Having one of those "six degrees of separation" moments this morning, thinking how curious connections can sometimes be.

Heidelberg, as we know, has been successful in its bid for financial support from the German government. Meanwhile retail group, and part-owner of Thomas Cook, Arcandor was unsuccessful leading to its move into bankruptcy and much public outcry in Germany. As failures go, it dwarfs Woolworth's collapse.

A familiar name has popped up in all the accompanying brouhaha, as it turns out this is the group (formerly KarstadtQuelle) that was until recently run by ex-Polestar chairman Thomas Middelhoff. This week it emerged that Middelhoff is now facing a state investigation over a controversial Arcandor property sale and leaseback deal that was completed under his auspices.

This brings me back to Polestar. When it was announced in March that Tim Weller was taking over as chairman, and Peter Palframan joining as a non-exec, various people wondered what on earth that was all about. On the face of it Middelhoff's pan-European business nous would appear to be more suited to any putative print consolidation play. Back then the writing was already on the wall for Middelhoff's future at Arcandor, so perhaps this move was less about him not having enough time to devote to Polestar, and more about Polestar's investors moving quickly to ensure the business wouldn't be tainted by association with the looming likelihood of a rather messy failure elsewhere.