A battle for Cohoes began shortly after it announced its merger-of-equals deal with $1.1 billion-asset Hudson River in April. The combination would have produced a $1.8 billion-asset company in the state capital region. But shortly after the deal was announced, Trustco Bank Corp. of Schenectady, N.Y., offered $16 a share in stock for Cohoes - $5 more than Hudson River's offer - while Ambanc Holding Co. of Amsterdam, N.Y., offered $16.50 a share in cash. Trustco also made a bid to buy Hudson River, but Cohoes and Hudson River dismissed the offers and forged ahead with their own merger plans. With the deal apparently terminated, analysts said Cohoes is free to seek another partner.