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<P style="font-size: 14pt" align="center"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
<FONT style="font-size: 12pt">Washington, D.C. 20549
</FONT></B>

<P style="font-size: 18pt" align="center"><B>FORM 8-K</B>

<P style="font-size: 12pt" align="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest
event reported): April 14, 2009</B>

<P style="font-size: 24pt" align="center"><B>FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP,
INC.<BR>
</B><FONT style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter) </FONT>
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center" cellspacing="0"
cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">

 <TR>
  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>000-23975</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>42-1556195</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Commission File Number)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>
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cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">

 <TR>
  <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>6950 South Transit Road, P.O.
Box 514, Lockport, NY<BR>
</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>14095-0514</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number,
including area code: <B>(716) 625-7500</B>
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center" cellspacing="0"
cellpadding="0" width="30%" border="0">

 <TR>
  <TD width="100%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap><B>Not
Applicable<BR>
</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR>
  <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">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:

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<BR>


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

<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">1
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style="margin-left: 0.25in; width: 7.2in; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;1.01 </B><U><B>Entry into
a Material Definitive Agreement. </B></U>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">On April&nbsp;14,
2009, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. entered into an underwriting
agreement (the &#8220;Agreement&#8221;) with Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods, Inc.
and Goldman, Sachs &amp; Co. for the public stock offering described below.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">A copy of the
Agreement is filed as Exhibit&nbsp;1.1 to this Form 8-K.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01 </B><U><B>Other
Events</B></U>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">On April&nbsp;20,
2009, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. announced that it raised
$380.4&nbsp;million through its previously announced public offering by issuing
31,050,000 shares of common stock, including 4,050,000 shares pursuant to the
underwriters&#8217; over-allotment option.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">The preceding is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the press release dated
April&nbsp;20, 2009, attached as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 to this Form 8-K.

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

<P>
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 <TR
style="font-size: 10pt; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: #000000"
valign="top">
  <TD nowrap align="left" width="3%">(a)</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>Not Applicable.</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P>
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border="0">

 <TR
style="font-size: 10pt; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: #000000"
valign="top">
  <TD nowrap align="left" width="3%">(b)</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>Not Applicable.</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P>
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border="0">

 <TR
style="font-size: 10pt; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: #000000"
valign="top">
  <TD nowrap align="left" width="3%">(c)</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>Not Applicable.</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P>
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border="0">

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style="font-size: 10pt; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: #000000"
valign="top">
  <TD nowrap align="left" width="3%">(d)</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>Exhibits.</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>

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  <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="87%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap align="left"><B>Exhibit
No.</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap
align="center"><B>Description</B></TD>
 </TR>
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<TR><TD >&nbsp;</TD></TR>

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">1.1 </DIV></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Underwriting Agreement dated April&nbsp;14, 2009</TD>

<TR><TD >&nbsp;</TD></TR>

 <TR valign="top">
  <TD align="left">99.1</TD>
  <TD >&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD align="left">Press release dated April&nbsp;20, 2009</TD>
 </TR>


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

<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">2
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>SIGNATURE</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">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.

<P>
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  <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
   <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD colspan="2" align="left"><B>FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.</B></TD>
</TR>

<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
  <TD align="left">DATE: April&nbsp;20, 2009</TD>
  <TD align="left">By:&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ Michael W. Harrington</TD>
 </TR>

<TR valign="top">
   <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
   <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
   <TD align="left">Michael W. Harrington<BR>
Chief Financial Officer<BR>
(Duly authorized representative)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


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

<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">3
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>




<DIV align="center">
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<!-- Begin Table Head -->

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="87%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap align="left"><B>Exhibit
No.</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap
align="center"><B>Description</B></TD>
 </TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->

<!-- Begin Table Body -->

<TR><TD >&nbsp;</TD></TR>

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">1.1 </DIV></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Underwriting Agreement dated April&nbsp;14, 2009</TD>

<TR><TD >&nbsp;</TD></TR>

 <TR valign="top">
  <TD align="left">99.1</TD>
  <TD >&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD align="left">Press release dated April&nbsp;20, 2009</TD>
 </TR>


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

<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">4
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{"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": "09758138"}, "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 14, 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 1.01
Entry into
a Material Definitive Agreement.
On April 14,
2009, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. entered into an underwriting
agreement (the "Agreement") with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
and Goldman, Sachs & Co. for the public stock offering described below.
A copy of the
Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Form 8-K.
Item 8.01
Other
Events
On April 20,
2009, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. announced that it raised
$380.4 million through its previously announced public offering by issuing
31,050,000 shares of common stock, including 4,050,000 shares pursuant to the
underwriters' over-allotment option.
The preceding is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the press release dated
April 20, 2009, attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.
Item 9.01
Financial
Statements and Exhibits
(a)
Not Applicable.
(b)
Not Applicable.
(c)
Not Applicable.
(d)
Exhibits.
Exhibit
No.
Description
1.1
Underwriting Agreement dated April 14, 2009
99.1
Press release dated April 20, 2009
SIGNATURE
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 20, 2009
By:
/s/ Michael W. Harrington
Michael W. Harrington
Chief Financial Officer
(Duly authorized representative)
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
No.
Description
1.1
Underwriting Agreement dated April 14, 2009
99.1
Press release dated April 20, 2009