Altria Group will stick to its own schedule for breaking the Kraft Foods business off from its Philip Morris tobacco businesses and will not act prematurely, the company's top executive said on Thursday.

Continued improvement in the litigation environment would be required for any split-up of the company, Louis Camilleri, Altria chairman and chief executive, said during the company's annual meeting, which was webcast.
The company has said previously that several lawsuits against Philip Morris USA need to be resolved before the company can be split up. The company took more steps to prepare for the eventual break-up of the company into two or three businesses in 2005, Camilleri told shareholders. (pi)