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): September 7, 2018

GASTAR EXPLORATION INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(713) 739-1800

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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 Disclosures.

Gastar Exploration Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release on September 7, 2018 announcing that its common stock commenced trading on the OTCQB over-the-counter market.  A copy of the press release is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1.  

Additionally, the Company issued a press release on September 7, 2018 announcing that its two preferred stock issues commenced trading on the OTCQB over-the-counter market. A copy of the press release is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

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 in 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 “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 September 7, 2018, the Company announced its common stock, 8.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10.75% Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, commenced trading on the OTCQB over-the-counter market under the trading symbols “GSTC,” “GSTPA” and “GSTPB,” respectively.

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:

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.