content: <PAGE>
  
                       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
  
                                  May 24, 1999
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
  
                          CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
  
            Delaware                      0-22366                  94-2878499
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                                       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
                                                      ----------------------------
                                       N/A
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Former name or address, if changed since last report.)
  <PAGE>
  
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  
          On May 24, 1999, the Registrant issued an aggregate of 275,135 shares
  of its common stock in exchange for an aggregate of $9,350,000 of its 5 1/4%
  Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2002.
  
                                    SIGNATURE
                                    ---------
  
          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 24, 1999                      By  /s/ Dennis P. Wolf
                                             ----------------------------------
                                          Name:  Dennis P. Wolf
                                          Title: Office of the President
                                                 Executive Vice President
                                                 Chief Financial Officer
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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": "99633675"}, "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: 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
  
                                  May 24, 1999
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
  
                          CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
  
            Delaware                      0-22366                  94-2878499
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                                       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
                                                      ----------------------------
                                       N/A
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Former name or address, if changed since last report.)
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  
          On May 24, 1999, the Registrant issued an aggregate of 275,135 shares
  of its common stock in exchange for an aggregate of $9,350,000 of its 5 1/4%
  Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2002.
  
                                    SIGNATURE
                                    ---------
  
          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 24, 1999                      By  /s/ Dennis P. Wolf
                                             ----------------------------------
                                          Name:  Dennis P. Wolf
                                          Title: Office of the President
                                                 Executive Vice President
                                                 Chief Financial Officer