The effect of Re on the composition distribution and structure of Co-Re-P and Co-Re-Ni-P electroless coatings is studied. The participation of disproportionation reactions during perrhenate reduction to the elemental state, coupled with the two-electron reduction of Re͑VII͒ to Re͑VI͒ by hypophosphite, is proposed as an explanation for the mechanism of Re codeposition. This also gives an explication of the increased efficiency of hypophosphite in the presence of perrhenate, and the observed extremely low P percentage in the coatings. The deposits have a hexagonal close-packed ͑hcp͒ lattice with a texture ͗1010͘. Uniform cross sections of the films, prepared by the focused ion beam technique, are used to characterize the nanocrystalline columnar structure in relation to the composition distribution by applying high-resolution analytical electron microscopy. Besides the partial localization of Re at the grain boundaries, it is alloyed with Co and Ni within the crystalline grains. This could be considered as evidence of two possible ways of Re inclusion in the alloys. The parameters of the hcp lattice increase with the Re content in the alloys. The impact of Re and its distribution in the nanocrystalline structure on the magnetic properties of the coatings is demonstrated.During the last two decades of the 20th century, Co-Ni-Re-Pbased alloys have been intensively investigated because of their possible application as perpendicular recording media. 1-7 The search logically started in the direction of the improvement of electroless deposited Co-P with fiber texture ͗0001͘. Ni has been added to reduce the magnetization, and Mn to enhance the ͗0001͘ texture. 1-3 Later, the addition of Re to a Co-Ni-Mn-P alloy ensured further diminution of the magnetization. 4-6 In addition, Re having a hexagonal close-packed ͑hcp͒ lattice should increase the Co-Ni concentration interval with the hcp structure.Using a selective chemical etching method, it has been clarified that electroless deposited Co 32 -Ni 55 -Re 6 -P 7 films have a segregated structure: Co-rich, ferromagnetic parts with a high crystallinity are dispersed in a Ni-P-based nonmagnetic medium with a low crystallinity. 7 The segregation occurs from the nucleation stage and is preserved during the film growth up to 200 nm. Above this thickness, the film consists of highly crystallized particles with a mean diameter of 20 nm, forming a columnar structure, which is segregated in the nonmagnetic region with a low crystallinity. The microstructure of this nonmagnetic matrix is stable to heat-treatment of up to 500°C. 7 The expanding of the interplanar spacing of hcp ͑0001͒ planes has only been observed for Re codeposition, owing to the large diameter of the Re atom in contrast with the diameters of Ni and P. A linear increase of this spacing with Re content has been found. 8,9 Recently, the research interest has been raised in corrosion protective and barrier properties of Ni-P and Co-P-based alloys with refractory metals including Re, and their electroless deposition regained...