UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-21188
PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY
10105
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
Lawrence G. Altadonna - 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 212-739-3371
Date of fiscal year end: September 30, 2007
Date of reporting period: September 30, 2007
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
ITEM 1. REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIIPIMCO California Municipal Income Fund IIIPIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund IIIAnnual ReportSeptember 30, 2007Contents
Letter to Shareholders 1 Fund Insights/Performance & Statistics 2-4 Schedules of Investments 5-24 Statements of Assets and Liabilities 25 Statements of Operations 26 Statements of Changes in Net Assets 28-29 Statements of Cash Flows 30-32 Notes to Financial Statements 33-40 Financial Highlights 41-43 Report of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm 44 Tax Information/Annual Shareholder Meetings Results 45 Matters Relating to the Trustees’ Consideration
of the Investment Management & Portfolio
Management Agreements 46-48 Privacy Policy/Proxy Voting Policies
& Procedures 49 Dividend Reinvestment Plan 50 Board of Trustees 51-52 Principal Officers 53
PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIILetter to Shareholders
November 1, 2007
Dear Shareholder:
We are pleased to provide you with the annual report for the PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III and PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III (the ‘‘Funds’’) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007.
The U.S. bond market delivered modest returns for the period as economic growth continued to moderate and weakness in the U.S. housing and mortgage markets added to volatility. The Lehman Municipal Bond Index returned 3.09% for the period, providing a competitive return on a tax-adjusted basis to the broad market return of 5.14% for the Lehman Aggregate Bond Index. The Federal Reserve lowered the Federal Funds rate during the period in a move to add liquidity to markets that had become constrained due to weakness in subprime mortgages.
For specific information on the Funds and their performance during the reporting period, please review the following pages. If you have any questions regarding the information provided, we encourage you to contact your financial advisor or call the Funds’ shareholder servicing agent at (800) 331-1710. You will also find a wide range of information and resources on our Web site, www.allianzinvestors.com/closedendfunds.
Together with Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, the Funds’ investment manager, and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, the Funds’ sub-adviser, we thank you for investing with us.
We remain dedicated to serving your investment needs.
Hans W. Kertess
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 1
September 30, 2007 (unaudited)PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIIFund Insights/Performance & Statistics
Common Share Market Price / NAV Performance:
Commencement of Operations (10/31/02) to 9/30/07
Moody’s Ratings
(as a % of total investments)2 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
September 30, 2007 (unaudited)PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund IIIFund Insights/Performance & Statistics
Common Share Market Price / NAV Performance:
Commencement of Operations (10/31/02) to 9/30/07
Moody’s Ratings
(as a % of total investments)9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 3
September 30, 2007 (unaudited)PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund IIIFund Insights/Performance & Statistics
Common Share Market Price/NAV Performance:
Commencement of Operations (10/31/02) to 9/30/07
Moody’s Ratings
(as a % of total investments)4 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*MUNICIPAL BONDS & NOTES–97.1%
Alabama–1.1%
Alaska–0.8%
Arizona–2.9%
Arkansas–0.1%
California–7.4%
Colorado–3.3%
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 5
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*Colorado–(continued)
5.90%, 8/1/37, Ser. AFlorida–5.6%
Georgia–0.6%
Idaho–0.8%
Illinois–6.4%
6 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*Illinois–(continued)
6.57%, 2/15/13, Ser. A
5.50%, 1/1/22
(Pre-refunded @ $102, 3/1/13) (a)Indiana–3.1%
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 7
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*Iowa–1.7%
5.625%, 12/1/45, Ser. AKentucky–0.3%
Louisiana–1.0%
5.875%, 5/15/39, Ser. 2001-BMaryland–0.2%
Health Systems, 5.50%, 7/1/36Massachusetts–1.1%
Michigan–13.8%
(Pre-refunded @ $100, 10/15/12) (FSA) (a)8 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*Michigan–(continued)
(Pre-refunded @ $100, 3/1/13) (a)Minnesota–0.4%
Mississippi–0.5%
Missouri–2.4%
5.00%, 10/1/32 (FSA)
5.20%, 1/20/36 (GNMA)
5.00%, 3/1/32 (c)Montana–1.3%
5.00%, 3/1/31 (AMBAC)Nevada–0.4%
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 9
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*New Hampshire–0.5%
New Jersey–4.4%
6.50%, 4/1/28New Mexico–0.1%
New York–3.5%
10 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*North Carolina–1.3%
Ohio–0.8%
Pennsylvania–4.1%
Wesley Affiliated Services, 7.25%, 1/1/35, Ser. A,
(Pre-refunded @ $101, 1/1/13) (a)
Hospital, 5.375%, 8/15/33, (Pre-refunded @ $100, 8/15/13) (a)
5.125%, 6/1/34, Ser. D, (Pre-refunded @ $100, 6/1/14) (FGIC) (a)
(Partially Pre-refunded @ $101, 6/1/08) (a)Puerto Rico–0.3%
South Carolina–1.7%
South Dakota–0.2%
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 11
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*Tennessee–0.1%
Texas–14.1%
(Pre-refunded @ $100, 8/15/12) (a)
(Pre-refunded @ $101, 7/1/09) (MBIA) (a)
(Pre-refunded @ $100, 8/15/11)
(Pre-refunded @ $100, 5/1/13) (FSA) (a)
(PSF-GTD) (h)12 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*Texas–(continued)
Utah–0.4%
Virginia–0.1%
Washington–10.2%
5.125%, 7/1/33, Ser. C (AMBAC)
(Pre-refunded @ $100, 12/1/13) (AMBAC) (a)(h)Wisconsin–0.1%
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 13
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*VARIABLE RATE NOTES (d)(e)–2.0%
Florida–0.3%
New York–1.5%
Ohio–0.2%
Pennsylvania–0.0%
5.45%, 7/1/35, Ser. AVARIABLE RATE DEMAND NOTES (e)(f)–0.6%
Massachusetts–0.1%
Michigan–0.3%
Montana–0.2%
U.S. TREASURY BILLS (g)–0.3%
2,49514 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07 | See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2007PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL BONDS & NOTES–91.9%
$ 1,0009.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 15
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*
3/1/13) (a),16 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*
Special Tax,9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 17
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*18 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*OTHER MUNICIPAL BONDS & NOTES–5.3%
Florida–0.7%
Indiana–0.8%
New York–0.4%
Pennsylvania–0.8%
Puerto Rico–2.3%
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 19
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*South Dakota–0.3%
CALIFORNIA VARIABLE RATE NOTES (b)(d)(e)(i)–1.2%
2,000OTHER VARIABLE RATE NOTES (d)(e)–0.6%
Puerto Rico–0.6%
CALIFORNIA VARIABLE RATE DEMAND NOTES (e)(f)–0.8%
5,100U.S. TREASURY BILLS (g)–0.2%
1,50020 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07 | See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2007PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*NEW YORK MUNICIPAL BONDS & NOTES–86.3%
Liberty Dev. Corp. Rev.,
Rev., 6.60%, 7/15/39, (Pre-refunded @ $101, 7/15/09) (a)
Liberty Interactive Corp., 5.00%, 9/1/35
Society, 5.00%, 2/1/34, (FGIC) (h)
Water & Sewer System Rev., 5.00%, 7/15/34, Ser. A (MBIA)
6/15/30 (MBIA)
State Dormitory Auth. Rev.,9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 21
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*
5.00%, 3/15/33, Ser. C-1, (Pre-refunded @ $100, 3/15/13) (a)
Glens Falls Hospital, 5.00%, 12/1/35, Ser. A (FSA)
Rev., Kendal on Hudson, 6.50%, 1/1/34OTHER MUNICIPAL BONDS & NOTES–9.9%
California–2.5%
6.75%, 6/1/39, Ser. 2003-A-1, (Pre-refunded @ $100, 6/1/13) (a)District of Columbia–0.1%
22 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
September 30, 2007 (continued)PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund IIISchedule of Investments
Amount
(000)
(Moody’s/S&P)*Indiana–1.8%
Puerto Rico–4.8%
5.125%, 7/1/29, Ser. NN, (Pre-refunded @ $100, 7/1/13) (a)
zero coupon, 8/1/54, Ser. A (AMBAC)Rhode Island–0.3%
South Carolina–0.3%
Washington–0.1%
6.625%, 6/1/32NEW YORK VARIABLE RATE NOTES (b)(d)(e)(i)–0.5%
700NEW YORK VARIABLE RATE DEMAND NOTES (e)(f)–3.0%
340U.S. TREASURY BILLS (g)–0.3%
550See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements | 9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 23
September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIINotes to Schedules of Investments
Glossary:
24 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07 | See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIIStatements of Assets and Liabilities
Municipal III
Municipal III Assets:
and $158,327,516 respectively)
contractsSee accompanying Notes to Financial Statements | 9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 25
For the year ended September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIIStatements of Operations
Municipal III
Municipal III Investment Income:
futures contracts and options written
Investment Operations
Net Investment Income
Shareholders Resulting from Investment Operations26 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07 | See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
(This page intentionally left blank)27
PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIIStatements of Changes in Net Assets
Applicable to Common Shareholders
September 30,
2007
September 30,
2006 Investment Operations:
resulting from investment operations
of $(612,794) and $(1,579,902); $(1,366,248) and $(17,465); $(318,262) and $(181,080); respectively)28 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07 | See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
September 30,
2007
September 30,
2006
September 30,
2007
September 30,
2006 $23,096,778See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements | 9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 29
For the year ended September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIIStatement of Cash Flows
Operations to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:30 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07 | See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
For the year ended September 30, 2007PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund IIIStatement of Cash Flows
Operations to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements | 9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 31
For the year ended September 30, 2007PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund IIIStatement of Cash Flows
Operations to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:32 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07 | See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIINotes to Financial Statements
1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III (‘‘Municipal III’’), PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III (‘‘California Municipal III’’) and PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III (‘‘New York Municipal III’’), collectively referred to as the ‘‘Funds’’ or ‘‘PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III’’, were organized as Massachusetts business trusts on August 20, 2002. Prior to commencing operations on October 31, 2002, the Funds had no operations other than matters relating to their organization and registration as non-diversified, closed-end management investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, as amended. Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC (the ‘‘Investment Manager’’), serves as the investment manager and is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Allianz Global Investors of America L.P. (‘‘Allianz Global’’). Allianz Global is an indirect majority-owned subsidiary of Allianz SE, a publicly traded European insurance and financial services company. The Funds have an unlimited amount of $0.00001 par value common stock authorized.
Under normal market conditions, Municipal III invests substantially all of its assets in a portfolio of municipal bonds, the interest from which is exempt from federal income taxes. Under normal market conditions, California Municipal III invests substantially all of its assets in municipal bonds which pay interest that is exempt from federal and California state income taxes. Under normal market conditions, New York Municipal III invests substantially all of its assets in municipal bonds which pay interest that is exempt from federal, New York State and New York City income taxes. The Funds will seek to avoid bonds generating interest income which could potentially subject individuals to alternative minimum tax. The issuers’ abilities to meet their obligations may be affected by economic and political developments in a specific state or region.
The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
In the normal course of business the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations which provide general indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds based upon events that have not been asserted. However, the Funds expect the risk of any loss to be remote.
In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued interpretation No. 48, ‘‘Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109’’ (the ‘‘Interpretation’’). The Interpretation establishes for all entities, including pass-through entities such as the Funds, a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of positions taken in filing tax returns (including whether an entity is taxable in a particular jurisdiction), and requires certain expanded tax disclosures. The Interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, and is to be applied to all open tax years as of the date of effectiveness. Fund management has recently begun to evaluate the application of the Interpretation, and is not in a position at this time to estimate the significance of its impact, if any, on the Funds’ financial statements. On December 22, 2006, the Securities & Exchange Commission announced that it would not object if a fund implements Interpretation 48 in its NAV calculation as late as its last NAV calculation in the first required financial statement reporting period for its fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006. Consequently, the Funds will be required to comply with the Interpretation by March 31, 2008.
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (‘‘SFAS’’) 157, Fair Value Measurements, which clarifies the definition of fair value and requires companies to expand their disclosure about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities in interim and annual periods subsequent to initial recognition. Adoption of SFAS 157 requires the use of the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, the Funds are in the process of reviewing SFAS 157 against their current valuation policies to determine future applicability.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds:
(a) Valuation of Investments
Portfolio securities and other financial instruments for which market quotations are readily available are stated at market value. Portfolio securities and other financial instruments for which market quotations are not readily available or if a development/event occurs that may significantly impact the value of a security are fair-valued, in good faith, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board of Trustees. The Funds’ investments are valued daily using prices supplied by an independent pricing service or dealer quotations, or by using the last sale price on the exchange that
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 33
September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIINotes to Financial Statements
1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
is the primary market for such securities, or the last quoted mean price for those securities for which the over-the-counter market is the primary market or for listed securities in which there were no sales. Independent pricing services use information provided by market makers or estimates of market values obtained from yield data relating to investments or securities with similar characteristics. Exchange traded options and futures are valued at the settlement price determined by the relevant exchange. Securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Short-term securities maturing in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, if their original term to maturity was 60 days or less, or by amortizing their value on the 61st day prior to maturity, if the original term to maturity exceeded 60 days. The prices used by the Funds to value securities may differ from the value that would be realized if the securities were sold and these differences could be material to the financial statements of the Funds. Each Fund’s net asset value is normally determined as of the close of regular trading (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (‘‘NYSE’’) on each day the NYSE is open for business.
(b) Investment Transactions and Investment Income
Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Securities purchased and sold on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis may be settled a month or more after the trade date. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Discounts or premiums on debt securities purchased are accreted or amortized to interest income over the lives of the respective securities using the effective interest method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date.
(c) Federal Income Taxes
The Funds intend to distribute all of their taxable income and to comply with the other requirements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies. Accordingly, no provision for U.S. federal income taxes is required.
(d) Dividends and Distributions — Common Stock
The Funds declare dividends from net investment income monthly to common shareholders. Distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, are paid at least annually. The Funds record dividends and distributions to its shareholders on the ex-dividend date. The amount of dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. These ‘‘book-tax’’ differences are considered either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal income tax treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. To the extent dividends and/or distributions exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes; they are reported as dividends and/or distributions of paid-in capital.
(e) Futures Contracts
A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a financial instrument at a set price on a future date. Upon entering into such a contract, the Funds are required to pledge to the broker an amount of cash or securities, equal to the minimum ‘‘initial margin’’ requirements of the exchange. Pursuant to the contracts, the Funds agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash or securities equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contracts. Such receipts or payments are known as ‘‘variation margin’’ and are recorded by the Funds as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. When the contracts are closed, the Funds record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contracts at the time they were opened and the value at the time they were closed. Any unrealized appreciation or depreciation recorded is simultaneously reversed. The use of futures transactions involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts, interest rates and the underlying hedged assets, and the possible inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.
(f) Option Transactions
The Funds may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on securities for hedging purposes, risk management purposes or as part of its investment strategy. The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Funds pay a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Funds bear the risk of loss of premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. Put and call options purchased are accounted for in the same manner as portfolio securities. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by the premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options is decreased by the premiums paid.
34 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIINotes to Financial Statements
1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
When an option is written, the premium received is recorded as an asset with an equal liability which is subsequently marked to market to reflect the current market value of the option written. These liabilities are reflected as options written in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Premiums received from writing options which expire unexercised are recorded on the expiration date as a realized gain. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain, or if the premium is less than the amount paid for the closing purchased transactions, as a realized loss. If a call option written by the Funds is exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security in determining whether there has been a realized gain or loss. If a put option written by the Funds is exercised, the premium reduces the cost basis of the security. In writing an option, the Funds bear the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option. Exercise of a written option could result in the Funds purchasing a security at a price different from the current market value.
(g) Inverse Floating Rate Transactions — Residual Interest Municipal Bonds (‘‘RIBs’’) / Residual Interest
Tax Exempt Bonds (‘‘RITEs’’)The Funds invest in RIBs and RITEs (‘‘Inverse Floaters’’) whose interest rates bear an inverse relationship to the Interest rate on another security or the value of an index. In these transactions, the Funds sell a fixed rate municipal bond (‘‘Fixed Rate Bond’’) to a broker who places the Fixed Rate Bond in a special purpose trust (‘‘Trust’’) from which floating rate bonds (‘‘Floating Rate Notes’’) and Inverse Floaters are issued. The Funds simultaneously or within a short period of time purchase the Inverse Floaters from the broker. The Inverse Floaters held by the Funds provide the Funds with the right to: (1) cause the holders of the Floating Rate Notes to tender their notes at par, and (2) cause the broker to transfer the Fixed-Rate Bond held by the Trust to the Funds, thereby collapsing the Trust. Pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140 (‘‘FASB Statement No. 140’’), the Funds account for the transaction described above as a secured borrowing by including the Fixed-Rate Bond in their Schedules of Investments, and account for the Floating Rate Notes as a liability under the caption ‘‘Payable for floating rate notes’’ in the Funds’ Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The Floating Rate Notes have interest rates that generally reset weekly and their holders have the option to tender their notes to the broker for redemption at par at each reset date.
The Funds may also invest in inverse floaters without transferring a fixed rate municipal bond into a special purpose trust, which are not accounted for as secured borrowings.
The Inverse Floaters are created by dividing the income stream provided by the underlying bonds to create two securities, one short-term and one long-term. The interest rate on the short-term component is reset by an index or auction process typically every 7 to 35 days. After income is paid on the short-term securities at current rates, the residual income from the underlying bond (s) goes to the long-term securities. Therefore, rising short-term rates result in lower income for the long-term component and visa versa. The longer-term bonds may be more volatile and less liquid than other municipal bonds of comparable maturity. Investments in Inverse Floaters typically will involve greater risk than an in investment in Fixed Rate Bonds. The Funds may also invest in Inverse Floaters for the purpose of increasing leverage.
The Funds’ restrictions on borrowings do not apply to the secured borrowings deemed to have occurred for accounting purposes pursuant to FASB Statement No. 140. Inverse Floaters held by the Funds are exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.
(h) When-Issued/Delayed-Delivery Transactions
When-issued or delayed-delivery basis transactions involve a commitment to purchase or sell securities for a predetermined price or yield, with payment and delivery taking place beyond the customary settlement period. When delayed-delivery purchases are outstanding, the Funds will set aside and maintain until the settlement date in a designated account, liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price. When purchasing a security on a delayed-delivery basis, the Funds assume the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations, consequently, such fluctuations are taken into account when determining its net asset value. The Funds may dispose of or renegotiate a delayed-delivery transaction after it is entered into, and may sell when-issued securities before they are delivered, which may result in a realized gain or loss. When a security on a delayed-delivery basis is sold, the Funds do not participate in future gains and losses with respect to the security.
(i) Custody Credits Earned on Cash Balances
The Funds benefit from an expense offset arrangement with its custodian bank whereby uninvested cash balances earn credits which reduce monthly custodian and accounting agent expenses. Had these cash balances been invested in income producing securities, they would have generated income for the Funds.
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 35
September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIINotes to Financial Statements
1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
(j) Interest Expense
Relates to the Funds’ liability in connection with floating rate notes held by third parties in conjunction with Inverse Floater transactions. Interest expense is recorded as incurred.
2. Investment Manager/Sub-Adviser
Each Fund has entered into an Investment Management Agreement (collectively the ‘‘Agreements’’) with the Investment Manager. Subject to the supervision by each Fund’s Board of Trustees, the Investment Manager is responsible for managing, either directly or through others selected by it, the Fund’s investment activities, business affairs and administrative matters. Pursuant to the Agreements, the Investment Manager receives an annual fee, payable monthly, at an annual rate of 0.65% of each Fund’s average daily net assets, inclusive of net assets attributable to any preferred shares that may be outstanding. In order to reduce each Fund’s expenses, the Investment Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee for each Fund at the annual rate of 0.15% of each Fund’s average daily net assets, including net assets attributable to any preferred shares that may be outstanding, from the commencement of operations through October 31, 2007, and for a declining amount thereafter through October 31, 2009.
The Investment Manager has retained its affiliate, Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (the ‘‘Sub-Adviser’’), to manage each Fund’s investments. Subject to the supervision of the Investment Manager, the Sub-Adviser is responsible for making all investment decisions for the Funds. The Investment Manager, not the Funds, pays a portion of the fees it receives to the Sub-Adviser in return for its services.
3. Investments in Securities
For the year ended September 30, 2007, purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term securities and U.S. government obligations, were:
Municipal III
Municipal III Purchases(a) Futures contracts outstanding at September 30, 2007:
Value
(000)
Date
Depreciation Municipal III:36 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIINotes to Financial Statements
3. Investments in Securities (continued)
(b) Transactions in options written for the year ended September 30, 2007:
4. Income Tax Information
Municipal III:
The tax character of dividends paid were:
September 30, 2007
September 30, 2006 Ordinary IncomeAt September 30, 2007, there were no distributable earnings.
At September 30, 2007, Municipal III had a capital loss carryforward of $23,918,271 ($14,905,572 of which will expire in 2013 and $9,012,699 of which will expire in 2014), available as a reduction, to the extent provided in the regulations, of any future net realized capital gains. To the extent that these losses are used to offset future realized capital gains, such gains will not be distributed. During the tax year ended September 30, 2007, Municipal III utilized $4,617,785 of capital loss carryforwards.
For the year ended September 30, 2007, permanent ‘‘book-tax’’ differences were primarily attributable to the differing treatment of inverse floater transactions. These adjustments were to increase dividends in excess of net investment income and decrease accumulated net realized loss by $16,151.
California Municipal III:
The tax character of dividends paid were:
September 30, 2007
September 30, 2006 Ordinary IncomeAt September 30, 2007, there were no distributable earnings.
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 37
September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIINotes to Financial Statements
4. Income Tax Information (continued)
At September 30, 2007, California Municipal III had a capital loss carryforward of $20,248,019 ($522,414 of which will expire in 2012, $11,508,959 of which will expire in 2013 and $8,216,646 of which will expire in 2014), available as a reduction, to the extent provided in the regulations, of any future net realized capital gains. To the extent that these losses are used to offset future realized capital gains, such gains will not be distributed. During the year ended September 30, 2007, California Municipal III utilized $3,429,993 of capital loss carryforwards.
For the year ended September 30, 2007, permanent ‘‘book-tax’’ differences were primarily attributable to the differing treatment of inverse floater transactions and tax overdistributions. These adjustments were to decrease dividends in excess of net investment income by $525,980, decrease paid-in capital by $493,255 and increase accumulated net realized loss by $32,725.
New York Municipal III:
The tax character of dividends paid were:
September 30, 2007
September 30, 2006 Ordinary IncomeAt September 30, 2007, there were no distributable earnings.
At September 30, 2007, New York Municipal III had a capital loss carryforward of $3,788,871 ($2,183,511 of which will expire in 2013 and $1,605,360 of which will expire in 2014), available as a reduction, to the extent provided in the regulations, of any future net realized capital gains. To the extent that these losses are used to offset future realized capital gains, such gains will not be distributed. During the year ended September 30, 2007, New York Municipal III utilized $1,356,980 of capital loss carryforwards.
For the year ended September 30, 2007, permanent ‘‘book-tax’’ differences were primarily attributable to the differing treatment of inverse floater transactions and tax overdistributions. These adjustments were to decrease dividends in excess of net investment income by $95,162, decrease paid-in capital by $112,156 and decrease accumulated net realized loss by $16,994.
The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes and gross unrealized appreciation and gross unrealized depreciation of investments at September 30, 2007 were:
Investments
Unrealized
Appreciation
Unrealized
Depreciation
Unrealized
Appreciation Municipal IIIThe difference between book and tax appreciation is primarily attributable to inverse floater transactions.
5. Auction Preferred Shares
Municipal III has issued 2,160 shares of Preferred Shares Series A, 2,160 shares of Preferred Shares Series B, 2,160 shares of Preferred Shares Series C, 2,160 shares of Preferred Shares Series D and 2,160 shares of Preferred Shares Series E, each with a net asset and liquidation value of $25,000 per share plus accrued dividends.
California Municipal III has issued 3,700 shares of Preferred Shares Series A and 3,700 shares of Preferred Shares Series B, each with a net asset and liquidation value of $25,000 per share plus accrued dividends.
New York Municipal III has issued 1,880 shares of Preferred Shares Series A with a net asset and liquidation value of $25,000 per share plus accrued dividends.
Dividends are accumulated daily at an annual rate (typically re-set every seven days) through auction procedures. Distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, are paid annually.
38 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIINotes to Financial Statements
5. Auction Preferred Shares (continued)
For the year ended September 30, 2007, the annualized dividend rates ranged from:
The Funds are subject to certain limitations and restrictions while Preferred Shares are outstanding. Failure to comply with these limitations and restrictions could preclude the Funds from declaring any dividends or distributions to common shareholders or repurchasing common shares and/or could trigger the mandatory redemption of Preferred Shares at their liquidation value.
6. Subsequent Common Dividend Declarations
On October 1, 2007, the following dividends were declared to common shareholders payable November 1, 2007 to shareholders of record on October 11, 2007:
On November 1, 2007 the following dividends were declared to common shareholders payable December 3, 2007 to shareholders of record on November 12, 2007:
7. Legal Proceedings
In June and September 2004, the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates (including PEA Capital LLC (‘‘PEA’’), Allianz Global Investors Distributors LLC (‘‘AGID’’) and Allianz Global Investors of America, L.P. agreed to settle, without admitting or denying the allegations, claims brought by the SEC and the New Jersey Attorney General alleging violations of federal and state securities laws with respect to certain open-end funds for which the Investment Manager serves as investment adviser. The settlements related to an alleged ‘‘market timing’’ arrangement in certain open-end funds formerly sub-advised by PEA. The Investment Manager and its affiliates agreed to pay a total of $68 million to settle the claims. In addition to monetary payments, the settling parties agreed to undertake certain corporate governance, compliance and disclosure reforms related to market timing, and consented to cease and desist orders and censures. Subsequent to these events, PEA deregistered and dissolved. None of the settlements allege that any inappropriate activity took place with respect to the Funds.
Since February 2004, the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates and their employees have been named as defendants in a number of pending lawsuits concerning ‘‘market timing,’’ which allege the same or similar conduct underlying the regulatory settlements discussed above. The market timing lawsuits have been consolidated in a multi-district litigation proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Any potential resolution of these matters may include, but not be limited to judgments or settlements for damages against the Investment Manager or its affiliates or related injunctions.
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 39
September 30, 2007PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIINotes to Financial Statements
7. Legal Proceedings (continued)
The Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser believe that these matters are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or on their ability to perform their respective investment advisory activities relating to the Funds.
The foregoing speaks only as of the date hereof.
40 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
For a share of common stock outstanding throughout each period:PIMCO Municipal Income Fund IIIFinancial Highlights
October 31, 2002*
throughSee accompanying Notes to Financial Statements | 9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 41
For a share of common stock outstanding throughout each period:PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund IIIFinancial Highlights
October 31, 2002*
through42 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07 | See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
For a share of common stock outstanding throughout each period:PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund IIIFinancial Highlights
October 31, 2002*
throughSee accompanying Notes to Financial Statements | 9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 43
PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIIReport of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Trustees of:
PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III,
PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III and
PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund IIIIn our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets applicable to common shareholders and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III and PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III (collectively hereafter referred to as the ‘‘Funds’’) at September 30, 2007, the results of each of their operations for the year ended, the changes in each of their net assets applicable to common shareholders for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period then ended and for the period October 31, 2002 (commencement of operations) through September 30, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as ‘‘financial statements’’) are the responsibility of the Funds’ management; our responsibility is to express and opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at September 30, 2007 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
November 21, 200744 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIITax Information/Annual Shareholder Meetings Results (unaudited)
Tax Information:
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, requires the Funds to advise shareholders within 60 days of the Funds’ tax year-end (September 30, 2007) as to the federal tax status of dividends and distributions received by shareholders during such tax period. Accordingly, please note that substantially all dividends paid from net investment income from the Funds during the tax period ended September 30, 2007 were federally exempt interest dividends. However, the Funds invested in municipal bonds containing market discount, whose accretion is taxable. Accordingly, the percentage of dividends paid from net investment income during the tax period which are taxable were:
Since the Funds’ tax year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2007. In January 2008, shareholders will be advised on IRS Form 1099 DIV as to the federal tax status of the dividends and distributions received during calendar 2007. The amount that will be reported will be the amount to use on your 2007 federal income tax return and may differ from the amount which must be reported in connection with each Fund’s tax year ended September 30, 2007. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisers as to the federal, state and local tax status of the dividend income received from the Funds. In January 2008, an allocation of interest income by state will be provided which may be of value in reducing a shareholder’s state and local tax liability, if any.
In November 2007, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that might significantly affect state taxation of municipal bonds. In the decision on appeal, a Kentucky state court held that a Kentucky law violates the U.S. Constitution by exempting from state taxation the interest income from Kentucky municipal bonds while taxing that from out-of-state municipal bonds. If the Supreme Court affirms this holding, most states likely will revisit the way in which they treat the interest on municipal bonds, and this has the potential to increase significantly the amount of state tax paid by shareholders on exempt-interest dividends. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision in this case later in the 2007-2008 term. You should consult your tax advisor to discuss the tax consequences of your investment in the Funds.
Annual Shareholder Meetings Results:
The Funds held their annual meetings of shareholders on December 20, 2006. Common/Preferred shareholders of each fund voted to re-elect Robert E. Connor* and Hans W. Kertess and elect William B. Ogden IV as Class I Trustees as indicated below:
Authority Municipal III:9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 45
PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIIMatters Relating to the Trustees’ Consideration of the Investment Management and Portfolio Management Agreements (unaudited)
The Investment Company Act of 1940 requires that both the full Board of Trustees (the ‘‘Trustees’’) and a majority of the non-interested (‘‘Independent’’) Trustees, voting separately, approve the Funds’ Management Agreements (the ‘‘Advisory Agreements’’) with the Investment Manager and Portfolio Management Agreements (the ‘‘Sub-Advisory Agreements’’, and together with the Advisory Agreements, the ‘‘Agreements’’) between the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser. The Trustees met on June 13, 2007 (the ‘‘contract review meeting’’) for the specific purpose of considering whether to approve the Advisory Agreements and the Sub-Advisory Agreements. The Independent Trustees were assisted in their evaluation of the Agreements by independent legal counsel, from whom they received separate legal advice and with whom they met separately from Fund management during the contract review meeting.
Based on their evaluation of factors that they deemed to be material, including those factors described below, the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the Funds’ Advisory Agreements and the Sub-Advisory Agreements should be approved for a one-year period commencing July 1, 2007.
In connection with their deliberations regarding the continuation of the Agreements, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, considered such information and factors as they believed, in light of the legal advice furnished to them and their own business judgment, to be relevant. As described below, the Trustees considered the nature, quality, and extent of the various investment management, administrative and other services performed by the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser under the Agreements.
In connection with their contract review meeting, the Trustees received and relied upon materials provided by the Investment Manager which included, among other items: (i) information provided by Lipper Analytical Services Inc. (‘‘Lipper Inc.’’) on the total return investment performance (based on net assets) of the Funds for various time periods and the investment performance of a group of funds with substantially similar investment classifications/objectives identified by Lipper Inc., (ii) information provided by Lipper Inc. on the Funds’ management fees and other expenses and the management fees and other expenses of comparable funds identified by Lipper Inc., (iii) information regarding the investment performance and management fees of comparable portfolios of other clients of the Sub-Adviser, including institutional separate accounts and other clients, (iv) the profitability to the Investment Manager from its relationship with the Funds for the twelve months ended March 31, 2007, (v) descriptions of various functions performed by the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser for the Funds, such as portfolio management, compliance monitoring and portfolio trading practices, and (vi) information regarding the overall organization of the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser, including information regarding senior management, portfolio managers and other personnel providing investment management, administrative and other services to the Funds.
The Trustees’ conclusions as to the continuation of the Agreements were based on a comprehensive consideration of all information provided to the Trustees and not the result of any single factor. Some of the factors that figured particularly in the Trustees’ deliberations are described below, although individual Trustees may have evaluated the information presented differently from one another, giving different weights to various factors.
As part of their review, the Trustees examined the Investment Manager’s and the Sub-Adviser’s ability to provide high quality investment management and other services to the Funds. The Trustees considered the investment philosophy and research and decision-making processes of the Sub-Adviser; the experience of key advisory personnel of the Sub-Adviser responsible for portfolio management of the Funds; the ability of the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser to attract and retain capable personnel; the capability and integrity of the senior management and staff of the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser; and the level of skill required to manage the Funds. In addition, the Trustees reviewed the quality of the Investment Manager’s and the Sub-Adviser’s services with respect to regulatory compliance and compliance with the investment policies of the Funds; the nature and quality of certain administrative services the Investment Manager is responsible for providing to the Funds; and conditions that might affect the Investment Manager’s or the Sub-Adviser’s ability to provide high quality services to the Funds in the future under the Agreements, including each organization’s respective business reputation, financial condition and operational stability. Based on the foregoing, the Trustees concluded that the Sub-Adviser’s investment process, research capabilities and philosophy were well suited to the Funds given their investment objectives and policies, and that the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser would be able to continue to meet any reasonably foreseeable obligations under the Agreements.
46 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIIMatters Relating to the Trustees’ Consideration of the Investment Management and Portfolio Management Agreements (unaudited)
Based on information provided by Lipper Inc., the Trustees also reviewed each Fund’s total return investment performance as well as the performance of comparable funds identified by Lipper Inc. In the course of their deliberations, the Trustees took into account information provided by the Investment Manager in connection with the contract review meeting, as well as during investment review meetings conducted with portfolio management personnel during the course of the year regarding each Fund’s performance.
In assessing the reasonableness of each Fund’s fees under the Agreements, the Trustees considered, among other information, each Fund’s management fee and the total expense ratio as a percentage of average net assets attributable to common shares and the management fee and total expense ratios of comparable funds identified by Lipper Inc.
For each of the Funds, the Trustees specifically took note of how each Fund compared to its Lipper Inc. peers as to performance and total expense ratio. The Trustees noted that while the Funds are not charged a separate administration fee, it was not clear whether the peer funds in the Lipper Inc. categories were charged such a fee by their investment managers. Thus, the Trustees, at the recommendation of the Investment Manager, considered the total expenses of the Funds compared to the total expenses of the peer funds, recognizing that the fees for management and administrative services would be subsumed within the total expense ratio.
Municipal III:
The Trustees noted that Municipal III had outperformed its peer group’s median and low returns but had underperformed its peer group’s high returns for the one-year and three-year periods ended March 31, 2007. The Trustees also noted that Municipal III’s expense ratio (after taking into account waivers) was below the median and the high for its peer group but above the low for its peer group.
California Municipal III:
The Trustees noted that California Municipal III had outperformed its peer group’s median and low returns but had slightly underperformed its peer group’s high returns for the one-year and three-year periods ended March 31, 2007. The Trustees noted that in the one-year period, California Municipal III’s total return was ranked second among twenty two funds in its Lipper category for its asset class. The Trustees also noted that California Municipal III’s expense ratio (after taking into account waivers) was significantly below the high for its peer group, was in line with its peer median group and was above the low for its peer group.
New York Municipal III:
The Trustees noted that New York Municipal III had significantly outperformed its peer group’s median and low returns and was in line with its peer group’s high returns for the one-year and three-year periods ended March 31, 2007. The Trustees noted that in the one-year and three-year periods, New York Municipal III’s total return was ranked first among sixteen funds in its Lipper category for its asset class. The Trustees also noted that New York Municipal III’s expense ratio (after taking into account waivers) was significantly below the high for its peer group but was above the low and the median for its peer group.
After reviewing these and related factors, the Trustees concluded, within the context of their overall conclusions regarding the Agreements, that they were satisfied with the Investment Manager’s and the Sub-Adviser’s responses and efforts relating to investment performance and the comparative positioning of each Fund with respect to the management fee paid to the Investment Manager.
The Trustees also considered the management fees charged by the Sub-Adviser to other clients, including institutional separate accounts with investment strategies similar to those of the Funds. Regarding the institutional separate accounts, they noted that the management fees paid by the Funds are generally higher than the fees paid by these other clients of the Sub-Adviser, but were advised that the administrative burden for the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser with respect to the Funds is also relatively higher, due in part to the more extensive regulatory regime to which the Funds are subject in comparison to institutional separate accounts. The Trustees noted that the management fees paid by the Funds are generally higher than the fees paid by the open-end funds but were advised that there are additional portfolio management challenges in managing the Funds, such as the use of leverage and meeting a regular dividend.
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 47
PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIIMatters Relating to the Trustees’ Consideration of the Investment Management and Portfolio Management Agreements (unaudited)
The Trustees also took into account that the Funds have preferred shares outstanding, which increases the amount of fees received by the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser under the Agreements (because the fees are calculated based on either the Fund’s new assets or total managed assets, including assets attributable to preferred shares and other forms of leverage outstanding but not deducting any liabilities connected to the leverage). In this regard, the Trustees took into account that the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser have a financial incentive for the Funds to continue to have preferred shares outstanding, which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser, on the one hand, and the Fund’s common shareholders, on the other. In this regard, the Trustees considered information provided by the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser indicating that each Fund’s use of leverage through preferred shares continues to be appropriate and in the interests of the Fund’s common shareholders.
Based on a profitability analysis provided by the Investment Manager, the Trustees also considered the profitability of the Investment Manager from its relationship with each Fund and determined that such profitability was not excessive.
The Trustees also took into account that, as closed-end investment companies, the Funds do not currently intend to raise additional assets, so the assets of the Funds will grow (if at all) only through the investment performance of each Fund. Therefore, the Trustees did not consider potential economies of scale as a principal factor in assessing the fee rates payable under the Agreements.
Additionally, the Trustees considered so-called ‘‘fall-out benefits’’ to the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser, such as reputational value derived from serving as Investment Manager and Sub-Adviser to the Funds.
After reviewing these and other factors described herein, the Trustees concluded, within the context of their overall conclusions regarding the Agreements, that the fees payable under the Agreements represent reasonable compensation in light of the nature and quality of the services being provided by the Investment Manager and Sub-Adviser to the Funds.
48 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIIPrivacy Policy/Proxy Voting Policies &
Procedures (unaudited)
Privacy Policy:
Our Commitment to You
We consider customer privacy to be a fundamental aspect of our relationship with clients. We are committed to maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and security of our current, prospective and former clients’ personal information. To ensure clients privacy, we have developed policies designed to protect this confidentiality, while allowing client needs to be served.
Obtaining Personal Information
In the course of providing you with products and services, we and certain service providers to the Funds, such as the Funds’ investment adviser, may obtain non-public personal information about you. This information may come from sources such as account applications and other forms, from other written, electronic or verbal correspondence, from your transactions, from your brokerage or financial advisory firm, financial adviser or consultant, and/or from information captured on our internet web sites.
Respecting Your Privacy
As a matter of policy, we do not disclose any personal or account information provided by you or gathered by us to non-affiliated third parties, except as required or permitted by law or as necessary for such third parties to perform their agreements with respect to the Funds. As is common in the industry, non-affiliated companies may from time to time be used to provide certain services, such as preparing and mailing prospectuses, reports, account statements and other information, conducting research on client satisfaction, and gathering shareholder proxies. We may also retain non-affiliated companies to market our products and enter in joint marketing agreements with other companies. These companies may have access to your personal and account information, but are permitted to use the information solely to provide the specific service or as otherwise permitted by law. In most cases you will be clients of a third party, but we may also provide your personal and account information to your respective brokerage or financial advisory firm and/or to your financial adviser or consultant.
Sharing Information with Third Parties
We do reserve the right to disclose or report personal information to non-affiliated third parties in limited circumstances where we believe in good faith that disclosure is required under law, to cooperate with regulators or law enforcement authorities, to protect our rights or property, or upon reasonable request by any mutual fund in which you have chosen to invest. In addition, we may disclose information about a shareholder’s accounts to a non-affiliated third party with the consent of the shareholder.
Sharing Information with Affiliates
We may share client information with our affiliates in connection with servicing your account or to provide you with information about products and services that we or our affiliates believe may be of interest to you. The information we share may include, for example, your participation in our mutual funds or other investment programs sponsored by us or our affiliates, your ownership of certain types of accounts (such as IRAs), or other data about your accounts. Our affiliates, in turn, are not permitted to share your information with non-affiliated entities, except as required or permitted by law.
Procedures to Safeguard Private Information
We take seriously the obligation to safeguard shareholder non-public personal information. In addition to this policy, we have also implemented procedures that are designed to restrict access to your non-public personal information only to internal personnel who need to know that information in order to provide products or services to you. In order to guard your non-public personal information, physical, electronic and procedural safeguards are in place.
Proxy Voting Policies & Procedures:
A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds have adopted to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information about how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held during the twelve months ended June 30, 2007 is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling the Funds’ shareholder servicing agent at (800) 331-1710; (ii) on the Funds’ website at www.allianzinvestors.com/closedendfunds; and (iii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 49
PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIIDividend Reinvestment Plan (unaudited)
Pursuant to the Funds’ Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the ‘‘Plan’’), all Common Shareholders whose shares are registered in their own names will have all dividends, including any capital gain dividends, reinvested automatically in additional Common Shares by PFPC Inc., as agent for the Common Shareholders (the ‘‘Plan Agent’’), unless the shareholder elects to receive cash. An election to receive cash may be revoked or reinstated at the option of the shareholder. In the case of record shareholders such as banks, brokers or other nominees that hold Common Shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified from time to time by the record shareholder as representing the total amount registered in such shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who are to participate in the Plan. Shareholders whose shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or nominee should contact the bank, broker or nominee for details. All distributions to investors who elect not to participate in the Plan (or whose broker or nominee elects not to participate on the investor’s behalf), will be paid cash by check mailed, in the case of direct shareholder, to the record holder by PFPC Inc., as the Funds’ dividend disbursement agent.
Unless you elect (or your broker or nominee elects) not to participate in the Plan, the number of Common Shares you will receive will be determined as follows:
You may withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving notice to the Plan Agent. If you withdraw or the Plan is terminated, you will receive a certificate for each whole share in your account under the Plan and you will receive a cash payment for any fraction of a share in your account. If you wish, the Plan Agent will sell your shares and send you the proceeds, minus brokerage commissions.
The Plan Agent maintains all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and gives written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information you may need for tax records. The Plan Agent will also furnish each person who buys Common Shares with written instructions detailing the procedures for electing not to participate in the Plan and to instead receive distributions in cash. Common Shares in your account will be held by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form. Any proxy you receive will include all Common Shares you have received under the Plan.
There is no brokerage charge for reinvestment of your dividends or distributions in Common Shares. However, all participants will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open market purchases.
Automatically reinvested dividends and distributions are taxed in the same manner as cash dividends and distributions.
The Funds and the Plan Agent reserve the right to amend or terminate the Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Funds reserve the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. Additional information about the Plan may be obtained from the Funds’ shareholder servicing agent, PFPC Inc., P.O. Box 43027, Providence, RI 02940-3027, telephone number (800) 331-1710.
50 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIIBoard of Trustees (unaudited)
Funds, Length of Service, Other Trusteeships/ Directorships Held by Trustee; Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex/Outside Fund
Complexes Currently Overseen by Trustee
1345 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, NY 10105
Date of Birth: 7/12/39
Chairman of the Board of Trustees since: 2007
Trustee since: 2003
Term of office: Expected to stand for
re-election at 2009 annual meeting of
shareholders.
Trustee/Director of 28 Funds in Fund Complex;
Trustee/Director of no funds outside of Fund
Complex
Date of Birth: 9/27/21
Trustee since: 2002
Term of office: Expected to stand for
re-election at 2008 annual meeting of
shareholders.
Trustee/Director of 28 funds in Fund Complex
Trustee/Director of no funds outside of Fund
Complex
Date of Birth: 9/17/34
Trustee since: 2002
Term of office: Expected to stand for
re-election at 2009 annual meeting of
shareholders.
Trustee/Director of 28 funds in Fund Complex
Trustee/Director of no funds outside of Fund
Complex
Date of Birth: 7/26/37
Trustee since: 2002
Term of office: Expected to stand for
re-election at 2007 annual meeting of
shareholders.
Trustee/Director of 28 funds in Fund Complex
Trustee/Director of no funds outside of Fund
Complex
Date of Birth: 1/11/45
Trustee since: 2006
Term of office: Expected to stand for election
at 2009 annual meeting of shareholders.
Trustee/Director of 27 Funds in Fund Complex;
Trustee/Director of no funds outside of Fund
Complex
Date of Birth: 9/4/41
Trustee since: 2004
Term of office: Expected to stand for
re-election at 2007 annual meeting of
shareholders.
Trustee/Director of 27 funds in Fund Complex
Trustee/Director of no funds outside of Fund
Complex9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 51
PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIIBoard of Trustees (unaudited)
Funds, Length of Service, Other Trusteeships/ Directorships Held by Trustee; Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex/Outside Fund
Complexes Currently Overseen by Trustee
Date of Birth: 8/3/59
Trustee since 2006
Term of office: Expected to stand for
re-election at 2007 annual meeting of
shareholders.
Trustee/Director of 64 Funds in Fund
Complex
Trustee/Director of No Funds outside the Fund ComplexFurther information about certain of the Funds’ Trustees is available in the Funds’ Statements of Additional Information, dated October 28, 2002, which can be obtained upon request, without charge, by calling the Funds’ shareholder servicing agent at (800) 331-1710.
52 PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report | 9.30.07
PIMCO Municipal Income Funds IIIPrincipal Officers (unaudited)
with Funds.
Date of Birth: 11/14/64
President & Chief Executive Officer since: 2002
Date of Birth: 3/10/66
Treasurer, Principal/Financial and Accounting Officer since: 2002
Date of Birth: 3/22/68
Vice President, Secretary & Chief Legal Officer
since: 2004
Date of Birth: 3/13/71
Assistant Treasurer since: 2007
Date of Birth: 9/3/72
Chief Compliance Officer since: 2004
Date of Birth: 7/28/53
Assistant Secretary since: 2006
Date of Birth: 4/6/61
Assistant Secretary since: 2006
Date of Birth: 11/11/54
Assistant Secretary since: 2006
Date of Birth: 9/20/77
Assistant Secretary since: 2006Officers hold office at the pleasure of the Board and until their successors are appointed and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal.
9.30.07 | PIMCO Municipal Income Funds III Annual Report 53
(This page intentionally left blank)54
(This page intentionally left blank)55
(This page intentionally left blank)56
Trustees and Principal Officers
Investment Manager
Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10105Sub-Adviser
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
840 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660Custodian & Accounting Agent
State Street Bank & Trust Co.
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110Transfer Agent, Dividend Paying Agent and Registrar
PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 43027
Providence, RI 02940-3027Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
300 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017Legal Counsel
Ropes & Gray LLP
One International Place
Boston, MA 02110-2624This report, including the financial information herein, is transmitted to the shareholders of PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III and PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III for their information. It is not a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase of shares of the Funds or any securities mentioned in this report.
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that from time to time the Funds may purchase shares of its common stock in the open market.
The Funds file their complete schedules of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’) for the first and third quarters of their fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Funds’ Form N-Qs are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330. The information on Form N-Q is also available on the Fund’s website at www.allianzinvestors.com/closedendfunds.
On January 3, 2007, the Funds submitted CEO annual certification to the New York Stock Exchange (‘‘NYSE’’) on which the Funds’ principal executive officer certified that he was not aware, as of that date, of any violation by each Fund of the NYSE’s Corporate Governance listing standards. In addition, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related SEC rules, each Fund’s principal executive and principal financial officer made quarterly certifications, included in filings with the SEC on Forms N-CSR and N-Q, relating to, among other things, the Funds’ disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, as applicable.
Information on the Funds is available at www.allianzinvestors.com/closedendfunds or by calling the Funds’ shareholder servicing agent at (800) 331-1710.
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS
(a)
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics (the “Section 406 Standards for Investment Companies — Ethical Standards for Principal Executive and Financial Officers”) that applies to the registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer; the registrant’s Principal Financial Officer also serves as the Principal Accounting Officer. The registrant undertakes to provide a copy of such code of ethics to any person upon request, without charge, by calling 1-800-331-1710. The code of ethics are included as an Exhibit 99.CODE ETH hereto.
(b)
During the period covered by this report, there were not any amendments to a provision of the code of ethics adopted in 2(a) above.
(c)
During the period covered by this report, there were not any waivers or implicit waivers to a provision of the code of ethics adopted in 2(a) above.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The registrant’s Board has determined that Mr. Paul Belica, a member of the Board’s Audit Oversight Committee is an “audit committee financial expert,” and that he is “independent,” for purposes of this Item.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
a)
Audit fees. The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years (the “Reporting Periods”) for professional services rendered by the Registrant’s principal accountant (the “Auditor”) for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements, or services that are normally provided by the Auditor in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the Reporting Periods, were $36,265 in 2006 and $37,112 in 2007.
b)
Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (e) of this Item were $8,059 in 2006 and $8,753 in 2007. These services consist of accounting consultations, agreed upon procedure reports (inclusive of annual review of basic maintenance testing associated with the Preferred Shares), attestation reports and comfort letters.
c)
Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for professional services rendered by the Auditor for tax compliance, tax service and tax planning (“Tax Services”) were $9,000 in 2006 and $9,667 in 2007. These services consisted of review or preparation of U.S. federal, state, local and excise tax returns and calculation of excise tax distributions.
d)
All Other Fees. There were no other fees billed in the Reporting Periods for products and services provided by the Auditor to the Registrant.
e)
1. Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. The Registrant’s Audit Committee has established policies and procedures for pre-approval of all audit and permissible non-audit services by the Auditor for the Registrant, as well as the Auditor’s engagements related directly to the operations
and financial reporting of the Registrant. The Registrant’s policy is stated below.
PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III (the “Fund”)
AUDIT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE POLICY FOR PRE-APPROVAL OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Fund’s Audit Oversight Committee (“Committee”) is charged with the oversight of the Fund’s financial reporting policies and practices and their internal controls. As part of this responsibility, the Committee must pre-approve any independent accounting firm’s engagement to render audit and/or permissible non-audit services, as required by law. In evaluating a proposed engagement by the independent accountants, the Committee will assess the effect that the engagement might reasonably be expected to have on the accountant’s independence. The Committee’s evaluation will be based on:
a review of the nature of the professional services expected to provided,
the fees to be charged in connection with the services expected to be provided,
a review of the safeguards put into place by the accounting firm to safeguard independence, and
periodic meetings with the accounting firm.
POLICY FOR AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED TO THE FUND
On an annual basis, the Fund’s Committee will review and pre-approve the scope of the audit of the Fund and proposed audit fees and permitted non-audit (including audit-related) services that may be performed by the Fund’s independent accountants. At least annually, the Committee will receive a report of all audit and non-audit services that were rendered in the previous calendar year pursuant to this Policy. In addition to the Committee’s pre-approval of services pursuant to this Policy, the engagement of the independent accounting firm for any permitted non-audit service provided to the Fund will also require the separate written pre-approval of the President of the Fund, who will confirm, independently, that the accounting firm’s engagement will not adversely affect the firm’s independence. All non-audit services performed by the independent accounting firm will be disclosed, as required, in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
AUDIT SERVICES
The categories of audit services and related fees to be reviewed and pre-approved annually by the Committee are:
Annual Fund financial statement audits
Seed audits (related to new product filings, as required)
SEC and regulatory filings and consents
Semiannual financial statement reviews
AUDIT-RELATED SERVICES
The following categories of audit-related services are considered to be consistent with the role of the Fund’s independent accountants and services falling under one of these categories will be pre-approved by the Committee on an annual basis if the Committee deems those services to be consistent with the accounting firm’s independence:
Accounting consultations
Fund merger support services
Agreed upon procedure reports (inclusive of quarterly review of Basic Maintenance testing associated with issuance of Preferred Shares and semiannual report review)
Other attestation reports
Comfort letters
Other internal control reports
Individual audit-related services that fall within one of these categories and are not presented to the Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process described above, may be pre-approved, if deemed consistent with the accounting firm’s independence, by the Committee Chair (or any other Committee member who is a disinterested trustee under the Investment Company Act to whom this responsibility has been delegated) so long as the estimated fee for those services does not exceed $150,000. Any such pre-approval shall be reported to the full Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
TAX SERVICES
The following categories of tax services are considered to be consistent with the role of the Fund’s independent accountants and services falling under one of these categories will be pre-approved by the Committee on an annual basis if the Committee deems those services to be consistent with the accounting firm’s independence:
Tax compliance services related to the filing or amendment of the following:
Federal, state and local income tax compliance; and, sales and use tax compliance
Timely RIC qualification reviews
Tax distribution analysis and planning
Tax authority examination services
Tax appeals support services
Accounting methods studies
Fund merger support service
Other tax consulting services and related projects
Individual tax services that fall within one of these categories and are not presented to the Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process described above, may be pre-approved, if deemed consistent with the accounting firm’s independence, by the Committee Chairman (or any other Committee member who is a disinterested trustee under the Investment Company Act to whom this responsibility has been delegated) so long as the estimated fee for those services does not exceed $150,000. Any such pre-approval shall be reported to the full Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
PROSCRIBED SERVICES
The Fund’s independent accountants will not render services in the following categories of non-audit services:
Bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Fund
Financial information systems design and implementation
Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports
Actuarial services
Internal audit outsourcing services
Management functions or human resources
Broker or dealer, investment adviser or investment banking services
Legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit
Any other service that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible
PRE-APPROVAL OF NON-AUDIT SERVICES PROVIDED TO OTHER ENTITIES WITHIN THE FUND COMPLEX
The Committee will pre-approve annually any permitted non-audit services to be provided to Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC (Formerly, PA Fund Management LLC) or any other investment manager to the Funds (but not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is sub-contracted by the investment manager) (the “Investment Manager”) and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Manager that provides ongoing services to the Fund (including affiliated sub-advisers to the Fund), provided, in each case, that the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund (such entities, including the Investment Manager, shall be referred to herein as the “Accounting Affiliates”). Individual projects that are not presented to the Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process, may be pre-approved, if deemed consistent with the accounting firm’s independence, by the Committee Chairman (or any other Committee member who is a disinterested trustee under the Investment Company Act to whom this responsibility has been delegated) so long as the estimated fee for those services does not exceed $150,000. Any such pre-approval shall be reported to the full Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
Although the Committee will not pre-approve all services provided to the Investment Manager and its affiliates, the Committee will receive an annual report from the Fund’s independent accounting firm showing the aggregate fees for all services provided to the Investment Manager and its affiliates.
DE MINIMUS EXCEPTION TO REQUIREMENT OF PRE-APPROVAL OF NON-AUDIT SERVICES
With respect to the provision of permitted non-audit services to a Fund or Accounting Affiliates, the pre-approval requirement is waived if:
(1)
The aggregate amount of all such permitted non-audit services provided constitutes no more than (i) with respect to such services provided to the Fund, five percent (5%) of the total amount of revenues paid by the Fund to its independent accountant during the fiscal year in which the services are provided, and (ii) with respect to such services provided to Accounting Affiliates, five percent (5%) of the total amount of revenues paid to the Fund’s independent accountant by the Fund and the Accounting Affiliates during the fiscal year in which the services are provided;
(2)
Such services were not recognized by the Fund at the time of the engagement for such services to be non-audit services; and
(3)
Such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved prior to the completion of the audit by the Committee or by the Committee Chairman (or any other Committee member who is a disinterested trustee under the Investment Company Act to whom this Committee Chairman or other delegate shall be reported to the full Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
e)
2. No services were approved pursuant to the procedures contained in paragraph (C) (7) (i) (C) of Rule 2-01 of Registration S-X.
f)
Not applicable
g)
Non-audit fees. The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Auditor for services rendered to the Registrant, and rendered to the Adviser, for the 2006 Reporting Period was $2,228,248 and the 2007 Reporting Period was $2,787,744.
h)
Auditor Independence. The Registrant’s Audit Oversight Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Adviser which were not pre- approved is compatible with maintaining the Auditor’s independence.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANT
The Fund has a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The audit committee of the Fund is comprised of Robert E. Connor, Paul Belica, John J. Dalessandro II, Hans W. Kertess, R. Peter Sullivan III and William B. Ogden, IV.
ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS Schedule of Investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
PIMCO MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND III
PIMCO CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND III
PIMCO NEW YORK MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND III
(each a “Trust”)
PROXY VOTING POLICY
1.
It is the policy of each Trust that proxies should be voted in the interest of its shareholders, as determined by those who are in the best position to make this determination. Each Trust believes that the firms and/or persons purchasing and selling securities for the Trust and analyzing the performance of the Trust’s securities are in the best position and have the information necessary to vote proxies in the best interests of the Trust and its shareholders, including in situations where conflicts of interest may arise between the interests of shareholders, on one hand, and the interests of the investment adviser, a sub-adviser and/or any other affiliated person of the Trust, on the other. Accordingly, each Trust’s policy shall be to delegate proxy voting responsibility to those entities with portfolio management responsibility for the Trust.
2.
Each Trust delegates the responsibility for voting proxies to Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC (“AGIFM”), which will in turn delegate such responsibility to the sub-adviser of the particular Trust. AGIFM’s Proxy Voting Policy Summary is attached as Appendix A hereto. Summary of the detailed proxy voting policies of the Trust’s current sub-adviser is set forth in Appendix B attached hereto. Such summaries may be revised from time to time to reflect changes to the sub-advisers’ detailed proxy voting policies.
3.
The party voting the proxies (i.e., the sub-adviser or portfolio manager) shall vote such proxies in accordance with such party’s proxy voting policies and, to the extent consistent with such policies, may rely on information and/or recommendations supplied by others.
4.
AGIFM and the sub-adviser of a Trust with proxy voting authority shall deliver a copy of its respective proxy voting policies and any material amendments thereto to the applicable Board of the Trust promptly after the adoption or amendment of any such policies.
5.
The party voting the proxy shall: (i) maintain such records and provide such voting information as is required for the Trusts’ regulatory filings including, without limitation, Form N-PX and the required disclosure of policy called for by Item 18 of Form N-2 and Item 7 of Form N-CSR; and (ii) shall provide such additional information as may be requested, from time to time, by the Board or the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer.
6.
This Proxy Voting Policy Statement (including Appendix B), the Proxy Voting Policy Summary of AGIFM and summary of the detailed proxy voting policy of the sub-adviser of a Trust with proxy voting authority, shall be made available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-426-0107 and (ii) on the Trusts’ website at www.allianzinvestors.com. In addition, to the extent required by applicable law or determined by the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer or Board of Trustees, the Proxy Voting Policy Summary of AGIFM and summaries of the detailed proxy voting policies of each sub-adviser with proxy voting authority shall also be included in the Trusts’ Registration Statements or Form N-CSR filings.
Appendix A
ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC (“AGIFM”)
1.
It is the policy of AGIFM that proxies should be voted in the interest of the shareholders of the applicable fund, as determined by those who are in the best position to make this determination. AGIFM believes that the firms and/or persons purchasing and selling securities for the funds and analyzing the performance of the funds’ securities are in the best position and have the information necessary to vote proxies in the best interests of the funds and their shareholders, including in situations where conflicts of interest may arise between the interests of shareholders, on one hand, and the interests of the investment adviser, a sub-adviser and/or any other affiliated person of the fund, on the other. Accordingly, AGIFM’s policy shall be to delegate proxy voting responsibility to those entities with portfolio management responsibility for the funds.
2.
AGIFM, for each fund which it acts as an investment adviser, delegates the responsibility for voting proxies to the sub-adviser for the respective fund, subject to the terms hereof.
3.
The party voting the proxies (e.g., the sub-adviser) shall vote such proxies in accordance with such party’s proxy voting policies and, to the extent consistent with such policies, may rely on information and/or recommendations supplied by others.
4.
AGIFM and each sub-adviser of a fund shall deliver a copy of its respective proxy voting policies and any material amendments thereto to the board of the relevant fund promptly after the adoption or amendment of any such policies.
5.
The party voting the proxy shall: (i) maintain such records and provide such voting information as is required for such funds’ regulatory filings including, without limitation, Form N-PX and the required disclosure of policy called for by Item 18 of Form N-2 and Item 7 of Form N-CSR; and (ii) shall provide such additional information as may be requested, from time to time, by such funds’ respective boards or chief compliance officers.
6.
This Proxy Voting Policy Summary and summaries of the proxy voting policies for each sub-adviser of a fund advised by AGIFM shall be available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-426-0107 and (ii) at www.allianzinvestors.com. In addition, to the extent required by applicable law or determined by the relevant fund’s board of directors/trustees or chief compliance officer, this Proxy Voting Policy Summary and summaries of the detailed proxy voting policies of each sub-adviser and each other entity with proxy voting authority for a fund advised by AGIFM shall also be included in the Registration Statement or Form N-CSR filings for the relevant fund.
Appendix B
PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”) has adopted written proxy voting policies and procedures (“Proxy Policy”) as required by Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. PIMCO has implemented the Proxy Policy for each of its clients as required under applicable law, unless expressly directed by a client in writing to refrain from voting that client’s proxies. Recognizing that proxy voting is a rare event in the realm of fixed income investing and is typically limited to solicitation of consent to changes in features of debt securities, the Proxy Policy also applies to any voting rights and/or consent rights of PIMCO, on behalf of its clients, with respect to debt securities, including but not limited to, plans of reorganization, and waivers and consents under applicable indentures.
The Proxy Policy is designed and implemented in a manner reasonably expected to ensure that voting and consent rights are exercised in the best interests of PIMCO’s clients. Each proxy is voted on a case-bycase basis taking into consideration any relevant contractual obligations as well as other relevant facts and circumstances at the time of the vote. In general, PIMCO reviews and considers corporate governance issues related to proxy matters and generally supports proposals that foster good corporate governance practices. PIMCO may vote proxies as recommended by management on routine matters related to the operation of the issuer and on matters not expected to have a significant economic impact on the issuer and/or its shareholders.
PIMCO will supervise and periodically review its proxy voting activities and implementation of the Proxy Policy. PIMCO will review each proxy to determine whether there may be a material conflict between PIMCO and its client. If no conflict exists, the proxy will be forwarded to the appropriate portfolio manager for consideration. If a conflict does exist, PIMCO will seek to resolve any such conflict in accordance with the Proxy Policy. PIMCO seeks to resolve any material conflicts of interest by voting in good faith in the best interest of its clients. If a material conflict of interest should arise, PIMCO will seek to resolve such conflict in the client’s best interest by pursuing any one of the following courses of action: (i) convening a committee to assess and resolve the conflict; (ii) voting in accordance with the instructions of the client; (iii) voting in accordance with the recommendation of an independent third-party service provider; (iv) suggesting that the client engage another party to determine how the proxy should be voted; (v) delegating the vote to a third-party service provider; or (vi) voting in accordance with the factors discussed in the Proxy Policy.
Clients may obtain a copy of PIMCO’s written Proxy Policy and the factors that PIMCO may consider in determining how to vote a client’s proxy. Except as required by law, PIMCO will not disclose to third parties how it voted on behalf of a client. However, upon request from an appropriately authorized individual, PIMCO will disclose to its clients or the entity delegating the voting authority to PIMCO for such clients, how PIMCO voted such client’s proxy. In addition, a client may obtain copies of PIMCO’s Proxy Policy and information as to how its proxies have been voted by contacting PIMCO.
ITEM 8.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(a)(1)
As of December 7, 2007 the following individual has primary responsibility for the day-to-day implementation of the PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III (PMX), PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III (PZC) and PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III (PYN) (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”):
Mark V. McCray
Mr. McCray has been the portfolio manager for each of the Funds since inception (October 2002). Mr. McCray is a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager responsible for the firm’s municipal bond portfolios and tax-sensitive portfolios. He is a senior member of PIMCO’s investment strategy group and has served as Chairman of PIMCO’s Shadow Investment Committee and as a rotating member of the firm’s Investment Committee. He joined the firm in 2000 from Goldman, Sachs & Co. in New York, where he was Vice President and co-head of municipal bond trading, with primary responsibility for the firm’s proprietary municipal trading. Mr. McCray has nineteen years of investment experience and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Real Estate from Temple University and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, with concentrations in Finance, Accounting, and Strategic Management.
(a)(2)
The following summarizes information regarding each of the accounts, excluding the Funds that were managed by the Portfolio Manager as of September 30, 2007, including accounts managed by a team, committee, or other group that includes the Portfolio Manager. Unless mentioned otherwise, the advisory fee charged for managing each of the accounts listed below is not based on performance.
Registered Investment Companies
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
Other Accounts
PM
Fund
#
AUM($million)
#
AUM($million)
#
AUM($million)
Mark V. McCray
PMX
13
5,310.02
2
789.92
18
1,636.85
PZC
13
5,541.18
2
789.92
18
1,636.85
PYN
13
5,912.24
2
789.92
18
1,636.85
From time to time, potential conflicts of interest may arise between a portfolio manager’s management of the investments of a Fund, on the one hand, and the management of other accounts, on the other. The other accounts might have similar investment objectives or strategies a Fund, track the same index a Fund tracks or otherwise hold, purchase, or sell securities that are eligible to be held, purchased or sold by the Funds. The other accounts might also have different investment objectives or strategies than the Funds.
Knowledge and Timing of Fund Trades. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager’s day-to-day management of a Fund. Because of their positions with the Funds, the portfolio managers know the size, timing and possible market impact of a Fund’s trades. It is theoretically possible that the portfolio managers could use this information to the advantage of other accounts they manage and to the possible detriment of a Fund.
Investment Opportunities. A potential conflict of interest may arise as result of the portfolio manager’s management of a number of accounts with varying investment guidelines. Often, an investment opportunity may be suitable for both a Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, but may not be available in sufficient quantities for both the Fund and the other accounts to participate fully. Similarly, there may be limited opportunity to sell an investment held by a Fund and another account. PIMCO has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time.
Under PIMCO’s allocation procedures, investment opportunities are allocated among various investment strategies based on individual account investment guidelines and PIMCO’s investment outlook. PIMCO has also adopted additional procedures to complement the general trade allocation policy that are designed to address potential conflicts of interest due to the side-by-side management of the Funds and certain pooled investment vehicles, including investment opportunity allocation issues.
Performance Fees. A portfolio manager may advise certain accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based entirely or partially on performance. Performance fee arrangements may create a conflict of interest for the portfolio manager in that the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate the investment opportunities that he or she believes might be the most profitable to such other accounts instead of allocating them to a Fund. PIMCO has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities between the Funds and such other accounts on a fair and equitable basis over time.
(a) (3)
As of September 30, 2007, the following explains the compensation structure of the individual that has primary responsibility for day-to-day portfolio management of the Funds:
Portfolio Manager Compensation
PIMCO has adopted a “Total Compensation Plan” for its professional level employees, including its portfolio managers, that is designed to pay competitive compensation and reward performance, integrity and teamwork consistent with the firm’s mission statement. The Total Compensation Plan includes a significant incentive component that rewards high performance standards, work ethic and consistent individual and team contributions to the firm. The compensation of portfolio managers consists of a base salary, a bonus, and may include a retention bonus. Portfolio managers who are Managing Directors of PIMCO also receive compensation from PIMCO’s profits. Certain employees of PIMCO, including portfolio managers, may elect to defer compensation through PIMCO’s deferred compensation plan. PIMCO also offers its employees a non-contributory defined contribution plan through which PIMCO makes a contribution based on the employee’s compensation. PIMCO’s contribution rate increases at a specified compensation level, which is a level that would include portfolio managers.
Salary and Bonus. Base salaries are determined by considering an individual portfolio manager’s experience and expertise and may be reviewed for adjustment annually. Portfolio managers are entitled to receive bonuses, which may be significantly more than their base salary, upon attaining certain performance objectives based on predetermined measures of group or department success. These goals are specific to individual portfolio managers and are mutually agreed upon annually by each portfolio manager and his or her manager. Achievement of these goals is an important, but not exclusive, element of the bonus decision process.
In addition, the following non-exclusive list of qualitative criteria (collectively, the “Bonus Factors”) may be considered when determining the bonus for portfolio managers:
•
3-year, 2-year and 1-year dollar-weighted and account-weighted, pre-tax investment performance as judged against the applicable benchmarks for each account managed by a portfolio manager (including the Funds) and relative to applicable industry peer groups;
•
Appropriate risk positioning that is consistent with PIMCO’s investment philosophy and the Investment Committee/CIO approach to the generation of alpha;
•
Amount and nature of assets managed by the portfolio manager;
•
Consistency of investment performance across portfolios of similar mandate and guidelines (reward low dispersion);
•
Generation and contribution of investment ideas in the context of PIMCO’s secular and cyclical forums, portfolio strategy meetings, Investment Committee meetings, and on a day-to-day basis;
•
Absence of defaults and price defaults for issues in the portfolios managed by the portfolio manager;
•
Contributions to asset retention, gathering and client satisfaction;
•
Contributions to mentoring, coaching and/or supervising; and
•
Personal growth and skills added.
A portfolio manager’s compensation is not based directly on the performance of any Fund or any other account managed by that portfolio manager. Final bonus award amounts are determined by the PIMCO Compensation Committee.
Retention Bonuses. Certain portfolio managers may receive a discretionary, fixed amount retention bonus, based upon the Bonus Factors and continued employment with PIMCO. Each portfolio manager who is a Senior Vice President or Executive Vice President of PIMCO receives a variable amount retention bonus, based upon the Bonus Factors and continued employment with PIMCO.
Investment professionals, including portfolio managers, are eligible to participate in a Long Term Cash Bonus Plan (“Cash Bonus Plan”), which provides cash awards that appreciate or depreciate based upon the performance of PIMCO’s parent company, Allianz Global Investors, and PIMCO over a three-year period. The aggregate amount available for distribution to participants is based upon Allianz Global Investors’ profit growth and PIMCO’s profit growth. Participation in the Cash Bonus Plan is based upon the Bonus Factors, and the payment of benefits from the Cash Bonus Plan, is contingent upon continued employment at PIMCO.
Profit Sharing Plan. Instead of a bonus, portfolio managers who are Managing Directors of PIMCO receive compensation from a non-qualified profit sharing plan consisting of a portion of PIMCO’s net profits. Portfolio managers who are Managing Directors receive an amount determined by the Managing Director Compensation Committee, based upon an individual’s overall contribution to the firm and the Bonus Factors.
From time to time, under the PIMCO Class B Unit Purchase Plan, Managing Directors and certain executive management (including Executive Vice Presidents) of PIMCO may become eligible to purchase Class B Units of PIMCO. Upon their purchase, the Class B Units are immediately exchanged for Class A Units of PIMCO Partners, LLC, a California limited liability company that holds a minority interest in PIMCO and is owned by the Managing Directors and certain executive management of PIMCO. The Class A Units of PIMCO Partners, LLC entitle their holders to distributions of a portion of the profits of PIMCO. The PIMCO Compensation Committee determines which Managing Directors and executive management may purchase Class B Units and the number of Class B Units that each may purchase. The Class B Units are purchased pursuant to full recourse notes issued to the holder. The base compensation of each Class B Unit holder is increased in an amount equal to the principal amortization applicable to the notes given by the Managing Director or member of executive management.
Portfolio managers who are Managing Directors also have long-term employment contracts, which guarantee severance payments in the event of involuntary termination of a Managing Director’s employment with PIMCO.
(a)(4)
The following summarizes the dollar range of securities the portfolio manager for the Funds beneficially owned of the Funds that he managed as of 09/30/07.
PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III
PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III
PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund IIIPortfolio Manager
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Funds
Mark V. McCray
None
ITEM 9.
PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED COMPANIES
PERIOD
TOTAL NUMBER
OF SHARES
PURCHASED
AVERAGE
PRICE PAID
PER SHARE
TOTAL NUMBER
OF SHARES PURCHASED
AS PART OF PUBLICLY
ANNOUNCED PLANS OR
PROGRAMS
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
SHARES THAT MAY YET BE
PURCHASED UNDER THE PLANS
OR PROGRAMSOctober 2006
N/A
$16.12
7,710
N/A
November 2006
N/A
$16.15
7,806
N/A
December 2006
N/A
$16.20
7,597
N/A
January 2007
N/A
$17.06
7,193
N/A
February 2007
N/A
$15.94
7,108
N/A
March 2007
N/A
$15.73
7,176
N/A
April 2007
N/A
$16.27
6,933
N/A
May 2007
N/A
$16.33
6,616
N/A
June 2007
N/A
$15.71
6,904
N/A
July 2007
N/A
$14.81
7,373
N/A
August 2007
N/A
$14.58
7,785
N/A
September 2007
N/A
$14.12
6,482
N/A
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Fund’s Board of Trustees since the Fund last provided disclosure in response to this item.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) The registrant’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-2(c) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))), as amended are effective based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this document.
(b) There were no significant changes over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12. EXHIBITS
(a) (1) Exhibit 99.CODE ETH - Code of Ethics
(a) (2) Exhibit 99 Cert. - Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(b) Exhibit 99.906 Cert. - Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Signature
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant) PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III
By/s/ Brian S. Shlissel
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dated: December 7, 2007
By
/s/ Lawrence G. Altadonna
Treasurer, Principal Financial & Accounting Officer
Dated: December 7, 2007
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By
/s/ Brian S. Shlissel
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dated: December 7, 2007
By
/s/ Lawrence G. Altadonna
Treasurer, Principal Financial & Accounting Officer
Dated: December 7, 2007
