Charming new physics in rare B-decays and mixing?

We conduct a systematic study of the impact of new physics in quark-level $b \to c \bar{c} s$transitionson$B$-physics,inparticularrare$B$-decaysand$B$-meson lifetime observables. We find viable scenarios where a sizable effect in rare semileptonic $B$-decays can be generated, compatible with experimental indications and with a possible dependence on the dilepton invariant mass, while being consistent with constraints from radiative $B$-decay and the measured $B_s$ width difference. We show how, if the effect is generated at the weak scale or beyond, strong renormalisation-group effects can enhance the impact on semileptonic decays while leaving radiative $B$-decay largely unaffected. A good complementarity of the different $B$-physics observables implies that precise measurements of lifetime observables at LHCb may be able to confirm, refine, or rule out this scenario.