July 7, 2009

• United Nations recognizes Patrimonio Hoy and Centros Productivos de Autoempleo programs in the category of accessible housing solutions

CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX), announced today that it received the United Nations' Habitat Business Award in the category of Accessible Housing Solutions for its programs Patrimonio Hoy and Centros Productivos de Autoempleo.

The award recognizes CEMEX for promoting improvement in the standard of living for families through do-it-yourself construction pursued under the auspices of Patrimonio Hoy and Centros Productivos de Autoempleo.

U.N.-Habitat, a United Nations agency for human settlements, assists poor people in urban areas, transforming cities into safer, healthier and greener places, offering better opportunities and allowing people to live with dignity. This agency works with organizations at all levels, including all spheres of government, civilian and private sectors, to cooperate in establishing, managing, planning and financing sustainable urban development.

The jury viewed Patrimonio Hoy and the Centros Productivos de Autoempleo as outstanding initiatives of innovative business models that propel community development and demonstrate the feasibility of social and economic rewards in the housing sector, principally at the base of the pyramid.

CEMEX is the only Latin American company recognized in this competition, and the winning programs were selected from more than 25 initiatives throughout the world in the category of Accessible Housing Solutions.

Patrimonio Hoy is a program that offers micro-financing to families with incomes of 2 to 3 minimum wages -in Mexico- so that they can build, expand or remodel their homes. CEMEX finances the cost of construction materials, provides technical assistance and ensures the timely delivery of materials. All of these practices reduce the time needed for construction by more than 60 per cent and generate savings of up to 35 per cent for the beneficiaries of the program.

In its more than 10 years of existence, its work has benefited more than 235,000 families with financing, which all together exceeded 110 million dollars, with a recovery percentage greater than 99 per cent.

Patrimonio Hoy currently has 85 beneficiary-care centers in 44 cities throughout the country, and its successful business model has enabled it to extend its presence in other countries. Today, it operates 20 beneficiary-care centers in Colombia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

The Centros Productivos de Autoempleo (CPA) constitute a practice whereby families with income less than two minimum wages -in Mexico- can produce basic materials intended for construction or expansion of their homes. CEMEX provides the necessary machinery and consumables, while the community contributes the labor.

At the end of the day, participants receive 50 per cent of the production attained as payment, and the other 50 per cent is given to CEMEX to sell.

Presently, there are 10 centers of this type in various states of the Republic, where material was produced to build more than 2,600 houses of 10 square meters, and more than 1,500 jobs were created.

CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high-quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through its efforts to pursue innovative industry solutions and efficiency advancements and to promote a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.cemex.com.

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