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   <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>UNITED STATES </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>SECURITIES AND
  EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
  SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>FORM 8-K </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000"><B>Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) <U>January 22, 2003</U> </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>CREDENCE SYSTEMS
  CORPORATION </B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"><DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
  SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0">
  
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="31%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Delaware</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="31%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>000-22366</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="31%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>94-2878499</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"></TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="31%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(State or other jurisdiction</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"
  COLOR="#000000"><B>of incorporation)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="31%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Commission</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>File
  Number)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="31%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(IRS Employer</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Identification
  No.)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="48%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>215 Fourier Avenue, Fremont, California</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="48%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>94539</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"></TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="48%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Address of principal executive offices)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="48%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Zip Code)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code <U>(510)
  657-7400</U> </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>None </B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"><DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Former name or former address, if changed since last report) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  
  <p Style='page-break-before:always'>
  <HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
  
   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other Events. </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
  SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">On January 22, 2003, Credence Systems Corporation issued a press release announcing the completion of the acquisition of Optonics, Inc.
  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits. </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Press Release disseminated on January 22, 2003 announcing the completion of the acquisition of Optonics, Inc. </FONT></DIV>
  
  <p Style='page-break-before:always'>
  <HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
  
   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B><U>SIGNATURES</U> </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  STYLE="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 hereunto duly
  authorized. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0">
  
  <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="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="50%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Registrant)</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD HEIGHT="16"> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="44%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Date: January 23, 2003</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">By:</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="50%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B<SMALL>YRON</SMALL> M<SMALL>ILSTEAD</SMALL></FONT></DIV> <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="top" WIDTH="5%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Name:</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Byron Milstead</FONT></DIV> </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="top" WIDTH="5%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Title:</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Vice President and General Counsel</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  
  <p Style='page-break-before:always'>
  <HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
  
   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>INDEX TO EXHIBITS </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
  SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0">
  
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;No.</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="62" COLOR="#000000"></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="90%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Description</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="65" COLOR="#000000"></TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD HEIGHT="5"> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="right" WIDTH="9%"> <DIV ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">99.1</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="90%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Press Release disseminated on January 22, 2003 announcing the completion of the acquisition of Optonics,
  Inc.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
   </BODY></HTML>
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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": "03522753"}, "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: Current Report on 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 (Date of earliest event reported)
  January 22, 2003
  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)
  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 January 22, 2003, Credence Systems Corporation issued a press release announcing the completion of the acquisition of Optonics, Inc.
  Item 7.    Exhibits.
  (c)    Press Release disseminated on January 22, 2003 announcing the completion of the acquisition of Optonics, 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: January 23, 2003
  By:
  /s/    B
  YRON
  M
  ILSTEAD
  Name:
  Byron Milstead
  Title:
  Vice President and General Counsel
  INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  Exhibit No.
  Description
  99.1
  Press Release disseminated on January 22, 2003 announcing the completion of the acquisition of Optonics,
  Inc.