The ex-Merrill Lynch chief Stan Oâ??Neal is considering joining Vision Capital Advisors, a small hedge fund and private equity group, according to people familiar with the matter.

Mr. O'Neal left Merrill after being criticised by investors and analysts for pushing Merrill into riskier areas such as collaterised debt obligations that caused billions of dollars in writedowns and credit losses.

New York-based Vision focuses on funding small to mid-size growth listed and private companies and had $750m of assets under management in July.