Pepsi Bottling Group Inc reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, bolstered by price increases and lower costs.

The largest bottler of PepsiCo Inc drinks was also helped by improved carbonated soft-drink sales trends in the United States and easing commodity prices.

Net income at the bottler rose to $211 million, or 96 cents a share, in the second quarter ended June 13 from $174 million, or 78 cents a share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, it earned 78 cents a share. This compares with analysts' average forecast of 73 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.

While net revenue at the Somers, New York-based bottler fell 7 percent to $3.27 billion, its selling, delivery and administrative expenses decreased 10 percent in the quarter.

Pepsi Bottling, which has a positive outlook for the remainder of this year and beyond, said it now expects full-year earnings toward the high end of its prior outlook of $2.30 a share to $2.40 a share.

The bottler, which got a buyout offer from PepsiCo in April, did not give any update on the bid.

PepsiCo, the world's second-largest soft drink maker behind Coca-Cola Co (KO.N), offered $6 billion to buy the remaining stakes in its two largest bottlers, Pepsi Bottling and PepsiAmericas Inc (PAS.N). The bottlers have rejected Pepsi's offer as too low.

Pepsi Bottling said PepsiCo's bid was low because the bottler's performance was improving as cash-strapped consumers buy cheaper drinks and costs for raw materials like aluminum, fuel and corn fall. (Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Gerald E. McCormick)

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