TESCO ASSOCIATE BUYS 4.2 PCT OF HILLARDS Tesco Plc <TSCO.L> said that <County Ltd> had yesterday bought on its behalf 2.06 mln shares, or around 4.2 pct, in <Hillards Plc> for between 302p and 310p a share. Tesco yesterday launched a 151.4 mln stg bid for the north of England supermarket chain, which Hillards promptly rejected. Hillards shares were last quoted at 324p, compared with last night's close of 313p.