<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-02-05</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0002002038</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Legato Merger Corp. III</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LEGT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219603</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROSENFELD ERIC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LEGATO MERGER CORP III</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>777 THIRD AVENUE, 37TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief SPAC Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary shares</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1854275</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Ordinary shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8125</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes securities included in 16,250 Units the Reporting Person has irrevocably committed to purchase upon consummation of the Issuer's initial public offering. Each Unit consists of one ordinary share and one half of one warrant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes up to 332,448 shares that may be forfeited to the extent that the underwriters in the Issuer's initial public offering does not fully exercise its overallotment option.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each warrant will become exercisable 30 days after the completion by the Issuer of an initial business combination.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each warrant will expire five years after the completion by the Issuer of an initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption; provided that the warrants will expire earlier if the Issuer has not completed an initial business combination within the required time period and liquidates the trust account in connection therewith.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Eric Rosenfeld</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
