UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Amendment No. 2 Valassis Communications, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, $0.01 par value ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 918866104 -------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) December 31, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [X] Rule 13d-1(b) [_] Rule 13d-1(c) [_] Rule 13d-1(d) Page 1 of 4 pages ----------------------- CUSIP No. 918866104 13G ----------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Name of Reporting Person I.R.S. Identification No. of above Person Goldman Sachs Asset Management, a separate operating unit of Goldman, Sachs & Co. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (a) [_] (b) [_] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. SEC Use Only ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization New York ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Sole Voting Power Number of 3,108,586 Shares ---------------------------------------------------------- 6. Shared Voting Power Beneficially 0 Owned by ---------------------------------------------------------- Each 7. Sole Dispositive Power Reporting 4,463,386 Person ---------------------------------------------------------- 8. Shared Dispositive Power With: 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 4,463,386 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares [_] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 8.3% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12. Type of Reporting Person IA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Page 2 of 4 pages Item 4. Ownership.* (a). Amount beneficially owned: See the response(s) to Item 9 on the attached cover page(s). (b). Percent of Class: See the response(s) to Item 11 on the attached cover page(s). (c). Number of shares as to which such person has: (i). Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: See the response(s) to Item 5 on the attached cover page(s). (ii). Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: See the response(s) to Item 6 on the attached cover page(s). (iii). Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: See the response(s) to Item 7 on the attached cover page(s). (iv). Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: See the response(s) to Item 8 on the attached cover page(s). 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 of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. -------------------------- * In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Release No. 34-39538 (January 12, 1998), this filing reflects the securities beneficially owned by the asset management unit of Goldman, Sachs & Co. (the "Asset Management Unit"). This filing does not reflect securities, if any, beneficially owned by any other operating unit of Goldman, Sachs & Co. The Asset Management Unit disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities beneficially owned by (i) any client accounts with respect to which it or its employees have voting or investment discretion, or both, and (ii) certain investment entities, of which its affiliate is the general partner, managing general partner or other manager, to the extent interests in such entities are held by persons other than the Asset Management Unit. Page 3 of 4 pages 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. Date: February 14, 2002 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. on behalf of Goldman Sachs Asset Management By: /s/ Roger S. Begelman -------------------------------------- Name: Roger S. Begelman Title: Attorney-in-fact Page 4 of 4 pages