The total value of Chinese companies' outbound merger and acquisition (M&A) deals amounted to $65.2 billion last year, up 53.8 percent year-on-year, according to a report released Wednesday by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

In terms of value, China's outbound M&A deals accounted for nearly 70 percent of the deals made by emerging economies in mature markets in 2012.

State-owned companies still aim at the energy and power industry, while private companies are keen on the consumer goods sector and targets that offer industrial technology, said the report.

Chinese companies made a total of 191 outbound M&A deals last year, slightly lower than the 206 deals in 2011. But the total value of the deals grew significantly, from $42.4 billion in 2011 to $62.5 billion last year.

There were 10 outbound M&A deals by Chinese companies that were worth over $1 billion, compared with three in 2011 and two in 2010, according to the report.

Edwin Wong, PwC China outbound investment services leader, said that this change - a decrease in volume but a rise in value - shows that Chinese investors are now more mature and bolder in making outbound purchases.

In the private sector, Chinese companies conducted $25.5 billion worth of outbound mergers last year, said the report.

"Most of the private companies choose to return to the Chinese market after they acquire high technology or premium brands in the overseas market," said Elton Huang, PwC China domestic market initiatives tax leader.

Difficulties in financing and getting regulatory approval have been the major obstacles for private companies that are seeking overseas opportunities.

"This partly explains why most Chinese companies making overseas deals face a price premium - the target company usually has doubts about whether the Chinese bidder can get enough financing or if they can get regulatory approval smoothly," Wong told the Global Times.