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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:center;margin-bottom:7pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><a name="bm_8_K_Cover"></a>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:right;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;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">UNITED STATES</p>
<p style="text-align:center;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;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:16pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">FORM 8-K</p>
<p style="text-align:center;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;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: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;">PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE</p>
<p style="text-align:center;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;">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</p>
<p style="text-align:center;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;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 29, 2018 </p>
<p style="text-align:center;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;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:16pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">GASTAR EXPLORATION INC.</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;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;">(IRS Employer</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;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;">Identification No.)</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;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;">1331 LAMAR STREET, SUITE 650</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;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;">HOUSTON, TEXAS 77010</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;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="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)</p>
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<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%;">
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<p style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;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;">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></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;">[&nbsp;&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;">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</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;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</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;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</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;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</p></td>
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<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;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:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;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&#160;<font style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Segoe UI Symbol;">&#9744;</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">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.&#160;<font style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Segoe UI Symbol;">&#9744;</font></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="margin-bottom:10pt;margin-top:10pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><a name="bm_8_K_Body"></a><a name="_AEIOULastRenderedPageBreakAEIOU2"></a><font style="font-weight:bold;color:#000000;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">SECTION 5 &#8211; CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT</font></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Item 5.02.&nbsp;&nbsp;Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</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:6pt;text-indent:5.57%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">On August 29, 2018, the Compensation Committee (the &#8220;Compensation Committee&#8221;) of the Board of Directors of the Company, approved the terms and conditions governing the Gastar Exploration Inc. 2018 Key Employee Incentive Plan (the &#8220;2018 KEIP&#8221;) and the quarterly bonus opportunities for the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019 thereunder for certain key employees of the Company. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:12pt;text-indent:5.57%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Under the 2018 KEIP, each participant is eligible to earn a performance bonus in cash at the end of each of the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019 (the &#8220;Quarterly Bonuses&#8221;), depending upon the extent to which certain performance goals have been achieved for each such quarter. In addition to being measured on a quarterly basis, the performance goals will be measured cumulatively from July 1, 2018 through the end of the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019 and a participant will be eligible to earn, in addition to the Quarterly Bonuses for the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019, an amount equal to the Quarterly Bonuses based on achievement of the cumulative performance goals minus the Quarterly Bonuses actually paid for each such quarter. In order to earn a Quarterly Bonus for any quarter, a participant must generally remain employed by the Company through the end of the applicable quarter. A participant whose employment with the Company terminates due to death or disability or by the Company without &#8220;cause&#8221; or by the participant for &#8220;good reason&#8221; prior to the end of the applicable quarter will receive a pro-rated portion of the bonus that would otherwise have been earned for that quarter. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:12pt;text-indent:5.57%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">The Compensation Committee approved the following target Quarterly Bonus opportunities under the 2018 KEIP for the following named executive officers, up to 150% of which may be earned per quarter: </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:12pt;text-indent:5.57%;font-style:italic;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Jerry Schuyler<font style="font-style:normal;">, Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, will be eligible to earn a target Quarterly Bonus for each of the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019 of $373,646. </font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:12pt;text-indent:5.57%;font-style:italic;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Michael Gerlich<font style="font-style:normal;">, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will be eligible to earn a target Quarterly Bonus for each of the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019 of $124,250. </font></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:8.18%;font-style:italic;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Stephen Roberts<font style="font-style:normal;">, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will be eligible to earn a target Quarterly Bonus for each of the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019 of $134,750.</font></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<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:8.18%;">&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:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:8.18%;text-indent:-8.18%;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:8.18%;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>
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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: September 5, 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;;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>
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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:2pt;width:20%;">
<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;;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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<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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gst-8k_20180829.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): August 29, 2018
GASTAR EXPLORATION INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE
001-35211
38-3531640
(State or other jurisdiction
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
of incorporation)
Identification No.)
1331 LAMAR STREET, SUITE 650
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77010
(Address of principal executive offices)
(713) 739-1800
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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 5 – CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On August 29, 2018, the Compensation Committee (the "Compensation Committee") of the Board of Directors of the Company, approved the terms and conditions governing the Gastar Exploration Inc. 2018 Key Employee Incentive Plan (the "2018 KEIP") and the quarterly bonus opportunities for the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019 thereunder for certain key employees of the Company.
Under the 2018 KEIP, each participant is eligible to earn a performance bonus in cash at the end of each of the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019 (the "Quarterly Bonuses"), depending upon the extent to which certain performance goals have been achieved for each such quarter. In addition to being measured on a quarterly basis, the performance goals will be measured cumulatively from July 1, 2018 through the end of the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019 and a participant will be eligible to earn, in addition to the Quarterly Bonuses for the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019, an amount equal to the Quarterly Bonuses based on achievement of the cumulative performance goals minus the Quarterly Bonuses actually paid for each such quarter. In order to earn a Quarterly Bonus for any quarter, a participant must generally remain employed by the Company through the end of the applicable quarter. A participant whose employment with the Company terminates due to death or disability or by the Company without "cause" or by the participant for "good reason" prior to the end of the applicable quarter will receive a pro-rated portion of the bonus that would otherwise have been earned for that quarter.
The Compensation Committee approved the following target Quarterly Bonus opportunities under the 2018 KEIP for the following named executive officers, up to 150% of which may be earned per quarter:
Jerry Schuyler
, Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, will be eligible to earn a target Quarterly Bonus for each of the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019 of $373,646.
Michael Gerlich
, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will be eligible to earn a target Quarterly Bonus for each of the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019 of $124,250.
Stephen Roberts
, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will be eligible to earn a target Quarterly Bonus for each of the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first and second quarters of 2019 of $134,750.
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: September 5, 2018
GASTAR EXPLORATION INC.
By:
/s/  Michael A. Gerlich
Michael A. Gerlich
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer