Digital Angel

Digital Angel Corporation was a technology business whose activities encompassed identification, tracking, communications, and consumer software. Its earlier and better-known technology portfolio centered on Global Positioning System and radio-frequency identification systems for people, animals, food-supply chains, government and military applications, and commercial assets. The company’s products included implantable RFID identification devices, scanners, antennas, GPS and satellite communications equipment, end-to-end food-safety systems, telecommunications and security infrastructure, and search-and-rescue transponders. A particularly notable and controversial part of the company’s history was its minority ownership of VeriChip. Digital Angel formerly held a 49 percent interest in VeriChip, which was associated with implantable human RFID technology. The human-implant application generated civil-liberties and privacy concerns, making it a prominent but contentious aspect of the Digital Angel story. Digital Angel divested its VeriChip stake in 2008. VeriChip Corporation and Steel Vault Corporation subsequently combined to form PositiveID, which later attempted a friendly acquisition of Digital Angel in 2010; Digital Angel’s board unanimously rejected the proposal. Digital Angel also operated in animal identification and tracking through its Destron Fearing subsidiary. Destron Fearing supplied implantable identification products, scanners, and related equipment for pets, wildlife, and livestock. Digital Angel sold that subsidiary to Allflex USA in July 2011 for $25 million, marking a significant reduction in the company’s animal-identification activities. The company’s technology work extended beyond identification chips. It researched GPS search-and-rescue transponders that combined satellite communications with location tracking for aircraft, ships, and other high-value assets. These systems were positioned for both military and private-sector use. Digital Angel also owned Signature Communications, a United Kingdom distributor of two-way communications equipment. Signature Communications served customers requiring conventional radio systems for safety, security, construction, and manufacturing monitoring, as well as trunked radio systems for larger users such as local authorities and public utilities. The reference material also describes Digital Angel as a developer and publisher of consumer applications and mobile games for tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices. This indicates a later or parallel effort to broaden the company beyond specialized tracking and identification hardware. The available material does not establish the duration, scale, product names, or present status of that mobile-software business. Digital Angel’s leadership changed several times during the period documented in the reference material. Randy Geissler served as chief executive from 2000 to 2003. Joseph J. Grillo became chief executive on January 2, 2008, succeeding Kevin McGrath. Daniel E. Penni became interim chief executive on February 1, 2012, and L. Michael Haller was appointed chief executive on August 23, 2012. The supplied sources do not provide enough information to determine the company’s current operating status, present ownership, headquarters, or whether the Digital Angel name remains active as a commercial brand.

Digital Angel Corporation developed and commercialized technologies for identifying, locating, and monitoring people, animals, products, and physical assets. Its best-documented business area combined radio-frequency identification with Global Positioning System and satellite communications capabilities. These technologies supported animal identification, food-supply monitoring, commercial asset tracking, government and military applications, and specialized search-and-rescue systems. The company’s animal-identification activities included implantable RFID microchips, scanners, and antennas for pets, wildlife, and livestock. Digital Angel also described applications for end-to-end food-safety systems, in which identification and tracking technologies could be used to monitor products through parts of the supply chain. Its GPS and satellite work included search-and-rescue transponders designed to track aircraft, ships, and other high-value assets for military and private-sector users. Digital Angel’s corporate history became closely linked to VeriChip, a company associated with implantable RFID technology for humans. Digital Angel formerly owned a 49 percent minority position in VeriChip. The human-implant application attracted criticism and concern from civil-liberties advocates, particularly around privacy, surveillance, consent, and the potential uses of implanted identification technology. Digital Angel divested its interest in VeriChip in 2008. VeriChip later combined with Steel Vault Corporation to form PositiveID. PositiveID subsequently sought to acquire Digital Angel. In 2010 it made a friendly acquisition attempt, but Digital Angel’s board unanimously rejected the proposal. The episode is significant because it shows the continuing corporate relationship between Digital Angel and the business that had developed from VeriChip, while also demonstrating that Digital Angel remained an independent company at that point. Digital Angel operated its animal-identification business through Destron Fearing. In July 2011, the company sold Destron Fearing to Allflex USA for $25 million. The transaction transferred a substantial part of Digital Angel’s animal-identification portfolio and represented a strategic change in the company’s business mix. The company also owned Signature Communications, a United Kingdom distributor of two-way communications equipment. Signature Communications supplied conventional radio systems for safety, security, construction, and manufacturing customers. It also distributed trunked radio systems for larger organizations, including local authorities and public utilities. This activity gave Digital Angel an operating presence in communications distribution in addition to its proprietary tracking and identification work. The supplied reference material further characterizes Digital Angel as a developer and publisher of consumer applications and mobile games for tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices. The available source does not provide a sufficiently detailed chronology of this software activity, nor does it identify particular applications, launch dates, financial performance, or the relationship between the mobile business and the company’s earlier hardware operations. Leadership records in the available material identify Randy Geissler as chief executive from 2000 to 2003. Joseph J. Grillo became chief executive on January 2, 2008, succeeding Kevin McGrath. Daniel E. Penni served as interim chief executive beginning February 1, 2012, and L. Michael Haller was appointed chief executive on August 23, 2012. The supplied references do not establish Digital Angel’s current legal status, ownership, headquarters, or whether it continues to operate under the same name.

• 2012

  Interim and permanent CEO changes

  [1]Digital Angelen.wikipedia.org

  Daniel E. Penni became interim CEO on February 1, and L. Michael Haller was appointed CEO on August 23.

• 2011

  Destron Fearing sold to Allflex USA

  [1]Digital Angelen.wikipedia.org

  Digital Angel sold its Destron Fearing animal-identification subsidiary to Allflex USA in July for $25 million.

• 2010

  PositiveID acquisition proposal rejected

  [1]Digital Angelen.wikipedia.org

  Digital Angel’s board unanimously rejected PositiveID’s friendly acquisition attempt.

• 2008

  VeriChip stake divested

  [1]Digital Angelen.wikipedia.org

  Digital Angel divested its former 49 percent minority interest in VeriChip.

• 2008

  Joseph J. Grillo becomes chief executive

  [1]Digital Angelen.wikipedia.org

  Joseph J. Grillo became chief executive on January 2, 2008, succeeding Kevin McGrath.

• 2003

  End of Randy Geissler’s documented CEO tenure

  [1]Digital Angelen.wikipedia.org

  The reference material records 2003 as the end of Randy Geissler’s tenure as chief executive.

• 2000

  Randy Geissler begins tenure as chief executive

  [1]Digital Angelen.wikipedia.org

  Randy Geissler is identified as Digital Angel’s chief executive from 2000 to 2003.

A specialist technology company focused on identification, location tracking, communications, and monitoring across animal, commercial, governmental, military, and consumer applications. Its positioning was differentiated by combining RFID and GPS capabilities, but its association with human-implant technology also created significant privacy and civil-liberties controversy.

• Identification and tracking technology

  RFID identification systems

  Digital Angel’s RFID portfolio covered implantable identification devices, scanners, and antennas. Applications included identifying pets, wildlife, livestock, people, food-supply items, and commercial or government assets. The technology formed the basis of the company’s animal-identification activities and its wider tracking proposition.

• Location tracking and communications

  GPS and satellite communications systems

  The company developed GPS and satellite communications products for tracking aircraft, ships, high-value commercial assets, and other mobile or remote objects. These systems were intended for consumer, commercial, government, and military uses and complemented Digital Angel’s RFID capabilities.

• Emergency and military communications

  Search-and-rescue transponders

  Digital Angel researched GPS search-and-rescue transponders integrating geosynchronous satellite communications. The systems were designed to help locate aircraft, ships, and other high-value assets and were described as suitable for both military and private-sector applications.

• Animal identification

  Destron Fearing animal-identification products

  Destron Fearing operated as Digital Angel’s animal-identification subsidiary and supplied implantable microchips, scanners, antennas, and related RFID applications for pets, wildlife, and livestock. Digital Angel sold the subsidiary to Allflex USA in July 2011.

• Two-way communications equipment

  Signature Communications distribution systems

  Signature Communications distributed two-way communications equipment in the United Kingdom. Its range included conventional radio systems used for safety, security, construction, and manufacturing monitoring, together with trunked radio systems for larger customers such as local authorities and public utilities.

• Mobile software

  Consumer applications and mobile games

  Digital Angel was also described as a developer and publisher of consumer applications and mobile games for tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices. The available reference does not identify individual titles or establish the operating period of this business.

• Implantable identification technology

  VeriChip-related human implant technology

  Digital Angel formerly held a 49 percent interest in VeriChip, an enterprise associated with implantable RFID identification for humans. This technology became controversial because of concerns about privacy, civil liberties, surveillance, consent, and the broader social implications of implanted identifiers. Digital Angel divested its interest in 2008.

• Controversy surrounding human RFID implants

  Digital Angel’s former minority ownership of VeriChip connected it to implantable human RFID technology that drew concern from civil-liberties advocates. The controversy focused on privacy, surveillance, consent, and the possible misuse of implanted identification systems. The available source describes public concern but does not establish a specific legal finding or enforcement outcome against Digital Angel.

  Source

Read more

• 2011

  Sale of Destron FearingM&A

  Background

  Destron Fearing was Digital Angel’s animal-identification products subsidiary.

  Action taken

  Digital Angel sold Destron Fearing to Allflex USA in July 2011 for $25 million.

  Aftermath

  The transaction removed the subsidiary from Digital Angel’s portfolio and reduced its direct involvement in animal identification.

  Sale price. $25 million (July 2011)

  Source

• 2010

  Rejection of PositiveID acquisition proposalM&A

  Background

  PositiveID, formed through the combination of VeriChip Corporation and Steel Vault Corporation, attempted a friendly acquisition of Digital Angel.

  Action taken

  Digital Angel’s board unanimously rejected the acquisition bid.

  Aftermath

  Digital Angel remained independent according to the supplied reference material.

  Source

• 2008

  Divestment of VeriChip interestStrategy

  Background

  Digital Angel formerly owned a 49 percent minority position in VeriChip, whose human-implant RFID activities had become controversial.

  Action taken

  Digital Angel divested its stake in VeriChip.

  Aftermath

  The divestment ended Digital Angel’s direct minority ownership connection with VeriChip. VeriChip later combined with Steel Vault Corporation to form PositiveID.

  Source

1. 1Digital Angelen.wikipedia.org