SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Massachusetts 77-0598263
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(State of Incorporation or Organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
101 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02199
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
If this form relates to the If this form relates to the
registration of a class of securities registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Exchange Act and is effective Exchange Act and is effective
pursuant to General Instruction pursuant to General Instruction
A. (c), please check the following A (d), please check the following
box. [X] box. [ ]
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: File No. 333-102734
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Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on Which
to be so Registered Each Class is to be Registered
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Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
No Par Value
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.
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INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
The description of the Registrant's common shares to be
registered is incorporated by reference to the description under the heading
"Description of Shares" in the Registrant's Preliminary Prospectus dated January
27, 2003, which forms part of the Registrant's initial Registration Statement on
Form N-2 (File No. 333-102734; 811-21287) as electronically filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on January 27, 2003 (Accession No.
0001010521-03-000045), which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2. Exhibits.
Pursuant to the instructions as to Exhibits, no exhibits are filed herewith or
incorporated by reference.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Date: May 15, 2003 John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III
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(Registrant)
By: /s/ Maureen R. Ford
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(Signature)
Maureen R. Ford
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Its: Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
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