FORM 4
[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).         
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
                                                                                  
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Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
                      

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *

Walton Nathan
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

Gastar Exploration Inc. [ GST ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)

__ X __ Director                      _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below)      _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)          (First)          (Middle)

2000 AVENUE OF THE STARS, 12TH FLOOR
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY)

5/2/2017
(Street)

LOS ANGELES, CA 90067
(City)        (State)        (Zip)
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)

 
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

_ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Trans. Date 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any 3. Trans. Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock   5/2/2017     A    52910   (1) (2) (3) A $0.00   52910   D    

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Trans. Date 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any 4. Trans. Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:
(1)  The reported shares were acquired pursuant to a restricted share grant and will fully vest on January 30, 2018.
(2)  These securities are held by the Reporting Person for the benefit of Ares Management LLC, which is affiliated with certain investment vehicles (collectively, "Ares") that hold common stock of the Issuer. The Reporting Person is associated with Ares. Pursuant to the policies of Ares, the Reporting Person holds these securities as a nominee on behalf, and for the sole benefit, of Ares and has assigned all economic, pecuniary and voting rights in respect of these securities to Ares.
(3)  The amounts reported in this Form 4 do not include any securities of the Issuer held by Ares. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities of the Issuer owned by Ares and such securities of the Issuer issued to the Reporting Person, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein, and the filing of this Form 4 shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of or has any pecuniary interest in any such securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address
Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Walton Nathan
2000 AVENUE OF THE STARS, 12TH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES, CA 90067
X



Signatures
/s/ Nathan Walton, by Naseem Sagati as Attorney in Fact 5/5/2017
** Signature of Reporting Person Date


Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.