B&C News Briefs Æ Provident Financial Group has sold $471 million in subprime mortgages as part of a restructuring. Provident said the sale, completed at a $40 million net discount, will clear credit risk from its books, smooth out its earnings, and improve its capital position. The sold mortgages represent close to 5 percent of Provident’s total loan portfolio and 26 percent of its non-performing assets. Provident also sold its Florida franchise to a subsidiary