PZC PIMCO California Muni Income Fund III

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 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 12, 2023

PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Massachusetts

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

(844) 337-4626

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 8.01 Other Events.

Investment Guideline Change

Effective as of the date hereof, the PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III (the “Fund”) is permitted to, as a principal investment strategy, invest in and/or originate loans, including, without limitation, to, on behalf of, authorized by, sponsored by, and/or in connection with a project for which authority and responsibility lies with one or more U.S. states or territories, cities in a U.S. state or territory, or political subdivisions, agencies, authorities or instrumentalities of such states, territories or cities, which may be in the form of whole loans, assignments, participations, secured and unsecured notes, senior and second lien loans, mezzanine loans, bridge loans or similar investments, including to borrowers that are unrated or have credit ratings that are determined by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) and/or Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”) to be below investment grade. This may include loans to public or private firms or individuals, such as in connection with housing development projects. The loans the Fund invests in or originates may vary in maturity and/or duration. The Fund is not limited in the amount, size or type of loans it may invest in and/or originate, including with respect to a single borrower or with respect to borrowers that are determined to be below investment grade, other than pursuant to any applicable law. The Fund’s investment in or origination of loans may also be limited by the requirements the Fund intends to observe under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), in order to qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”). The loans acquired by the Fund may be “Municipal Bonds” (including of a particular state) for purposes of the Fund’s investment policies or may be loans that produce income that is subject to applicable regular income tax, subject to the Fund’s investment limits.

The disclosure change will be reflected in the Fund’s shareholder reports beginning with the Fund’s annual shareholder report on Form N-CSR for the 12-month reporting period ended December 31, 2023.

Principal Risk Factors

The following is an additional principal risk factor in connection with the above-referenced investment guideline changes:

Loan Origination Risk

The Fund may invest in and/or originate loans, including, without limitation, to, on behalf of, authorized by, sponsored by, and/or in connection with a project for which authority and responsibility lies with one or more U.S. states or territories, cities in a U.S. state or territory, or political subdivisions, agencies, authorities or instrumentalities of such states, territories or cities, which may be in the form of whole loans, assignments, participations, secured and unsecured notes, senior and second lien loans, mezzanine loans, bridge loans or similar investments, including to borrowers that are unrated or have credit ratings that are determined by one or more NRSROs and/ or PIMCO to be below investment grade. This may include loans to public or private firms or individuals, such as in connection with housing development projects. The loans the Fund invests in or originates may vary in maturity and/or duration. The Fund is not limited in the amount, size or type of loans it may invest in and/or originate, including with respect to a single borrower or with respect to borrowers that are determined to be below investment grade, other than pursuant to any applicable law. The Fund’s investment in or origination of loans may also be limited by the requirements the Fund intends to observe under Subchapter M of the Code, in order to qualify as a RIC. The Fund may subsequently offer such investments for sale to third parties; provided, that there is no assurance that the Fund will complete the sale of such an investment. If a Fund is unable to sell, assign or successfully close transactions for the loans that it originates, the Fund will be forced to hold its interest in such loans for an indeterminate period of time. This could result in the Fund’s investments having high exposure to certain borrowers. The Fund will be responsible for the expenses associated with originating a loan (whether or not consummated). This may include significant legal and due diligence expenses, which will be borne by the Fund and common shareholders.

Bridge loans are generally made with the expectation that the borrower will be able to obtain permanent financing in the near future. Any delay in obtaining permanent financing subjects the bridge loan investor to increased risk. A borrower’s use of bridge loans also involves the risk that the borrower may be unable to locate permanent financing to replace the bridge loan, which may impair the borrower’s perceived creditworthiness.

Loan origination and servicing companies are routinely involved in legal proceedings concerning matters that arise in the ordinary course of their business. In addition, a number of participants in the loan origination and servicing industry (including control persons of industry participants) have been the subject of regulatory actions by state regulators, including state attorneys general, and by the federal

government. Governmental investigations, examinations or regulatory actions, or private lawsuits, including purported class action lawsuits, may adversely affect such companies’ financial results. To the extent the Fund engages in origination and/or servicing directly, or has a financial interest in, or is otherwise affiliated with, an origination or servicing company, the Fund will be subject to enhanced risks of litigation, regulatory actions and other proceedings. As a result, the Fund may be required to pay legal fees, settlement costs, damages, penalties or other charges, any or all of which could materially adversely affect the Fund and its holdings.

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.

Date: April 12, 2023

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