Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMI) has admitted to local Chinese media that it is introducing strategic investors for further development.

The world's third largest semiconductor OEM says in a press announcement that it is holding discussions with strategic investors on the purchase of the company's shares or convertible tools to enable them to invest in the company. SMIC says that the strategic investment may allow the investors to take a considerable part of the company's stake.

This is the first time that SMIC have given a direct comment on the company's introduction of strategic investors in the past one year or so. Previously, though Zhang Rujing, president of SMIC, revealed that the company might introduce some investment, the message has not been formally confirmed by SMIC.

However, SMIC still has not disclosed the name of the investors or the proportion of stakes they might take in SMIC.