Cemex and Cxnetworks

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 2000

"The leading provider of Internet-based

solutions in the construction industry"

CEMEX, S.A. de C.V. (NYSE: CX), announced today the launch of CxNetworks, a new subsidiary that will build a network of e-businesses, as an integral element of its overall e-enabling strategy. CxNetworks will leverage CEMEX's assets onto the Internet and extend the reach of the company into marketplaces that complement its core business.

"CxNetworks is important to the future of CEMEX," said Lorenzo H. Zambrano, Chairman and CEO. "Its success will add enormous value to our overall efforts to e-enable the company, not only by helping us provide a broad range of online services and products to our customers and by creating the new networks that are integral to success in the digital age, but by contributing to the building of an e-culture throughout CEMEX."

CEMEX is undergoing a process of e-enabling, whereby the company is creating an open corporate information infrastructure without walls or interfaces between its systems, and which all participants in the CEMEX network can access through a common browser. "e-Enabling essentially means that all our processes and all our people will have access to the full power of the Internet. We are working hard to transform CEMEX into a fully e-enabled organization, which I believe will lower our costs, enhance the value we provide our customers, increase our competitiveness, and --ultimately-- improve our profitability," added Mr. Zambrano.

The company also announced the appointment of Juan Pablo San Agustin, Vice President of e-Business and former Planning and Marketing Director of CEMEX's Mexican operations, as CEO of CxNetworks. Mr. San Agustin, who joined CEMEX in 1994 and has worked for the company in Mexico and Venezuela, will report directly to Mr. Zambrano. He began his career with the Boston Consulting Group in Madrid, Spain.

CxNetworks' strategy

CxNetworks will initially focus on three business areas: the development of online construction marketplaces, the creation of an Internet-based marketplace for the purchase of indirect goods and services, and the expansion of Cemtec --CEMEX's information technology and Internet consulting services company-- into new markets.

"CxNetworks aims to become the leading provider of Internet-based business solutions for the construction industry," said Mr. San Agustin. CxNetworks is in the process of developing and will soon launch a series of online construction marketplaces with a variety of local partners in South America, Europe, the United States, and Mexico. These businesses will offer an array of construction products, including cement, as well as online services and information to small and large contractors, builders, and other construction industry participants.

In July, CxNetworks --in partnership with Votorantim and Bradespar of Brazil and Alfa of Mexico-- launched Latinexus,