Daily News from New York, New York • 22

QUOTE OF THE DAY There's an old rule of thumb: The sum of the parts Is usually greater than the whole." WHXIAM LEFEVRE, market analyst at Ehrenkrantz King Nussbaunt, as companies elect to split NEWS r-'x x. 7 qowdd mm Elatiron district offers Enclave Mm, for EMI Ke scords By PETER GRANT from 11.2 in 1994, according to Mf FETCR GRANT Sound Scan, a market research firm. Enclave's choice of the Flat-iron district reflects the growing popularity of that area among creative businesses like record companies and advertising agencies. Executives of those companies are attracted by its trendy restaurants and shops and its classical architecture. Enclave's Daily News Business Writer EMI Records has leased some of the toniest space in the Flat-iron district for the new record label it has launched to improve its lagging performance in the U.S.

market The new Enclave label will occupy a office condominium at 936 Broadway, which includes the penthouse of the five-story building and a 700-square-foot ter building at 936 Broadway was built in the late 1800s as the spp- Ml iICV, I ond Brooks ijffl! I Brothers cloth- i 1 inrr ctnro Tn fVta race. "The penthouse has fantastic views," said Mike Zaleski, a broker with CB Commercial Real Estate Group who has shown tenants the space. "You h7WA Vs 111 M1V mid-1980s, investors completely over its largest stockholders. Sutton also has provided the venture with extensive contacts with African business and political leaders. Over the past 20 years, he has invested heavily in telephone, soft drink, transportation and food distribution companies in Africa.

"My function has been to give the company access to heads of state and telephone systems in Africa," Sutton said. AfriCom officials pre--diet they will sell their service initially to businessmen, international travelers and government officials. Calls will cost as much as $3.50 a minute, but that is still below the average cost of a long distance call on the continent, which is $6 a minute, officials said. To be successful, the venture needs to sell its service to only a small fraction of Africa's 636 million people. "There are a lot of wealthy people in Africa," Sutton said.

The venture's backers say that besides making them a profit and improving telephone service in Africa, it will greatly assist economic development efforts there. They point out that today only 2 of Africans have phones. "In many places in Africa you have to wait seven hours to make a telephone call at a postal-telegraph office," Sutton said. "Our system would allow entrepreneurs all across the continent to open their own telephone feel like you're on the poop deck of a ship looking out to sea." The captain of that ship is going to be Tom Zutaut the former Gef-fen Records executive who be I'erey Sutton, the prominent lljrlt in businessman mid civic leader who built one of the country's largest blurk-owned media em-niren, Is launching an ambitious effort to build the bitaie.Ht wireless telephone network In Africa. Sutton, a multi-millionaire whose accomplishments Include rescuing the Apollo Theatre and founding Inner City Uroudcaitintf, has Joined with other leading African-American businessmen to raise million to provide telephone service throughout the continent.

The project, called Afri-C'om Telecommunications Ltd would provide satellite service for hand held ireless telephones. Sutton. AfriCom's chair-mun, said that the venture already has tentative licensing agreements with 12 countries. It is negotiating a deul with Lockheed Martin the Bethes-la, Md -based aerospace Kiaut, to provide the satellite technology, he said. "This is an exciting new technology." said Sutton, 7.V "The project is viable.

We know it can be done." The technology Afrit 'om would un would be unlike any other wireless telephone systni in the world, lie said Cellular phone systems today all use ground based microwave relay stations and existing telephone wires. Hut lli.it Infrastructure would le too expensive to build in developing conn- came a hot talent picker in the music business by signing such groups as Motley Crue, Guns N' Koses and the New Bohemians. Zutaut is hoping to repeat his success story at Enclave, where he is building a staff of 25 execu CHAIRMAN of AfriCom phone service Percy Sutton. tries. So AfriCom, as well as other ventures in Asia and the Middle East, are moving ahead with systems that would use a satellite.

The planning for AfriCom began more than five years ago. and company officials hope to begin offering telephone service in late 1998 or early 1999. Other principals include Victor Labat, who heads a management consulting company, and Prentiss Yancey, an Atlanta-based attorney who is the venturers president. Former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young is serving as an adviser. Tart of Sutton's role has been as an investor.

He said he already has invested more than $1 million in AfriCom and has committed to put more than $10 million in the project. For that he will become one of tives. He has told music trade publications that he plans to sign 20 artists over two years, paying hauled the property and converted its space into office condominiums. The space Enclave is renting was originally purchased by Silver Screen Productions, the film company that has produced such films as "Eraser" and "City Hall" and television programs like "Law and Order." Silver Screen put the space on the market about a year ago when it moved to Chelsea Piers. The film company originally hoped to sell the space, but decided to lease it instead when it could not get near its asking price, brokers report EMI officials and Enclave's broker, Mary Ann Tighe of the Edward S.

Gordon declined to discuss the details of the real estate deal. But market sources believe that Enclave will be paying a starting rent of about $25 a square foot in the 10-year lease. That's about the most tenants are paying in the Flatiron district. them average advances of $350,000 to $500,000 per album. So far his only contract has been with Fluffy, an all-woman punk band from London.

EMI, whose worldwide head quarters has offices at Carnegie Hall Tower and 1290 Sixth is hoping that Enclave will boost sales by building a new roster of artists. The record giant's share of the all-important U.S. market has supped to 10.9 last year MB 1 III Mil I I limn II iim i i I MB If The Aiinwrr Ui3, Vou Are Al For Celling i 7H-uully Iranwniitlrd Uieae. HAIR LOSS FINDNG THE ANSWERS If you are concerned about the condition of your hair CALL AMD LABORATORIES We'll help you find the answers 3 Every Day 30,000 Americans Get an STD One in Four Americans will Contract an STD in Their Lifetime Some STD's Do Not Cause Signs or Symptoms IFF HERPES Stiulty Iranamtttatf Dimm ADVICE CENTER HEALTHY HAIR UNHEALTHY HAW A I'rhate Facility H-cialuing in the DiafriMMM and Treatment of llerpe, Onilul Warta And All Sesunlly Trannniilled Disease. iU 2122134150, i-sa-ivicE-a, al at T.

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