  The complete classification of the nilpotent orbits of ${\rm SO}(2,2)^2$ in
the representation ${\bf (2,2,2,2)}$, achieved in \cite{Dietrich:2016ojx}, is
applied to the study of multi-center, asymptotically flat, extremal black hole
solutions to the STU model. These real orbits provide an intrinsic
characterization of regular single-center solutions, which is invariant with
respect to the action of the global symmetry group ${\rm SO}(4,4)$, underlying
the stationary solutions of the model, and provide stringent regularity
constraints on multi-centered solutions. The known \emph{almost-BPS} and
\emph{composite non-BPS} solutions are revisited in this setting. We
systematically provide, for the relevant ${\rm SO}(2,2)^2$-nilpotent orbits of
the global Noether charge matrix, regular representatives thereof. This
analysis unveils a composition law of the orbits according to which those
containing regular multi-centered solutions can be obtained as combinations of
specific single-center orbits defining the constituent black holes. Some of the
${\rm SO}(2,2)^2$-orbits of the total Noether charge matrix are characterized
as "intrinsically singular" in that they cannot contain any regular solution.
