(Source: PRNewswire)HOUSTON, July 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gastar Exploration Ltd. (NYSE Amex: GST and TSX: YGA) announced today that it has entered into definitive agreements with Santos QNT Pty Ltd and Santos International Holdings Pty Ltd, affiliates of Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) for the sale of all of Gastar's interest in Petroleum Exploration Licenses 238, 433 and 434 in New South Wales, Australia, along with the sale of the shares of Gastar Power Pty Ltd, the entity holding Gastar's 35% interest in the Wilga Park Power Station. Gross pre- tax proceeds from the transaction are expected to be approximately US $240 million (AU $300 million). Upon final closing, Gastar's net proceeds, after payment of Australian income taxes, is expected to be approximately US $175 million (AU $219 million).

The Santos transaction is expected to close on July 10, 2009, subject to satisfaction of certain ordinary closing conditions, with an initial payment before taxes of US $224 million (AU $280 million) on that date and the balance to be remitted to Gastar upon the receipt of certain governmental approvals. Gastar plans to use the proceeds from this transaction to repay outstanding debt under its secured revolving credit facility, to retire its $25 million secured term loan and to pay in full Gastar's $30 million convertible subordinated debentures upon their maturity in November 2009. Remaining proceeds are expected to be used to finance an offer to repurchase any and all of Gastar's $100 million 12-3/4% senior secured notes in accordance with the terms of the governing indenture. Thus, the transaction is expected to provide sufficient funds to repay substantially all of Gastar's outstanding debt and reduce annual cash interest expense by as much as approximately US $20 million.

In addition, Gastar may be paid an additional US $16 million (AU $20 million) in early 2010 if the independently certified gross 2P reserves (SPE proved plus probable) for the PEL 238 coalbed methane project are at least 1.3 Tcf at year-end 2009. At Gastar's election, the reserve related payment, if applicable, may be either in cash, shares of Santos, or a combination thereof. In addition, Gastar has retained the right to receive up to US $10 million in future cash payments from Eastern Star Gas Ltd (ASX: EGG and OTCQX: ESGLY) if certain previously negotiated production thresholds are achieved.

J. Russell Porter, Gastar's President and Chief Executive Officer, commenting on the transaction and related actions said, "This is clearly a transformative transaction for Gastar.