<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, JUNE 30 AND 
SEPTEMBER 30, 1997, AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE, SIX
AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, JUNE 30, AND SEPTEMBER 30, 1997. THIS 
INFORMATION IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000796370
<NAME> UNITED ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997             JUN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             JUN-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1                       1                       1
<CASH>                                         177,177                 151,625                 164,304
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  143,589                 145,374                 160,560
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               331,834                 307,868                 335,235
<PP&E>                                          73,458                  77,520                  82,523
<DEPRECIATION>                                  42,416                  44,875                  47,545
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,387,968<F1>           1,521,269<F1>           1,563,576<F1>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          170,406                 199,047                 223,295
<BONDS>                                        595,274<F2>             697,922<F2>             722,942<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           703                     703                     703
<OTHER-SE>                                     566,711                 569,326                 560,186
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,387,968               1,521,269               1,563,576
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               215,522                 435,094                 676,804
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  140,158                 283,041                 445,901
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                24,912<F3>              50,574<F3>              78,349<F3>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               8,398                  17,414                  27,796
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 42,054                  84,065                 124,758
<INCOME-TAX>                                    17,999                  35,980                  53,447
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             24,055                  48,085                  71,311
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,055                  48,085                  71,311
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     $.35                    $.69                   $1.02
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     $.33                    $.66                    $.97
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES COST ASSIGNED TO CONTRACTS ACQUIRED, NET, OF $997,072, $1,129,066 AND
$1,146,064 FOR THE THREE, SIX AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, JUNE 30 AND
SEPTEMBER 31, 1997.
<F2>INCLUDES SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE OF $150,000, $150,000 AND $175,000 AND
SUBORDINATED NOTES PAYABLE OF $445,274, $547,922 AND $547,442 FOR THE THREE, 
SIX AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, JUNE 30 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 1997.
<F3>REPRESENTS AMORTIZATION OF COST ASSIGNED TO CONTRACTS ACQUIRED.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>