Coryneform bacteria with LL-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall were characterized. Morphological, biochemical, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, and DNA homologies revealed that they form an independent cluster among the coryneform bacteria. A new genus Pimelobacter is proposed for this group of coryneform bacteria. The type species of the genus Pimelobacter is Pimelobacter simplex comb. nov., which was previously named Arthrobacter simplex. Further, Pimelobacter jensenii sp. nov. and Pimelobacter tumescens comb. nov. are also described.