content: <PAGE>
  
                                   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 (Date of earliest event reported)             May 16, 2001
                                                         ---------------------
  
                           CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
           Delaware                       000-22366            94-2878499
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction            (Commission         (IRS Employer
         of incorporation)                File Number)     Identification No.)
  
       215 Fourier Avenue, Fremont, California                   94539
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)
  
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (510) 657-7400
                                                     -------------------------
  
  
                                       None
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  <PAGE>
  
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  
  
           On May 16, 2001, the Registrant issued a press release announcing the
  execution of the definitive agreement for the registrant's acquisition of
  Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc.
  
  Item 7.  Exhibits.
  
           Press Release disseminated on May 16, 2001 announcing the execution of
  the definitive agreement for the registrant's acquisition of Integrated
  Measurement Systems, Inc.
  <PAGE>
  
                                    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 hereunto duly authorized.
  
  
  
                                  CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
                                  ----------------------------
                                  (Registrant)
  
  
  Date:  May 16, 2001             By      /s/ Graham J. Siddall
                                    -------------------------------------------
  
                                  Name:   Graham J. Siddall
                                  Title:  Chief Executive Officer and President
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  
  
  
  
      Exhibit No.                     Description
      -----------                     -----------
  
        99.1          Press Release disseminated on May 16, 2001 announcing the
                      registrant's acquisition of Integrated Measurement Systems,
                      Inc.
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "d8k.txt", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3043}]
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": "1642087"}, "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: 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 (Date of earliest event reported)             May 16, 2001
                                                         ---------------------
  
                           CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
           Delaware                       000-22366            94-2878499
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction            (Commission         (IRS Employer
         of incorporation)                File Number)     Identification No.)
  
       215 Fourier Avenue, Fremont, California                   94539
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (510) 657-7400
                                                     -------------------------
  
                                       None
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  
           On May 16, 2001, the Registrant issued a press release announcing the
  execution of the definitive agreement for the registrant's acquisition of
  Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc.
  
  Item 7.  Exhibits.
  
           Press Release disseminated on May 16, 2001 announcing the execution of
  the definitive agreement for the registrant's acquisition of Integrated
  Measurement Systems, Inc.
  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 hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                  CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
                                  ----------------------------
                                  (Registrant)
  
  Date:  May 16, 2001             By      /s/ Graham J. Siddall
                                    -------------------------------------------
  
                                  Name:   Graham J. Siddall
                                  Title:  Chief Executive Officer and President
  INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  
      Exhibit No.                     Description
      -----------                     -----------
  
        99.1          Press Release disseminated on May 16, 2001 announcing the
                      registrant's acquisition of Integrated Measurement Systems,
                      Inc.