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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GYIgBWIP2fMYIp255R/6xB7M4LJC7RDQYX6li0Eugmz3AaGgX7c8BIHF18/rLC4f
 e7CmB7tJSShT30pE9D0yDw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950103-05-001557.txt : 20050611
<SEC-HEADER>0000950103-05-001557.hdr.sgml : 20050611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050606164930
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950103-05-001557
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050602
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050606
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050606

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000893162
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INSTRUMENTS FOR MEAS & TESTING OF ELECTRICITY & ELEC SIGNALS [3825]
		IRS NUMBER:				942878499
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		215 FOURIER AVE
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94539
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5106577400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		215 FOURIER AVE
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94539

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FRANCISCO PARTNERS LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001122021

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22366
		FILM NUMBER:		05880944

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER SUITE 420
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER SUITE 420
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NPTEST HOLDING LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001271842
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22366
		FILM NUMBER:		05880945

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FRANCISCO PARTNERS LP
		STREET 2:		2882 SAND HILL RD
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>jun0305npt-holding_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000893162</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CMOS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001271842</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NPTEST HOLDING LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FRANCISCO PARTNERS LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2882 SAND HILL ROAD, SUITE 280</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001122021</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FRANCISCO PARTNERS LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2882 SAND HILL ROAD, SUITE 280</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.14</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10303600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares reported herein are directly beneficially owned by NPTest Holding, LLC, of which Francisco Partners, L.P. is
the managing member. Francisco Partners, L.P. disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares reported herein except to the
extent of its pecuniary interests therein.
Remarks:
This form is filed on behalf of NPTest Holding, LLC, Francisco Partners, L.P. and its general partner, Francisco Partners GP,
LLC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gerald Morgan, managing director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-06-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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