TCW GROUP INC
SC 13G, 2000-08-10
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<PAGE>

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 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(b)
                                (Amendment No. )1


                               Ventiv Health Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                                  Common Stock
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    922793104
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                   07/31/2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (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)

-------------------------------
1    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 the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

     The information required in 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 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that
     section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act
     (however, SEE the NOTES).

<PAGE>

CUSIP No. 922793104                   13G                     Page 2 of 8 Pages
          ---------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (1) Names of Reporting Persons.
     I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

             The TCW Group, Inc.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group*              (a)  / /
                                                                    (b)  /X/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (3) SEC Use Only

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (4) Citizenship or Place of Organization

             Nevada corporation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Number of Shares             (5) Sole Voting Power
 Beneficially                                                            -0-
 Owned by                    --------------------------------------------------
 Each Reporting               (6) Shared Voting Power
 Person With:                                                      2,386,113
                             --------------------------------------------------
                              (7) Sole Dispositive Power
                                                                         -0-
                             --------------------------------------------------
                              (8) Shared Dispositive Power
                                                                   2,386,113
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting
     Person                                                        2,386,113
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes
     Certain Shares*                                                     / /
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
     10.6%(see response to Item 4)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Type of Reporting Person*
                               HC/CO
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


             *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

<PAGE>

CUSIP No. 922793104                   13G                     Page 3 of 8 Pages
          ---------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (1) Names of Reporting Persons.
     I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

             Robert Day

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group*              (a)  / /
                                                                    (b)  /X/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (3) SEC Use Only

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (4) Citizenship or Place of Organization

             United States Citizen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Number of Shares             (5) Sole Voting Power
 Beneficially                                                            -0-
 Owned by                    --------------------------------------------------
 Each Reporting               (6) Shared Voting Power
 Person With:                                                      2,386,113
                             --------------------------------------------------
                              (7) Sole Dispositive Power
                                                                         -0-
                             --------------------------------------------------
                              (8) Shared Dispositive Power
                                                                   2,386,113
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting
     Person                                                        2,386,113
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes
     Certain Shares*                                                     / /
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
     10.6%(see response to Item 4)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Type of Reporting Person*
                               HC/IN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


             *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

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                                                               Page 4 of 8 Pages

Item 1(a).   Name of Issuer:

             Ventiv Health Inc.

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

             200 Cottontail Lane
             Vantage Court North
             Somerset, NJ 08873

Item 2(a).   Name of Persons Filing:
Item 2(b).   Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence:
Item 2(c).   Citizenship:

             The TCW Group, Inc.
             865 South Figueroa Street
             Los Angeles, CA 90017
             (Nevada Corporation)

             Robert Day
             865 South Figueroa Street
             Los Angeles, CA 90017
             (United States Citizen)

Item 2(d).   Title of Class of Securities:

             Common Stock

Item 2(e).   CUSIP Number:

             922793104

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                                                               Page 5 of 8 Pages

Item 3.      If This Statement Is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d1(b), or 13d2(b)
             or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:

             (a)     / /     Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the
                             Exchange Act.
             (b)     / /     Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange
                             Act.
             (c)     / /     Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of
                             the Exchange Act.
             (d)     / /     Investment company registered under Section 8 of
                             the Investment Company Act.
             (e)     / /     An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-
                             1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
             (f)     / /     An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in
                             accordance with13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).
             (g)     /X/     A parent holding company or control person in
                             accordance with Rule 13d1(b)(1)(ii)(G).

                               (SEE Item 7)
                               The TCW Group, Inc.
                               Robert Day (individual who may be deemed to
                                  control The TCW Group, Inc. and other entities
                                  which hold the Common Stock of the issuer)

             (h)     / /     A savings association as defined in Section 3(b)
                             of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

             (i)     / /     A church plan that is excluded from the definition
                             of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14)
                             of the Investment Company Act.

             (j)     / /     Group, in accordance with Rule 13d1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
             If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check
             this box. |_|

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                                                               Page 6 of 8 Pages

Item 4.      Ownership **

             THE TCW GROUP, INC.
             (a)     Amount beneficially owned: 2,386,113
             (b)     Percent of class: 10.6%
             (c)     Number of shares as to which such person has:
                     (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: none.
                     (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 2,386,113
                     (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition
                           of: none.
                     (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
                           of: 2,386,113

             ROBERT DAY ***
             (a)     Amount beneficially owned: 2,386,113
             (b)     Percent of class: 10.6%
             (c)     Number of shares as to which such person has:
                     (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: none.
                     (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 2,386,113
                     (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition
                           of: none.
                     (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
                           of: 2,386,113


---------------
**   The filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that
     the reporting person or any of its affiliates is, for the purposes of
     Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
     beneficial owner of any securities covered by this Schedule 13G. In
     addition, the filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an
     admission that the reporting person or any of its affiliates is the
     beneficial owner of any securities covered by this Schedule 13G for any
     other purposes than Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

***  Shares reported for Robert Day include shares reported for The TCW Group,
     Inc.

<PAGE>


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

             If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the
             date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial
             owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check
             the following / /.

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

             Various persons other than as described in Item 4 have the right to
             receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or
             the proceeds from the sale of, the Common Stock of Ventiv Health
             Inc.

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

             SEE Exhibit A.

Item 8.      Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

             Not applicable.  SEE Exhibits A and B.

Item 9.      Notice of Dissolution of Group.

             Not applicable.

Item 10.     Certification.

             Because this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d1(b), the
             following certification is included:

             By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
             belief, the securities referred to above were acquired 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.

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                                                               Page 7 of 8 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.

Dated this 10th day of August, 2000.

                                       The TCW Group, Inc.
                                       By: /s/ Linda D. Barker
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Linda D. Barker
                                           Authorized Signatory



                                       Robert Day
                                       By: /s/ Linda D. Barker
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Linda D. Barker
                                           Under Power of Attorney dated
                                           March 31, 2000, on File with
                                           Schedule 13G for Cox Radio, Inc.
                                           dated May 9, 2000.




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