Companies,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), to be offered and sold by any
selling stockholder named herein (each a "Selling Stockholder" and
collectively, the "Selling Stockholders").  It is anticipated that offers of
such shares of Common Stock will be made on the New York Stock Exchange at
prevailing prices on said exchange on the date of sale.  See "Selling
Stockholders."  The Company will not receive any of the proceeds of the sale of
the Common Stock offered hereby.  Investors should be aware of certain factors
in connection with this offering.  See "Risk Factors" located on pages 5-8 of 
this prospectus.





THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.





               THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOVEMBER 10, 1995





<PAGE>   2

                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

         Rowan Companies, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, when
applicable, the "Company" or "Rowan") is subject to the informational
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").
Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company may be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the
Commission's regional offices located at The Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison
Street (Suite 1400), Chicago, Illinois 60661, and 7 World Trade Center, Suite
1300, New York, New York 10048.  Copies of such material also may be obtained
from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.  In addition, such material also
may be inspected and copied at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005 and the Pacific Stock Exchange
Incorporated, 301 Pine Street, San Francisco, California 94104, on which
exchanges the Common Stock of the Company is listed.

         The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on
Form S-3 (herein, together with all amendments and exhibits, referred to as the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act").  This Prospectus, which forms a part of the Registration
Statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the
Registration Statement, certain parts of which have been omitted in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the Commission.  Statements contained herein
concerning provisions of certain documents are not necessarily complete and, in
each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission.
Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.  For
further information, reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement.


                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The Company hereby incorporates into this Prospectus by reference the
following documents filed with the Commission (File No. 1-5491) pursuant to the
Exchange Act: (i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1994 (the "Form 10-K"); (ii) the Company's Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1995 and June 30, 1995, (iii) the
description of the Company's common stock, $.125 par value (the "Common
Stock"), contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as
amended, relating thereto and (iv) the description of the Company's Preferred
Stock Purchase Rights contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form
8-A, as amended, relating thereto.

         All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and
prior to the termination of the offering made hereby shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents.  Any statement contained herein or in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of the Registration Statement
and this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any
subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of the Registration Statement or this
Prospectus.

         The Company will provide, without charge, to each person to whom a
copy of this Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of any
such person, a copy of any or all of the documents or information which are
incorporated herein by reference, other than exhibits to such documents (unless
such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents).
Requests should be directed to Rowan Companies, Inc., 5450 Transco Tower, 2800
Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, Texas  77056-6196, Attention:  Corporate
Secretary, telephone:  (713) 621-7800.






                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3


                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

         This Prospectus relates to offers and sales by Selling Stockholders of
the shares of Common Stock received or to be received by them upon conversion
of shares of Series III Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the
Company ("Series III Preferred Stock") held or to be held by them.  The Selling
Stockholders currently hold an aggregate of $10,300,000 face amount of Series
III Floating Rate Subordinated Convertible Debentures due 2004 (the "Series III
Debentures") which were purchased from the Company at par pursuant to the terms
of the Company's 1986 Convertible Debenture Incentive Plan, as amended (the
"Plan"), previously approved by the Company's stockholders. Without taking into
account antidilution adjustments, the outstanding Series III Debentures are
convertible, in specified amounts and intervals until November 30, 2004, into
an aggregate of 10,300 shares of Series III Preferred Stock, which possess
nominal rights other than the right to convert into an aggregate of 1,525,926
shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion price of $6.75 per share (the
closing price of the Common Stock on the date prior to the date the related
debentures were issued).  On November 30, 1995, $2,350,000 of the Series III
Debentures will be convertible into 2,350 shares of Series III Preferred Stock,
and such Series III Preferred Stock, upon issuance, will be immediately
convertible into 348,148 shares of Common Stock.

         The Company has been advised by the Selling Stockholders that they
intend to sell any shares of Common Stock covered hereby from time to time on
the New York Stock Exchange.  Any such sales will be made at prices prevailing
on such exchange on the date of sale.  Any Selling Stockholder, however, may
also make privately negotiated sales directly or through a broker or brokers.

         The following table sets forth the names and positions with the Company
of the Selling Stockholders, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially
owned by each of them as of October 30, 1995 and the number of shares of Common
Stock covered by this Prospectus.  Because only a portion of the Debentures
owned by the Selling Stockholders are convertible within 60 days of the filing
of this Registration Statement, the remaining shares of Common Stock into which
such Debentures ultimately may be converted are not included in the number of
shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by each such Selling
Stockholder.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Number of               Amount to be Held
                                                     Number of          Shares                 After Offering(5)
                                                      Shares            Covered          ------------------------------
     Selling             Position with              Beneficially        by this            Number
   Stockholder           the Company(1)               Owned(2)       Prospectus(3)       of Shares(4)        Percentage
- ----------------     ------------------------       ------------     -------------       ------------        ---------- 
 <S>                 <C>                            <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
 C. R. Palmer        Chairman of the Board,           751,808(6)        711,111             588,845             (4)
                        President, Chief
                        Executive Officer

 R. G. Croyle        Executive Vice President         109,015(7)(8)     162,963              71,978(8)          (4)

 D. F. McNease       Senior Vice President -           56,792(7)        162,963              19,755             (4)
                        Drilling

 E. E. Thiele        Senior Vice President -          102,787(7)        162,963              65,750             (4)
                        Finance, Administration      
                        and Treasurer   

 J.E. Beckman        Vice President -                  37,037(7)        162,963                 -0-             (4)
                       Manufacturing;
                       President and Chief
                       Executive Officer of
                       LeTourneau, Inc.

 C. W. Johnson       Vice President -                  53,609(7)        162,963              16,572             (4)
                       Aviation; President and                                          
                       Chief Operating Officer
                       of Era Aviation, Inc.
                        
</TABLE>



                                     -3-
<PAGE>   4
__________________________
(1)  Each of the Selling Stockholders continuously served in the positions
     shown herein for more than the past three years except as follows:  Mr.
     Croyle served as Vice President, Legal until October 1993; Mr. McNease
     served as Vice President, Drilling until October 1993; Mr. Thiele served in
     the position of Vice President, Finance, Administration and Treasurer from
     January 1994 to April 1994 and prior to January 1994, he served as Vice
     President, Finance and Administration; Mr. Beckman served in the position
     of President and Chief Executive Officer of LeTourneau, Inc., a subsidiary
     of the Company, from February 1994 to April 1994 and prior to February
     1994, he served as President of Marathon LeTourneau Company, a company
     whose net assets were purchased by LeTourneau, Inc. in February 1994; and
     Mr. Johnson served in the position of President and Chief Operating
     Officer of Era Aviation, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, from December
     1993 to April 1994 and prior to December 1993, he served as Executive Vice
     President of Era.

(2)  Included herein are shares of Common Stock that may be acquired within 60
     days of October 30, 1995 through (i) the conversion of Series I Floating
     Rate Convertible Subordinated Debentures (the "Series I Debentures"), the
     Series II Floating Rate Convertible Subordinated Debenture (the "Series II
     Debenture") and the first of four tranches of the Series III Floating Rate 
     Convertible Subordinated Debentures convertible on November 30, 1995 
     ("Initial Series III Debenture Tranche") and (ii) the exercise of 
     Nonqualified Stock Options (the "Options") as follows: C. R. Palmer - 
     Series II Debenture, Initial Series III Debenture Tranche and Options - 
     400,000 shares, 162,963 shares and 182,500 shares, respectively; R. G. 
     Croyle - Series I Debentures, Initial Series III Debenture Tranche and 
     Options - 43,478 shares, 37,037 shares and 27,500 shares, respectively; 
     D. F. McNease - Initial Series III Debenture Tranche and Options - 
     37,037 and 18,750 shares, respectively; E. Thiele - Initial  Series III 
     Debenture Tranche - 37,037 shares; J. E. Beckman - Initial Series III 
     Debenture Tranche - 37,037 shares; and C. W. Johnson - Initial Series III 
     Debenture Tranche - 37,037 shares.

(3)  These amounts reflect for each Selling Stockholder the total offering of
     Series III Debentures, which includes the Initial Series III Debenture
     Tranche amounts referred to in (2) above. Also, see (5) below for the
     timing of the conversions.
        
(4)  Less than one percent of the shares outstanding as of October 30, 1995
     including the shares of Common Stock to be received by the Selling
     Stockholder's upon conversion of the Series III Debentures.

(5)  Assumes that each Selling Stockholder converts all of his Series III
     Debentures into Series III Preferred Stock, converts all such Series III
     Preferred Stock into Common Stock, and sells all such Common
     Stock. As to the timing of the conversions, the number of shares of Common
     Stock which would result, if each of the four tranches of 
     debentures were to be converted by the Selling Stockholders at the earliest
     permissible dates, are as follows:  

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        Timing of the Conversion
                                      and the Shares to be Acquired
                            --------------------------------------------------
Selling Stockholder         11/30/95      11/30/96      11/30/97      11/30/98      Total Shares
- -------------------         --------      --------      --------      --------      ------------
<S>                         <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>              <C>
C. R. Palmer                162,963       177,778       177,778       192,592          711,111
                                                         
R. G. Croyle                 37,037        37,037        44,444        44,445          162,963
                                   
D. F. McNease                37,037        37,037        44,444        44,445          162,963
                                   
E. E. Thiele                 37,037        37,037        44,444        44,445          162,963
                                   
J. E. Beckman                37,037        37,037        44,444        44,445          162,963
                                   
C. W.  Johnson               37,037        37,037        44,444        44,445          162,963

</TABLE>

(6)  Of the 711,111 shares of Common Stock registered herein on behalf of 
     Mr. Palmer, 162,963 shares are beneficially owned by him and 548,148 shares
     are obtainable by him at periodic dates more than 60 days after the date of
     this prospectus.
        
(7)  Of the 162,963 shares of Common Stock registered herein on behalf of each
     of Messrs. Croyle, McNease, Thiele, Beckman and Johnson, 37,037 shares are
     benefically owned by each of them and 125,926 shares are obtainable by each
     of them at periodic dates more than 60 days after the date of this
     prospectus.
        
(8)  Includes 1,000 shares owned by Mr. Croyle's children. Mr. Croyle disclaims
     beneficial ownership of such shares.



                                        


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
                                 RISK FACTORS

       Prospective purchasers should consider carefully the following matters,
as well as the information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus and
incorporated herein by reference.

RELIANCE ON OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

       The Company's drilling and aviation operations are both dependent upon
the condition of the oil and gas industry, in particular upon the level of
offshore drilling activity.  Despite occasional improvements, the market for
offshore contract drilling and related services has been depressed for over a
decade.

         An improvement in natural gas prices strengthened utilization and day
rates in the Gulf of Mexico throughout most of 1994.  However, natural gas
prices began a downward trend in late 1994 which continued through the first
few months of 1995 thereby softening offshore day rates.  By mid-year 1995,
Gulf of Mexico day rates began to strengthen even though soft energy prices
persisted.  The North Sea drilling market, on the other hand, experienced weak
drilling activity and day rates throughout 1994 due to energy companies
downsizing their drilling programs.  By mid-year 1995, the North Sea market had
begun to show improvement both in terms of  utilization and day rates.  It is
not possible to predict whether the recent upturns in both the Gulf of Mexico
and North Sea markets represent the beginning of long-term trends or merely a
repeat of short-term cycles.  Drilling revenues represented 56% and 52% of the
Company's consolidated revenues for 1994 and the first half of 1995,
respectively.

         Although the Company has continued to diversify its aircraft services
toward non-energy markets, e.g., forest fire control, commuter airline
services, flightseeing and medivac services, the results of its aviation
division are still heavily influenced by oil and natural gas exploration and
production, principally in the Gulf of Mexico.  Aviation revenues represented
22% and 18% of the Company's consolidated revenues for 1994 and the first half
of 1995, respectively.

         With the exception of its marine rig construction and support
operations, the Company's manufacturing segment is not dependent upon the
condition of the oil and gas industry.  The manufacturing segment was added in
1994 when the Company purchased through its wholly-owned subsidiary,
LeTourneau, Inc., the net assets of Marathon LeTourneau Company.

OPERATING LOSSES AND LIQUIDITY PROBLEMS

         The Company has incurred net losses in four of the last five years and
losses from operations in three of the last five years. For the first six
months of 1995, the Company experienced a loss from operations, a net loss and
an operating cash deficit.  Market conditions and the Company's operations have
improved since June 30 and the Company expects to be profitable and generate an
operating cash surplus over the last half of 1995. However, there can be no
assurance that market conditions or the Company's operations will continue to
improve and even with such improvements, the Company will likely incur a net
loss in 1995.  

        The Company believes cash provided by operations over the last half of
1995 will be sufficient to cover planned capital expenditures, estimated at $25
to $30 million, and debt service requirements during this period.

        The Company currently anticipates that 1996 capital expenditures will be
approximately $65 million, primarily for the construction of the jack-up rig
Rowan Gorilla V and related reactivation of the Company's Vicksburg shipyard
(see Fleet Expansion) and to upgrade existing offshore rigs and acquire
additional aircraft as justified by prevailing market conditions, and expects
that they will be financed through operations or existing working capital.

        The Company does not currently have any unused lines of credit.


ADDITIONAL RISK OF TURNKEY DRILLING OPERATIONS

       The Company has been providing drilling services on a turnkey basis
since mid 1992.  In 1993, the first full year of operation, 33% of the
Company's drilling revenues were from this source. In 1994 and the first half
of 1995, the percentages had dropped to 26% and 18%, respectively.  Turnkey
drilling contributed incremental operating profits of $9.7 million, $3.1
million and $61,000 in 1993, 1994 and the first half of 1995, respectively.



                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

         Under turnkey contracts, the Company's compensation is contingent on
successfully drilling to a specified depth and, under certain contracts,
completing the well.  The turnkey drilling contractor is responsible for making
all critical decisions, whereas under day rate contracts ultimate control is
exercised by the operator.  The amount of the Company's compensation is fixed
at the amount bid by the Company to drill the well.  Thus, if operational
problems prevent performance, the Company will not be paid unless it chooses to
drill a new well at its own expense, and if unforeseen problems arise that
cause the cost of performance to exceed the turnkey price, the Company must
absorb the loss.  In a day rate contract, those risks are retained by the
operator.  Drilling deviated holes into high-pressure formations is a complex
process and problems frequently occur.  The Company routinely budgets for
contingencies and believes that its experience and database on drilling
conditions in the Gulf of Mexico permit it to calculate drilling risks within
tolerable limits; there can be no assurance, however, that the cost of
contingencies will not exceed budgeted amounts.  The Company carries insurance
against certain other risks associated with turnkey drilling operations.

         Except for one drilling assignment in the North Sea, all of the
Company's offshore turnkey drilling to date has been in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Company may, however, conduct turnkey drilling operations in other areas in
the future.

INTENSE COMPETITION

         All three of the Company's business segments are subject to intense
competition in each of the markets they serve.  A few of the Company's
competitors possess greater financial resources than the Company and, in the
case of drilling, many of the competitors have been substantially relieved of
debt burdens by bankruptcy courts.

         In the case of drilling operations, there has been an oversupply of
rigs for more than a decade, although availability has tightened in various
geographical markets from time to time.  The Company believes that competition
for drilling contracts in non-niche markets will continue to be intense for the
foreseeable future.

         Because the Company is a relatively new entrant in the business of
providing offshore platform and removal services, many of the Company's
competitors have the advantages of having offered these services for longer
periods of time, which include the benefits of established technological
know-how and more extensive customer bases.  While competition can be expected
to be intense, the Company is the only provider of such services to operate a
crane from a jack-up rig, as opposed to a barge, a feature that gives the
Company an operating advantage under adverse weather conditions.

         The Company's aviation and manufacturing operations also face vigorous
competition in each of the markets in which they compete, typically against
more than one competitor.  In many instances, such competitors have
significantly larger market shares.

OPERATIONAL HAZARDS

         The operations of the Company are subject to many hazards.  In the
drilling business, inherent hazards include blowouts and well fires, which
could cause personal injury, suspend drilling operations, seriously damage or
destroy the equipment involved and cause substantial damage to producing
formations and the surrounding areas.  Offshore drilling operations and
platform removal and installation operations are also subject to the hazards
incident to marine operations, either on site or while under tow, such as
capsizing, collision or grounding.  Raising and lowering the legs of jack-up
rigs into the ocean floor and ballasting 



                                        


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7
semi-submersible units require skillful handling to avoid capsizing or other
serious damage.  The process of removing platforms and caissons using underwater
explosives involves substantial risks and requires a significant amount of skill
in order to confine the resulting destruction to the intended areas.

         Under turnkey contracts, the Company is normally responsible for
certain risks that would generally be assumed by the customer under day rate
contracts.  These risks include liability for pollution resulting from a
blowout or uncontrolled flow from the well bore, an underground blowout, the
cost of controlling a wild well and the expense to redrill a well that has
blown out.  The Company carries insurance to cover such risks in turnkey
operations, with coverage terms the Company believes are at least comparable to
industry practices.  The Company's day rate contracts generally provide that
the Company is substantially indemnified by its customers against pollution
damages, except in certain cases of pollution emanating above the surface of
land or water from spills of pollutants, or in the case of pollutants emanating
from the Company's drilling rigs, but no assurance can be given regarding the
enforceability or availability of such indemnities.

         Operation of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, particularly under
weather conditions prevailing in Alaska, is considered potentially hazardous,
although the Company conducts rigorous safety training programs to minimize
these hazards.  The Company's manufacturing operations are considered
potentially hazardous as a result of the possibility of the air, land and
inland waters associated with its manufacturing processes becoming polluted and
the possibility of injury and/or death and property damage arising from the use
of its products.

       The Company believes that it is adequately insured for physical damage
to its rigs and aircraft, and for marine and aviation liabilities and various
other types of exposures customarily encountered in providing the Company's
services, but carries no insurance against the loss of earnings.  The Company
has experienced incidents related to many of the hazards discussed above,
including loss or damage to drilling rights due to blowout, fire and loss while
under tow and to aircraft due to accidents.  Additionally, the Company believes
that it is adequately insured for risks arising from its manufacturing
operations, including product injury claims for personal injury and/or death,
property damage, loss of use of product, business interruption and necessary
legal expenses to defend itself from such claims.  To date, the Company has not
suffered any material uninsured losses.  Under current conditions, the Company
anticipates that its present insurance coverages will be maintained, but no
assurance can be given that insurance coverages will continue to be available
at rates considered reasonable, that self-insured amounts or deductibles will
not increase or that certain types of coverage will be available at any cost.

RISKS OF FOREIGN OPERATIONS

       Foreign operations are subject to certain political, economic and other
uncertainties not encountered in domestic operations, including risks of
expropriation of equipment as well as expropriation of a particular energy
company's property and drilling rights, taxation policies, foreign exchange
restrictions, currency rate fluctuations and the general hazards associated 
with foreign sovereignty over certain areas in which operations are conducted. 
The Company attempts to minimize the risk of currency rate fluctuations by
generally denominating contract payment terms in United States dollars.

EXTENSIVE REGULATIONS

         Many aspects of the operations of the Company's three business
segments are subject to government regulation, including those relating to:
equipping drilling vessels and aircraft; drilling practices; manufacturing
plant waste water discharges, solid waste disposal and air emissions; and the
level of taxation.  In addition, various countries (including the United
States) have regulations relating to environmental protection and 





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8
pollution control.  Recent events have also increased the sensitivity of the
Company's operations to environmental matters.  The Company may be liable for
damages resulting from pollution of offshore waters and, under United States
regulations, must establish financial responsibility in order to drill in such
waters.

         The Company believes that it complies with all material legislation
and regulations affecting the operations in the drilling of oil and gas wells,
in equipping aircraft and carrying on aircraft operations, in controlling the 
discharge of wastes from drilling rigs and in controlling waste water 
discharges, solid waste disposals and air emissions from its manufacturing 
plant.  Further legislation may be reasonably anticipated, but their effects 
on the Company's operations cannot be predicted.

FLEET EXPANSION

         In April 1995, the Company announced plans for the design and
construction of the jack-up rig, Rowan Gorilla V, an enhanced version of the
Company's Gorilla Class jack-up.  The rig will be constructed at the Company's
Vicksburg, Mississippi shipyard and should be completed during the second
quarter of 1998 at an estimated cost of $135 million.  The Company expects to
finance a significant portion of the construction cost and is currently
evaluating credit alternatives.  The reactivation of the Company's Vicksburg
shipyard is estimated to cost approximately $20 million, most of which will be
incurred in the first half of 1996 and financed through operations or existing
working capital.

DIVIDEND RESTRICTION

         Under the terms of its 11 7/8% Senior Notes, the Company is currently
prohibited from paying a cash dividend.  The Company does not intend to pay
dividends on its Common Stock until it achieves and sustains a suitable level
of profitability.

AUTHORIZED PREFERRED STOCK

         The Company's Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of
preferred stock with designations, rights and preferences determined by its
Board of Directors.  Accordingly, the Company's Board of Directors is
empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with
dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights that could adversely
affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the Common Stock. The
Company has reserved 1.5 million shares of preferred stock for possible
issuance in connection with its Stockholders Rights Agreement (the "Rights
Agreement") adopted by the Company on February 25, 1992 (see Description of
the Securities).  In the event of issuance, the preferred stock could be used,
under certain circumstances, as a method of discouraging, delaying or
preventing a change in control of the Company. Although the Company has no
present intention to issue any shares of its preferred stock, there can be no
assurance that it will not do so in the future.


                         DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES

         As of July 31, 1995, the Company had 84,705,237 shares of Common Stock
outstanding.  The Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the
Pacific Stock Exchange.  Each share of Common Stock has attached to it rights
(the "Rights") to acquire on one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior 
Preferred Stock of the Company pursuant to the Rights Agreement.

         The Rights Agreement provides for the distribution to the Company's
stockholders of one Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock.  Each
Right entitles the holder thereof to purchase from the Company one
one-hundredth of a share of new Series  A Junior Preferred Stock of the Company
at an exercise price of $30.00. In addition, under certain circumstances, each
Right will entitle the holder to purchase securities of the Company or an
acquiring entity at 1/2 market value. The Rights 



                                        


                                     -8-
<PAGE>   9
are exercisable only if a person or group acquires 15% or more of the
Company's outstanding Common Stock or makes a tender offer for 30% or more of
the Company's outstanding Common Stock.  The Rights will expire on February 25,
2002.  The Company may generally redeem the Rights at a price of $.01 per Right
at any time until the 10th day following public announcement that a 15%
position has been acquired.  One million five hundred thousand shares of the
Company's preferred stock have been designated Series A Junior Preferred Stock
and reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Rights.  Additional information
concerning the terms of the Rights is contained in the Company's Registration
Statement on Form 8-A relating to the Rights, which Registration Statement has
been incorporated by reference herein.


                   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         The Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws contain
provisions permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (under which the
Company is organized) which, in general terms, provide that directors and
officers will be indemnified by the Company, to the full extent authorized or
permitted by law, for all losses that may be incurred by them in connection
with any claim or legal action in which they may become involved by reason of
their service as a director or officer of the Company.  In addition, the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions permitted by the
Delaware General Corporation Law which limit the monetary liability of
directors of the Company for certain breaches of their fiduciary duty of care.
Since July 14, 1995, the Company has carried directors' and officers' liability
insurance.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10
                                 LEGAL OPINIONS

         Certain legal matters with respect to the Common Stock offered hereby
will be passed upon for the Company by Andrews & Kurth, L.L.P., 4200 Texas
Commerce Tower, Houston, Texas  77002.


                                    EXPERTS

         The consolidated financial statements of Rowan Companies, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 1994 and 1993 and for each of the three years
in the period ended December 31, 1994 incorporated in this Prospectus by
reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1994 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated by reference, and
have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon
their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.





                                        


                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11
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   NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO       
GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY         
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE            
CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF        
GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR        
REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED        
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED.  THIS       
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN           
OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN     
OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN      
THE COMMON STOCK TO WHICH IT RELATES      
OR AN OFFER TO OR SOLICITATION OF ANY       
PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH                 ROWAN COMPANIES, INC.  
SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL.                               
NEITHER DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR                               
ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY                               
CIRCUMSTANCES IMPLY THAT INFORMATION            
CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY           
TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.                    
                                                
                                                
           --------------------                 
                                                
                                                
                                                
            TABLE OF CONTENTS                        1,525,926 SHARES OF   
                                                        COMMON STOCK       
<TABLE>                                                   
 <S>                                     <C>        
 AVAILABLE INFORMATION . . . . . . . .   2     
 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN                      
     DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE  . . . . .   2     
 SELLING STOCKHOLDERS  . . . . . . . .   3           
 RISK FACTORS  . . . . . . . . . . . .   5      
 DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES . . . .   8     
 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND              
     OFFICERS  . . . . . . . . . . . .   9     
 LEGAL OPINIONS  . . . . . . . . . . .  10     
 EXPERTS   . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10     
</TABLE>                                        
                                                
             --------------------                    -------------------- 
                                                                          
                                                         PROSPECTUS       
                                                                          
                                                     -------------------- 
                                                                              




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