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<p style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><a name="bm_8_K_Cover"></a>&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;border-top:Double 3pt;padding-top:1pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">UNITED STATES<br />SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<font style="font-size:10pt;"><br />Washington, D.C. 20549</font></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:20pt;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">FORM 8-K</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">CURRENT REPORT</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF <br />THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):&nbsp;&nbsp;June 11, 2018 </p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:180pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(State or other jurisdiction <br />of incorporation)</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:9pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">1331 LAMAR STREET, SUITE 650</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(Address of principal executive offices)</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:9pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(713) 739-1800</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:9pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number, including area code</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:9pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Not Applicable</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:9pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(Former Name or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)</p></td>
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<p style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-left:40.85%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;text-indent:8.17%;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:10pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:10pt;margin-top:0pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</p></td></tr></table></div>
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<p style="margin-bottom:10pt;margin-top:0pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</p></td></tr></table></div>
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<p style="margin-bottom:10pt;margin-top:0pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</p></td></tr></table></div>
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<p style="margin-bottom:10pt;margin-top:0pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</p></td></tr></table></div>
<p style="margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:10pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;&#8201;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;&#8201;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</p>
<p style="margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:10pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Emerging growth company <font style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">&#9744;</font></font>If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. <font style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">&#9744;</font></font></p>
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<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;text-indent:8.17%;">&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><a name="_AEIOULastRenderedPageBreakAEIOU2"></a><font style="font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">SECTION 7 &#8211; REGULATION FD</font></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;text-indent:8.17%;"><font style="font-weight:normal;">On June 11, 2018, Gastar Exploration Inc. (&#8220;Gastar&#8221; or the &#8220;Company&#8221;) issued a press release announcing that it has declared a cash dividend on its 8.625% Series A Preferred Stock (&#8220;Series A Preferred Stock&#8221;) and its 10.75% Series B Preferred Stock (&#8220;Series B Preferred Stock&#8221;) for June 2018 and that it has elected to suspend the declaration and payment of monthly cash dividends on its Series A Preferred Stock and its Series B Preferred Stock commencing July 2018 to maintain liquidity to support its capital investment program.&nbsp;&nbsp;A copy of the Company&#8217;s press release, dated June 11, 2018, is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;text-indent:8.17%;">In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information presented herein under Item&#160;7.01 and set forth in the attached press release included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report is deemed to be &#8220;furnished&#8221; solely pursuant to Item 7.01 of this report and shall not be deemed to be &#8220;filed&#8221; for purposes of Section&#160;18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information or the exhibit be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><a name="bm_8_K_Body"></a>SECTION 8 - OTHER EVENTS</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:10pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Item 8.01 Other Items.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:8.17%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">On June 11, 2018, the Company announced that it has declared a cash dividend on its Series A Preferred Stock and its Series B Preferred Stock for June 2018 and that it has elected to suspend the declaration and payment of monthly cash dividends on its Series A Preferred Stock and its Series B Preferred Stock commencing July 2018 to maintain liquidity to support its capital investment program.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">SECTION 9 &#8211; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Item 9.01&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Statements and Exhibits.</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;text-indent:8.17%;">(d) Exhibits</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:8.17%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">The following is a list of exhibits furnished as part of this Form 8-K:</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Description of Document</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:20pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:20pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:20pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">99.1</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:85%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><a href="gst-ex991_6.htm"><font style="text-decoration:underline;">Press release dated June 11, 2018</font></a>.</p></td>
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<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;text-indent:8.17%;">&nbsp;</p>
<hr style="page-break-after:always;width:100%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:8.17%;text-indent:-8.17%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><a name="_AEIOULastRenderedPageBreakAEIOU3"></a><font style="font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">SIGNATURES</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:8.17%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Date: June 11, 2018</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">GASTAR EXPLORATION INC.</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">By:</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;Michael A. Gerlich</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom"  style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0pt;width:2.12%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom"  style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:2pt;width:26.78%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Michael A. Gerlich</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0pt;width:1.9%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td colspan="4" valign="bottom"  style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:2pt;width:46.02%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</p></td>
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gst-8k_20180611.htm
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):  June 11, 2018
GASTAR EXPLORATION INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE
001-35211
38-3531640
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
1331 LAMAR STREET, SUITE 650
HOUSTON, TEXAS
77010
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(713) 739-1800
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
☐
SECTION 7 – REGULATION FD
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On June 11, 2018, Gastar Exploration Inc. ("Gastar" or the "Company") issued a press release announcing that it has declared a cash dividend on its 8.625% Series A Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred Stock") and its 10.75% Series B Preferred Stock ("Series B Preferred Stock") for June 2018 and that it has elected to suspend the declaration and payment of monthly cash dividends on its Series A Preferred Stock and its Series B Preferred Stock commencing July 2018 to maintain liquidity to support its capital investment program.  A copy of the Company's press release, dated June 11, 2018, is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information presented herein under Item 7.01 and set forth in the attached press release included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report is deemed to be "furnished" solely pursuant to Item 7.01 of this report and shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information or the exhibit be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
SECTION 8 - OTHER EVENTS
Item 8.01 Other Items.
On June 11, 2018, the Company announced that it has declared a cash dividend on its Series A Preferred Stock and its Series B Preferred Stock for June 2018 and that it has elected to suspend the declaration and payment of monthly cash dividends on its Series A Preferred Stock and its Series B Preferred Stock commencing July 2018 to maintain liquidity to support its capital investment program.
SECTION 9 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
The following is a list of exhibits furnished as part of this Form 8-K:
Exhibit No.
Description of Document
99.1
Press release dated June 11, 2018
.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: June 11, 2018
GASTAR EXPLORATION INC.
By:
/s/  Michael A. Gerlich
Michael A. Gerlich
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer