Credence Systems Corporation was a manufacturer of test equipment for the global semiconductor industry, with a major focus on solving specific challenges facing the fast-growing consumer-driven semiconductor markets.
Customers included integrated device manufacturers (IDMs), wafer foundries, outsource assembly and test (OSAT) suppliers and fabless chip companies.
Founded in 1978 by David Mees as Semiconductor Test Solutions, the company changed its name to Credence after acquiring Axiom and ASIX in 1990.
[2] In February 2004, Credence Systems acquired semiconductor-testing company NPTest Holding Corp. in a stock-and-cash deal valued at about $660 million.
[4] On June 22, 2008, competitor LTX signed a merger agreement with Credence Systems Corporation: LTX CEO and President David Tacelli became CEO of the merged company.