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 executed a definitive agreement for the
  registrant's acquisition of  Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc. and a
  Shareholder Agreement by and among the Registrant, Iguana Acquisition
  Corporation, and Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
  
  Item 7.  Exhibits.
  
           Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger dated May 16, 2001, by
  and among the registrant, Iguana Acquisition Corporation and Integrated
  Measurement Systems, Inc.
  
           Shareholder Agreement dated May 16, 2001, by and among the registrant,
  Iguana Acquisition Corporation, and Cadence Design 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
      -----------                                 -----------
  
      2.15               Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger dated May
                         16, 2001, by and among the registrant, Iguana Acquisition
                         Corporation and Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc.
  
      10.36              Shareholder Agreement dated May 16, 2001, by and among
                         the registrant, Iguana Acquisition Corporation and
                         Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
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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": "1642811"}, "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 executed a definitive agreement for the
  registrant's acquisition of  Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc. and a
  Shareholder Agreement by and among the Registrant, Iguana Acquisition
  Corporation, and Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
  
  Item 7.  Exhibits.
  
           Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger dated May 16, 2001, by
  and among the registrant, Iguana Acquisition Corporation and Integrated
  Measurement Systems, Inc.
  
           Shareholder Agreement dated May 16, 2001, by and among the registrant,
  Iguana Acquisition Corporation, and Cadence Design 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
      -----------                                 -----------
  
      2.15               Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger dated May
                         16, 2001, by and among the registrant, Iguana Acquisition
                         Corporation and Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc.
  
      10.36              Shareholder Agreement dated May 16, 2001, by and among
                         the registrant, Iguana Acquisition Corporation and
                         Cadence Design Systems, Inc.