Randgold Resources Ltd.'s (GOLD) half-cash, half-shares offer for Moto Goldmines Ltd. (MGL.T) is "significantly superior" to a rival offer for the gold exploration firm, Randgold's CEO said Thursday.

"We're very mindful that bidding wars are destructive in Africa. We've put a lot of effort into delivering something that is different and we think significantly superior to what has been proposed to (Moto's) board," CEO Mark Bristow told Dow Jones Newswires.

Randgold teamed up with AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (AU) on a deal that values Moto at about 546 million Canadian dollars ($488 million). Moto's board in June endorsed a CAD513 million all-share acquisition by Red Back Mining Inc. (RBI.T).

Moto and Red Back weren't immediately available to comment.

Company Web site: www.randgoldresources.com

-By Jeffrey Sparshott, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)207 842 9347; jeffrey.sparshott@dowjones.com