COUNTY INCREASES TESCO STAKE IN HILLARDS <County Ltd>, which is acting in concert with Tesco Plc <TSCO.L> in its 151.4 mln stg for supermarket chain operator <Hillards Plc>, has purchased 300,000 Hillards ordinary shares at 316p per share, a statement said. These purchases, together with those made by County on 10 March, represent about 4.8 pct of Hillards issued ordinary share capital, it said. Tesco's offer, made on March 10, values each Hillards ordinary share at 305.5p, a 37.6 pct premium over the previous day's closing price. A cash alternative of 290.55p will be made available.