For two positive maps φ i : B(K i ) → B(H i ), i = 1, 2, we construct a new linear map φ : B(H) → B(K), where K = K 1 ⊕ K 2 ⊕ C, H = H 1 ⊕ H 2 ⊕ C, by means of some additional ingredients such as operators and functionals. We call it a merging of maps φ 1 and φ 2 . The properties of this construction are discussed. In particular, conditions for positivity of φ, as well as for 2-positivity, complete positivity, optimality and nondecomposability, are provided. In particular, we show that for a pair composed of 2-positive and 2-copositive maps, there is a nondecomposable merging of them. One of our main results asserts, that for a canonical merging of a pair composed of completely positive and completely copositive extremal maps, their canonical merging is an exposed positive map. This result provides a wide class of new examples of exposed positive maps. As an application, new examples of entangled PPT states are described.2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary: 46L60, 15B48, 81P40; Secondary: 81Q10, 46L05.