UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (date of earliest event reported): March 11, 2015

NOBLE CORPORATION plc

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: +44 20 3300 2300

NOBLE CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (345) 938-0293

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Explanatory Note

This combined filing on Form 8-K is separately filed by Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“Noble-U.K.”), and Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (“Noble-Cayman”). Information in this filing relating to Noble-Cayman is filed by Noble-U.K. and separately by Noble-Cayman on its own behalf. Noble-Cayman makes no representation as to information relating to Noble-U.K. (except as it may relate to Noble-Cayman) or any other affiliate or subsidiary of Noble-U.K. This report should be read in its entirety as it pertains to each of Noble-U.K. and Noble-Cayman.

On March 11, 2015, Noble-Cayman, Noble Holding International Limited (the “Issuer”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble-U.K. and Noble-Cayman, and the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with respect to the issuance and sale by the Issuer of $250 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.000% Senior Notes due 2018, $450 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.950% Senior Notes due 2025 and $400 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.950% Senior Notes due 2045 (collectively, the “Notes”) in a registered public offering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest on and all other amounts due under the Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Noble-Cayman. On March 12, 2015, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, the Issuer and Noble-Cayman filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a Prospectus Supplement, dated March 11, 2015, to a Prospectus, dated February 27, 2015, which is part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-202378) filed by the Issuer and Noble-Cayman with the Commission. Each of the exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K relate to the offering of the Notes and are hereby incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement.

Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Issuer and Noble-Cayman agreed, among other things, to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments that the Underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities. The Underwriting Agreement contains other terms and conditions that are generally customary for transactions of the nature of the offering.

The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

The Issuer expects to receive net proceeds from the sale of the Notes of approximately $1.083 billion, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. The Issuer intends to transfer the net proceeds to Noble-Cayman as advances, distributions, repayment of outstanding intercompany indebtedness or a combination of these. Noble-Cayman intends to use the net proceeds to repay indebtedness outstanding under its revolving credit facilities and commercial paper program.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

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