A New Zealand-born billionaire, Christopher Chandler, has been granted Maltese citizenship and is behind the London Based think-tank Legatum, which has been one of the most vocal campaigners for Britain's exit from the single market, according to a report in the Financial Times.

According to the news report, the names of Chandler, as well as Legatum's chief executive Mark Stoleson, as well as names of his family members appear on a list of individuals who became naturalised citizens of Malta in 2016.

The Legatum Foundation limited, according to figures in 2016, provided £3.9m of a total of £4.3m in funding to the think-tank Legatum Group, who has hired several Eurospecptics.

As is stipulated in the Financial Times article, the list published last year, does not distinguish between individuals who took advantage of Malta's citizenship programme by investment scheme and those who became citizens through long term-residence.

Individuals can obtain a Maltese passport under the scheme, in return for €650,000 to the national development fund, the purchase or lease of property and investment of at least €150,000 in stocks and bonds. For family members an additional fee of €25,000 to €50,000 per person.

Identity Malta had confirmed that such a scheme has generated €590m in direct payments to the government of Malta.