content: <HTML><HEAD>
  <TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
  </HEAD>
   <BODY BGCOLOR="WHITE">
  
  <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>UNITED
  STATES </B></FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"
  ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><HR WIDTH="17%" SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"><P
  STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>FORM 8-K </B></FONT></P><P
  STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3"
  COLOR="#000000"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the </B></FONT></P><P
  STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P
  STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Date of Report: June 2, 2003 </FONT></P><P
  STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Date of Earliest Event Reported) </FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P
  STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION </B></FONT></P><P
  STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) </FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
  SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" ALIGN="center">
  
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>DELAWARE</B></FONT></P></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>000-22366</B></FONT></P></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>94-2878499</B></FONT></P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(State or Other Jurisdiction</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"
  ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">of Incorporation)</FONT></P></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Commission File Number)</FONT></P></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(IRS Employer</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Identification No.)</FONT></P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" ALIGN="center">
  
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>215 FOURIER AVENUE</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"
  ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>FREMONT, CALIFORNIA</B></FONT></P></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>94539</B></FONT></P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</FONT></P></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Zip Code)</FONT></P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"
  ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>(510) 657-7400 </B></FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Registrant&#146;s Telephone
  Number, Including Area Code) </FONT></P>
  
  <p Style='page-break-before:always'>
  <HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
  
  <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item
  5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other events. </B></FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000">Filed as an exhibit hereto is the registrant&#146;s press release, dated June 2, 2003, announcing that the registrant has completed an offering of $150 million aggregate principal amount of convertible subordinated notes through an
  offering to qualified institutional buyers and to certain non-United States citizens. </FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
  SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Statements and Exhibits. </B></FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
  <TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
  <TR>
  <TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>(c)</B></FONT></TD>
  <TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Exhibits. </B></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P
  STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">The exhibit listed below is being furnished with this Form 8-K. </FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
  SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" ALIGN="center">
  
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Exhibit</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"
  COLOR="#000000"><B>Number</B></FONT></P><HR WIDTH="48" SIZE="1" NOSHADE ALIGN="left" COLOR="#000000"></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="92%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Description</B></FONT></P><HR WIDTH="73" SIZE="1" NOSHADE ALIGN="left" COLOR="#000000"></TD></TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="7%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">99.1</FONT></P></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="92%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Press Release dated June 2, 2003.</FONT></P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
  
  <p Style='page-break-before:always'>
  <HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
  
  <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>SIGNATURES
  </B></FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Pursuant to the requirements of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. </FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><DIV
  STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right">
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0">
  
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="37%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION</B></FONT></P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
  <TD HEIGHT="16"></TD></TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="2%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">By:</FONT></P></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="37%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">/<SMALL>S</SMALL>/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;G<SMALL>RAHAM</SMALL> J.
  S<SMALL>IDDALL<B></B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</SMALL></FONT></P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
  <TD><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD><HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"></TD></TR>
  <TR>
  <TD><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="37%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Graham J. Siddall,<B></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000">Chairman of the Board and</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Chief Executive Officer<B></B></FONT></P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE></DIV><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Date: June 2,
  2003<B></B> </FONT></P>
  </BODY></HTML>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "d8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12313}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORP", "cik": "0000893162", "assigned-sic": "3825", "irs-number": "942878499", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1031"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-22366", "film-number": "03728419"}, "business-address": {"street1": "215 FOURIER AVE", "city": "FREMONT", "state": "CA", "zip": "94539", "phone": "5106577400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "215 FOURIER AVE", "city": "FREMONT", "state": "CA", "zip": "94539"}}
text: Form 8-K
  UNITED
  STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  FORM 8-K
  CURRENT REPORT
  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  Date of Report: June 2, 2003
  (Date of Earliest Event Reported)
  CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
  (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
  DELAWARE
  000-22366
  94-2878499
  (State or Other Jurisdiction
  of Incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)
  (IRS Employer
  Identification No.)
  215 FOURIER AVENUE
  FREMONT, CALIFORNIA
  94539
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  (Zip Code)
  (510) 657-7400
  (Registrant's Telephone
  Number, Including Area Code)
  Item
  5.    Other events.
  Filed as an exhibit hereto is the registrant's press release, dated June 2, 2003, announcing that the registrant has completed an offering of $150 million aggregate principal amount of convertible subordinated notes through an
  offering to qualified institutional buyers and to certain non-United States citizens.
  Item 7.    Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  (c)
  Exhibits.
  The exhibit listed below is being furnished with this Form 8-K.
  Exhibit
  Number
  Description
  99.1
  Press Release dated June 2, 2003.
  SIGNATURES
  Pursuant to the requirements of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
  CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
  By:
  /
  S
  /    G
  RAHAM
  J.
  S
  IDDALL
  Graham J. Siddall,
  Chairman of the Board and
  Chief Executive Officer
  Date: June 2,
  2003