The total value of private equity deals in the region soared to £262m. : North East businesses are “punching above their weight” when it comes to attracting private equity investment, according to the British Business Bank. Research by the bank found that the total amount invested in the region’s businesses more than doubled in 2018, from £121.7m to £262.3m. This included a £149m investment in Durham fintech firm Atom Bank, which was the third biggest SME equity to take place in the UK last year.