Important information regarding your distributions

We are providing shareholders of the John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III with information concerning the portion of the distributions made for October 30, 2020, that was from a source other than net investment company book income. No action is required on your part.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are estimates, are not being provided for tax reporting purposes and may later be determined to be from taxable net investment income, short-term gains, long-term gains (to the extent permitted by law), and return of capital. The actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

Payable Date:	Ticker #		Fund Name			CUSIP
October 30, 2020	HPS		John Hancock Preferred Income			41021P103
			Fund III
					For the fiscal year-to-date period
		For the period 10/1/2020-10/31/2020			8/1/2020-10/31/2020 3
						% Breakdown
		Current		% Breakdown	Total Cumulative	of the Total
				of the Current		Cumulative
Source		Distribution ($)		Distribution	Distributions ($)	Distributions
Estimated Net
Investment Income (1)		0.0814		74%	0.3133	95%
Estimated Return of
Capital (1), (2)		0.0286		26%	0.0167	5%
Total per common share		0.1100		100%	0.3300	100%

(1)The amounts and sources of distributions reported above are only estimates on a book basis. These estimates may, and likely will, vary over time based on the investment activities of the Fund and changes in the value of portfolio investments. The sources of distributions may later be determined to be from taxable net investment income, short-term gains, long-term gains (to the extent permitted by law), and return of capital. Investors should understand that a return of capital is not a distribution from income or gains of a Fund.

(2)On a tax basis, the estimated components of the current distribution and cumulative distribution would include an estimated return of capital of $0.0099 (9%) and $0.0297 (9%), respectively. These amounts are estimates and the actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes may change upon final determination of tax characteristics and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

(3)The Fund's current fiscal year began on August 1, 2020, and will end on July 31, 2021.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843- 0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Important information regarding your distributions

We are providing shareholders of the John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III with information concerning the portion of the distributions made for January 29, 2021, that was from a source other than net investment company book income. No action is required on your part.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are estimates, are not being provided for tax reporting purposes and may later be determined to be from taxable net investment income, short-term gains, long-term gains (to the extent permitted by law), and return of capital. The actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

Payable Date:	Ticker #		Fund Name			CUSIP
January 29, 2021	HPS		John Hancock Preferred Income			41021P103
			Fund III
					For the fiscal year-to-date period
		For the period 01/1/2021-01/31/2021			8/1/2020-01/31/20213
						% Breakdown
		Current		% Breakdown	Total Cumulative	of the Total
				of the Current		Cumulative
Source		Distribution ($)		Distribution	Distributions ($)	Distributions
Estimated Net
Investment Income (1)		0.0701		64%	0.6429	97%
Estimated Return of
Capital (1), (2)		0.0399		36%	0.0171	3%
Total per common share		0.1100		100%	0.6600	100%

(1)The amounts and sources of distributions reported above are only estimates on a book basis. These estimates may, and likely will, vary over time based on the investment activities of the Fund and changes in the value of portfolio investments. The sources of distributions may later be determined to be from taxable net investment income, short-term gains, long-term gains (to the extent permitted by law), and return of capital. Investors should understand that a return of capital is not a distribution from income or gains of a Fund.

(2)On a tax basis, the estimated components of the current distribution and cumulative distribution would include an estimated return of capital of $0.0077 (7%) and $0.0462 (7%), respectively. These amounts are estimates and the actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes may change upon final determination of tax characteristics and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

(3)The Fund's current fiscal year began on August 1, 2020, and will end on July 31, 2021.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843- 0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Important information regarding your distributions

We are providing shareholders of the John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III with information concerning the portion of the distributions made for April 30, 2021, that was from a source other than net investment company book income. No action is required on your part.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are estimates, are not being provided for tax reporting purposes and may later be determined to be from taxable net investment income, short-term gains, long-term gains (to the extent permitted by law), and return of capital. The actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

Payable Date:	Ticker #		Fund Name			CUSIP
April 30, 2021	HPS		John Hancock Preferred Income			41021P103
			Fund III
					For the fiscal year-to-date period
		For the period 04/1/2021-04/30/2021			8/1/2020-04/30/20213
						% Breakdown
		Current		% Breakdown	Total Cumulative	of the Total
				of the Current		Cumulative
Source		Distribution ($)		Distribution	Distributions ($)	Distributions
Estimated Net
Investment Income (1)		0.0668		61%	0.9581	97%
Estimated Return of
Capital (1), (2)		0.0432		39%	0.0317	3%
Total per common share		0.1100		100%	0.9898	100%

(1)The amounts and sources of distributions reported above are only estimates on a book basis. These estimates may, and likely will, vary over time based on the investment activities of the Fund and changes in the value of portfolio investments. The sources of distributions may later be determined to be from taxable net investment income, short-term gains, long-term gains (to the extent permitted by law), and return of capital. Investors should understand that a return of capital is not a distribution from income or gains of a Fund.

(2)On a tax basis, the estimated components of the current distribution and cumulative distribution would include an estimated return of capital of $0.0088 (8%) and $0.0792 (8%), respectively. These amounts are estimates and the actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes may change upon final determination of tax characteristics and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

(3)The Fund's current fiscal year began on August 1, 2020, and will end on July 31, 2021.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843- 0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Important information regarding your distributions

We are providing shareholders of the John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III with information concerning the portion of the distributions made for June 30, 2021, that was from a source other than net investment company book income. No action is required on your part.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are estimates, are not being provided for tax reporting purposes and may later be determined to be from taxable net investment income, short-term gains, long-term gains (to the extent permitted by law), and return of capital. The actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

Payable Date:	Ticker #		Fund Name			CUSIP
June 30, 2021	HPS		John Hancock Preferred Income			41021P103
			Fund III
					For the fiscal year-to-date period
		For the period 06/1/2021-06/30/2021			8/1/2020-06/30/20213
						% Breakdown
		Current		% Breakdown	Total Cumulative	of the Total
				of the Current		Cumulative
Source		Distribution ($)		Distribution	Distributions ($)	Distributions
Estimated Net
Investment Income (1)		0.1075		98%	1.2046	99%
Estimated Return of
Capital (1), (2)		0.0025		2%	0.0048	1%
Total per common share		0.1100		100%	1.2094	100%

(1)The amounts and sources of distributions reported above are only estimates on a book basis. These estimates may, and likely will, vary over time based on the investment activities of the Fund and changes in the value of portfolio investments. The sources of distributions may later be determined to be from taxable net investment income, short-term gains, long-term gains (to the extent permitted by law), and return of capital. Investors should understand that a return of capital is not a distribution from income or gains of a Fund.

(2)On a tax basis, the estimated components of the current distribution and cumulative distribution would include an estimated return of capital of $0.0055 (5%) and $0.0605 (5%), respectively. These amounts are estimates and the actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes may change upon final determination of tax characteristics and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

(3)The Fund's current fiscal year began on August 1, 2020, and will end on July 31, 2021.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843- 0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Important information regarding your distributions

We are providing shareholders of the John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III with information concerning the portion of the distributions made for July 30, 2021, that was from a source other than net investment company book income. No action is required on your part.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are estimates, are not being provided for tax reporting purposes and may later be determined to be from taxable net investment income, short-term gains, long-term gains (to the extent permitted by law), and return of capital. The actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

Payable Date:	Ticker #		Fund Name			CUSIP
July 30, 2021	HPS		John Hancock Preferred Income			41021P103
			Fund III
					For the fiscal year-to-date period
		For the period 07/1/2021-07/31/2021			8/1/2020-07/31/20213
						% Breakdown
		Current		% Breakdown	Total Cumulative	of the Total
				of the Current		Cumulative
Source		Distribution ($)		Distribution	Distributions ($)	Distributions
Estimated Net
Investment Income (1)		0.0703		64%	1.2753	97%
Estimated Return of
Capital (1), (2)		0.0397		36%	0.0439	3%
Total per common share		0.1100		100%	1.3192	100%

(1)The amounts and sources of distributions reported above are only estimates on a book basis. These estimates may, and likely will, vary over time based on the investment activities of the Fund and changes in the value of portfolio investments. The sources of distributions may later be determined to be from taxable net investment income, short-term gains, long-term gains (to the extent permitted by law), and return of capital. Investors should understand that a return of capital is not a distribution from income or gains of a Fund.

(2)On a tax basis, the estimated components of the current distribution and cumulative distribution would include an estimated return of capital of $0.0088 (8%) and $0.1055 (8%), respectively. These amounts are estimates and the actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes may change upon final determination of tax characteristics and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

(3)The Fund's current fiscal year began on August 1, 2020, and will end on July 31, 2021.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843- 0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.