content: <HTML><HEAD>
  <TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
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  <HR SIZE="3" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><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:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><HR WIDTH="17%"
  SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><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" 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"><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>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="3" 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" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Date of Report: May 22, 2003 </B></FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
  SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Date of Earliest Event Reported) </B></FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><HR WIDTH="17%" SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"><P
  STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="6" 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="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) </B></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="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>000-22366</B></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"><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="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(State or Other</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"
  ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</B></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="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Commission</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"
  ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>File Number)</B></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="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(IRS Employer</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"
  ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Identification No.)</B></FONT></P></TD></TR>
  </TABLE><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="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="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</B></FONT></P></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Zip Code)</B></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" 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="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Registrant&#146;s Telephone Number, Including Area Code) </B></FONT></P><P
  STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><HR SIZE="3" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left">
  
  <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. 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 May 22, 2003, announcing that the registrant is offering approximately $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. Financial
  Statements and Exhibits. </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"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>(c) Exhibits. </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">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">Exhibit</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"
  COLOR="#000000">Number</FONT></P><HR WIDTH="44" 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="93%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000">Description</FONT></P><HR WIDTH="65" SIZE="1" NOSHADE ALIGN="left" COLOR="#000000"></TD></TR>
  <TR>
  <TD HEIGHT="5"></TD></TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="6%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">&nbsp;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="93%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Press Release dated May 22, 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; margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">C<SMALL>REDENCE</SMALL> S<SMALL>YSTEMS</SMALL>
  C<SMALL>ORPORATION</SMALL></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" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="37%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;G<SMALL>RAHAM</SMALL> J. S<SMALL>IDDALL</SMALL></FONT></P><HR
  SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"></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" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="37%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000">Graham J. Siddall,</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 VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="37%"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000">Chairman of the Board and</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"
  ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000">Chief Executive Officer</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; margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000">Date: May 27, 2003<B></B> </FONT></P>
  </BODY></HTML>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "d8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12320}]
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": "03720368"}, "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: May 22, 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 May 22, 2003, announcing that the registrant is offering approximately $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 May 22, 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.
  C
  REDENCE
  S
  YSTEMS
  C
  ORPORATION
  By:
  /s/    G
  RAHAM
  J. S
  IDDALL
  Graham J. Siddall,
  Chairman of the Board and
  Chief Executive Officer
  Date: May 27, 2003