Sec Form 4 Filing - Beatty Brian A @ SAExploration Holdings, Inc. - 2016-09-26

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 Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Beatty Brian A 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol SAExploration Holdings, Inc. [ SAEX] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) COO (Last) (First) (Middle) 3333 8TH STREET SE, 3RD FLOOR 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 09/26/2016 (Street) CALGARY, A0T2G 3A4 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction 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 197 D Common Stock 8,865 I Through dispositive and voting control of Seismic Management Holdings, Inc. ( 1 )

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction 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 (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (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 Restricted Stock Units ( 2 ) ( 3 ) 09/26/2016 A 88,252 ( 4 ) 09/26/2019 Common Stock 88,252 $ 0 88,252 D Stock Option (Right to Buy) ( 5 ) $ 10.19 ( 6 ) 09/26/2016 A 88,252 ( 7 ) 09/26/2026 Common Stock 88,252 ( 6 ) 88,252 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Beatty Brian A 3333 8TH STREET SE, 3RD FLOOR CALGARY, A0T2G 3A4 X COO Signatures /s/ Brian A. Beatty 09/28/2016 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Seismic Management Holdings, Inc. ("Seismic Holdings") is a corporation formed under the laws of the Province of Alberta, Canada, and is wholly owned by Seismic Management, LLP, which is an Alaska limited liability partnership controlled by the Reporting Person and his wife, Sheri L. Beatty. ( 2 )The restricted stock units were issued pursuant to the SAExploration Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") 2016 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "LTIP") on September 26, 2016. ( 3 )Each restricted stock unit issued pursuant to the LTIP represents the right to receive, upon the applicable vesting date, either (i) a share of Common Stock of the Company or (ii) an amount of cash equal in value to the value of a share of the Company's Common Stock on the date of transfer. ( 4 )The restricted stock units will vest as follows: (i) 1/3 on the earliest to occur of certain events as defined in the LTIP; (ii) 1/3 on the second anniversary of the Closing Date, as defined in the LTIP; and (iii) the remaining 1/3 on the third anniversary of the Closing Date, as defined in the LTIP. ( 5 )The non-qualified stock options were issued pursuant to the Company's LTIP on September 26, 2016. ( 6 )The Exercise Price of the option is $10.19 per share, which is equal to the VWAP per common share for the 30-day period that ends on the Grant Date, all terms as defined in the Company's LTIP. ( 7 )The stock option becomes exercisable as follows: (i) 1/3 of the Option on the earliest to occur of certain events as defined in the LTIP, (ii) 1/3 of the Option on the second anniversary of the Closing Date, as defined in the LTIP; and (iii) the remaining 1/3 of the Option on the third anniversary of the Closing Date, as defined in the LTIP.

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