Marathon Asset Management SC 13G John Hancock Asset-Based Lending Fund / MARATHON ASSET MANAGEMENT ownership change

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

(Rule 13d-102)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO RULES 13d-1(b),(c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED

PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2

(Amendment No. __)*

John Hancock Asset-Based Lending Fund

(Name of Issuer)

Class I Shares of Beneficial Ownership

(Title of Class of Securities)

478025109

(CUSIP Number)

July 31, 2022

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this schedule is filed:

☒ Rule 13d-1(b)

☐ Rule 13d-1(c)

☐ Rule 13d-1(d)

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act.

CUSIP No. 478025109

1.	NAME OF REPORTING PERSON   Marathon Asset Management, L.P.
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*   (a)  ☐        (b)  ☐
3.	SEC USE ONLY
4.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION   Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES  BENEFICIALLY  OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH	5.	SOLE VOTING POWER   2,500,000
	6.	SHARED VOTING POWER   0
	7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER   2,500,000
	8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER   0

9.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON   2,500,000
10.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES   ☐
11.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)   50%
12.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON   IA

2

CUSIP No. 478025109

SCHEDULE 13G

Item 1(a). Name of Issuer

John Hancock Asset-Based Lending Fund

Item 1(b). Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices

200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116

Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing

Marathon Asset Management, L.P.

Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office

One Bryant Park, 38th Floor, New York, NY 10036

Item 2(c). Citizenship

Delaware

Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities

Class I Shares of Beneficial Ownership

Item 2(e). CUSIP Number

478025109

Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

(a)    ☐ Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).

(b)    ☐ Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 73c).

(c)    ☐ Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

(d)    ☐ Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).

(e)    ☒ An investment adviser in accordance with §13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

(f)    ☐ An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).

(g)   ☐ A parent holding company or control person in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).

(h)   ☐ A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).

(i)    ☐ A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3).

(j)    ☐ A non-U.S. institution, in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

(k)   ☐ Group, in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:                 

3

CUSIP No. 478025109

Item 4. Ownership

The information requested by this paragraph is incorporated herein by reference to the cover page to this Schedule 13G.

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

Not Applicable.

Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person

Not Applicable.

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company:

Not Applicable.

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

Not Applicable.

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group

Not Applicable.

Item 10. Certification

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the Issuer and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

4

CUSIP No. 478025109

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete, and correct.

Dated: August 10, 2022

MARATHON ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
By:	/s/ Jamie Raboy
	Name: Jamie Raboy
	Title: Authorized Signatory

5