This paper is concerned with profitable external growth and proposes an empir-ical model outlining the major determinants of its success. The results of analysis of the unique sample of strategic growth acquisitions completed from 2000 to 2010 suggest that the success of transaction is determined not only by external factors but also by the pre-event fundamental performance of participating companies. Taken together they present the performance measures for a profitable sustainable growth and encourage executives to “lead for value”.