What is a registration period (in the event of a takeover bid)?

The acceptance period for a takeover bid is the period, with a minimum and maximum duration, in which shareholders must register their shares with the bidder to accept the bid. This period determines how long shareholders have to decide whether to accept the takeover bid.

Example: "The acceptance period for FedEx's takeover bid for TNT Express was extended because approval from the competition authorities took longer than expected."