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  <p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON,
  D.C. 20549</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM&nbsp;8-K</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d)&nbsp;of
  the</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Date of Report: May&nbsp;19, 2008 (May&nbsp;13,
  2008)</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">(Date of
  Earliest Event Reported)</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CREDENCE
  SYSTEMS CORPORATION</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact Name of
  Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center">
  
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    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">DELAWARE</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">000-22366</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">94-2878499</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State
    or Other Jurisdiction</font></p>
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">of
    Incorporation)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Commission
    File Number)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(IRS
    Employer</font></p>
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Identification
    No.)</font></p>
    </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center">
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="65%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:65.8%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">1421
    California Circle</font></b></p>
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Milpitas,
    California</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.08%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.12%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">95035</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="65%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:65.8%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.08%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.12%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Zip Code)</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
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  </div>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">408-635-4300</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Registrant&#146;s
  Telephone Number, Including Area Code)</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Check the appropriate box
  below if the Form&nbsp;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
  filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see
  General Instruction A.2. below):</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="599" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:449.3pt;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Written communications
    pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="599" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:449.3pt;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Soliciting material
    pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="599" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:449.3pt;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pre-commencement
    communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17
    CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="599" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:449.3pt;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pre-commencement
    communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17
    CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <div style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  
  <p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  </div>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\eudelhofen\08-14745-1\task2948767\14745-1-ba.htm',USER='eudelho',CD='May 19 11:44 2008' -->
  
  
  <br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
  
  
  <div>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item&nbsp;8.01.
  Other Events.</font></b></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On May&nbsp;13,
  2008, Credence Systems Corporation completed the repayment of the principal balance
  of its 1.5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2008, in the amount of
  $72,500,000.</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>
  
  <div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='2',FILE='C:\JMS\eudelhofen\08-14745-1\task2948767\14745-1-ba.htm',USER='eudelho',CD='May 19 11:44 2008' -->
  
  
  <br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
  
  
  <div>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to the
  requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant
  has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
  hereunto duly authorized.</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.42%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="50%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.58%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">CREDENCE SYSTEMS
    CORPORATION</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.42%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="50%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.58%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.42%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="50%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.58%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.42%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.32%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.26%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ Kevin C. Eichler</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.42%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.32%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.26%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Kevin C. Eichler</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.42%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:3.32%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.26%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief Financial Officer</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 12.25pt;text-indent:-12.25pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date: May&nbsp;19, 2008</font></p>
  
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "a08-14745_18k.htm", "description": "8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 20654}]
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": "08844724"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1421 CALIFORNIA CIRCLE", "city": "MILPITAS", "state": "CA", "zip": "95035", "phone": "408635-4300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1421 CALIFORNIA CIRCLE", "city": "MILPITAS", "state": "CA", "zip": "95035"}}
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: May 19, 2008 (May 13,
  2008)
  (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.)
  1421
    California Circle
  Milpitas,
    California
  95035
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  (Zip Code)
  408-635-4300
  (Registrant's
  Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
  Check the appropriate box
  below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
  filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see
  General Instruction A.2. below):
  o
  Written communications
    pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  o
  Soliciting material
    pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  o
  Pre-commencement
    communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
    CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  o
  Pre-commencement
    communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
    CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  Item 8.01.
  Other Events.
  On May 13,
  2008, Credence Systems Corporation completed the repayment of the principal balance
  of its 1.5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2008, in the amount of
  $72,500,000.
  2
  SIGNATURES
  Pursuant to the
  requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant
  has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
  hereunto duly authorized.
  CREDENCE SYSTEMS
    CORPORATION
  By:
  /s/ Kevin C. Eichler
  Kevin C. Eichler
  Chief Financial Officer
  Date: May 19, 2008
  3