17Under the Special Master’s plan, approximately $150 million would be directly distributed toindividual class members who met certain criteria, while another $45 million18would be used tofund a self-governing “class assistance foundation” which would benefit the entire class bypromoting the interests of all Vietnam veterans who had been exposed to Agent Orange as wellas their affected spouses and children.19A.Initial ObservationsBefore beginning its analysis, the district court acknowledged its obligation toapprove a plan which distributed the settlement fund equitably:The court’s responsibility for ensuring that a satisfactory and equitable distribution plan is implemented derives from the requirement that settlement of a class action have court approval. .