QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 10, 2003.

Registration No. 333-            



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


DIGITAL ANGEL CORPORATION
(Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  52-1233960
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

490 Villaume Avenue, South St. Paul MN
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

55075
(Zip Code)

NON-PLAN OPTION - NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
(Full title of the plan)

James P. Santelli
Vice President—Finance and Chief Financial Officer
490 Villaume Avenue
South St. Paul, MN 55075
(Name and address of agent for service)
  Copy to:
Michele D. Vaillancourt, Esq.
Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
Suite 3500
225 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
(612) 604-6400

(651) 455-1621
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale:
From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of
Securities
to be
Registered

  Amount
to be
Registered(1)

  Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price
Per Share(2)

  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price(2)

  Amount of
Registration
Fee


Common Stock, $0.005 par value   1,000,000 shares   $1.935   $1,935,000   $156.54

(1)
The number of shares being registered consists of 1,000,000 shares subject to an option granted to an employee of a subsidiary of Digital Angel Corporation.
(2)
Under Rule 457, the offering price is equal to the average of the high and low prices of the common stock on September 5, 2003 as reported on the American Stock Exchange.





PART I
   
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

        The documents containing the information specified in this Part I will be sent or given to employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1). Such documents need not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") either as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424. Such documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this form, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933.


Item 1. Plan Information.


Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.


PART II
   
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

        The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:


Item 4. Description of Securities.

        The description of the Company's common stock is incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 3.c. above.


Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

        Not applicable.

2




Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        As permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation eliminates the personal liability of a director to the Company and its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty of care as a director. Liability is not eliminated or limited for (i) any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) unlawful payment of dividends or stock purchases or redemptions pursuant to Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or (iv) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

        The Company's bylaws also provide for indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents of the Company to the full extent allowed by Delaware law, provided that, in the event of an action or suit by or in the right of the Company, the person shall be indemnified only to the extent of his expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit and not for judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement. The Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes indemnification of officers, directors and persons serving other entities in certain capacities at the request of the corporation, subject to certain conditions and limitations set forth therein, against all expenses and liabilities incurred by or imposed upon them as a result of actions, suits and proceedings brought against them in such capacity if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believe to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation.

        The Company maintains a directors' and officers' insurance policy that insures the officers and directors of the Company from any claim arising out of an alleged wrongful act by such persons in their respective capacities as officers and directors of the Company.


Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claim.

        Not applicable.


Item 8. Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number

  Description

4.1

 

Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement by and between Digital Angel Corporation and Randolph K. Geissler dated September 5, 2003.

5.1

 

Opinion of Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. as to the legality of the shares of common stock registered under this Registration Statement

23.1

 

Consent of Eisner LLP

23.2

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

23.3

 

Consent of Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1

 

Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

3



Item 9. Undertakings.

(a)   Rule 415 Offering.

        The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(b)   Filings Incorporating Subsequent Exchange Act Documents by Reference.

        The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(h)   Statement Required in Connection with Filing of Registration Statement on Form S-8.

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

4



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of South St. Paul, State of Minnesota on September 10, 2003.

    DIGITAL ANGEL CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
JAMES P. SANTELLI      
James P. Santelli
Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer

        Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Kevin H. McLaughlin and James P. Santelli, each of whom may act individually, as such person's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution for such person and in such person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following person in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

  Title
  Date

/s/  
KEVIN H. MCLAUGHLIN      
Kevin H. McLaughlin

 

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

 

September 9, 2003

/s/  
JAMES P. SANTELLI      
James P. Santelli

 

Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

September 9, 2003

    

Richard J. Sullivan

 

Director

 

 

/s/  
KENNETH D. LARSON      
Kenneth D. Larson

 

Director

 

September 10, 2003

/s/  
HOWARD S. WEINTRAUB      
Howard S. Weintraub

 

Director

 

September 10, 2003

    

Scott R. Silverman

 

Director

 

 

5



Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number

  Description

4.1

 

Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement by and between Digital Angel Corporation and Randolph K. Geissler dated September 5, 2003.

5.1

 

Opinion of Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. as to the legality of the shares of common stock registered under this Registration Statement

23.1

 

Consent of Eisner LLP

23.2

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

23.3

 

Consent of Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1

 

Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

6




QuickLinks

PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SIGNATURES
Exhibit Index