<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: .25in; width: 7.20in">
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 7, 2009</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD nowrap align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>000-23975
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>42-1556195</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD align="center" valign="top">(State or other jurisdiction<BR>
of incorporation)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Commission File Number)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B><BR>
6950 South Transit Road, P.O. Box 514, Lockport, NY
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>&nbsp;<BR>14095-0514</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Address of principal executive offices)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: <B>(716) 625-7500</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Not Applicable</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><FONT style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)</FONT></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: </DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio --><!-- /Folio --> </DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: .25in; width: 7.20in">

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;7.01. </B><U><B>Regulation FD Disclosure.</B></U>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">On
April&nbsp;6, 2009, First Niagara Bank (the &#147;Bank&#148;), the
wholly owned subsidiary of First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (the
&#147;Company&#148;), entered into a Purchase and Assumption
Agreement to acquire $4.2&nbsp;billion of deposits and 57 western
Pennsylvania bank branches from National City Bank (&#147;National
City&#148;), a subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
(&#147;PNC&#148;), for a deposit premium of 1.3% (the &#147;Branch
Acquisition&#148;). Also on April&nbsp;6, 2009, and in connection
with the Branch Acquisition, the Company entered into a
Securities Purchase Agreement with PNC and National City providing
the Company with the option to issue a combination of up to
$150&nbsp;million of Company common stock and notes to PNC and
National City, respectively.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">An
investor presentation on April&nbsp;7, 2009, describing the Branch Acquisition is attached
as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 to this Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and is
being furnished to the SEC and shall not be deemed &#147;filed&#148;
for any purpose.</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->2<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: .25in; width: 7.20in">

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01 </B><U><B>Financial Statements and Exhibits</B></U>
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 10pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="8%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired. Not applicable</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 8pt">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR> <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="8%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(b)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pro Forma Financial Information. Not Applicable</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 8pt">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR> <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="8%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(c)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Shell Company Transactions: Not Applicable</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 8pt">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR> <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="8%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Exhibits.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head --><TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="77%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Description</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>



<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Investor
Presentation</DIV></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body --></TABLE>
</DIV>






<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->3<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: .25in; width: 7.20in">





<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left"><B>FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.</B><BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">DATE: April&nbsp;7, 2009&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ Michael W. Harrington&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Michael W. Harrington&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Chief Financial Officer<br>
(Duly authorized representative)&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->4<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: .25in; width: 7.20in">
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B></DIV>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head --><TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="77%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Description</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>




<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Investor
Presentation</DIV></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body --></TABLE>
</DIV>








<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->5<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>



</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "c83674e8vk.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14395}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP INC", "cik": "0001051741", "assigned-sic": "6036", "irs-number": "161545669", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-23975", "film-number": "09736546"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6950 SOUTH TRANSIT ROAD", "street2": "PO BOX 514", "city": "LOCKPORT", "state": "NY", "zip": "14095", "phone": "7166257500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "6950 SOUTH TRANSIT ROAD", "street2": "PO BOX 514", "city": "LOCKPORT", "state": "NY", "zip": "14095"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "NIAGARA BANCORP INC", "date-changed": "19971218"}}
Form 8-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 7, 2009
FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
000-23975
42-1556195
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
6950 South Transit Road, P.O. Box 514, Lockport, NY
14095-0514
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(716) 625-7500
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 7.01.
Regulation FD Disclosure.
On
April 6, 2009, First Niagara Bank (the "Bank"), the
wholly owned subsidiary of First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (the
"Company"), entered into a Purchase and Assumption
Agreement to acquire $4.2 billion of deposits and 57 western
Pennsylvania bank branches from National City Bank ("National
City"), a subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
("PNC"), for a deposit premium of 1.3% (the "Branch
Acquisition"). Also on April 6, 2009, and in connection
with the Branch Acquisition, the Company entered into a
Securities Purchase Agreement with PNC and National City providing
the Company with the option to issue a combination of up to
$150 million of Company common stock and notes to PNC and
National City, respectively.
An
investor presentation on April 7, 2009, describing the Branch Acquisition is attached
as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is
being furnished to the SEC and shall not be deemed "filed"
for any purpose.
2
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a)
Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired. Not applicable
(b)
Pro Forma Financial Information. Not Applicable
(c)
Shell Company Transactions: Not Applicable
(d)
Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Investor
Presentation
3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
DATE: April 7, 2009
By:
/s/ Michael W. Harrington
Michael W. Harrington
Chief Financial Officer
(Duly authorized representative)
4
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Investor
Presentation
5