sc13g
 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
First Niagara Financial Group, Inc.
 
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
 
(Title of Class of Securities)
33582V108
 
(CUSIP Number)
December 31, 2010
 
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:
     This Schedule is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)
The information required in the remainder of this cover page (except any items to which the form provides a cross-reference) shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act.
 
 

 


 

                     
CUSIP No.
 
33582V108 
 

 

           
1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person
IRS No. 13-3180631
     
     
2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

  (a)   o
  (b)   þ*
     
3   SEC USE ONLY
   
   
     
4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
   
  Delaware
       
  5   SOLE VOTING POWER
     
NUMBER OF   -0-
       
SHARES 6   SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY    
OWNED BY   1,493,067
       
EACH 7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING    
PERSON   -0-
       
WITH 8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
     
    13,489,489
     
9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
   
  13,489,489
     
10   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
   
  Not Applicable
     
11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
   
  6.45%
     
12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
   
  CO
*This filing describes the reporting person’s relationship with other persons, but the reporting person does not affirm the existence of a group.

 


 

                     
CUSIP No.
 
33582V108 
 

 

           
1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC

S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person
IRS No. 41-1533211
     
     
2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

  (a)   o
  (b)   þ*
     
3   SEC USE ONLY
   
   
     
4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
   
  Minnesota
       
  5   SOLE VOTING POWER
     
NUMBER OF   -0-
       
SHARES 6   SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY    
OWNED BY   1,493,067
       
EACH 7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING    
PERSON   -0-
       
WITH 8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
     
    13,489,489
     
9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
   
  13,489,489
     
10   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
   
  Not Applicable
     
11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
   
  6.45%
     
12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
   
  IA
*This filing describes the reporting person’s relationship with other persons, but the reporting person does not affirm the existence of a group.

 


 

                     
CUSIP No.
 
33582V108 
 

 

           
1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
Columbia Marsico 21st Century Fund

S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person
IRS No. 13-4108364
     
     
2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

  (a)   o
  (b)   þ*
     
3   SEC USE ONLY
   
   
     
4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
   
  Massasschutes
       
  5   SOLE VOTING POWER
     
NUMBER OF   11,074,473
       
SHARES 6   SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY    
OWNED BY   -0-
       
EACH 7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING    
PERSON   -0-
       
WITH 8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
     
    11,074,473
     
9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
   
  11,074,473
     
10   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
   
  Not Applicable
     
11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
   
  5.30%
     
12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
   
  IV
*This filing describes the reporting person’s relationship with other persons, but the reporting person does not affirm the existence of a group.

 


 

         
1(a)
  Name of Issuer:   First Niagara Financial Group, Inc.
 
       
1(b)
  Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:   6950 South Transit Road P.O Box 514
Lockport, NY 14095
 
       
2(a)
  Name of Person Filing:   (a) Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (“AFI”)
 
      (b) Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (“CMIA”)
 
      (c) Columbia Marsico 21st Century Fund(“MARISCO 21”)
 
       
2(b)
  Address of Principal Business Office:   (a) Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
 
      145 Ameriprise Financial Center
 
      Minneapolis, MN 55474
 
      (b) 100 Federal St.
 
      Boston, MA 02110
 
      (c) 100 Federal St.
 
      Boston, MA 02110
 
       
2(c)
  Citizenship:   (a) Delaware
 
      (b) Minnesota
 
      (c) Massasschutes
 
       
2(d)
  Title of Class of Securities:   Common Stock
 
       
2(e)
  Cusip Number:   33582V108
     
3
  Information if statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b):
 
   
 
       (a) Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
 
   
 
  A parent holding company in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G). (Note: See Item 7)
 
   
 
       (b) Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
 
   
 
  An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)
 
   
 
       (c) Columbia Marsico 21st Century Fund
 
   
 
  An investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
 
   
4
  Incorporated by reference to Items (5)-(9) and (11) of the cover page pertaining to each reporting person.
 
   
 
  CMIA, as an investment adviser to MARISCO 21, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares reported herein by MARISCO 21. Accordingly, the shares reported herein by CMIA include those shares separately reported herein by MARISCO 21.

 


 

     
 
  AFI, as the parent company of CMIA, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares reported herein by CMIA. Accordingly, the shares reported herein by AFI include those shares separately reported herein by CMIA.
 
   
 
  Each of AFI and CMIA, and the subsidiaries identified on the attached Exhibit I, disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares reported on this Schedule.
 
   
5
  Ownership of 5% or Less of a Class: Not Applicable
 
   
6
  Ownership of more than 5% on Behalf of Another Person:
 
   
 
  The clients of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, a registered investment adviser, including investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other managed accounts, have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends and proceeds from the sale of shares included on this Schedule. As of December 31, 2010, only MARISCO 21, a registered investment company, owned more than 5% of the class of securities reported herein. Any remaining shares reported herein by CMIA are owned by various other accounts managed by CMIA on a discretionary basis. To the best of CMIA’s knowledge, none of these other accounts own more than 5% of the outstanding shares.
 
   
7
  Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company:
 
   
 
       AFI: See Exhibit I
 
   
8
  Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:
 
   
 
       Not Applicable
 
   
9
  Notice of Dissolution of Group:
 
   
 
       Not Applicable
 
   
10
  Certification:
 
   
 
  By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purposes or effect.

 


 

Signature
    After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: July 8, 2011
         
  Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
 
 
  By:   /s/ Wade M. Voigt    
    Name:   Wade M. Voigt   
    Title:   Director — Fund Administration   
 
  Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
 
 
  By:   /s/ Amy Johnson    
    Name:   Amy Johnson   
    Title:   Chief Operating Officer   
 
 
Columbia Funds Series Trust,
on behalf of its series Columbia Marsico
21st Century Fund

 
 
  By:   /s/ Scott R. Plummer    
    Name:   Scott R. Plummer   
    Title:   Senior Vice President, Secretary    
    and Chief Legal Officer   
             
    Contact Information    
 
 
      Wade M. Voigt    
 
      Director — Fund Administration
 
Telephone: (612) 671-5682
   

 


 

Exhibit Index
     
Exhibit I
  Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.
 
   
Exhibit II
  Joint Filing Agreement