Document:

exv4w8

Exhibit 4.8

DECLARATION OF TRUST

AND

TRUST AGREEMENT

          This DECLARATION OF TRUST AND TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of March 15, 2010 (this “Trust
Agreement”), among (i) First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as depositor
(the “Depositor”); (ii) U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Delaware trustee (the “Delaware
Trustee”); (iii) U.S. Bank National Association, as property trustee (the “Property Trustee”); and
(iv) John Mineo and Ann Segarra, each an individual, as administrative trustees (the
“Administrative Trustees”) (each of such trustees in (ii), (iii), and (iv) a “Trustee” and
collectively, the “Trustees”). The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree as follows:

          1. The trust created hereby (the “Trust”) shall be known as “First Niagara Financing Trust II”
in which name the Trustees, or the Depositor to the extent provided herein, may engage in the
transactions contemplated hereby, make and execute contracts, and sue and be sued.

          2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to the Trustees the sum of
Ten Dollars ($10.00). The Trustees hereby acknowledge receipt of such amount in trust from the
Depositor, which amount shall constitute the initial trust estate. The Trustees hereby declare
that they will hold the trust estate in trust for the Depositor. It is the intention of the
parties hereto that the Trust created hereby constitute a statutory trust under Chapter 38 of Title
12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. § 3801, et seq. (the “Statutory Trust
Act”), and that this document constitute the governing instrument of the Trust. The Trustees are
hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a certificate of trust with the Delaware
Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of the Statutory Trust Act.

          3. The Depositor and the Trustees will enter into an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
and Trust Agreement (herein the “Amended and Restated Trust Agreement”), satisfactory to each such
party, to provide for the contemplated operation of the Trust created hereby and the issuance of
the preferred securities of the Trust (the “Preferred Securities”) and the common securities of the
Trust (the “Common Securities”) as referred to therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of
such Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not have any duty or obligation
hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise required by this Trust
Agreement, applicable law or as the Depositor directs in order to obtain, prior to such execution
and delivery, any licenses, consents or approvals required by applicable law or otherwise
including, but not limited to, the filing of the certificate of trust in accordance with Section 2
hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustees may take all actions deemed proper and
necessary to effect the transactions contemplated herein.

          4. The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees, acting singly or collectively, are hereby
authorized (i) to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and execute
(as applicable), in each case on behalf of the Trust, (a) a

 

 

Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “1933 Act Registration Statement”)(including any
post-effective amendments to a 1933 Act Registration Statement) relating to the registration under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), of the Preferred Securities of the Trust
and other securities of the Depositor; (b) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus or supplement
thereto relating to the Preferred Securities required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the
1933 Act; and (c) to the extent deemed advisable by the Depositor, a Registration Statement on Form
8-A (the “1934 Act Registration Statement”) (including all pre-effective and post-effective
amendments thereto) relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities of the Trust under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) to the extent deemed advisable by the Depositor,
to file with one or more national securities exchanges (each, an “Exchange”) or the Financial
Institutions Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and execute on behalf of the Trust a listing
application or applications and all other applications, statements, certificates, agreements and
other instruments as shall be necessary or desirable to cause the Preferred Securities to be listed
on any such Exchange; (iii) to file and execute on behalf of the Trust such applications, reports,
surety bonds, irrevocable consents, appointments of attorney for service of process and other
papers and documents as shall be necessary or desirable to register the Preferred Securities under
the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may
deem necessary or desirable; and (iv) to execute on behalf of the Trust any agreements relating to
the issuance of the Preferred Securities. In the event that any filing referred to in clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above is required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, any Exchange,
FINRA or state securities or blue sky laws to be executed on behalf of the Trust by one or more of
the Trustees, each of the Trustees, in its or his or her capacity as a trustee of the Trust, is
hereby authorized and, to the extent so required, directed to join in any such filing and to
execute on behalf of the Trust any and all of the foregoing, it being understood that each of the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, in its capacity as a Trustee of the Trust, shall not be
required to join in any such filing or execute on behalf of the Trust any such document unless
required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, the Exchange or state securities or blue
sky laws. In connection with the filings referred to above, the Depositor and John Mineo and Ann
Segarra, each as Trustees and not in their individual capacities, hereby constitute and appoint
John Mineo and Ann Segarra and each of them as its and their true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the Depositor or such Trustee or in
the Depositor’s or such Trustee’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and
all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the 1933 Act Registration Statement and the
1934 Act Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, any Exchange, FINRA and administrators of
the State securities or blue sky laws, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as the Depositor or such Trustee might
or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents
or any of them, or their respective substitute or substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

          5. The number of Trustees initially shall be four (4) and thereafter the number of
Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed by
the Depositor, which may increase or decrease the number of Trustees; provided, however, that to
the extent required by the Statutory Trust Act, one of the trustees of

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the Trust shall either be a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a
natural person, an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and
otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law. Subject to the foregoing, the
Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove without cause any Trustee at any time. The Trustees or
any one or more of them may resign upon thirty (30) days’ prior notice to the Depositor.

          6. (a) The Trustees and their officers, directors, employees, agents and servants
(collectively, the “Fiduciary Indemnified Persons”) shall not be liable, responsible or accountable
in damages or otherwise to the Trust, the Depositor, the Trustees or any holder of the Preferred
Securities (the Trust, the Depositor and any holder of the Preferred Securities being a “Covered
Person”) for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or
omitted by the Fiduciary Indemnified Persons in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner
the Fiduciary Indemnified Persons reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred
on the Fiduciary Indemnified Persons by this Trust Agreement or by law, except that the Fiduciary
Indemnified Persons shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of the
Fiduciary Indemnified Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or
omissions.

               (b) The Depositor agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, (i) to
indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Fiduciary Indemnified Person from and against any loss,
damage, liability, tax, penalty, expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) or
claim of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred by or asserted against the Fiduciary Indemnified
Persons by reason of or arising out of or relating to the performance of this Trust Agreement, the
creation, operation or termination of the Trust or the transactions contemplated by this Trust
Agreement, except that no Fiduciary Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in
respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by the Fiduciary Indemnified Persons by reason of
gross negligence or willful misconduct, and (ii) to reimburse the Trustees for all other reasonable
expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and other experts) incurred in
connection with this Trust Agreement and the Trust.

               (c) The provisions of this Section 6 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement
or the earlier resignation or removal of the Fiduciary Indemnified Persons.

          7. This Trust Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of
the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict of laws principles).

          8. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts.

          9. The Trust may dissolve at the election of the Depositor.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust Agreement to be duly executed as
of the day and year first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.,

as Depositor

 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:  	                 /s/ Michael W. Harrington
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Michael W. Harrington 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, 

as Delaware Trustee

 	 
	 	By:  	                /s/ Patrick J. Crowley
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Patrick J. Crowley 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Vice President 	 
	 
	 	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Property Trustee

 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:  	                  /s/ Patrick J. Crowley
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Patrick J. Crowley 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Vice President 	 
	 
	 	 	 
	 	/s/ John Mineo
 	 
	 	John Mineo, as Administrative Trustee 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	     /s/ Ann Segarra
 	 
	 	Ann Segarra, as Administrative Trustee 	 
	 	 	 
	 

[Signature Page -First Niagara Trust II Trust Agreement]

 - 4 -exv4w9

Exhibit 4.9

DECLARATION OF TRUST

AND

TRUST AGREEMENT

     This DECLARATION OF TRUST AND TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of March 15, 2010 (this “Trust
Agreement”), among (i) First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as depositor
(the “Depositor”); (ii) U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Delaware trustee (the “Delaware
Trustee”); (iii) U.S. Bank National Association, as property trustee (the “Property Trustee”); and
(iv) John Mineo and Ann Segarra, each an individual, as administrative trustees (the
“Administrative Trustees”) (each of such trustees in (ii), (iii), and (iv) a “Trustee” and
collectively, the “Trustees”). The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree as follows:

     1. The trust created hereby (the “Trust”) shall be known as “First Niagara Financing Trust
III” in which name the Trustees, or the Depositor to the extent provided herein, may engage in the
transactions contemplated hereby, make and execute contracts, and sue and be sued.

     2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to the Trustees the sum of
Ten Dollars ($10.00). The Trustees hereby acknowledge receipt of such amount in trust from the
Depositor, which amount shall constitute the initial trust estate. The Trustees hereby declare
that they will hold the trust estate in trust for the Depositor. It is the intention of the
parties hereto that the Trust created hereby constitute a statutory trust under Chapter 38 of Title
12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. § 3801, et seq. (the “Statutory Trust
Act”), and that this document constitute the governing instrument of the Trust. The Trustees are
hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a certificate of trust with the Delaware
Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of the Statutory Trust Act.

     3. The Depositor and the Trustees will enter into an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
and Trust Agreement (herein the “Amended and Restated Trust Agreement”), satisfactory to each such
party, to provide for the contemplated operation of the Trust created hereby and the issuance of
the preferred securities of the Trust (the “Preferred Securities”) and the common securities of the
Trust (the “Common Securities”) as referred to therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of
such Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not have any duty or obligation
hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise required by this Trust
Agreement, applicable law or as the Depositor directs in order to obtain, prior to such execution
and delivery, any licenses, consents or approvals required by applicable law or otherwise
including, but not limited to, the filing of the certificate of trust in accordance with Section 2
hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustees may take all actions deemed proper and
necessary to effect the transactions contemplated herein.

     4. The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees, acting singly or collectively, are hereby
authorized (i) to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and execute
(as applicable), in each case on behalf of the Trust, (a) a

 

Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “1933 Act Registration Statement”)(including any
post-effective amendments to a 1933 Act Registration Statement) relating to the registration under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), of the Preferred Securities of the Trust
and other securities of the Depositor; (b) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus or supplement
thereto relating to the Preferred Securities required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the
1933 Act; and (c) to the extent deemed advisable by the Depositor, a Registration Statement on Form
8-A (the “1934 Act Registration Statement”) (including all pre-effective and post-effective
amendments thereto) relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities of the Trust under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) to the extent deemed advisable by the Depositor,
to file with one or more national securities exchanges (each, an “Exchange”) or the Financial
Institutions Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and execute on behalf of the Trust a listing
application or applications and all other applications, statements, certificates, agreements and
other instruments as shall be necessary or desirable to cause the Preferred Securities to be listed
on any such Exchange; (iii) to file and execute on behalf of the Trust such applications, reports,
surety bonds, irrevocable consents, appointments of attorney for service of process and other
papers and documents as shall be necessary or desirable to register the Preferred Securities under
the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may
deem necessary or desirable; and (iv) to execute on behalf of the Trust any agreements relating to
the issuance of the Preferred Securities. In the event that any filing referred to in clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above is required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, any Exchange,
FINRA or state securities or blue sky laws to be executed on behalf of the Trust by one or more of
the Trustees, each of the Trustees, in its or his or her capacity as a trustee of the Trust, is
hereby authorized and, to the extent so required, directed to join in any such filing and to
execute on behalf of the Trust any and all of the foregoing, it being understood that each of the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, in its capacity as a Trustee of the Trust, shall not be
required to join in any such filing or execute on behalf of the Trust any such document unless
required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, the Exchange or state securities or blue
sky laws. In connection with the filings referred to above, the Depositor and John Mineo and Ann
Segarra, each as Trustees and not in their individual capacities, hereby constitute and appoint
John Mineo and Ann Segarra and each of them as its and their true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the Depositor or such Trustee or in
the Depositor’s or such Trustee’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and
all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the 1933 Act Registration Statement and the
1934 Act Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, any Exchange, FINRA and administrators of
the State securities or blue sky laws, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as the Depositor or such Trustee might
or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents
or any of them, or their respective substitute or substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     5. The number of Trustees initially shall be four (4) and thereafter the number of Trustees
shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed by the
Depositor, which may increase or decrease the number of Trustees; provided, however, that to the
extent required by the Statutory Trust Act, one of the trustees of

- 2 -

 

the Trust shall either be a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a
natural person, an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and
otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law. Subject to the foregoing, the
Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove without cause any Trustee at any time. The Trustees or
any one or more of them may resign upon thirty (30) days’ prior notice to the Depositor.

     6. (a) The Trustees and their officers, directors, employees, agents and servants
(collectively, the “Fiduciary Indemnified Persons”) shall not be liable, responsible or accountable
in damages or otherwise to the Trust, the Depositor, the Trustees or any holder of the Preferred
Securities (the Trust, the Depositor and any holder of the Preferred Securities being a “Covered
Person”) for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or
omitted by the Fiduciary Indemnified Persons in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner
the Fiduciary Indemnified Persons reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred
on the Fiduciary Indemnified Persons by this Trust Agreement or by law, except that the Fiduciary
Indemnified Persons shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of the
Fiduciary Indemnified Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or
omissions.

          (b) The Depositor agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, (i) to
indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Fiduciary Indemnified Person from and against any loss,
damage, liability, tax, penalty, expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) or
claim of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred by or asserted against the Fiduciary Indemnified
Persons by reason of or arising out of or relating to the performance of this Trust Agreement, the
creation, operation or termination of the Trust or the transactions contemplated by this Trust
Agreement, except that no Fiduciary Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in
respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by the Fiduciary Indemnified Persons by reason of
gross negligence or willful misconduct, and (ii) to reimburse the Trustees for all other reasonable
expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and other experts) incurred in
connection with this Trust Agreement and the Trust.

          (c) The provisions of this Section 6 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement
or the earlier resignation or removal of the Fiduciary Indemnified Persons.

     7. This Trust Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of
the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict of laws principles).

     8. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts.

     9. The Trust may dissolve at the election of the Depositor.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

- 3 -

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust Agreement to be duly executed as
of the day and year first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., as Depositor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Michael W. Harrington
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Michael W. Harrington 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Delaware Trustee

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Patrick J. Crowley
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Patrick J. Crowley 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Vice President 	 
	 
	 	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Property Trustee

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Patrick J. Crowley
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Patrick J. Crowley 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Vice President 	 
	 
	 	 	 
	 	     /s/ John Mineo
 	 
	 	John Mineo, as Administrative Trustee 	 
	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 
	 	     /s/ Ann Segarra
 	 
	 	Ann Segarra, as Administrative Trustee 	 
	 	 	 
	 

[Signature Page -First Niagara Trust III Trust Agreement]

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