Perpendicular exchange coupled composite is prepared, with L1(0)-FePt (5 nm) as the hard layer and [Co(0.2 nm)/Pt(t(1) nm)](N) multilayer as the soft layer. Both the hard and soft magnetic layers are of perpendicular magnetization. Significant reductions of the coercivity field are observed with the thickness increase of the soft Co/Pt multilayers, in both FePt/[Co(0.2)/Pt(0.6)](N) and FePt/[Co(0.2)/Pt(0.3)](N) series. Moreover, higher saturation magnetization of the soft layer is favorable for greater coercivity reduction. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.